What are some of your favorite apps that make you productive as a manager?
Personally I used to keep a running notebook and would use symbols to denote tasks, meeting/O3 items, etc. Now I am trying to track more in my iPhone. I use 2Do for my task list and QuickOffice for any Word/Excell items. I am trying to find a good way to track O3's using it.
Effective?
Taking notes on your iPhone may be "productive" (a.k.a. "efficient"), but that should not be your prime concern. When dealing with people, what counts is "effectiveness". It is very hard to take notes on any kind of computer and be effective at the same time. You are making iPhone notes, but the people that are in conversation with you may think you are absentmindedly checking your E-mail. Or playing tetris.
I used to take notes digitally. MT has made me try taking paper notes again. It works. I will not go back to digital. I now capture everything on paper, and reprocess my action points (properly marked) in digital form (GTD) later. For any recurring meetings, I make sure I have my notes from earlier meetings at hand, on paper.