App of the week: Pages

Welcome to our new weekly spotlight on helpful apps. We’ll focus on a variety of products that are useful for work, personal use, or both, providing our own thoughts on the apps and what you can do with them. This week’s spotlight: Pages.

An intro to Pages
Pages is an iOS word processor that allows users to create and read documents on their iPhone or iPad. It offers seamless connectivity between devices through iCloud and supports Microsoft Word files.

It’s especially useful for people who are always on the go but need to type up a report or send external meeting notes to colleagues back at the office. Documents can be plain or feature graphics and stylish templates, and once they’re complete they can be sent in Microsoft Word, PDF, or ePub format via email or through iCloud. The app is also compatible with Apple’s AirPrint.

Our review
Some of you might wonder why anyone would spend £7.99 on the app when iOS devices come preloaded with Notes. The answer is quite simple – because Pages offers so much more than just a place to jot down your shopping list.

I’ve got Pages downloaded on both my iPhone and iPad, as I’ll often type out notes on the spot when I’m at an event or interviewing somebody. The major plus point for me is that I can simply send my notes in Word format so that when I get back to the office I don’t have to retype or reformat anything. It also means I don’t always have to lug my laptop around if all I need is a word processor. Many of the articles I’ve written for the magazine have been done on Pages while I’m sitting on a train or away on a press trip.

Another big reason I find Pages so useful is its functionality when reading documents sent to me. I can look at Word files and PDFs on my devices, which means I’m never out of the loop with internal communications and I can read press releases on the go.

The verdict
Pages is worth spending that little bit extra to have a reliable word processor, especially if you’re a busy PA who’s away from a computer a lot – or a tech addict who does work tasks outside office hours.

There is a bit of a learning curve when you first start using the app, especially if you’re used to Word on a laptop or desktop device. The options for bolding and italicising copy aren’t entirely obvious to the novice hand-held user. Then again I’m the kind of person who doesn’t really take the time to learn how to fully navigate a programme – I’d much rather hit the ground running. I’ll be honest and say I always forget how to rename my documents and usually spend a good 10 minutes looking for the option. But if you can get past that minor speed hump, it’s a really helpful tool.

Do you have a favourite new app you’d like to review for us? Send it to Deputy Editor Molly Dyson at molly.dyson@palife.co.uk.