We imported these existing TextExpander snippets from our Mac to our iPhone using the Add via Local Network option under Groups (though some identifying details have been changed to protect the innocent).

SmileOnMyMac's TextExpander utility for Mac OS X is the ultimate in keystroke-saving goodness--automatically and instantly expanding short "snippets" you designate into longer chunks of text to eliminate the repetitive retyping of oft-reused text, like addresses, phone numbers, email signatures, signoffs, and much more.

Of course, as a Preference Pane extension, TextExpander for your Mac works much differently on your computer than it does on your iPhone or iPod touch because Apple doesn't allow iPhone apps to run in the background.

To use Text Expander touch, you launch it, then tap Compose. Up pops a blank composition area, into which you can type your desired snippet, such as aaddr for your mailing address, ttel for your phone number (which you will obviously have to edit after you've installed the app), or any other snippets you've added to your library by editing the default snippets that come preloaded or creating your own unique ones.

Once the snippet has expanded in the note screen, tap the Share icon at the bottom-left of the screen. This gives you the option to Send to Mail, Copy All Text, or, if you have a supported Twitter app installed, send to your Twitter app to add to a new tweet. (The Twitter apps currently supported are Echofon, aka Twitterfon, BirdFeed, Tweetie, Twitteriffic, and Twittelator Pro.) The reason TweetDeck isn't supported, according to SmileonMyMac, is that it "does do not support a URL schema such that it can be launched by TextExpander along with message content."

As far as we're concerned, that's not a deal-breaker, though, since there are plenty of excellent iPhone Twitter apps that TextExpander touch does support. And SmileonMyMac has made it easy-as-pie for other app developers to integrate TextExpander touch support by releasing an SDK.

While using the app on your iPhone or iPod touch takes a little getting used to--especially for TextExpander users whose fingers and brain are trained to type snippets on a Mac without even thinking--TextExpander touch does indeed save time and finger cramps when composing email and text messages, notes, Twitter posts, and the like. As such, it's more than worth its $4.99 price tag.

Consider this scenario: You're planning a big work event, wedding, family reunion, or other shindig that requires advance planning and communication with lots of people. People email you regularly asking for specifics. With TextExpander touch on your iPhone, you need not tap your fingers to the bone retyping the same basic date, time, location, or other details.  The shortest way to get a long chunk of text into TextExpander touch is to email it to yourself to an account you already have set up on your handheld device. In the email, select the text, copy it. Launch TextExpander touch, tap Groups, select a group, then tap the + icon. Give your new snippet a name in the top field, then double-tap under Content and tap Paste. Voila! Now you have all that info at your fingertips for the next time you need it.


Step 1: Create a new snippet or edit an existing snippet by giving it a name in the Abbreviation field and typing or pasting the content into the Content field below it.



Step 2: Tap the icon in the lower-left of the screen and select the option you want. In this case, we selected Copy All Text.



Step 3: If you're using a function like SMS that's not directly integrated into TextExpander touch, launch the app and in the text field, double-tap and then tap Paste.


If you already use TextExpander on your Mac, you can even import existing snippets to your handheld device via your local Wi-Fi network. In the Groups view on your iPhone or iPod touch, tap the + icon, then Add Via Local Network. As long as your device and your Mac are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, your device will find the Mac. Tap the Mac from which you want to pull snippets and choose your snippet group. On that Mac, a dialog will pop up in the TextExpander System Preference pane asking if it's OK to share the data. Click OK to continue.