ISG Blog

Do you create documents that are going to be printed and have people fill them in? Maybe they're activity sheets, or you're collecting information from a group of people.

Whatever the reason Google Docs lets you create BOXES so you have really good looking printed documents for people to work with. All you're doing is creating a table and adding borders (so this is both a great tip on adding boxes AND using tables to format your document)!

Learn more here.

Are you using Google Docs to keep track of minutes during a meeting? If not, you may want to consider it. Everyone in the meeting can collaborate on the document and edit it live. This means you get better minutes that are more accurate and you don't need to send them out later to be checked!

Meetings usually result in actions, and sometimes the actions are for people who weren't at the meeting. Google Docs makes that a really simple thing to achieve! Directly in the Google Doc you can assign actions and the person will be notified AND be able to put the information directly into the document!

Learn more here.

Hopefully you knew that in Google Docs you can talk instead of type. If you didn't you can learn a little about it at this blog post: Dictate that Document. However, the great thing about Google products is the keep on improving and getting new features all the time!

Want to highlight that sentence you just spoke? Say highlight yellow! Are you reviewing somebody elses document and want to add a comment, say insert comment then make your comment. You can even align text and add columns, with your voice!  

Learn more by going here.

Another tip that is actually a Chrome tip but is related to writing which is why I'm posting it as part of the Google Docs series. 

Grammarly is a Chrome extension that revises text you type in Chrome. It suggests corrections for you to make to your spelling and your grammar, and it even provides an explanation for you with alternative options to chose from. To learn how to use the extension, watch the video above and follow the steps here.

Copious amounts of our communication are written. While we need to communicate in plain English, some words are superior in their ability to convey a message. Todays tip is actually about Google Chrome (the browser), but we think you'll like it when you need to write!

Callow. Firebrand. Harangue. Excoriate. Schadenfreude. Sangfroid. Do you know what these words mean?

With the Magoosh Chrome extension, you learn a new word in every new Chrome tab you open. The interface is super simple, making learning new words very easy–you’ll learn new words without even thinking about it. Check it out by clicking hither.

Welcome back to those of you returning this week. Team iSG is still a little depleted in numbers as the holiday break continues for many. We are still available through the Supportal and we encourage you to keep any tickets you have up to date by adding comments or questions. 

Did you know that you can limit a Google search to a specific site? Simply preceed your search term with site:nzherald.co.nz (or the site you're wanting to use) then add what you're looking for. Google will ONLY search the site specified for what you want. For example:

The web is a confusing place and there is always someone trying to rip you off. Sometimes it is really obvious (did you really think you had an uncle with a bazillion dollars?), other times it isn't quite so clear. Banks suffer from this and are an area we all need to be really careful.

One of the tricks bad guys use is a subtle change in the URL. Not enough to really catch your eye, but enough to be a completely different site. So look at URL's carefully! If you bank with BNZ and usually see bnz.co.nz when banking online be extremely hesitant to login at bnz-online.co.nz. 

Here is an article about a clever different URL that involves Google: thenextweb.com/google-isnt-google

Everyday there seems to be another warning about Android phones being compromised. While there is an element of scaremongering in these articles, there is also a lot of truth! Most often these articles talk about problem apps that aren't available in the Google Play Store.

Read the article here:wired.com/never-ever-ever-download-android-apps-outside-google-play/

That means for most of us we're not going to be impacted. We did think it was worth sharing this article to remind us all of why only using the Google Play Store is important. Google work hard to keep the Google Play Store malware free. So please don't install apps from other app stores and especially don't just download an APK file and run it!

If you don't know what an APK file is then you're fairly safe (unless you let someone else fiddle with your phone to install something they think is a must have)! If you have someone like that in your life be careful by insisting they don't install anything unless it is available in the Google Play Store. Oh, and if you've got any questions, log a ticket and we will have a look for you. 

The last couple of posts have been about editing photos on your phone. Sometimes you don't need to edit a photo because it was such a great shot! You may want to caption it though. Get Involved or Come Along or another caption transforms a photo into a powerful message or marketing image.

How can you easily add a caption? Quick!

Quick is an app that makes it simple and fast to put some words onto a photo. You can do some basic formatting of the words, but the purpose of the app is to quickly (like the name suggests) get a caption (or title) onto a photo.

When you're using your phone are there some apps you use a lot and need to flick between? Do you think there must be a better way clicking the home button, then launching the app? Circle Sidebar is an Android app that solves that problem.

They borrow from the edge screen idea Samsung has and you swipe in from the side of your screen to see different actions. The actions are whatever you set. So if you have a few apps you want to quickly flick between try Circle Sidebar.

There is a free version here, and a paid version here.

Do notifications on your phone bother you? Sometimes you're on your phone doing something and alerts start popping up and hijacking what you're trying to do. Then you forget what you needed to do because of distraction or frustration!

Dingless is an app that stops notifications when you're using your phone. When you switch your screen off alerts will restore so you won't miss anything BUT you can have control over that as well! Helpful controls like how many times it beeps if lots of emails arrive, or what to do when the phone is charging.

If you prefer to mute your phone, then forget to turn the volume back up check out Shush! We love this app as it makes it really easy to mute your phone and have it automatically turn volume of notifications back on!

Sometimes you want to save text messages. Maybe because you're swapping phone, or because it is a text with some personal significance to you. Whatever the reason there are apps that make this possible. 

If you want to save your text messages to your Gmail, follow this article. 

To transfer text messages from one phone to another, use the app SMS Backup & Restore.  

Did you know that when you update a ticket in the Supportal (support.sarmy.net.nz), the person who has the ticket allocated to them gets notified? This means that when you add additional information we know. Similarly, if you're wanting an update, asking for a progress report will have the ticket prompt us. 

This is really helpful behaviour because we know that communication is difficult. We spend a lot of time on the phone which makes it difficult for you to contact us and you are busy caring for people, transforming lives, and reforming society (so not sitting and waiting for us to return your call). 

So in addition to suggesting you use the Supportal to log tickets, we suggest you use them to communicate with us!

Modern life means we change mobile phone from time to time. For some this is an exciting time as we've got a new device that does new things and promises to make like better. For others, it is less exciting and more stressful. New features, re-loading apps, things working differently, and losing text messages!

Text messages often have a long history and we don't always want to lose them. Well there is a way to back them up (which means you can keep them)! Of course you need to have done this before your phone is lost / stolen / broken, so don't necessarily leave this until you've got your new phone!

Learn more here: howtogeek.com/back-up-text-messages

We would encourage you to use Google Drive as the location for your backup.

Did you know there are ways to find your phone when you misplace it? Google even lets you Google where is my phone to search for it! The key is to be setup ready to go *BEFORE* your phone isn't in your palm or your pocket!

Follow the steps in this article: androidcentral.com/lost-phone to be able to track your phone down and avoid the panic that sets in. 

Also remember that you can ring 04 802 6262, choose option 3 to be connected through to Vodafone. This will enable you to have your phone locked preventing calls etc from being made and protecting yourself and The Salvation Army from additional costs (which can be in the hundreds or even thousands of dollars). 

Mobile phones can be really helpful devices. I use alarms to remind me of things I need to do at specific times. Apps to track my todo list or prompt me to do something at a specific location. It also keeps me in touch with my work team and my family.

They are really helpful devices, but could a new trick make it more helpful? Decide for yourself by checking out this article detailing 5 innovative apps that can make your phone more useful. Honestly I think 2 of them are worth looking at, but perhaps you will find others helpful in how you use your mobile phone to be smarter. 

Do you have to monitor your data usage to prevent using more than you get each month? Do you wonder what is using data and want to limit things? Well check out this article to see how to examine what data your apps are using and prevent them!

We think that Chrome is the best browser to use. It is fast and secure as well as easily updated (it does it all by itself). But there are a couple of other tips we want to share today.

The first tip is to login to your browser using your @salvationarmy.org.nz account. This will make your bookmarks and settings will follow you whatever computer you're using (provided you've logged in on that one too). So when you bookmark a site at your desk you'll be able to see it on your mobile phone! 

You can also de-clutter the tool bar, mute tabs quickly, and search smarter and faster really easily. Check out this article for more details: bettercloud.com/ChromeTips

Having to employ a new staff member can be cumbersome and frustrating, particularly when it comes to all the paperwork that needs to be completed.  Aaargh!!  And then to top it all off there can be unexpected delays with ETA's for various items new staff need to get on with their tasks.

Most of the paperwork relates to HR documentation required by law, but from an ISG perspective, you may also need to know what forms need to be completed, approved and submitted for action.

Most office staff will need a computer, a user account and sometimes even a mobile phone.  ISG have always had the following ETA's for these:

• a computer can take up to 3 weeks to arrive from the date the request is first received at ISG;
• a mobile phone can take up to 3 days to arrive from the date the request is first received at ISG;
• a new user account can take approximately 3 business days from date the request is received, assuming there is an active employee ID for the user. New user account requests are worked on Monday's, Wednesday's and Friday's.  

All these requests, can be pre-empted and a manager is welcome to log them before the employee arrives.

• Computers and mobile phones can be requested before a manager has even made the final call on who will be employed.  Machines are only configured for users after they start, but the hardware itself can be requested, submitted to Divisional or Nationally Managed Boards for approval and subsequent submission to ISG for action.  The sooner a request is received, the sooner iSG are able to provide the necessary equipment;
• New user accounts can also be requested before an active ID is provided. All this means is that ISG will check for the activation of the ID and regular notifications will be sent to the person who logged the original ticket and their line manager letting them know if no active ID is available.

ISG do not like to keep people waiting, but the more advance notice a manager can give us for new staff, the sooner we can get the required work done and sorted for them.

Thanks for helping us help you.

If you're anything like me then you probably forget little things. You know, like stopping to grab milk on the may home. Or maybe extra bananas from the supermarket as you pop through on the weekend. Whatever it is, your mobile phone can probably help you out!

All you need to do is type in the Google search box and you're away:

Read the full article here (or set a reminder and read it later).