smartphones

TEAT SQUEEZER

short and simple.. due an upgrade soon, is the smartphone an addition or a hinderance to the farmer?. Can one take the rough and tumble of everyday farming life?...

moy83

I wouldnt be without it now . I think they actally take more abuse than the button phone .

just do it

I've just checked the cows via the camera on the smartphone

td5man

Dont get a smart phone, you'll get nothing done between boards donedeal and facebook.
I have a samsung galaxy s2 about a year without any problems,couldn't go back to a phone that you could only make calls on.

Timmaay

td5man wrote: »

Dont get a smart phone, you'll get nothing done between boards donedeal and facebook.
I have a samsung galaxy s2 about a year without any problems,couldn't go back to a phone that you could only make calls on.

Ha horribly true! Have had afew loads of slurry have spread fairly crooked etc because I'm looking at the phone and not the field!

But yeh, have an s2 also, Its got plenty of abuse on the farm, everything bar dropping it in a bucket of milk or other liquid has happened to it so far, and its withstood abuse no problems! I do have it in a plastic case (which is a nice slim case in fairness!), and a screen cover, which I'd change about once a month, both can be got on ebay for 2/3euros.

I'd see far more Iphones with broken screens than the likes of the Samsung, I'd say that's because they tend to have more plastic in them, and the iphones screen extends right to the edges, so more likely to break if you drop it.

One thing I find myself doing all the time recently is emailing myself instead of using a scrap of paper, say when I'm measuring grass, cow numbers etc, when you go inside and are putting something on either icbf or agrinet, you have it straight away then in your emails.

merryberry

it would be great is someone came up with an app that could sync with AIMS...record events as they happen and not have to worry about them later.

Bactidiaryl

All cows bulling goes into notes along with cows calving and other events. Also find reminders very handy. Once you start using them you'll do it automatically. I'll never go back to an ordinary phone. I have an I phone and if you do Br sure to get a water proof cover. Not cheap from €60 + but essential . If your iPhone gets water damaged there's water sensors that change colour in the jacks and inside the phone if in contact with water. If the apple guys see this its warranty void ang repair is usually €200+

sea12

I have an I phone . Would never be without it now. So handy for so many things around the farm. I use the note pad for recording ewe numbers and lambs etc.

But I do spend allot of time on it

delaval

merryberry wrote: »

it would be great is someone came up with an app that could sync with AIMS...record events as they happen and not have to worry about them later.

You can now download you herd to a smart phone with IFC. We did it really brilliant available on latest software upgrade you have just received. I used to use the notes on my iphone no need any more. We still keep all calvings etc in a day book that everyone can see but treatments dryoffs etc we now put on phone and transfer weekly. Really handy for looking up records etc.

Blue Holland

Have very handy app, Distance and area measurement, great for measureing out grass for cows this time of year.

delaval

Blue Holland wrote: »

Have very handy app, Distance and area measurement, great for measureing out grass for cows this time of year.

Whats it called?

Blue Holland

Distance and area measurement by Kristofer Bjornson. It's for android, works best logging manual but auto is huge improvement on what it used to be.

delaval

Blue Holland wrote: »

Distance and area measurement by Kristofer Bjornson. It's for android, works best logging manual but auto is huge improvement on what it used to be.

Pity it's not for iphone could use tomorrow evening to measure how big an area the cows damaged.......giving it very wet tomorow:mad:

Timmaay

delaval wrote: »

You can now download you herd to a smart phone with IFC.

Whats IFC?

whelan1

Timmaay wrote: »

Whats IFC?

agrinet

Blue Holland

delaval wrote: »

Pity it's not for iphone could use tomorrow evening to measure how big an area the cows damaged.......giving it very wet tomorow:mad:

I'm sure d iphone has something just as good available if you really need to know:)

delaval

Blue Holland wrote: »

I'm sure d iphone has something just as good available if you really need to know:)

The only free one I can find is crap or maybe it's me:P:P I am due an upgrade also and was recommended to go Galaxe s3 anyone got one?

merryberry

delaval wrote: »

You can now download you herd to a smart phone with IFC. We did it really brilliant available on latest software upgrade you have just received. I used to use the notes on my iphone no need any more. We still keep all calvings etc in a day book that everyone can see but treatments dryoffs etc we now put on phone and transfer weekly. Really handy for looking up records etc.

Thanks delaval but do u know if IFC software can reconcile with agfood.ie features. I use home laptop for AIMS on agfood.ie but I think it would be good if there was an app to record calf births with DAFM on phone...a native app instead of having to log onto agfood.ie thru phone web browser. can this be done with IFC?

Blue Holland

delaval wrote: »

The only free one I can find is crap or maybe it's me:P:P I am due an upgrade also and was recommended to go Galaxe s3 anyone got one?

Was considering the S3 last upgrade but it's awful brick with case on it, always had htc's, got sony xperia last time, not convinced by it yet, good battery life though.

Timmaay

merryberry wrote: »

Thanks delaval but do u know if IFC software can reconcile with agfood.ie features. I use home laptop for AIMS on agfood.ie but I think it would be good if there was an app to record calf births with DAFM on phone...a native app instead of having to log onto agfood.ie thru phone web browser. can this be done with IFC?

Yeh, another question, do yas use the normal online agrinet (costs 85quid/yr), or this: http://www.agrinet.ie/PC_Software.aspx , which I only spotted now!

But yeh, I find agfood.ie a pain in the ar*e as I can never remember all the passwords needed for it ha!

The new sony smartphone (Sony xperia Z) is water resistant (will be ok in 1m of water for 1/2 an hour) and dust proof.
Have to agree with Bactidiaryl that water and smartphones don't mix. The amount of times you will be using your phone in the rain or you will have your iphone in your breast pocket while carrying buckets of milk and you will bend over to pick up the measuring jug and splash, 2 years ago and still bitter. Now I insure my phone, but no accidents since.

Timmaay

That sony has a 5inch screen, I think the S3 is close to that also. Too big in my opinion, I find the S2 which I have now just that little too big (screen is 4.3inch), if your holding it with one hand you can only just reach the top of the screen with your thumb, any bigger and you'd have to be using your other hand 1/2 the time! Iphone 5 has a 4inch screen and is the perfect size, if I ever manage to break myown s2 I might get one, and a decent cover with it.

delaval

merryberry wrote: »

Thanks delaval but do u know if IFC software can reconcile with agfood.ie features. I use home laptop for AIMS on agfood.ie but I think it would be good if there was an app to record calf births with DAFM on phone...a native app instead of having to log onto agfood.ie thru phone web browser. can this be done with IFC?

Don't think it can I really am not sure not in any way technical. Somone else would be better answering. I use it for treatments etc and upload to lap top.

delaval

Timmaay wrote: »

Yeh, another question, do yas use the normal online agrinet (costs 85quid/yr), or this: http://www.agrinet.ie/PC_Software.aspx , which I only spotted now!

But yeh, I find agfood.ie a pain in the ar*e as I can never remember all the passwords needed for it ha!

I really do not know ask me a sports question:(:(:(:(

td5man

delaval wrote: »

You can now download you herd to a smart phone with IFC. We did it really brilliant available on latest software upgrade you have just received. I used to use the notes on my iphone no need any more. We still keep all calvings etc in a day book that everyone can see but treatments dryoffs etc we now put on phone and transfer weekly. Really handy for looking up records etc.

Is that for android?

Blue Holland

Timmaay wrote: »

Yeh, another question, do yas use the normal online agrinet (costs 85quid/yr), or this: http://www.agrinet.ie/PC_Software.aspx , which I only spotted now!

But yeh, I find agfood.ie a pain in the ar*e as I can never remember all the passwords needed for it ha!

I'm a Kingswood user myself but is the 85 euro a year grassland software only while the 220 a year is full herd package, invaluable in my opinion.

delaval

td5man wrote: »

Is that for android?

iphone is what I have

moy83

Blue Holland wrote: »

I'm a Kingswood user myself but is the 85 euro a year grassland software only while the 220 a year is full herd package, invaluable in my opinion.

Has Kingswood any apps yet do you know ? It would be handy to be able to stick stuff in the phone and put it on the computer later

Blue Holland

moy83 wrote: »

Has Kingswood any apps yet do you know ? It would be handy to be able to stick stuff in the phone and put it on the computer later

They have apps for windows, android apps are due out soon, they were going down road of putting entire package on smartphone, same as the Pda but had trouble with newer smartphones, had it myself on a htc, was well impressed with it. Apps seem to be simpler way.

moy83

Blue Holland wrote: »

They have apps for windows, android apps are due out soon, they were going down road of putting entire package on smartphone, same as the Pda but had trouble with newer smartphones, had it myself on a htc, was well impressed with it. Apps seem to be simpler way.

The apps would be way handier . I have the palm yoke aswell but i dont use it whereas if it was on the phone I would always have it with me to put in info .
How do you find kingswood in general ?

td5man

moy83 wrote: »

The apps would be way handier . I have the palm yoke aswell but i dont use it whereas if it was on the phone I would always have it with me to put in info .
How do you find kingswood in general ?

The problem i had with the pda was if the battery went dead you had to reload everything,
checked agrinet and its available for android must call to them next week and get it loaded onto my phone.

TEAT SQUEEZER

thanks for the replies everyone .. looks like its time to move with the times:)

Bizzum

delaval wrote: »

I really do not know ask me a sports question:(:(:(:(

OK............ Name the Offaly man with the most hurling All Star awards?

Bizzum

TEAT SQUEEZER wrote: »

thanks for the replies everyone .. looks like its time to move with the times:)

Yeah, go for it. I dunno if you intend goimg Android or Iphone, but I've used a couple of HTC smart phones and I like them.
If you get one, no matter what type, get stright onto Ebay and buy a good cover for it!

whelan1

i have the samsung galaxy builders type phone, have dropped it loads of times and its still ok, must download agrinet on to it, had a hand held thingy from agrinet a few years ago , was great but the place where you put the charger in broke and i wasnt paying out over 200 euro for another one.... got my laptop back yesterday kids dropped it and fooked up hard drive, luckilly my brother works in computers and he fixed it;)

simx

whelan1 wrote: »

i have the samsung galaxy builders type phone, have dropped it loads of times and its still ok, must download agrinet on to it, had a hand held thingy from agrinet a few years ago , was great but the place where you put the charger in broke and i wasnt paying out over 200 euro for another one.... got my laptop back yesterday kids dropped it and fooked up hard drive, luckilly my brother works in computers and he fixed it;)

A samsung galaxy xcover gt5690 is the one youre thinking of have one myself dropped it a good few times even once it fell out of my pocket when I was getting over a wall straight on its screen and twas grand there's something to do with the screen that it doesn't get damaged as.easy, read somewhere that there fairly waterproof too

simx

whelan1 wrote: »

i have the samsung galaxy builders type phone, have dropped it loads of times and its still ok, must download agrinet on to it, had a hand held thingy from agrinet a few years ago , was great but the place where you put the charger in broke and i wasnt paying out over 200 euro for another one.... got my laptop back yesterday kids dropped it and fooked up hard drive, luckilly my brother works in computers and he fixed it;)

A samsung galaxy xcover gt5690 is the one youre thinking of have one myself dropped it a good few times even once it fell out of my pocket when I was getting over a wall straight on its screen and twas grand there's something to do with the screen that it doesn't get damaged as.easy, read somewhere that there fairly waterproof too

Tomjim

would the vodafone smartfone 2 be of any addition, or do you need to get an ifone or samsung etc

Min

I drove the tractor over my iPhone. Had just upgraded from an older model, had it about a day, was out of the tractor bending over to cut a bale of silage, didn't notice my phone had fallen out of my breast pocket (99.9% of time I keep it in my trouser pocket).
Later on I noticed my phone was missing, so rang it and found it stuck in and covered in mud/muck, thankfully I had an ordinary cover on, it had a couple of tears on it from grit.
The phone itself was dirty at the sides, gave it a quick clean, but it worked perfectly, passed the drive over it with a tractor test, which I presume every farmer does :pac: :P

whelan1

do any of ye use the accounts part of agrinet? tbh i have never even opened it, my mother used to use it years ago

td5man

whelan1 wrote: »

do any of ye use the accounts part of agrinet? tbh i have never even opened it, my mother used to use it years ago

No but id like to. i just hate paperwork.

larrywithalorry

whelan1 wrote: »

do any of ye use the accounts part of agrinet? tbh i have never even opened it, my mother used to use it years ago

Yeah i use it the whole time. Id say i nearly use it more than herdmaster.
I find it very handy for seeing what enterprise is making.

keep going

does any smartphone cone with a torchlight,otherwise i dont think ill bother with a smartphone as i could not work without the samsung solids light.that said thinking of buying a tablet as the old pc is crashing all the time.

td5man

keep going wrote: »

does any smartphone cone with a torchlight,otherwise i dont think ill bother with a smartphone as i could work without the samsung solids light.that said thinking of buying a tablet as the old pc is crashing all the time.

Theres an app for that.

moy83

keep going wrote: »

does any smartphone cone with a torchlight,otherwise i dont think ill bother with a smartphone as i could work without the samsung solids light.that said thinking of buying a tablet as the old pc is crashing all the time.

There is a fine torch app on mine it uses the flash from the camera

delaval

Bizzum wrote: »

OK............ Name the Offaly man with the most hurling All Star awards?

I'd say Brian Whelehan with 4. One of the best of all time

keep going

moy83 wrote: »

There is a fine torch app on mine it uses the flash from the camera

ah yeah but would it fit in my mouth when i need 2 hands:P

td5man

keep going wrote: »

ah yeah but would it fit in my mouth when i need 2 hands:P

Theres probably an app for that too

Bizzum

delaval wrote: »

I'd say Brian Whelehan with 4. One of the best of all time

An all time great alright!
Not the right answer though.
Joe McKenna from Shinrone, Offaly, has 6 All Stars. He won them hurling with Limerick.;)

delaval

Bizzum wrote: »

An all time great alright!
Not the right answer though.
Joe McKenna from Shinrone, Offaly, has 6 All Stars. He won them hurling with Limerick.;)

Good one I didn't read the question;););)

Blue Holland

moy83 wrote: »

The apps would be way handier . I have the palm yoke aswell but i dont use it whereas if it was on the phone I would always have it with me to put in info .
How do you find kingswood in general ?

To be honest only got kingswood last October, well impressed with it so far. Kingswood and the Agrinet package are very similar, it was the accounts package that swung it for me, got the full ledger accounts package. You know you can import your bank statement into it and allocate each payment to different enterprises, can also import co-op statement if your co-op offers d service.