Are you a tablet blogger?
Yes? So how frustrating is it for you? 😥
@futuremind totally feels your pain. I'm creating this blog on an Android Tablet.
I really want to help you with some tips. I've acquired a few strategies, that will undoubtedly ease your frustrations. It's still going to present challenges, but I assure you, I will ease your pain!
I'm totally making this sound like an infomercial 😵
How about I just get down to business then.
My first tip would be
Design vector created by Freepik
Use a trusted, and well integrated browser.
This is simply not an issue for most Android users. Android comes with Chrome pre-installed, and although I'm not a huge advocate for Google, I will admit that I'm heavily dependent on their convenience. Chrome integrates access to Google drive, and internal storage as well. The use of this option with photo upload is seamless for Steemit users.
Here's a screen shot of where you will utilize this seamless integration of photo uploads.
(Notice the yellow highlighted area)
This is where you will click to upload your photos. I could add screens for the whole process, but it's really, very easy, and we're trying to create clean flowing blogs right? For detailed explanation of using Chrome, ask me in the comments please.
(one more quick note) Chrome can also keep your passwords and keys saved for you in the browser, and they become accessible through all of your active Google connected devices, but there is an assumed security risk in using this feature. If you accept that risk, it makes logins very easy and convenient.
The next topic of discussion (Android Keyboard)
This is absolutely the most frustrating part of blogging on a tablet for me. (especially being proficient on a standard computer keyboard) but there are some tricks you can utilize, to make this process a little quicker, and less likely to make you pull your hair out.
I personally use a third-party keyboard call SwiftKey. It can be found in the Google Play Store, and easily installed on your device, with walkthrough instructions. SwiftKey has some functions that are specific to the app, and seem to work much better then competitors I've tried.
SwiftKey has the swipe feature built in, different sizing options for the keyboard, and even different colorations to make the visual strain on your eyes less taxing. It also saves your common used words and phrases. So when you go to look up @futuremind, my username will pop up at the top of your keyboard. This becomes very convenient when you're communicating with a large follower base every single day.
The feature I use in this keyboard the most, in combination with these other features I've listed is the Google text-to-speech feature. Again, you may not be so quick to use some of these things because of what they entail the user giving up, (privacy) but that is a topic for another post. If you have a goal to create quality posts, on an Android tablet, and not consume copious amounts of time, you may be forced to trade privacy for convenience.
(Quick tip! A stylus cuts down hand cramping! ) ✍️
Background vector created by Iconicbestiary - Freepik.com
So we're all set with a nice browser that makes everything convenient. What else will we have to consider to make our experience with steemit less frustrating?
(Voting Power, Bandwidth, Notifications)
The first two things here are the most important of the three. Let's begin with speaking on voting power, and bandwidth.
When you first begin your journey with steemit, you might find yourself experiencing a form of exhilaration that is entirely inexplicable in its nature, and you will invariably be voting and commenting on a multitude of posts. This is entirely understandable and acceptable, but in terms of efficiency, it's a classic rookie mistake that I myself, am admittedly guilty of.
It's not your fault! Steemit is a very exciting playground of sorts when you are a newbie.
You will need to pay special attention to your limitations. I recommend utilizing https://steemd.com/@YOURUSERNAME
In my short time with steemit, I found this service to be one of the best resources you can have at your disposal if you are an active steemit member. This service will allow you to keep an eye on your voting power and your bandwidth usage, and you can limit your up votes and comments accordingly.
So now I'll get into the notifications. This seems to be an issue for a lot of people. There are some Bots you can use to deliver you notifications utilizing apps such as Discord, but I find myself busy enough on Discord communicating with other steemit members, to find this as a convenient option for myself. I was opening up another browser tab and simply refreshing the website when I wanted a check for comment notifications. But this obviously isn't efficient, and is rather time consuming when you factor in how much there is to keep up with in Steemit.
so I decided to think outside of the box a little bit.
Are there any apps in the App Store that act as browser Refreshers?
Well it turns out there is, and I found it.
This is a standalone browser, that runs a refresh process in set intervals that you choose. You're going to want to make sure that your refresh interval gives the site enough time to fully load. Start with a refresh interval of about 15 seconds. This is the interval that I'm set at, using a 4G connection. I'm sure this will vary depending on your internet speed. If you are not a compulsive notification checker like some of us, you can set it for 1 to 5 minutes, and not have to worry much. This will give you notifications in a timely fashion.
(Use this app with steemd to get instant notifications!) 😉
😉
Utilizing these apps and techniques will improve your productivity on steemit. Whether or not you're able to create beautiful blogs, is not a matter of functionality, but more a matter of Ingenuity and creativity. If you naturally are a creative person, the rate at which you can express your creativity will increase now. if you are not a creative person, you will still benefit from utilizing my proven tablet Wizardry.
Ok maybe I'm not a wizard, but I do like to believe I make pretty nice blogs. what do you think? I would love to get some input in the comment section! I'm a novice blogger at best, and I have zero training with text editing, and snazzy drop downs. as eager as I am to expand my writing capabilities, I have to be realistic about how easy it would be to do this on a tablet. my conclusion is that it's not an easy task at all. In fact simple blogging on a tablet, is a challenge by itself. You need to be able to visualize how your blog is going to appear across multiple screens, whether they are small smartphone screens, or full-size computer screens. it is very important to keep a visual perception of what you're readers are going to be looking at. If you are able to do this and be successful at it, I truly believe that you will flourish with steemit.
Background image created by Kireyonok_Yuliya - Freepik.com
I hope you enjoyed reading this, as much as I enjoyed creating it! Please feel free to comment and question the hell out of me, and if you feel this article is worthy of your upvote or resteem, it's received with humble gratitude. Have a wonderful day everyone. @futuremind
I actually blog on my tablet and my phone, but I suggest you try out the eSteem app. It's got support for notifications, logging in, posting, saving drafts, upvoting, and basically everything else on Steem.
Just search for eSteem on the Play Store and it would appear.
As for the keyboard, I also use SwiftKey and I love it. Have you tried unlocking any of the secret skins? Just Google "SwiftKey promo codes" and you can unlock some cool ones.
Have a great day!
Because it's not an official app, I'm scared to hand over my passwords.
You don't have to hand over every password. You can actually log in with only your active and posting key, if you don't trust the dev, good-karma.
Upvoted on behalf of @thehumanbot and it's allies for writing this great original content. Do not use bid bots for at least 1-2 days, as your post may get picked up by top curators.
Great Original Works are rewarded by top Curators.If you like this initiative, you can follow me in SteemAuto and upvote the posts, that I upvote.
And remember to do some charity when you are rich by contributing to me.If you have any concerns or feedback with my way of operation, raise it with @sanmi , my operator who is freaking in Steemit chat or discord most of the time.
Thanks @thehumanbot!
If You Follow Upvote comment And Resteem me I Will Do Same
Nice post!
On the keyboard side I would give Fleksy a honorable mention. Although it does not support a lot of languages but if you only type English things are still easy. It's super forgiving and works well on tablets once one gets suited to how it works. But whatever there is a learning curve to make full use of it so it might still depend from people to people.
And uh, Steemit is a HTML5 app, so it might feel sluggish on older phones and tablets. Downloading a lightweight markdown editor can help, Textie and IA are nice choices for long posts.
Happy Steeming!
Steemit is a little sluggish on my tablet. I will try out your suggestion! Thank you @lilacse
And for notifications i have steemify on phone and tablet…
Made by @exyle and his @blockbrothers
Really cool service that does not need any keys either
I've seen @exyle mention it, but isn't it IOS only?
I am IOS but i know they have hired an android developer now and I thought it was already live but not sure
@felander I will look into this a little further. I think it's awesome they developed an app for this, it will be exciting to get on my Android when it's ready. Thanks for the input bro. I appreciate it.
I feel your pain. I do all my posting from my phone. My laptop I use at work is so slow I don't even bother bring it home. That's my next investment.... When I can afford it.
For now swift key is my life saver, well it can be. 😁
It's been the keyboard I've used for years.! I love that it saves all my @ screenames so the people I mention all the time pop right up at the top of the keyboard!
When I first started Steemit, I was also mining on my laptop. I knew the associated risks but did it anyway, and one morning I awoke with a burned out cpu, or motherboard. I'm probably not going to verify which. I'll just take the ram out when I get to it, buy another pawn shop clunker, and expand the ram. 😄
And yeah I believe I've done a blog on my Android phone (similar to yours) it was a nightmare.