iOS8 was one of the most exciting updates Apple has yet offered from a developer perspective. A big reason for this is the update came with Extensibility, which enabled developers to extend functionality of apps into other important parts of the phone. One of those parts? The keyboard. App developers can now build the custom keyboards you’ve always envisioned, while still experiencing the security benefits of iOS. This is because extensions run in the same sandbox as the apps they extend from but operate within separate containers. Basically - you get all the functionality you dream of yet maintain the privacy and security of the system Apple has become known for. Now that developers can essentially replace the default, system-wide iOS keyboard with almost anything you can think of, we wanted to explore the possibilities that have been released so far.   Swype + SwiftKey For years Android users have enjoyed the Swype and SwiftKey keyboards, and both are now available on iPhone and iPad. While theses are two different keyboards, they are similar in function and benefit. The user begins both typing experiences by simply placing their finger on the first letter key of the word. Then without lifting a finger, they then slide to the next letters. A few more swipes like this and the Swype and/or SwiftKey will offer options for what is predicted to be the word, and the user then selects the intended word. Both keyboards get “smarter” with more use, as the predictive technology both feature starts recognizing frequently used words. The one big difference between the two is SwiftKey offers emojis, while Swype does not.   Gifmoji  There’s no better way to express excitement than with a GIF of Stephen Colbert happy dancing. Gifmoji had the same opinion and created the solution for mobile comedians to express themselves through moving GIFs and slapstick emojis. The app comes with three different sections, the first being moving emojis.These are those familiar emojis texters have been using for years, except they perform the movements of blowing kisses or shaking heads from side to side. The second section is a collection of popular kaomoji, such as o/ or (-_-*), making these communications more easily accessible rather than typing them out. Finally is the best part of the app, the GIFs. These are complete with short  2-3 second expressions of popular actors and cartoons acting out full ranges of emotion such as flipping over tables or dancing in happiness. Your friends will not misunderstand your meaning again.   Stack Most of the keyboards we’ve seen thus far focus on features like glittery emoji, predictive text or gesture typing. Stack took a different approach and focuses on an entirely different type of keyboard - by not even opening a keyboard at all. Instead, the area where a QWERTY keyboard usually appears simply displays a blank space, in which the user can draw letters. The keyboard is fast enough to recognize each letter that the user can write the letters on top of each other. This is a good option for those who don’t tend to like traditional keyboards and prefer drawing. We see this most likely being predominantly used on iPads with a stylus pan as opposed to on an iPhone, but the keyboard is available for both.   TextExpander 3 While messages usually must be typed in their entirety, the app developers who created TextExpander are making the ease that is the texting game even easier. With this keyboard new to iOS, users can access a database of commonly used abbreviations, which TextExpander will expand into full phrases or sentences. Such commands can include typing “TY” which TextExpander will translate into “Thank you very much!” This keyboard can also be customized with whatever abbreviations you commonly use and prefer.   Texting can be viewed as a lazier form of communication, in that it doesn’t require much of a greeting or a goodbye, and ideas can be conveyed in one simple line of text. This is much to the delight of the socially awkward or the plainly lazy. However the possibilities have now opened up in such a way that entrepreneurs filled with ideas and developers anxious to try something new, can now create new custom keyboards for the iOS audience.  Do you have a favorite iOS keyboard? Let us know what you think in the comments below.  Or perhaps you have an idea for a new keyboard that hasn’t been released yet. We’ll be happy to help you get started.  

If you're someone like Ashton Kutcher, then you don't have a problem getting a lot of followers on Twitter. If you're someone like Ashton Kutcher, you can publicly challenge CNN to a Twitter popularity contest to see who would get 1 million followers first and then beat one of the largest broadcast news organizations in the world. For all the rest of us who aren’t someone like Ashton Kutcher, we would recommend the following to expand your company’s online marketing campaign into the 140-character realm of Twitter. How to Twitter for your company: 1. Before writing your first Tweet, make sure your company’s user profile is completely filled out, especially the bio, website link, user profile picture, and background theme. These elements all lay the foundation for branding your company to fellow Tweeters. 2. Make your company a constant presence. If you’re serious about building a strong online marketing presence in Twitter, you need to consistently be available to post valuable information and respond to any questions. The concept behind Twitter is that Tweeters are constantly looking for new information and are looking to obtain it in the fastest way possible, and so to be effective on this site, you need to provide what your followers are asking for. One tweet may seem like a drop in a bucket, but hundreds and thousands of tweets will start to add up and help build your company’s online marketing campaign. 3. Search for followers. Twitter allows you to search for other Tweeters by their name or user id (if you already know them) or through keywords. Keywords in twitter are identified with the # sign, like #iranrevolution. Search for keywords or trending topics in your company’s field of products or services and select to follow other Tweeters who are interested in or involved in this field. Tweeters you click to follow also have the option of following you back. You can check to see if they do at friendorfollow.com and decide to stop following them if they don’t reciprocate. You should also include keywords in your own tweets to let other people more easily find you. 4. Be yourself. Don’t use Twitter as a soapbox to directly market your company’s products or services. Offer information to set yourself up as an expert in your company’s field or answer questions about your field to help build a potential client base. 5. These are always good reminders: use good text slang grammar and spelling. Make sure your Tweets are clear and focused. There’s poetry in writing a good 140-character Tweet. Always include shortened urls instead of the entire url for a hyperlink in a Tweet. 6. Retweet interesting information you come across, share your friend’s tweets with others, and always acknowledge your Twitter friends and new followers to build a stronger and more supportive base. Bottom line, it takes a large investment of time and energy to learn how to twitter effectively to build a strong online marketing campaign for your company. -- Stephanie

The use of utility, productivity, and business apps has exploded over the past few years. In fact, business apps were used 30% more in 2016 than they were in 2015. This increased use means apps are being developed and improved all the time, offering a world of functionality to your homescreen. Whether you’re working with a team or running a one-person operation, any busy entrepreneur can benefit from tools that help organize and streamline work, while saving time, money, and energy. Let’s look at some of the most popular apps that can simplify your life today. Project Management and Team Communication Apps for project management and team communication can keep track of progress and deadlines for entire companies or departments, individual projects and tasks. They allow scheduling, task delegation, and much more. Supervisors can easily see which workers are busy and which have time to be assigned additional tasks. Everyone involved in a project can access the information they need, see the calendar, provide updates, share files, and chat with other team members (in groups or one-on-one) in real time. The following apps are some of the most popular in this category, and each can be accessed on a smartphone, tablet or desktop: Slack Trello Flow These apps have some similarities in function, but you may find that one of them has specific features that best suit your team’s needs. Contractors working with multiple clients may find themselves using any or all of these due to their popularity and different client preferences. Information and Task Organization Entrepreneurs constantly juggle professional and personal obligations. You don’t want to let anything slip through the cracks, so keep track of everything with tools that save time and effort. Workflow The Workflow app combines the functions of a wide variety of apps into a single dashboard for streamlined use. That way, you can do everything inside a single app rather than spending time switching between them and hunting for information to get through your day. For example, you can see calendar reminders and tasks, make a PDF, save photos and create GIFs, respond to texts and emails, use social media, order lunch, and more. It essentially allows you to create your own personalized productivity app. Workflow works with smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches. MobileDay If you frequently participate in conference calls, MobileDay may be able to save you a lot of hassle. It gathers conference call times, phone numbers and access codes from your calendar and email so you can connect to the call easily, from virtually anywhere, with the touch of a button. When MobileDay indicates that it’s time, just hit the call button and it will find the most recent update of the call-in number and access code. This eliminates any scrambling to find a last-minute number change. The app dials for you and connects you to the call so you can concentrate on your business. Wunderlist There are many to-do list apps on the market, but Wunderlist is one of the most popular. This free app allows to you track personal and professional tasks, set reminders, and more. The Pro version allows you to share your list items with others for a fee, and includes file-sharing. The Business version expands its functionality to create a task/project management system shared by a whole team, which operates in a similar way to the apps mentioned above. Wave It shouldn’t require a lot of extra effort and expense just to get paid for the work you do. Wave is a service that streamlines the processes of invoicing, accounting, and receipt scanning with free software. Keep track of accounts payable and receivable, and stay ready for tax season. You can add Wave’s credit card processing and payroll functions for a pay-as-you-go fee. Food and Supply Delivery When you need food or other supplies, but don’t have time to leave work to get them, the ability to order out for delivery with an app can be a real lifesaver. Postmates works with a network of local couriers in a given area to deliver food, office supplies, sundries, personal items, and more. The service is available in more than 100 cities around the U.S. Since business apps are increasingly popular, new and improved apps are released frequently. Take the time to check out your options. You may find that you’re missing out on a great app that could solve some of your daily business challenges.