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App Update: Wide Email
Among the most important time-saving utilities on my Mac, is a little application called TextExpander (TE). At its most basic, TE is about text macros, little shortcuts that let me type one thing into the keyboard and have the computer type a very different, and usually loner or more complex thing, on the screen.
For example, if I type my initials but double up on the first letter, TE inputs my email address into the text I am writing. If I type the initials of this website but double up on the "w", TE types the site's url. It is a HUGE timesaver!
So having it on my Mac has made my life a lot easier. What about my iPhone, you ask?
Well, WideMail was just updated to version 1.2 and a simple, but useful, version of this same functionality is part of it.
I updated my copy of the application, set up a number of these shortcuts, and started using it. How is it?
Apple NEEDS to make this part of the Mail app's functionality! That is how good this is.
I can set up professional and personal email signatures, three different types of greetings, and much more. It is a huge time-saving convenience!
With WideEmail's new Typing Shortcuts!
You can--
--Write whole words or phrases by typing only one or two letters.
--Customize shortcuts by adding, changing, or deleting a virtually unlimited number of shortcuts
--Make shortcuts for single words, sentences, or entire paragraphs
Unfortunately, WideEmail doesn't offer an email address field until it has sent the new email text to Apple's mail app. That means you cannot type someone's initials and have their email address automatically inserted. It is a shame, since it means shortcuts cannot be set for specific email addresses. Now THAT would be a great feature.
Wide Email is available HERE in the App Store for $.99.
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But what about some of the other wide email type programs. Easy Writer is free and has some nice reviews. There is also Spell Check Touch Type which looks like it does much of the same as Wide Email but has a built in spell check for the same $.99 as Wide Email and there is still Sideways. I think that you are doing a great job with this site, but when reviewing these types of apps, I am very interested in your opinion as to how or why you chose this particular email app,rather then some of the other ones.
Thanks for the comments. The points are well taken but here is the issue we keep running into- there are certain types/genres of apps for which there are numerous versions. For example, this type of app for writing email in landscape or the apps that allow you to quickly send pre-formatted messages. When the flood of each came out we posted some of the pros and cons of many. Our hope was to help people find the one that had the right feature set for their needs and/or work style.
It gets a bit muddy when additional apps that do the same thing come out. Then, as if that isn't challenging enough, most of the initial apps have gotten one, two or three updates ALREADY.
With each update there is often a bit of a leapfrog effect. App "A" might be better than app "B"until app "B" gets an update and some new features that blow app "A" out of the water. That only lasts a day or two until app "A" also receives an update. Now "A" is back on top". And so on and so forth.
It is for that reason that we have been trying to give info on updates as they come along so that people can, hopefully, find the feature set they want most at any given time.
That being the case, however, I/we appreciate the comment and will look into adding a field or type of post that will make feature comparisons of multiple apps that do similar things easier.
Suggestions for how best to approach this are welcome and you can either post them here or contact us directly. Thanks.
I understand the dilemma given the overabundance of apps which ostensibly do the same thing, with only minor variation. Yesterday I purchased Wide Email, Touch Type with spell check and EasyWriter. After playing around wiht all 3, I decided upon Touch Type due to the spell check capabilities. As a professional, it is important to me that my emails do not look like they were written by a juinor high school kid. I was pleased with my choice until I checked the new apps released last night and came across Easy Email. I downloaded that one and found this one to be my absolute favorite. While it does not spell check, it does provide for numerous colors and fonts for your emails, as well as allowing you to set up quick responses and/or signatures. After trying to convice myself that I was supposed to like Touch Type best, I finally gave up, removed it, and, for now, have settled on Easy Email as my favorite.
Thanks for sharing this- it is a great example of how finding the right way to use this wonderful time-saving device takes TONS of time!
I would love to share it as an individual post if you have any interest in fleshing it our a bit let me/us know by email...
Again- thanks for sharing this..
A while back, when those four, wide-email apps came out in one day, I scrutinized them carefully and chose Wide Email for reasons I believe I mentioned at the time. Now, I'm even happier with my choice, as this developer really seems to "get it" and has practically read my mind by adding this new functionality.