IN FOCUS: MOBILE COMPUTING
Engineering Apps

While design on the go seems to be where mobile is heading in the engineering world, there are simple apps you can buy right now that engineers say are making their lives easier.

1. Genius Scan
   Take a photo of a work site, scaffold, or plan doodle and turn it into an easily e-mailed PDF document for sharing. S&ME project engineers use this app to mark up site photos and plans via e-mail.
   Free, iTunes App Store
2. Dropbox
   Take a file, drag it to the Dropbox icon on your desktop, and head out the door. The file, it could be anything, will be available from wherever you are, provided you have Internet access for your phone, tablet, or laptop. Saves space on your device, avoids time synching, and doubles as a backup. (Comes with 2 GB free. More space costs extra.)
   Free, iTunes App Store and Android Market
3. ScanBizCards
   Always losing business cards during networking? Take a photo of those cards and automatically store the contact information in your phone or tablet.
   $.99 in iTunes App Store, free on Android Market
4. Calculator Pro
   A combination standard/scientific calculator. Better than lugging one around.
   $.99, iTunes App Store only
5. Sketchbook Mobile
   Staff Writer Benjamin Roode also hasn't been able to put down Autodesk's Sketchbook Mobile app since buying it. He's not an engineer, but the ability to sketch out ideas or simply doodle to get one's mind going is useful when pen and paper are scarce or too clumsy to get out and use.
   $.99 in iTunes App Store and Android Market; Sketchbook Pro for iPad is $4.99
6. Compass
   Can you find due north without one?
   Free, various versions in iTunes App Store and Android Market