Fall. My favorite time of year. The air grows crisper (except in Texas where it’s hotter than . . . well, you know, until mid-October), the leaves start to change, and sultry, sleepy summer gives way to autumn’s somber “get-back-to-business” urgency. And, of course, school begins again. Do you remember how much fun it always was to get your new school supplies? Fresh, unsharpened pencils; crisp, blank notebooks; pens filled with ink; a new backpack. And now, in this digital age, there’s a whole new array of back-to-school goodness: software, applications, hardware. So, today Macgasm is presenting a Back-to-School Macstravaganza filled with ideas for all you students heading back to school.
The following compilation is not meant to be comprehensive, nor does it contain reviews. This is simply a collection of some of the cool back-to-school software and hardware that might just make the upcoming semester more bearable—maybe even fun.
Hardware. I don’t think there’s any need to go over all the wonderful Apple hardware available to students here. But it is worth reminding everyone that Apple has an Education Store which offers many Apple products at a discount for both current students and faculty members. Just go to the education store, type in your school’s zip code, and, if the school is in Apple’s database, you can buy products at the discounted prices.
The iPad is, of course, the primo back-to-school gizmo this year. Numerous articles have been written about the iPad in education (a couple of examples are here and here), and many schools are offering new students iPads, others are developing iPad-based curriculum, and still others are integrating the iPad into courses. If you are heading off to college this fall, you might consider adding the cost of an iPad into your education budget. Beside the fact that it’s much easier to tote around than a notebook computer, you can download many of your textbooks straight onto your device, making your backpack considerably lighter. (Starts at $499.00).
Another must-have device for students is the Livescribe Echo Smartpen. If you’re not familiar with the Echo, it is a digital pen. But it doesn’t just digitize your handwriting. It records audio at the same time. So, let’s say you go to Freshman Biology with your smartpen. You sit through the lecture, taking notes along the way. If you happen to doze off during the lecture (surely you wouldn’t do that), the pen continues to record the audio. So, as Livescribe’s motto says, “You never miss a word.” Return to your dorm room, upload your notes to your computer, and you can play back the audio by clicking anywhere in your notebook. Pretty sweet. If you download additional MyScript software (for $30), your handwritten notes can be converted into text. Obviously, if you can take your laptop or iPad to class, you probably don’t need a smartpen (see below for some applications that allow you to record audio while you type). But, some teachers/professors do not allow laptops in the classroom (because of that little distraction called Facebook), so having a digital pen could be a life saver. I will be doing a full review of the Echo Smartpen in the coming months, so keep an eye out for it. It’s definitely affordable (much cheaper than an iPad). (4GB Echo: $169.95; 8GB Echo $199.95).
Mac Software. Many wonderful Mac applications can make a student’s life easier. Obviously, you will need a good word processor, and while most people will probably jump on the Pages or Microsoft Word bandwagons, there are some terrific alternatives. In addition to word processing, you might want something for note taking, an app for doing research, and maybe even a budget software to help you mind your own finances since the parental units are probably far away.
Chronicle. If you need a user-friendly application for managing your finances, you can’t go wrong with Chronicle. It helps you keep track of your bills, plan your budget, and address the debt you’re probably accumulating taking out those student loans. ($20.95).
Circus Ponies Notebook. Notebook is an award-winning Mac application that can be used for note-taking, research, and task management. It offers numerous features, including automatic indexing of all your content, making it an excellent information manager. ($49.95; academic license available for $29.95).
Nisus Writer Pro. If you don’t want to shell out over $100 for Microsoft Office; or, if you don’t really want the artsy fartsy style of Pages, you might want to look at Nisus Writer Pro. This word processor is made for academics, boasts a user-friendly UI, and allows you to type in multiple languages (including languages that read right to left, like Hebrew). You can save your documents as Word files (and other formats), so even if you’re at a university that is languishing under Microsoft’s dominion, you can still use this Mac word processor. ($79.00 but academic licenses are available for $39.00).
PDF Pen. Another handy tool for research is PDF Pen. Upload any document as a PDF and you can mark it up to your heart’s content with highlights and notes. (Usually $49.00 but with the educational discount it is $29.97).
Pear Note. This application which was just updated to 2.0 is great for taking notes. Even better, you can record audio while you’re typing away on your Mac. Does your professor post Powerpoint (or Keynote, PDF) notes online? If so, drag them into Pear Note and you can take notes alongside the slides. ($39.99 but educational discounts are available if you email support).
Schoolhouse. Schoolhouse is an academic planning application for students. It includes a calendar; smart notebooks for tasks; link, document, and media access; and a grade calculator. The nice thing about this app is that you can keep track of all your assignments and the grades you earn on those assignments. ($14.00).
Syllabus. Syllabus is organizational software that allows students to store all their course information in one place, including syllabi, faculty member contact information, course files and links, and course notes. In addition, Syllabus records all assignments, exams, and other important dates and integrates with iCal. ($19.00).
Yojimbo. Yojimbo is a database where you can store all sorts of information, from software serial numbers to web archives. It makes doing research extremely easy, because you can drag items off the Internet straight into Yojimbo’s sidebar library. Organize items into smart folders and use tags to keep things tidy. ($39.00 but educational discounts are available lowering the price to $29.00).
iPhone Applications. Although I wouldn’t recommend the iPhone as the best device for taking notes during lectures, it is a terrific organizational assistant. Plus, you can find dozens of apps that will be beneficial to your studies, including the ones below.
Cram. Cram is an application that helps you study. You can create flashcards or multiple-choice questions or you can access a user database of already-made tests. Cram features a beautiful interface and, if you have the Mac version, you can even sync your iPhone with it. ($3.99).
Dictionary.com. A great dictionary is a must have for any student, and dictionary.com offers a free iPhone version that includes not only a dictionary but also a thesaurus. Just keep in mind that, if you insert a fantastic word like “egregious” into an otherwise poorly written essay, your professors really won’t be impressed. (Free; an ad-free version is also available for $1.99).
Graphing Calculator. I still have nightmares about college Algebra, but maybe things would’ve gone better for me if I’d had this graphing calculator. Of course, back in those days the iPhone didn’t exist. . . . Regardless, if you foresee needing a scientific calculator, this one should do the trick. ($1.99).
iStudiez Pro (Universal app: iPhone and iPad). iStudiez Pro is a feature-rich planner for students. At the beginning of the semester, simply type in your schedule (iStudiez Pro supports creating courses that meet on different days of the week), and you can see all your classes, their locations, the professors, and any other information you choose to include. Add assignments and exams, and the application will send you push reminders so you never have to turn in another late paper (unless, of course, you’ve procrastinated). ($2.99).
ReadMore. ReadMore is a unique application that helps you keep a log of your reading. For students, this is especially handy, because you can insert the number of pages in the book you’re reading, and ReadMore will help you gauge how long it will take you to complete the book. So, when you get all those reading assignments at the beginning of the semester, ReadMore can assist you in divvying up the assignments into manageable portions. The developer is planning on making the app universal. ($1.99).
iPad Applications. You’ll probably notice that most of the apps I’ve listed below have to do with note taking. In my real life, I’m a professor, and I love students who take thorough notes of my brilliant and erudite (look that word up in your new iPhone dictionary) lectures. Many course-specific iPad apps also exist, but the ones below should be helpful to any student.
Blackboard Mobile Learn. If your school uses Blackboard, then you will want to download this application for your iPad. It gives you easy access to all your courses, including discussion boards, grades, and course information. Keep in mind that even if your school uses Blackboard, the mobile application is only available if the school has enabled it, so check with your technology services department. (Free).
CourseNotes. CourseNotes is a note-taking application, but with several unique features. Notes are organized by subject, and you can include typewritten notes, sketches, and tasks/assignments. A really cool feature is the lexicon—a pop up window where you can insert terms specific to the subject in your notebook. You can share notes via email or, if your friends also have CourseNotes on their iPads, the app offers peer-to-peer sharing. ($4.99).
eTextbooks. eTextbooks is an application (available on iPad and iPhone) that gives you to access any textbooks available through CourseSmart. You rent the ebooks for the semester (180 days) at a cost considerably lower than buying the book new or used. You can even highlight your book and take notes. An iPhone version is also available. (Free).
Noterize. Noterize is a digital note-taking app with tons of features. You can upload PDFs or Powerpoint documents and annotate them with handwritten notes, highlights, or typewritten notes. You can also import web pages and insert them into documents. If you need to take notes in class, Noterize allows you to type your notes while recording audio. In addition to these features, Noterize allows you to share your documents with others using Dropbox, GoogleDocs, Facebook and others, and, with VGA out support, you can even present your documents using a projector or external monitor. ($2.99).
Outliner for iPad. If you like to take notes in outline format, or, if you need a simple task manager, Outliner for iPad will make a great addition to your iPad arsenal. Create tasks and checklists with checkboxes or easily format your notes as an outline without checkboxes. You can sync your outlines with Outliner’s free online companion or export your outlines in OPML format to use with desktop software. An iPhone version is also available. ($4.99).
SoundPaper. Soundpaper is another note-taking application which records audio while you type or draw. After you’re done taking notes, simply tap a word or a drawing to hear the accompanying audio. You can export your notes as PDF files or email them. ($4.99).
