For those who once had to go to a desktop computer to study soil survey information, there is now an “app” for that. SoilWeb combines online soil survey information with the GPS capabilities of smartphones. This combination allows users to retrieve a graphic summary of soil types in the form of soil profile sketches. Each profile sketch shows [...]
Tablet in the Tractor
Tablets are the hot item in mobile communications today. During the Christmas season, millions of them flew into the hands of willing consumers. My son reported that so many students returning to his university from the holiday break had new iPads that, when they all turned them on, they crashed the dorm’s wireless network. The [...]
iPhone vs. Android
At the Indiana Young Farmers convention this weekend, I saw a lot of iPhones in use. I noticed this because our HAT app for iPhone was supposed to be on line by now, but is still waiting Apple approval. Had several iPhone lovers tell me Android was on its way out and that the iPhone [...]
Tough Enough for the Farm
For most Smartphones, the biggest threat is being dropped. But a Smartphone in the hands of a farmer faces a much harder life. Being dropped is just the beginning. There is being stepped on by a 1200 pound steer, dropped into an auger, run over by a tractor, or — worse yet — being buried [...]
Smartphone Farming
I am old enough to remember party lines. Each house down our country road had a distinctive telephone ring and all were connected to one phone line. If you picked up the phone to make a call and heard someone talking, you hung up and waited until they were done. We have come a long [...]
