Been running FieldPulse on both tablets (iPad Pro) and phones (iPhone 14) out in the field for about 6 months now. Starting to notice some gaps between the two experiences and wanted to flag them for folks making device decisions.
Here's what I've tracked so far:
Works on both, no issues:
- Work order viewing and updating
- Photo capture and annotation
- Signature capture
- Offline mode sync
- GPS check-in/check-out
Tablet-only or tablet-works-better:
- Split-screen view on iPad — can have work order open alongside maps or PDF manual. Huge time-saver.
- Photo annotation precision — drawing boxes/arrows with Apple Pencil vs finger on phone is night and day
- Checklist form layout — longer forms don't require as much scrolling, can see full sections at once
Phone-only or phone-works-better:
- Barcode scanning via camera — feels faster and more natural on phone, less awkward positioning
- One-handed operation — obvious, but updating status while carrying gear matters
- Pocket-friendly quick checks — pulling phone to confirm next job vs unzipping tablet case
Actual gaps (phone missing entirely):
- Landscape orientation lock on iPhone — app forces portrait, which is annoying when mounted in vehicle
- External keyboard support — Bluetooth keyboard pairs but shortcuts don't work on phone app
Unclear if it's missing or I'm missing something:
- Customer portal preview — thought I saw this mentioned for tablet but can't find it
Anyone else doing the dual-device dance? What am I missing? Especially curious if Android tablets have different gaps than iPad.
in my experience the "features" on tablet mostly just slow you down. been doing this 14 years, phone is fine. if you need a spreadsheet view maybe you're overcomplicating the job. no offense.
that said the barcode thing is real, phone camera modules are just better optimized for quick focus.
in my experience the "features" on tablet mostly just slow you down. been doing this 14 years, phone is fine. if you need a spreadsheet view maybe you're overcomplicating the job. no offense.
that said the barcode thing is real, phone camera modules are just better optimized for quick focus.
