by Chris
Many people ask me what the term Digital Nomad means, wondering what the Digital Nomad lifestyle is like.
It’s not an easy question to ask, as it means different things to different people.
The key things are mobility and flexibility.
Mobility means that you can move quickly and easily (from a working perspective certainly) and take your office with you anywhere.
Flexibility means that you can bend and fit your hours to suit you, work from anywhere and increasingly people refer to this as living and working on your own terms.
The reality is, you don’t have to have a glamourous traveling lifestyle, taking in a new city every week, you just need to have the right tools to work from anywhere at any time.
[click to continue…]
by Chris
There are thousands of software programmes that Digital Nomads can use to make their lives easier.
The great news is that many of these apps are free for the entry level version, and once you are hooked they are cheap to upgrade to the premium offering (and well worth it). Think back jus 2, 5 or 10 years ago and imagine your life as a Digital Nomad without these apps – it would be very different.
My favourite apps are also all very simple. There is a lesson in their for anyone developing software – keep it simple and you’ll go far!
Here are my top 3 and why:
Dropbox
I love Dropbox. As someone with extensive experience implementing software systems across networks I can honestly say that Dropbox is truly impressive software. It has always worked seamlessly for me. I use it to backup my work, sync across computers, share files with clients and access documents on the go. To steal a quote from Apple, it just works. Sign up through my link and get and extra 250mb of free storage – CLICK HERE
[click to continue…]
by Chris
The beauty of being a Digital Nomad is that you can work from anywhere.
As long as you have portable gear you can work from anywhere, usually as long as it has an Internet connection (which could just be tethering to your mobile phone).
Being a Digital Nomad can sometimes be a lonely way to work, but fear not, here is a list of the top 5 places you can expect to find Digital Nomads.
[click to continue…]
by Chris
Inevitably the work of a Digital Nomad will involve some sort of minor tweaks to digital images.
Whether your a web designer, web publisher or consultant it is useful to have the tools to edit images at your fingertips when you need them.
My personal favourite tools for editing images are both free for the basic versions and web-based. This means I can edit images whenever and where ever I am; as long as I have an Internet connection (bonus free offline app tip at the bottom of the post).
Neither of these sites requires you to sign-up, but if you do you get some extra features.
[click to continue…]
by Chris
Sorry if you’re not a Mac user, but you might find some interest in this post and my recommendation.
With iOS 5 and OSX Lion, there is a hot new feature for Apple lovers.
iCloud.
After Apple’s infamous failure of MobileMe, they are back with a bang with the free (up to 5GB) service of iCloud for those of us with iOS devices. Additional storage can be purchased if required.
What do you get with iCloud? Well, the main thing is seamless sync to the cloud. This means that all your key data is backed up. Sounds pretty good right?
It is good, apart from there is a break in the chain of ‘seamless sync’.
[click to continue…]
by Chris
There are lots of tools out there for Digital Nomads, but if you want to keep it simple then there are just three essential items in my mind.
Laptop
Many Digital Nomads are starting to work from Tablet computers, and I’ll cover that in an upcoming posts as it is something I do. However, for now I’ll say that the number one essential item is a laptop.
Laptops are portable. They have an integrated keyboard, wireless connectivity (I’m making it a given that it’s a modern-ish laptop – Digital Nomads tend to, but not always, have newer gear).
A laptop is an information workers machinery, churning out whatever it is that they produce. As the most essential tool for the job, it pays to have one that is up to the job.
[click to continue…]
by Chris
A Digital Nomad is a person who leverages the internet and technology to work from where they please. This gives the ultimate flexibility to work on their own terms and be inspired by new environments.
Typical Digital Nomads tend to be knowledge workers, those people working through the web such as freelancers, marketers, web designers, graphic designers and anyone who just needs an Internet connection to get things done.
Other terms that are often use to describe digital nomads include location independent, mobile bohemians or just ‘that guy who’s always in Starbucks with his Macbook Air’.
[click to continue…]