Last week I was looking at our Etsy stats when I noticed we were getting a massive amount of traffic from Gizmodo. Gizmodo? Holy cow. For anyone who doesn't already know, Gizmodo is a MASSIVE tech blog that has become a major news outlet for the tech industry. I had a thousand thoughts flash through my head as I tried to track down what they had said about us and why. 

Turns out that one of the writers at Gizmodo had put together a Frequent Flyer X piece about "How to use your electronics during takeoff without getting busted" and they linked to one of our iPad cases so you could hide your device on the plane.......I have mixed feelings. 

Sure, we sort of got mentioned in a Gizmodo article (even though the link just said "Etsy") and yes, it sent several thousand people to that listing that wouldn't have otherwise seen it, but not in the best light. 

We do not condone the use of our cases to break the rules of the FAA, TSA, SEC, WTO, NATO, EPA, CIA, and so on and so forth...

Yes, our cases are the perfect disguise for your iPad and we really appreciate Gizmodo acknowledging that. We just ask that you use your perfect disguise for good and not evil. Keeping your device in one of our book cases so a would-be thief won't snatch it is a great idea, sneaking your device into the Pentagon so you can upload the kernel for SkyNet is not something we approve of. 

We don't need a formal apology from Gizmodo or any of their writers, we are just happy someone saw us. I would, however, appreciate a featured article that outlines how amazing our cases are...and if they could work in a few celebrity shout-outs, that would be great as well. In all seriousness though, we appreciate the link and will continue to work as hard as we can until we have our own big feature. 

This blog post is way overdue but much needed! Almost a year ago, JC and I started ReAuthored and shortly after we launched our website, we were contacted by active duty service member SFC Troy Anthony Swanson. He was on his second deployment in Iraq and interested in a case. After having worked with veterans and active duty military personnel for years prior to starting ReAuthored, JC and I felt that the least we could do was offer Troy a free case as our own personal thank you for his service. It wasn't much, but seeing as we had quit our jobs and had a one year old to feed, it was all we had to offer at the time. Troy was thrilled when we told him and, after receiving his case, he so graciously shared with us a glimpse into his life and his work overseas. 

We still talk about Troy and the impact he had on us cannot be quantified. He is a wonderful reminder that right now, this very minute, there are thousands of men and women like Troy fighting for our freedom in so many different ways. Troy's position was unique because he wasn't out on the field fighting with guns (which is what I think so many people think when they think of a deployed service member). No...Troy was a military musician which meant he was out on the bases playing jazz music for our troops and fighting to keep up morale. In my opinion, this may be one of the most overlooked, but crucial, positions in the military. And instead of telling you the details of Troy's life as a deployed soldier, I'd rather show you using the pictures Troy shared with us. 

You will see that our case traveled with Troy from day to day and was even able to withstand an Iraq summer with 120 degree heat! But please don't focus on the case...the soldier is what's important here. I am so proud to have someone like Troy representing our country and I hope this glimpse at one specific soldier gives you an even greater appreciation for our military members. Whether you're for war or against war shouldn't matter when it comes to supporting our soldiers. For they are the brave men and women that have dedicated to keeping us safe, no matter the cost. After 18 years in the military, Troy told us that he still loves every minute. Here is an inside sneak peek into the career that SFC Troy loves so much...  

 It's been a few months since I updated everyone on how we're doing and what we're doing so I'm thinking it's about that time again. In the last 2 months a lot has happened! In order to save you the boring details, here are the highlights...

* We were honored to be nominated to be featured in Better Home and Garden's gift guide  in their December issue. We were hopeful, nervous and excited to make and send them the 3 cases they requested and we were definitely disappointed when we weren't selected. However, after just 5 months in business, our company made it to the final 50 nominees for the handmade gift category and for that we are so proud. :)

* Let's Talk Tablets has had 3 posts about us in the last 2 months and we sure are appreciative. In fact, they are even currently holding a giveaway contest for a free ReAuthored iPad 2 case. You can check it all out and enter the giveaway contest using the links below...

- 7 HP TouchPad Skins and Cases for Back To School    

- iPad 2 Giveaway

- ReAuthored iPad 2 Book Case Review Plus Giveaway

* As of 9/15/11, our cases are being sold at Poppy in downtown Columbia, MO. This is our first retail gig and Poppy has gotten a fabulous response to our cases so we're hoping that this is just the first of many retail arrangements. Lily at Poppy did a fabulous job on the display...check it out here.

* We recently received confirmation that ReAuthored has been accepted as a merchant at the King's Daughter's Holiday Festival in Columbia, MO! Not only does King's Daughter's support an amazing cause, it's a crazy cool holiday festival that we are honored to be a part of. If you're local or in our neck of the woods, come check us out there November 11-13th. Until then, we will be working feverishly to get our inventory, display, and presentation ready for our first festival event. We're off to a good start with this amazing custom order stand that JC made!

* TouchPad Talk posted a great article on our cases! Check it out here.

* Missouri Life Magazine will be featuring our cases in their holiday issue (November/December) and we are so excited to see how it turns out. Look for us next month!

It's been an exciting 5 months for JC and I and we can't wait to see what the next 5 months will bring. Thank you for your support...it truly means a lot!

 If you've reached this page, you're taking advantage of the iPad the way it should be. The iPad can be a great business tool and if you're careful, you can actually get more done with it than beating level 12 on Angry Birds Rio. 

It's fast, it's fun and if you actually get done reading every page on Reddit,  getting that last 3rd star and watching everything in your Netflix cue, you can actually be productive while you use it. 

You can do a LOT on it right out of the box, but we all know the best way to get the most out of your iPad is to get the best apps. With God  only knows how many apps our there at any given moment, it's hard to narrow it down between what you should be downloading and what it just going to make you mad and cost you time and money. That's why we decided that while we were wasting our time browsing the app store that we would go ahead and build a list that narrows it down to the best of the best. 

Without further ado, here is our top 25 list of the best iPad apps for Business, Sales and Finance. 

Oh yeah, and while your here, go and check out our sweet iPad cases!

1. Evernote

I love Evernote. Period. It's got pic-to-text recognition, you can organize everything fluidly, it's got a cool elephant logo. Honestly though, it's an app everyone should have. It will help organize your life. 

2. Skype

Call, video chat, text, sign or do whatever you feel like with your friends and clients for free with Skype. Plus, it makes international calling super cheap if you so need that function. This is a must have app. 

3. DropBox

It keeps everything you put in it accessible. It's super easy to use and you will thank me, Dropbox and God for downloading and using it the next time something crashes or you are on the road without computer access. 

4. Documents to Go

Its almost as if Microsoft built this app.....yeah right.... Seriously though, Documents to Go will help you open, edit and share your Word, Excel and Powerpoint files and folders. It works for these programs and that is really all you can ask for. 

5. Bloomberg

6. WebEx

7. Bento

Bento is a personal database of information. Keep track of clients, projects, events and more all from one spot.

8. Instapaper

If you're like me, at any given time you will have between 8 and 65 tabs open in your browser. Instapaper helps you close all of those tabs by saving and helping you organize text from webpages. 

9. Box.net

5GB of free space to easily store whatever you would like. It's very user-friendly and helps you keep track of all of those files sitting in that fragile computer at the office. 

10. GoodReader

Should Apple have already taken care of this .PDF problem without having to get an app? Yes, yes they should have, but that is a different argument. Since they haven't, the good people at GoodReader have stepped up to give your iPad all of the .PDF function you could ever want or need. View, edit, annotate and more. 

11. Time Master + Billing

Work in the field? Keep proper track of your time and create invoices wherever you are with this app. Professional invoices and it's by-far the highest rates timekeeping app in iTunes. 

12. PrintCentral

Become the proverbial "God of Printers" with PrintCentral. This app will allow you to wirelessly print and control printers directly from your iPad. Cut the docking middle man out and print wire free.

13. Square

Accept credit cards with your iPad. It's easy to sign-up and use, they have made a great name for themselves and it's secure. If you run a stand or little shop or any sort, this app will increase your business and do so safely. 

14. ToDo

Keep your tasks in order with ToDo. It's the iPads most simple yet powerful app for productivity. Sync tasks and events seamlessly and get more done. 

15. SimpleNote

Keep your thoughts handy wherever you are. SimpleNote lets you create lists, manage tasks and gives you a place to spill your crazy and review it later. It's Simple. It's worth it. 

16. CNBC Real-Time

Great streaming quotes and up to the minute information from a trusted source in financial news. CNBC Real-Time is just that, real-time data for a hungry trader. 

17. E Trade Mobile Pro

Manage your accounts in style with E-Trade mobile pro. You know all of those sweet trading tools you hear about with E trade? Yeah, this app has them all. 

18. OmniGraffle

Throw the old napkins away. OmniGraffle for the iPad lets you create a quick diagram, process chart, page layout, website wireframe, or graphic design. This is truly a professionals app and if you need it, it's worth it. 

19. Easy Chart HD

I love apps like Easy Chart HD. It does one thing very very well, charts. Create them, view them and share them with those around you. 

20. Numbers

It's Excel for the iPad only prettier. Keep all of your spreadsheets together and kickin with Numbers for the iPad. 

21. Roambi

Keep track of your business like a boss. Roambi lets you track and view your business data in easy to understand formats. It's a great way to see where you are and where you're going. 

22. Analytics HD

This is THE app for Google Analytics. Track your websites visitors in real-time with Analytics HD. It's easy to use, easy to set-up and it will save you so much time. 

23. Penultimate

Why carry around this giant notepad if you can't keep any notes on it? Penultimate is the number 1 handwriting app on the market. Turn your tablet into...well... a tablet. Penultimate keeps all of your notes in order and makes them easy to edit and review. 

24. Dragon Dictation

Dragon Dictation may not even need an introduction. Put simply, they are the best voice recognition people in the market. Update your social networks, text, text to talk, talk to text, record notes or whatever you would like. It's handy and it will keep you in the right lane of traffic.......

25. Filemaker Go

July was our 2nd full month in business and JC and I are SO excited with how it went. We went from selling 12 cases in the month of June to selling 73 cases in the month of July. This was a huge jump for us! We can't take all the credit, though, so we've got to give some to where it's due. Here are some people that helped us make July a great month...

*Casey Case at KindleOwners.com was kind enough to write a review on his website about the case that we made for his Kindle DX. And although it posted on June 29th, it continued to get us some traffic into July...making it the 2nd highest referring site for our website last month. 

*Patrick Jordan at iPadInsight.com caught us by surprise when he unexpectedly published a 'first glance' review of our product on July 3rd. We got over 500 unique visitors that day alone and it was a great start to a good month. We immediately made him a case to show our appreciation and his full review of our product (with pictures) was just icing on the cake. His website currently refers us more traffic than any other website and we can thank him for many of the orders we got in July.

*Bailey Reutzel at the Columbia Tribune (our local newspaper) came across our website after her friend saw us on Etsy and saw that we were local. She contacted us about doing an article on our company and, on July 31st, the article was published. It was so exciting for us and the support we have gotten locally has been amazing! 

*Brian Hart at NakediPad.com also wrote a blog about our product after we sent him a case for his personal iPad 2 and we really appreciate it! And even though his blog on the cases posted on July 28th, it is still the 4th highest referring site for our website.

 *JC Holmes at ReAuthored for his computer wizardry, his patience, and his vast knowledge on things concerning the internet  (of which I know little about). I know he is technically an owner of this company so I probably don't need to announce his credit in ReAuthored but his expertise continues to amaze me. We are just starting our 3rd month and already our website's page ranking has moved from 1 to 3...something I cannot take much credit for but is really an impressive feat considering we have not done something like this before. 

*All of our wonderful customers who have encouraged us, given us advice, provided valuable feedback, and been patient with us while we work out the kinks and improve our efficiency and our technique. I had no idea what an impact our customers would have on our product, our ambition, and our happiness. Getting to learn about our customers and their lives all over the world is by far my favorite part of this business. 

 And now an overview of the things that we learned in July... 

1) That shipping costs are something you should research immediately. Shipping can be expensive but if you figure out how to do it right, it doesn't have to be. This was a big (and costly) lesson for  us that we will not make again. 

2) That some things just don't make sense. After contacting the local distributor for the type of glue we use on our cases, we were told that they could sell us bulk glue...for $2 more (per .71 oz) than what we buy it for at our local craft shop... huh?!? I thought bulk meant you pay less/item because you buy a lot of them at one time....

3) That you get a lot of confused looks/questions when you tell the employee at the craft shop that you came in to get 30 bottles of glue but they don't have 30 bottles of glue so you need to request a 'rain check' order for all 30 bottles asap. 

4) That there are still kind and patient people that support local/small business and are willing to give us a lending hand
by telling their friends, offering suggestions, ordering them as gifts, and following us on Facebook and Twitter. 

5) That getting a new table saw makes cutting books SO much easier and more accurate. 

6) That there are WAY more book out there than I had ever realized and they are all beautiful in their own way. Once we started really looking for used books, we found that they are everywhere. Thrift stores, antique stores, garage sales, craigslist...start looking around you and you will find that books are such a prevalent part of our lives that we barely even notice that they are there (and by 'there', I mean 'everywhere!).

7) That practice really does make perfect. Our cases certainly aren't perfect (and probably won't ever be) but they evolved so much in the month of July and we are thrilled with the difference. 

8) That the left page matters. End of story. 

 Alright...those are the highlights of the month of July for us. After such an exciting and rewarding month, we know that we made the right decision starting ReAuthored and we are starting to realize that there is a lot that we can do with discarded or used books. Our next project... making a purse out of a book. We already have the book cut. I just need to find the time to experiment with the fabric. I'll add more info and some pictures as the project progresses. 

 Until next time, take care :)  

Have you all heard of this? The flipback book... an innovation so simple it seems both silly and genius. What they've done is changed the orientation of the print book. So instead of having a book with 2 full pages side by side. You have a tiny book that opens “top to bottom and has sideways-printed text, so you get a full length novel in little more than the size of an iPhone.” There is even a video showing just how convenient and portable these tiny novels really are. The question that keeps swimming through my head... Could this be the next phenomenon in reading or is this a last straw attempt at keeping some semblance of the physical book in circulation?

I stumbled across the link to flipbackbooks.com from a random tweet I stumbled upon. My immediate reaction was similar to that of the Snuggie...it was an idea so simple it made my head spin. Is that what we've all been waiting for? I mean, what really appeals to us about the e-reader...the orientation of the page and the size of our medium OR the convenience of technology and immediate gratification of ebook stores?

It appears that Europe's priorities lie with the orientation of the page and the size of the medium. According to Flipback Books, “this covetable new format has sparked a reading revolution that has swept across Europe.” And with over 1.5 million books in print across Europe, I'd say that Flipback Books is certainly on to something.

Ok... so let's start with the orientation of the page and the size of our medium. How important are these factors when determining our method of literature. Personally, the size of the medium doesn't matter as much to me as the weight of the medium but both are important. I remember lugging around those Harry Potter books and being annoyed at how bulky they were. They didn't fit in my purse and they were obnoxious to carry around...not to mention the countless number of interruptions that I got from strangers that wanted to share their opinion of the books with me. I would've LOVED to have had those books on my Kindle.

But what if those Harry Potter books had been drastically condensed and printed in the form of a flipback book? I love my Kindle but I can't deny the appeal of a physical book. Chances are... I would've bought the flipback book. It's light, small, convenient, and I like what they stand for. Story has it, a Dutch Bible printer, determined to improve the way we read print books, invented this printing format and has seen much success since launching it in Holland 18 months ago. Not sure if it will be in the US soon but they are available for order online. At £9.99, or $15.99 USD, it is going to cost you a little more than an ebook or the physical book printed the old-fashioned way but we are no strangers to paying for convenience, right?

I must admit... I couldn't stop myself from purchasing one of these flip-back books. Even with the additional £11.00 for international shipping, I didn't care. Curiosity has gotten the best of me and I am bound and determined to see for myself what these books are all about. I will report back on this topic with a final determination after I receive my book and began reading it. Until then, I'll continue trying to figure out what the flipback book is going on... 

Once upon a time, the e-reader was born. It's name was Kindle. It was 7 ½ inches tall and weighed 10.2 oz. This gorgeous new addition to the world set off a fever around the world that has only intensified since. Much like children, the e-readers capabilities grew quickly. Techy, edgy, book aficionados all over the world rejoiced.

In a crazy race for first place, ebooks have proven themselves a worthy adversary to the print book. The world watched as Amazon's ebook sales surpassed it's hardback peers'. It wasn't long after that when Amazon's ebook sales exceeded their print book sales. And as Amazon's name became synonymous with the ereader, Barnes and Noble's Nook squeezed into the e-reader market and stole the touchy bookies and the savvy magaziners. Shockingly, this has had little impact on Kindle-hype as the two companies co-exist nicely together and fit the needs of a large percentage of readers.

But what about the Pandigital Novel?

Rumor has it...the Pandigital Novel was born in Dublin in the Spring of 2010. It came in at 7 ½ inches tall and 8 oz heavy. It is known to exhibit signs of both eInk and LCD capabilities...evidence that there many now be multiple species of the Pandigital Novel. Word on the street is that there may be as many as 3 species in the wild, 2 of which exude color. In fact, this mythical ereader is believed to have brought in revenue comparable than the Nook did in 2010. Could this be a fierce competitor for the Nook and the Kindle?

There is no denying that the Pandigital Novel (and rumors of said creature) are growing quickly but it appears evident that there is little fear that the Kindle or the Nook will be on any extinction watches in the near future.

However, it appears that the iPad and the Pandigital Novel Tablet may be competing for the same group of consumers. And at ½ the weight and less than ½ the price, the Pandigital Novel is going to sway many of them away from the iPad. From the reviews that I've seen, though, you are certainly getting what you pay for... a cheaper feeling plastic frame, a finicky touch screen, a matte finish that can skew reading at different angles, and slow loading times.

So will survival of the fittest be kind to the Pandigital Novel or will it disappear into the background... leaving only the legend of their brief fame? Only time will tell. And when time decides to tell me, I'll make sure to share it with you.

Anyone that has ever comparison shopped for an e-reader knows that there are enough options to make anyone's head spin. And since JC and I recently decided to expand our Kindle cases to accommodate as many e-readers as possible, we did some research on all the different e-readers out there. This is not an easy task for those enamored by technology (like me!).

Ok... first... let's distinguish between the e-reader and the tablet. According to Wikipedia, an e-reader “is a portable electronic device that is designed primarily for the purpose of reading digital books and periodicals.” E-readers use e-ink technology to give the appearance of a print book rather than a computer screen (i.e. no glare, no backlight, etc). 

A tablet computer “typically has a faster screen capable of higher refresh rates which makes them more suitable for interaction.” These are used more as computers and less as e-readers. And although the tablet can be used as an e-reader, it does not have the advantage of e-ink technology. Instead, the visual appearance of the tablet is the same as a computer.

Since we have identified over 70 different e-reader and tablets, I thought it would be best to compare them in groups, starting with the newest Kindles, Kobos, and Nooks... 3 of the most popular e-reader brands on the market.

Kobo eReader Touch Edition

Who (should buy it): Per CrunchGear... “If you don’t need 3G or the other perks of the Kindle ecosystem, and just want a straightforward e-book reading device, this Kobo could be a good match.”

What (does it cost): $129.99

Where (is it sold): In the U.S., the Kobo can be found in Borders. In Canada, it can be found at Chapters Indigo Coles. It can also be found in Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Staples

When (did it come out): It was officially available as of 6/10/11.

Why (it's so cool): It's focused on just plain reading. Think of it as your personal elibrary and nothing else. I mean... when was the last time you tweeted how many chapters you had read in a print book...

All-New Nook

Who (should buy it): A reader interested in having a multi-functional device with social media connections.

What (does it cost): $139

Where (is it sold): Barnes and Noble, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Staples, Books-A-Million

When (did it come out): Barnes and Noble began shipping pre-orders on or about 6/10/11.

Why (it's so cool): It has easy navigation and a full touchscreen along with many social media apps such as Facebook, Twitter, and Nook Friends.

Kindle 3

Who (should buy it): The dedicated reader who wants the simplicity of a book, a touchless screen, and social media.

What (does it cost): $114 Wi-Fi with ads, $139 Wi-Fi w/o ads, and $164 3G/Wifi with ads, $189 3G/Wi-Fi w/o ads

Where (is it sold): Amazon.com, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Staples, Books-A-Million

When (did it come out): April 2010

Why (it's so cool): You have the option for 3G, great screen contrast, faster page turns, social media apps, and a large library through Amazon.