App of the Month #2: iScanner

SUMMARY

• This app is a mobile scanner that allows you to digitise physical documents (i.e. a passport or a consent form)
• It also has a feature for electronically signing scanned documents
• iScanner is available for free, with some pop-up ads and a document capacity (which you may be able to get around by deleting documents after scanning them)
• A pro version is also available, with no restrictions, for £4.99 (Apple) or £4.69 (Android)

 

I found this app about a week ago, when I needed to scan some documents for work but didn’t have access to my home printer at the time. I had actually used a similar app previously, so I knew the App Store would have a scanner app that would solve my dilemma. The concept of being able to scan documents at home and for free is definitely one of the most useful digital tools for someone who deals with a lot of paperwork but doesn’t have immediate access to a printer.

The app was developed by BPMobile, who create various applications for Apple products. Unfortunately, iScanner (free and premium) is the only Android-compatible app that BPMobile have released at present. All the other apps they have created are solely available in the App Store.

These apps (a lot of which, are free), include the ‘Secret Calculator Vault’, used to hide private pictures inside a fake calculator app and ‘Remove Master’, to clear up duplicated files that can clog up your iPhone memory.

Back to the app itself, it’s pretty straightforward to understand what it’s objective is, however, I found it a bit tricky to use at first. I was anticipating that it would have a magic ‘SCAN NOW’ button, which it did not. Despite this, I found that the design of the app was very helpful.

It gives you the option of how much you want to doctor the document, in order to give it that ‘scanned look’, which I think is useful. Some documents, for example articles by scholars (shown below), have very small writing already, so require a softer effect than say, an image of a person would.

Images: before and after I moderately scanned an academic article

There are numerous tutorials on YouTube, which show how to use the app for different documents. I will link one of these below:

NICHE AUDIENCE: Professionals/Students

I think that professionals, for example small business owners or even people who work in the corporate sphere would find this app very useful. That in mind, I also feel that a budgeting student without a printer, would also make good use of the app. It gives anyone with a compatible device, the freedom to turn their phone/tablet/iPad into a mobile scanner wherever they are and saves the time of having to physically access a scanner, which may be all the way at work or at the library. I also found the app really easy to use, so it would be no problem to teach yourself while playing around with its features on the train home from work or school.

To download iScanner, head to the App Store or Google Play Store. Or to download iScanner Pro, click these links: App Store and Google Play Store.

References

McMullan, M. 2006. Patients using the Internet to obtain health information: how this affects the patient–health professional relationship. Patient education and counseling, 63(1-2).

[FHS Need to Know] (2017, August 9) How to Use the iScanner App. (Video File) [11 October 2018]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj12DvBq71A

 

App of the Month #1: TaskRabbit

To start off my new ‘App of the Month’ series, I’m going to talk about an app called ‘TaskRabbit’ that I (thankfully!) came across a few days ago.

SUMMARY

• App allows you to hire someone for your daily chores i.e. buying food shopping, doing research or mounting a TV
• Since being acquired by IKEA in 2017, the app now includes an IKEA feature, where you can hire someone to assemble your IKEA furniture
• You can also lend your services on the app and earn money
• Register yourself as a ‘Tasker’, set an hourly rate and get paid to do ad hoc jobs!
• It’s free (minus the £20 registration fee for Taskers and 15% service cut)

I stumbled on this app by mistake, when I accidentally clicked a pop-up advert online and I was immediately drawn in by the premise of freelancing by essentially running errands. As obvious as it may sound, I was and still am shocked that this app hasn’t received more attention amongst young people in the UK.

The app, previously known as ‘RunMyErrands’, was founded in 2008 by American entrepreneur Leah Busque, who currently sits as Executive Chairwoman. The company is led by CEO Stacy Brown-Philpot who is also a member of the Board of Directors of HP Inc and Nordstrom.

It is fronted by the slogan ‘Chores Done Today’ which I think accurately represents what it’s used for. It certainly wouldn’t be used to hire people for performances or gigs, however, if you need help moving boxes around your house, cleaning your room, assembling furniture or removing snow from your front garden – this is the app for you.

These tiresome chores can be a burden when you have a lot to do, so I think this app is perfect to help you match with someone (especially if it’s last minute) who can do them for you, at a reasonable rate. There is also piece of mind in knowing that every Tasker (the people doing these tasks, of course) are authenticated by TaskRabbit through a formal verification process.

To download TaskRabbit in the App Store or Android, just click the links or head to the website.

NICHE AUDIENCE: Students

As a recent graduate, I really think students would benefit from using this app, either to hire someone or become a Tasker themselves. Taskers are able to work at their own convenience and set their own schedule, which would work well around studying, as an alternative to structured part-time work. You also need minimal qualifications to do these jobs – although for the more complex tasks, experience would be helpful.

To register yourself as a Tasker, all you need to do is click this link to find out more!

 

 

All images are self-produced.

NEW SERIES! App of the Month

I am starting a new series on ‘A Digital World’ called App of the Month, where I will be discussing new apps that I have come across and think deserve a bit more attention! This series will include a range of apps from lifestyle to gaming, that hopefully readers will help readers to find new apps in the seas that we call the ‘App Store’ and ‘Google Play Store’.

Source: Pexels

Each post will include some background information, a summary of the app, some screenshots of what it looks like and an insight into its ‘niche audience’ – a concept I thought of to let readers know who I think will find these apps particularly useful!

I’ll be posting weekly, starting from 23/08 with a brand new app each week.

 

 

References

All images are royalty free and taken from Pexels