Writing With Mobile Platforms
b5media recently added some mobile blogging functionality to Contract Worker, so I’m trying my hand by writing this post on a cellphone.
It helps that I’m quite the prolific texter, since it lets me maintain a decent pace writing on a numeric keypad. Still, it’s quite tiring. Maybe if I used one of those phones with those mini keyboards? (or “thumb boards” as geeks like me call them).
Suffice to say, writing lots of text isn’t really a suitable task for a phone. Even if the mobile browser I’m using is quite powerful, it’s a bit awkward repeatedly tapping keys until the right letters come out. But at least I still get to accomplish some work away from the computer. In fact, I write this while lying down.
I’ve also been able to answer some emails through Gmail’s mobile interface. I can do these without worrying about my cell phone bill because my phone’s accessing the internet through my home wi-fi, rather than with my service provider’s cellular network.
And would you believe that my writing is actually improving? I’m choosing my words better, because more work goes into composing each one. Ultimately however, I’d rather stick to a keyboard, because my fingers are starting to cramp up.
Fellow freelancers, have you tried writing with a cell phone? Have you found it as cumbersome, yet strangely appealing as I have?
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POSTED IN: Freelance Writing, Living as a Freelancer
5 opinions for Writing With Mobile Platforms
Tom Johnson
Feb 18, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Can you expand on the mobile blogging functionality you added? I’d like to do that same. I’m a recent BlackBerry convert and find the convenience of the mobile web really appealing.
Shai Coggins
Feb 18, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Hi, Rico. What WP features are you using? And, what type of phone? How did you get yours set up?
Rico
Feb 18, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Tom: I think you should you talk to b5media about that. They were the ones who added the mobile blogging functionality to this blog. When you sign up for an account on this website (feel free to do so by the way), you’ll see a checkbox titled “Use mobile admin interface” or something similar.
By the way, have you tried out Opera Mini for your Blackberry? Second best mobile browser in my opinion, after my test Nokia N82’s Mini Map. :)
Shai: Like I said, I just logged on with “use mobile admin interface” checked. You may already know this, but it makes the wp-admin interface much more plain and simple so that it’s easier to look at on the small screens of cell phones.
I’m currently reviewing a Nokia N82, which has a really great browser. Basically, all I did was connect to the WiFi, and type in an address. It was that easy. :)
Tom Johnson
Feb 18, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Thanks for the tip about the Opera browser. I’d actually been looking for something like that.
Writing on a mobile device by Words on a page
Feb 21, 2008 at 3:12 am
[…] This blog post is an interesting look at writing with a mobile phone. The writer makes an interesting point: And would you believe that my writing is actually improving? I’m choosing my words better, because more work goes into composing each one. […]
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