Microsoft Office 365 summary…

• Official university faculty, staff, student email
• Use Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook and more for free
• Windows users can also download Access, OneNote and Publisher
• Can be installed on up to five Macs or Windows computers and five mobile devices
• Includes spam and malware protection
• Store up to 5 TB of data in the cloud using OneDrive

The following steps involve the installing of Office 365 onto your devices as USC faculty, staff, or students.

1. Using cellphone/tablet/computer: In a browser, go to https://office365.com
2. Look for and select “Sign in” in the upper right part of the browser window
3. Enter USC email address: username@mailbox.sc.edu or username@email.sc.edu (no alias)
4. Next enter your USC email password
5. At next screen, select “Install Office apps”
6. Scroll down and select “Office 2016” for the download link
7. Enter your “real” USC email address… no alias
8. Select the Office 365 apps you want to install if using cellphone
9. Agree to go to AppStore (or PlayStore) to begin download if asked
10. Select the Cloud-Download icon to begin the download
11. Make sure you download and install the “OneDrive” app as well… why?

OneDrive

OneDrive is a FREE cloud storage service app offered to USC faculty, staff, and students. In addition to OneDrive being able to run on most of your cellphone, tablet, or computer devices (Mac and PC) the default amount of storage space is 5 TB. Yes, that’s five terabytes.  To somewhat muddy the Onedrive waters, there is a Onedrive app and a Onedrive for Business app.  Here is a link that should shed some differences between the two you will want to be aware of as USC faculty, staff, or students.  Here is also a link of Onedrive help videos.

There are several ways to access and open your digital file content on your cellphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop. Accessing OneDrive is the best and most efficient that is FREE.  Accessing your files on OneDrive can also be accomplished by going to Office365.com and signing in to Workplace or School if that is an option.  After you sign in, most of the Office 365 online apps are available to run from a web browser including Onedrive.  I found this method the preferable way to access my files in the cloud on Onedrive instead of using the Onedrive apps on my computer.

OneDrive...

• Store up to 5 TB of data in the cloud

• 10 GB maximum file size

• Authorized to store sensitive data (HIPAA, FERPA)

• Safely share files and folders with other users.  For University of South Carolina users, a University of South Carolina Network Username is required.

• Access files using Web browsers or mobile devices

• Access files directly from Microsoft Office desktop applications

While you can save the digital files you work on onto your own computer, you will also want to save it to the cloud onto OneDrive.  Doing this gives you access to those files from other devices at any time.  A good example is you have a Powerpoint file you are working on and want to present it in class.  Saving it to OneDrive would allow you to easily access this file after running Powerpoint from your cellphone, tablet, or laptop to open and play it.  The one caveat about this example is if you want to use your cellphone to hook up to the classroom projector, you will need an adapter for your cellphone to hook up to the video cable on the podium.  See "Which Cellphone Adapter Do I Need?" below.

The use of OneDrive is not mandatory for university students, faculty, or staff but is a recommended solution that has been vetted and security hardened for the protection of university data.

(This list will grow as features are found out)

Regardless of whether you get a video adapter for an iPhone or Android cellphone, do yourself a huge favor and make sure the adapter has a port to add an external power source or an external battery. You will not want your cellphone to die during your presentation.  See the example pictures below of HDMI video adapters.

iPhone

• iPhone/iPad devices don't support a manual, wireless, or bluetooth mouse.

• Bluetooth keyboards will work with an iPhone/iPad (must have bluetooth capability).

• A special lightning to USB flash drive is necessary in order to connect to an iPhone/iPad.  This is an example of another way to access content from your cellphone and is not an endorsement of this product.

• Using Microsoft OneDrive as a place to save your files means a USB flash drive is not necessay to access those files from this cellphone.

• The Apple lightning-to-camera adapter does not support a USB flash drive.

Android

• Not ALL Android cellphones have the inner hardware to hook up to a TV or projector even with an HDMI adapter.  To determine if you might have the ability to use an MHL to HDMI adapter with your older cellphone, go here:  http://www.mhltech.org/DoIHaveMHL.aspx

• The Android OS and cellphones support bluetooth mice and keyboards. This is very convenient when using your cellphone for presentations.

• With an adapter, like the USB-C to HDMI as pictured below for Android, a USB flash drive or wireless mouse can be connected to this cellphone.

• Using Microsoft OneDrive as a place to save your files means a USB flash drive is not necessay to access those files from this cellphone.

• Simultaneously up to 7 bluetooth devices can be connected at one time to this cellphone.

An adapter that works with your cellphone that has a port for standard USB is also an option for Android devices.  There are special USB drives for both iPhones and Android devices that plug straight into the charging port.  In addition, there are HDMI video adapters for Androids that include a standard USB port that you can plug USB devices into.  Bluetooth keyboards work on iPhones and the Android operating system... just not a pointing device with an iPhone such as a mouse.  A mouse of any kind does not work with iPhones. Using a Bluetooth mouse on your Android cellphone or tablet gives you the typical mouse arrow cursor to navigate your cellphone. 

If you are wanting to use your cellphone to connect to the classroom projector, that’s a difficult question to give a single simple answer.  There are two parts to that answer… the model of the cellphone and the video cable present on top of the podium in the classroom.

First and foremost, your cellphone may not have the ability to show video on a TV even with an adapter. 

A GENERALIZATION here...

• iPhones (tested on iPhone 5s and above) using a lightning adapter should be able to display to a TV or projector.

• Androids cellphones with a Micro USB charging port may or may not have the hardware/software to display to a TV. You might be able to use an MHL adapter.  Online comment from Krista a MHL.org...

  "Hi - This is Krista from the MHL team. Yes - you need to have an MHL chip in the phone as well as the software required. If you would like to keep up to date with which phones do have MHL and see if your cellphone is listed, take a look on our website (http://www.mhltech.org/DoIHaveMHL.aspx)."

• Android cellphones with a USB-C charging cable will probably be able to display video on a TV or projector.

Left – VGA connector    Middle – 1/8“ stereo audio cable   Right – HDMI connector

VGA will be the more common (oldest technology) and most likely connector on most of the classroom podiums on the USC campus.  However HDMI is the newer specification and listed as highly likely to be on the podium.  The specification of the VGA cable does not include passing an audio signal between the two devices connected by a VGA video cable.  An HDMI video cable does pass audio through the cable making it unnecessary to use the 1/8” audio cable if playing audio is desired.  Also considering that Apple has removed the 1/8” headphone port from its newer iPhones, using the HDMI video cable to hook up to projectors will be preferable making the VGA video cable a second choice. Additionally, using a VGA video adapter with the newer iPhones would require additional adapters to support audio through the speakers in the classroom.  Bottom line… using the HDMI video cable on the podium and an HDMI video adapter is probably going to end up being the better choice for connecting mobile devices to the classroom projector.

While wireless streaming from a mobile device to the classroom projector would be nice in a perfect world, the expense, additional setup, and impetus to implement this for all teaching classrooms will probably not happen soon.  So, the best option at this time to connect a mobile device to the classroom projector is an HDMI video adapter connected to an HDMI video cable located on the podium.  As technology improves, connecting to the classroom projector wirelessly might prove to be a viable alternative.  If interested, ask the managers of smart classrooms to see if other alternatives connecting to the classroom projector might work for you.

---

Popular Cellphone/Computer Cable Connector Examples

1. USB Type A connectors are typically used on the ends of flash drives that plugs into computers. The female version of this connector type is usually on the computer or device you are trying to connect to.

2. Apple Lightning connectors are on most iPhones. Some newer Apple iPhones, laptops, and tablets have started using USB Type C connectors (number 4 above).

3. Micro USB connectors are on most but not all Android phones that are older than 3 years.

4. USB Type C connector has been recently adopted for use on newer Android phones as well as on newer Macintosh laptops and tablets. It also goes by the name of the “Thunderbolt 3” connector with reference to Macintosh devices.

There is no way of knowing for sure if there will ultimately be a standard, but there is a movement to make USB Type C the common connection standard for devices interfacing with cellphones, tablets, and computers.

---

Apple iPhone HDMI Video Adapter with Lightning Charging Port

Left – HDMI connector    Right – Lightning Charging Port

Usually the lightning charging port on the right is used to hook your charging power adapter or an external battery to so your phone doesn’t die during your presentation.  In this case, an external power source connected to the adapter is not mandatory but may prove useful at some point.  The types and features of video adapters are too numerous to cover.  One thing you could do is go to a store that sells video adapters and ask to see if they would hook the adapter from your cellphone up to a TV/computer monitor to see if it works.  Example setup below…

 

Android USB-C HDMI Video Adapter with Charging and USB Port

This HDMI video/USB adapter is one that has been tested and used on a Samsung Galaxy Note 9 cellphone. The USB-C charging port is where you would plug in an external battery or hook up your cellphone charger to.  This would ensure that your cellphone battery would not die during your presentation.  The USB-A port has proved to be very useful as this adds another way to easily get files onto a cellphone by using a USB flash drive.  Another cool feature is to use a wireless mouse with your cellphone by plugging the wireless mouse USB transmitter/receiver into the USB-A port.  A cursor then appears on the screen of your cellphone to use and click on icons just as you would a computer.  Setting up a bluetooth mouse and keyboard also works with most if not all Android cellphones and tablets.

BEFORE Hooking Up Your Cellphone to the Classroom Projector

• If you are going to use your cellphone for a presentation hooking it up to a projector or TV, you will want to turn on “Do Not Disturb” to turn off your phones ability to receive calls, text messages, and other notifications during your presentation.  Additionally, turn Airplane Mode on.  This will also disable your wireless network.  If you plan on needing internet access, just go back to your settings and turn WiFi back on (Airplane Mode will still be activated as well an having internet access).
• If you are planning on using more than one app during a presentation, go ahead and run the app to queue a file or URL location in a browser to make the transition quicker and easier.
• Before you purchase a video adapter for your cellphone, and if possible, visit a store that sells the adapters and have them hook the adapter connected to your cellphone up to a TV to see if it works.  I told a sales guy at BestBuy I would buy the adapter if it worked with my cellphone.  It did and I did.
• Don't set your wallpaper (desktop background) to be an embarassing picture of that trip to Las Vegas... you know, the one where you were dancing on the table and...
• Organize your app icons so you can quickly launch the app as needed.
• Consider getting an external battery to power and charge your cellphone.