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Cool entertainment tech – the wireless office

Whether in the lounge or in the office, the ways in which we control and display media are just so vast and accessible these days.

In the age of wireless technology, many of our personal devices are enabling control over multimedia like never before.

At iProperty, it’s safe to say that 90% of our staff have an iPhone, iPad and either a Macbook Pro or iMac in their posession (we’re not anti-PC, or against any of the other viable smartphone alternatives… it’s just how things have panned out!)

And what a sweet combination that can be! Two of our staff are literally just about to step out the door to pickup an Apple TV. At just over a hundred bucks, it effectively is a wireless reciever that has an HDMI port for your television and optical out for your surround sound system’s AV receiver. The optical out is also suitable for a range of standalone, self powered, wireless digital speakers.

So what does this all mean? Armed with the free iRemote app, you can use your iPhone or iPad as a remote control to control videos on your TV and music through your sound system – all streamed from any of your iTunes equipped PCs or Macs in the home or office.

Furthermore, any videos or photos you have taken on your phone or iPad can be displayed on your TV with a few presses of the screen. How could this relate to the real estate agency? There’s loads of potential:

  • Show vendors photos of the turnout to some auctions, or even better – a video of any of your successful auctions – straight off your phone or iPad onto a large screen
  • Show off photos of properties sold, with your branded signboards out the front
  • Keep files such as marketing brochures, snaps of properties on your website, your window cards all as photos in your galleries, and show them on the big screen
  • Or simply enjoy working to some music, or relax at lunch with videos

We look forward to when devices such as the Apple TV show websites and apps on the big screen. Games on the big screen using an ipad as a controller? Yes please! Using a tablet as the remote for a Powerpoint presentation or website run through while it’s projected elsewhere? Wonderful. It’s a great time to be enjoying and thinking about technology!

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Flash Video compatible browser for iPhone and iPad

Finally, there’s a solution for running Flash videos on Apple devices!

For a long time, there’s been no way of viewing media created in Adobe Flash on iPads and iPhones. Contested by many, Apple held a firm view that their devices would instead support other technologies such as HTML 5 and other web-based video formats.

The game has changed now, however, with the inception of a Flash compatible browser called Skyfire. Available at your app store, Skyfire retails at $3.99.

watch?v=AE2Qs8mQ9Ro

Skyfire enables Flash content by intelligently transcoding video in into HTML5 content. Skyfire has further advantages, that many will appreciate:

It has built in features such as

  • Facebook quick view – one touch access to your news feed, inbox, friends and more
  • Twitter quick view – allowing you to view your feed an view links without leaving the browser
  • RSS feed reader
  • Built in Facebook Like and other share functions
  • Great full screen browsing mode to take advantage of your iPad screen

Have a read about Skyfire here!

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QR Codes in Real Estate

QR codes are everywhere these days — in fine art exhibits, in the front windows of stores and every imaginable kind of marketing campaign. Every big brand is using them, from Calvin Klein, to Google Maps, and The Age Newspaper.

So, what are the benefits to your business and how can you use this new technology to improve sales?

This article will answer that question and give you inspiration, ideas and knowledge about ways to use QR codes to benefit your Real Estate business! Read on below, to discover with these 5 practical ideas, how to get the most out of QR codes for your business!

1. Window Displays Print out QR codes in your window displays and buyers can save property information to their mobile device – also giving them a direct link to your office contact number. The added benefit is that buyers will be able to view your other property listings as they have already been taken directly to your website!

A client’s first point of contact should be made easy –  when making an inquiry, or viewing an open listing, their first point of contact can be as simple as one tap, or click. Using QR codes means, your direct line displays automatically. QR codes rely on the quality of your website, linking to an informative and well designed property details page. For examples of well designed property pages, click here.

idashboard real estate software and web design mobile website2. Sign Boards As buyers often attend more than one open in their weekend, opportunities to promote your listing can be found by using a QR code on the signboard. Placing a QR code on the property signboard allows buyers to record property details as they are driving by – linking buyers to the property page on your website! Buyers who are passing through the area can save dates to their calendar for tomorrows open! We like one of our client’s ideas – Link the signboard QR to your mobile sites inspection page – clients will see a list of your office’s open times in time and date order. The client can make contact via phone or email through your mobile website.

“Link the signboard QR to your mobile sites inspection page”

3. Handout Reports Handout reports or QR cards can be used at Auctions or OFIs to display current listings. Leaflets often end up in a handbag, or at home, and codes can be scanned from any place where the occasion arises. The benefits include quicker and easier access to data, storing of data on a mobile device, and convenient access to the property data at any time or place. Most barcode readers have a favourites page and,  if you are using iNigma, you can share the page with two taps on Facebook and Twitter!

4. Videos Use QR codes and attach the latest property video to your signboard. Take the virtual tour home with you after your property inspection. Users can be reminded of the spacious backyard, new kitchen appliances and other features! As the video is saved to a mobile device, users can view your property at any time or place. QR videos can be used on all kinds of marketing material including window displays, hand outs and sign posters. To create a QR video, simply publish your video online and copy the URL into a QR code generator such as zxing.appspot.com/generator.

5. Add a QR code to your business card – The latest way to add contacts is through QR barcodes! Try for yourself by scanning the barcode below!

Use QR codes to used to add contacts into your mobile device.

idashboard real estate software and web design

iNigma is already doing this with their easy add contact system. Simply scan your phone over the barcode, and a contact is added instantly.

To create these barcodes yourself simply enter in your contact details here zxing.appspot.com/generator and click Generate! If you’re using iNigma, you can share the barcode with one tap, taking friends and family to the web page!

For more inspiration and ideas on using software technology to benefit your real estate business, visit our products website at products.iproperty.com.au

funbiz

Fun and Biz – a new blog for professionals dedicated to business and pleasure

Recently we designed and developed the Fun and Biz blog for real estate franchise development manager, Michelle Mulholland.

As part of her profession, Michelle attends business and real estate conferences around the globe – and is fortunate enough to be privvy to excellent sources of information on personal development and learning and sharing ways to be more successful in the business of real estate. In addition, she also savours some of the best hotels, cafes, bars and restaurants around.

As a strong advocate for a healthy work/life balance, Michelle came up with the Fun and Biz concept and asked iProperty to develop a playful looking blog site with numerous features that enable her to share her tips, learnings and great photos. As a relatively new concept, we worked with Michelle to refine her site into something she felt comfortable with. Initially we included features such as a restaurant rating system that allowed her to do instant reviews from her iPhone, and a calendar for upcoming events whether social, fun or business related for seminars and conferences.

In the end, we have refined it to be a more about the content, with FlickR and YouTube integration, and an easy to read blog layout. You should check it out, have a read, and follow her. Fun and Biz really is a great take over your traditional business blogs. Be warned though, we find after reading some of restaurant reviews – you may just feel like an early lunch or beverage at your local!

iProperty have vast experience in building blogs, profile sites and real estate websites in WordPress. If you have an idea you want to run past us, be sure to give us a call on 03 9328 5455 – or check out our products site to see what else we’re capable of.