By now most of you should be able to gather that I like my tools. Offline, I enjoy collecting pocket knives. Each one of these knives serves a unique purpose in my collection. I’ve got business casual, hobby related, and my personal favorite: my black one-handed blade movement. 9 times out of 10 that’s the one knife I’ll have in my pocket. And over in my other pocket? My favorite electronic tool; my iPhone. Just like my knife colllection, I have a staggering library of apps that I use and test daily, and one of the gems is Vlingo.

Let me start by saying that, having been a Microsoft drone for the better part of 15 years, I wasn’t exactly looking for change. I was content. This was a long-term relationship that idled along without thought nor consternation. However, since I embarked on the freelance path just over a year ago, I’ve come to rely more heavily on the value and generosity of the open source community.

Today’s smart phones (i.e. phones with an OS capable of email and more) supplant the need to lug your laptop with you during your travels. If you simply need to read and respond to emails, surf the web, or stay in touch via Twitter, Facebook, or other social networks you’d do well to consider a smart phone. There are literally thousands of apps out there designed to help you do the things that interest you while you’re on the go. You’ve got mobile banking, blogging, and GPS apps that happily connect you in more ways than ever. Simply put mobile apps allow you to get things done sans laptop.