The New ScanSnap iX100

I’ve been a buying ScanSnap scanners for several years now. I’ve recommended them to friends, family, and professional colleagues and everyone of them has come back to say how much they like their ScanSnaps.

There are two bits of technology involved with scanning: the hardware device and the software interface. The thing that makes ScanSnap stand out is the way it delivers on both fronts. Fujitsu continues to push the envelope with its hardware and at the same time, continues to iterate its software to give Mac and iOS users plenty of options for their scanned documents.

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This is most recently demonstrated with Fujitsu’s brand new ScanSnap iX100. The iX100 takes is an ultra-portable scanner, about the size of a three-hole punch. It is similar to the ScanSnap S1100 but adds several useful features.

The banner feature is wireless scanning. The iX100 will connect with your Mac. The device has its own processor that not only creates the PDF and JPEG files, but also creates the wireless bridge to your device. Pop it open, feed a page, push the blue button. No cables required. Wireless scanning with a portable scanner makes a lot of sense. 

The iX100 can also connect to iOS and Android devices using that same built-in processor. If you are not on a shared Wi-Fi network, you can connect directly to the ScanSnap with your devices Wi-Fi radio and you are good to go.

Another clever feature is automatic image stitching. If you pull two pages out of a magazine with an image stretched across the fold, the iX100 will automatically stitch them back together.

The iX100 comes with that great ScanSnap software as well. I’ve been carrying my test model around in my briefcase (it’s only 14 ounces) and it is holding up well. There is an integrated battery that requires an occasional recharge (via USB).

I’ve got two good uses for this scanner. The first is when I’m in trial or deposition and someone hands me a new document. That isn’t supposed to happen but often does. I need documents scanned as soon as possible so I can incorporate them into exhibits, presentations, and other digital bits. Having the iX100 I can now handle this anywhere.

When not carrying it around, I’ve been keeping it in a utility drawer in our kitchen. This way, I can take a quick scan to my Mac or iPad for things that come in the mail or the kid’s school packets. The iX100 has quickly found a place in my life. 

If you are looking for an ultra-portable, wireless scanning solution, check out the ScanSnap iX100, available now.

For an even more in-depth review, check out Brooks Duncan’s review at DocumentSnap. He’s got some excellent photos and videos to show off the iX100 in greater detail.

The Importance of an All Day Apple Watch Battery

One question that still looms over the Apple Watch is battery life. Apple has explained several times that you’ll need to charge it every night. However, the question that hasn’t been asked (or answered) is if I charge it overnight and strap it on at 7AM, will it still work at 9PM, or even 11pm? Is there some point during the day that my Apple Watch, starting with a full tank, runs out of gas?

This is a big deal. While poor battery life seems the way of things with most smart watches, the early adopters of those devices are a small group of nerds and understand the underlying physics. That isn’t the case with the Apple Watch. There will be a lot of people buying the watch that never think about batteries and processors, and shiny screens. They just want their $500 Apple Watch to work and if it craps out at dinner time, there will be an uproar.

I don’t think Apple can afford to get this wrong and I think they know it. I bet that this requirement for an all-day battery has been at the front of their mind throughout this product’s development. There has been a lot of criticism that the Apple Watch is too thick. However, longer battery life requires a bigger battery and Apple is entirely willing to take the heat on the watch being too thick to keep the all-day battery. It’s not just the watch’s thickness though. I think nearly every component of that watch, from the processor clock speed to multi-tasking to the number of your heartbeats it records, are all set to preserve battery life. Apple nailed the Apple Watch in so many ways. Now they just need to make sure it will stay alive on our wrists all day.

MPU 214: Back To School

Katie is going back to school and I’m sending my daughter off to college. As a result, we’ve been both thinking a lot about student workflows. In our most recent show we cover some excellent Mac and iPad based solutions and share several ideas from listeners.

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MPU 213: Principal Mike and Listener Feedback

MPU 213 is up and available for download. This month’s feedback show includes a short workflow interview with K-8 principal Mike Rogers from TechEdvance. Mike shares some really cool Drafts workflows for classroom evaluations that could be adapted to a lot of uses. We also had plenty of feedback on task management and other topics from the the last month. These live shows are a lot of fun and information dense. We’re getting lots of positive feedback about them. Check it out.

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Sad News at Macworld

Just this morning I was admiring the depth of coverage Macworld put up in relation to yesterday’s announcement. Some of the smartest tech writers in the business worked at Macworld. I say worked because today, the day after their outstanding work yesterday, most of my friends at Macworld were laid off. The magazine will cease publication. The website will continue. I’m sure this was a difficult decision for whoever had to make it. Today I’m just sad for some talented friends that find themselves out of work. 

Selling Your Old Phone

Speaking of that new iPhone, if you decide to sell your old one through Gazelle (which is what I do every year), use this link to make KatieFloyd™ and I look like rock stars. This year, I’m selling the iPhone 4S that drops out the bottom of the annual Sparks Phone shuffle.

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6 or 6 Plus?

Yesterday’s Apple announcements were pretty spectacular. The Apple Watch looks like a really promising product and I’m sure I’ll end up getting one.The more pressing question however is for those of us upgrading to the new iPhone. You can now choose between the 6 and 6 Plus models. I am planning on pre-ordering so I’ve been spending way too much time thinking about which device makes more sense.

The differences are quantifiable:

iPhone 6

Awesome with a 4.7 inch screen.

iPhone 6 Plus

All the iPhone 6 awesome plus a 5.5 inch screen, better camera (optical image stabilization), longer battery life, and $100 more.


I wrote earlier about the dilemma for people that want a small phone but the best features and that situation now exists, at least a little bit. I’ve been leaning toward the larger phone because I’m really curious about how a bigger screen would change my relationship to my iPhone. I really like my iPad and if I had some of those features in my pocket at all times, I may really like that. I’m so curious that I’ve made a mock-up with this template from Ars Technica. I printed the page, folded it around the 6 Plus size, and taped a stack of index cards to the back to give it the approximate thickness of the actual phone. I’ve carried it so far in my fancy work pants and my jeans. It fits fine in my pocket. I’ve set it in my car mount and it seems like the larger screen will not be a problem for me to carry around and a benefit when viewing. In addition to giving me some idea of whether or not the 6 Plus will work, walking around with a paper phone in my pocket has provided my family a seemingly infinite amount of amusement.

I’m probably going to just order the big one. It’s not a tattoo. It’s a phone. If the big one doesn’t work, I suspect next year Apple will have another phone that I’ll be similarly lusting after.

The Stay-At-Home Guide to the Apple iPhone Event

Tomorrow is a big day for Apple. They are taking the stage at the Flint Center for the Performing Arts in Cupertino and going to take the wraps off of the iPhone 6. Moreover, there are also rumors of an iWatch, secure payment, and other bits and bobs. There is even a secret building. For Apple geeks, it is the Super Bowl, Oscars, and Christmas morning all wrapped up into one. Even with the larger venue, there are a lot of us that won’t be able to attend so I thought it would be fun to have my own stay-at-home guide for those of us that didn’t get a golden ticket.

1. Watch the Live Stream

Apple is going to be broadcasting live. Apple is increasingly providing a live stream for these events, which provides the stay-homer with a much better experience. Where we used to have to sit and hammer at the refresh button on our browsers as we waited for our favorite websites to upload blurry photos or crash or both, now we get the whole enchilada, live.

2. Plug in for the Commentary Track

Because the event is live streaming, you don’t need a website that is going to be cranking photos at your browser. Instead, you can now pick someone for their knowledge of Apple and Apple events. There are several good potential sources. I will be watching the comment stream from Macworld. It’s usually Jason Snell and Dan Moren. I think Jason is one of the most rational and knowledgeable guys out there when it comes to Apple and I always find his thoughts insightful.

3. Get Social

If you are reading this article, you are already following the right sorts of people on Twitter. Plug in tomorrow at 10AM PST and watch the banter fly. I’ve come to enjoy the social part of these events perhaps even more that the announcements themselves. I think Twitter is ground zero for this sort of thing.

4. Have Some Fun with It

There are several ways to increase the fun. I know people that insist on watching these events in the same room with fellow geeks. Some people play bingo. Others play various drinking games revolving around Johnny Ive appearing in a white room or saying the word All-U-Min-EE-Um. It is a great day to let your geek flag fly (and check your credit card balance). Go crazy.

5. Don’t Take It Too Serious

Apple is one of the world’s largest companies run by some very smart people. When the show is over and the Internet explodes with commentary about how the company is going in the toilet and the iPhone/iWatch/iWhatever is a bust, don’t take it too seriously. Sadly, making money on the Internet often has a lot more to do with incensing readers than enlightening them. 

On the flip side, the reality distortion field still exists with big Apple announcements and it is easy to get carried away thinking they just cured cancer when, in fact, they just made it a lot easier to buy a pizza. I usually give the whole thing a few days to percolate before deciding how I think Apple’s latest bit of wizardry fits into the big scheme.