Category Archives: Having Fun with Your iPhone/iPad

Happy Holidays-Why NEW Z5 Mobile for iPhone and iPad? (#1)-Self-View

The best video communication software for VRS and point-to-point–Z5 Mobile for iPhone and iPad!

It is available now!

Dr. Z, like many of you are tied up with the holidays….but the Z5 is a holiday gift for us all so for the next week or so Dr. Z will tell you what is best about the Z5!

What makes the Z5 different from the other software videophones–many things, but the key one is the self-view.  What is self-view,–it’s seeing yourself on the phone.

When we make a video call, it is always important to see yourself before you make a call–whether you have good lighting, whether your hair is in place, whether you forgot to button your shirt.

So the first thing when you start Z5 is you will see yourself BEFORE you make a call.  So you know  when you make a call, the other part will see a “pretty” you!

For more information on the Z5 Mobile for iPhone and iPad, click this link.

Dr. Z is proud to be part of the team that understands and listens to the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development

It’s Here Now! Z5 for iPhone and iPad!

The best video communication software for VRS and point-to-point–Z5 Mobile for iPhone and iPad!

It is available now!

Dr. Z has worked closely with the team developing and putting together the product.  They carefully identified user behavior and needs and put that into the product!  The best products out there always take user needs into account and that is what the team at ZVRS did.

The Z5 Mobile is a beautiful piece of design and engineering.

Dr. Z will post features of the Z5 Mobile in the next few days.

Until then, take a look at the Z5 Mobile web page to learn more (Link).

To enjoy videos related to the Z5 Mobile, click (Video1) (Video 2).

Dr. Z is proud to be part of the team that understands and listens to the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development

Editorial #128: Dr. Z Cares–Don’t Video and Drive!

We all have been hearing about not texting while driving.  We have heard some sad stories related to this and while tempting, pulling off the road to text takes a few minutes instead of  losing a life.  A few minutes is all the difference it makes.

In any event, Dr. Z has picked up information that some folks are making video calls while driving.  This is even worse than texting because one has to look at the video which means the eyes have to be off the road in front of you. True, with 4G and 4G KLTE coverage popping up everywhere makes it possible to video without Wifi, but please pull off the road when you need to make a video call.  

Dr. Z cares about you!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclaimer: Dr. Z is currently the Vice-President of Business Development and Outreach at CSDVRS, LLC.

Editorial #127: What Should I Get for the Holidays?

Thanksgiving is over…and that means we all are gearing up for the holiday season and with that means gifts for us all…

I was thinking of what we all would like to make video communication a great experience….

1) get an Apple iPhone, iPod Touch or an iPad

If you already have a smartphone with a locked in contract, an iPod Touch or an iPad does not require a contract and you can do many wonderful things with those devices without the need to have a phone connection.  A wifi connection works with those devices.

2) Get a great stand for your iPad

The Mophie Powerstand is great–and expensive at $149.  They’re hard to find and get.  Only the Apple Store carries it (link).  ZVRS has used this at all Deaf Nation shows and they are sturdy!

3) Wait until the Z5 from ZVRS comes out.  It’s a great piece of software and in final stages of beta testing.

4) Look at the Apple App store for great apps.   The top 6 apps Dr. Z likes are:

– Clear (an easy to do list) $2.99

– Evernote – to keep all your info in one place (free)

– Camera + – a great camera app (on sale now for 99 cents)

– Filmic Pro – a great video app ($3.99)

– Kayak Pro – a great travel app (99 cents)

– Waze – the best GPS app (free)

Have fun shopping!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclaimer: Dr. Z is currently the Vice-President of Business Development and Outreach at CSDVRS, LLC.

Dr. Z on the iPad Home Button–Useful Stuff

Dr. Z in talking with some people who use an iPad was surprised to learn that many do not realize the simple button, called the “Home” button at the bottom of an iPad, has many different features, depending on how you press the button. The link to the iMore.com website has good stuff on the “Home” button.

Pressing it once:

  • If your iPad is sleeping and you click the Home button it will wake up and ask you to slide to unlock.
  • If you’re in an app like Safari, Mail, Angry Birds, etc. and you click the Home Button you’ll return to the Home screen with all your app icons.
  • If you’re on your second or third Home screen and click the Home button you’ll return to your main (first) Home Screen.
  • If you’re on your main (first) Home screen and click the Home Button you’ll go to Spotlight Search.
More information on the iMore.com link.

Pressing it twice:

  •  If your iPad is sleeping but playing music or media (video) (Music app, a video, etc.) and you double click the Home button, the media controls will pop up on the lock screen so you can pause/play, skip, etc.
  • If you’re on the Home Screen or using an app and you double click the Home button the Fast App Switcher will open so you can quickly change between apps or swipe over to the audio, brightness, orientation lock/mute button, and other widget controls.
Swipe means you move the icons on the bottom to your left or right by sliding your finger on the screen.  There’s more information such as pressing it three times, pressing and holding it, or pressing it and holidng the sleep/wake button on the top right of your iPad.  Such information is at this link.
Dr. Z will continue to write up more information like this. (do not forget to try ZVRS by dialing 888-888-1116 for relay calls.)

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development and Outreach.

Dr. Z on Having Fun with Your iPad–“Evernote”

One of the useful apps Dr. Z uses on his iPad is an app called “Evernote”. It is FREE and you can download it from the Apple app store.

After you download it, you can use it to save everything you need — PDF documents, clips from websites, bookmarks, etc.

When you need something, just go to Evernote and search for it–it will find the information you need.

For example, if you save a PDF file with “Costco” in it; and you do a search on Evernote, it will locate that PDF file.

Evernote is available on a PC, Mac, web, iPhone/iPad and Android and you can get the same info after entering your userid/password from any of these devices–so you are never away from the information you saved!

Here’s a video you can watch and it is captioned! (video link)

Dr. Z will continue this series with different apps.

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development and Outreach.

Dr. Z on How He Selects Apps for his iPad

Dr. Z has a LOT of apps on his iPad.

But he uses about 20 of them most of the time–the rest he checks and evaluates for his “patients” who come to him for advice all over the country. Most of the apps he uses are free.

The basic criteria he uses is that the app must have “backup” capability in the “cloud”. This means, if he loses his iPad or the iPad crashes, he can access the same information from his computer through the web. What good would it be if you cannot access the information if you lose it. Also, he protects his iPad with a passcode that he sets up using the “Settings” icon. Some apps have another password to protect other people from accessing the app. So there are 2 levels of protection–never use the same code for the passcode and the password! And remember those codes!

The top apps he uses are:

1) Evernote – which allows you to clip anything off the web and save it. It makes it very easy for you to search anything you clip off the web.

2) Toodledo – which is a task and todo manager. Dr. Z is by nature a not very organized person – Toodledo keeps him on track as much as possible (not 100%). The app is good only if he checks it. It also sends him reminders for some tasks, such as taking medicine.

3) Pocket – which saves articles on the web for reading later. You can read such articles offline when on the plane or the like.

4) Appzilla – which has about 50 mini apps for different things that you never thought of.

5) Skitch – which allows you to draw things and send them on, with or without pictures you take.

More to come–have fun!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development and Outreach.

Dr. Z on Having Fun with Your iPad–“Skitch”

One of the fun apps Dr. Z uses on his iPad is an app called “Skitch”.  It is free and you can download it from the Apple app store.

After you download it, you can use it to create drawings or use a drawing on any picture you take.

The video shows how you can make a note on the picture you just took.  It is fun.

Dr. Z will continue this series with different apps.

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development and Outreach.