The iPhone 4S: Ten Best Productivity Uses

I was lucky enough to get my iPhone 4S on launch day.

After using it for a time, I can say that there are many improvements that make it well worth the upgrade. Some of the new features are evolutionary changes from the previous iPhone 4. However, the 4S steps forward enough that it feels like a new phone.

First, it is much faster than its predecessor. The new A5 chip (from the iPad 2) really shines on the iPhone 4S. The dual-core processor makes apps pop onto the screen.

The form factor is the same as the iPhone 4. While big media outlets were let down, for iPhone users it feels like home. As an added bonus, existing accessories work with it, from cases to charging docks. (Less miscellaneous upgrade costs!)

However, let’s talk productivity.

What does the new iPhone 4S help you get done?

Well, it all starts with Siri…

Top Ten Productivity Uses With the iPhone 4S:

(Note: Some of these are 4S specific, some are in iOS5. I am not distinguishing between them here.)

1. Siri – The first thing that everyone asks about the new iPhone is, “How well does the talking thing work?” I am surprised to answer, “Very well.” I admit that I underestimated Siri. I expected it to be an extra that most people would not use. However, Siri is possibly the best feature of the new iPhone 4S. It truly will change the way that we interact with our technology. There have been previous voice recognition apps for mobile phones. However, with Siri you almost feel like you are having a conversation with your phone. It is not perfect, and even Apple says it is a Beta. (Rare for Apple…) But, it is truly amazing and Siri will impress you. In the following pic, I have asked Siri to schedule a meeting for 9AM. Siri has pointed out that I have 2 other meetings that overlap and asks for confirmation before taking action. Pretty smart.  
2. Reminders – Reminders is not so much about the app itself, (available in iOS 5), but about the ability to quickly interact with it via Siri. The ability to set location-based reminders that pop-up when you arrive at (or depart) a location are nice but not a killer feature. However, the ability to say, with a single  button press, “Remind me tomorrow at 9AM to call my boss.” Well, that’s amazing.
3. Twitter integration – If you are a Twitter user, you will be happy that Twitter integration is baked right into the new OS. You can tweet from many places including Maps and Photos. The address book now allows Twitter handles as a new field. However, I have not been able to get Twitter photos to auto-populate in Contacts as was described by Apple a while back.
4. iCloud – Siri may steal the spotlight on the 4S, however, iCloud is the powerhouse behind the scenes to help you get work done. iCloud is finally what a cloud service should be. It effortlessly syncs your pics, documents, and more between your devices. Being able to take a picture via your phone and have it almost instantly on your laptop or iPad is a real timesaver.
5. No PC Needed to Sync – Most people don’t back-up and sync their phone regularly. If something happens to their phone they can end up losing their valuable data. The new iPhone doesn’t need a computer to sync or backup. It will automatically backup via iCloud while it is charging overnight. One less thing to worry about and one less maintenance task to have to remember.
6. Notification Center – The new Notifications center saves time by keeping all of your alerts in one place. You don’t miss a thing. With a quick finger-pull from the top of the screen you can see everything that has come in from various applications. No more missed pop-ups or messages.
7. Camera – How can a new camera be a productivity improvement? Well, this one is. You can now quickly take photos from the lock screen. I captured several impromptu pics that I otherwise would have missed. And with new A5 chip, boy is it snappy! You can take photos much faster, even with the HDR feature on. As seen in the following picture, you can now edit photos right in the camera roll. No need to switch to another app to rotate, crop or enhance. The new 8MP camera produces shots so impressive that 99% of people will not need a separate camera again. 
8. Find My Friends – Find My Friends is a new location app that lets you know where your friends and family members are at a glance. Before you get privacy nervous, you control all aspects of who can see you. You can even “cloak” your location with one touch. For friends and families this can be a great timesaver. Is Billy still at Soccer practice after school? Has Dad left the office yet? If you are trying to meet up with someone, you can temporarily share locations. 
9. Improved Calendar – The iPhone calendar has improved incrementally over the past few years. (Remember when it didn’t do Outlook?) The new calendar brings some great productivity enhancements. You can now navigate between days by swiping gestures. You can add appointments at times and on days by simply tapping and holding. You can also drag-and-drop appointments by the same method. Of course, don’t forget that Siri can quickly create appointments for you!
10. Speed – As I mentioned at the start, the new A5 chip makes the new iPhone twice as fast as the previous version. All of the above productivity enhancements are made even better by the iPhone’s increased speed. Quicker app launching and faster response times make for an even better user experience.

Helping You Stay Ahead

When Steve Jobs introduced the original iPhone, he proclaimed it was “5 years ahead of any other phone.”

The new iPhone 4S keeps this statement true. There is no phone that comes closes to the hardware and software combination packed into the new iPhone 4S.

And no phone that comes close to helping you be as productive as you can be.

Whether at work or play, it is hard to count how many ways the iPhone 4S  helps you get your tasks done.

What do you use your iPhone for? What are your favorite productivity features?