Evernote is easily one of the more interesting pieces of software / services that you can use throughout the day. It is a supremely useful tool that can make even the most unorganized person or business, (see yours truly), into a well oiled machine of productive endeavors. It can’t do miracles, but I like it and you will too. Let me explain a little about it.
What is it?
Evernote is if nothing else, a note-taking application that can capture information in a variety of different formats. Pictures, sound, text, they all bend to Evernote’s will and present you the user with the info that you need, when and where you need it. On the go and see something noteworthy (no pun intended) you can take a picture from your smartphone and synchronize with a server in the cloud. It stores that picture complete with tagging, notes, and location information if desired. Text within the image is even searchable. This comes in especially handy for saving whiteboard info.
Sound – Why carry a separate audio recorder when you have one in your phone. Just start up the app, begin a new note and press the microphone icon in the corner. Good while driving where you can talk to your heart’s content but keep your eyes on the road.
Text- Many kinds of textual information can be captured or entered using the myriad of interfaces (more on that below). Simple text notes, inline images, even entire web pages can be saved for your later use.
My Own Uses
I have quite a few ways that I use Evernote
- If I see a website or webpage or even a portion of a webpage that interests me I’ll use the bookmarklet available for every major browser to capture the information, pictures and all.
- If I’m driving and I want to remember something I’ll create a voice note to remind me later.
- When parking in a large lot, like at the airport, I’ll take a picture of the section to remind me so I don’t look like a lost traveller.
- If I’m at a party and a friend introduces me to a great wine I’ll take a picture and tag it so I can get one later.
- It contains the detail and connects with reminders that I setup in Reqall, another program that I use and will be taking about in the future.
- It stores copies of my blog posts and writing that I can access from wherever I am.
- It’s my external memory because I don’t know about you but I need a lot of memory help as I’m getting older.
Evernote can do all of this.
Multi-Platform
In addition to it’s web interface, which was just updated this week (as of 3/30/2011) Evernote is available for a variety of platforms including:
- IPhone / IPod Touch
- IPad
- Android
- BlackBerry
- Palm Pre / Palm Pixi
- Windows Mobile (Windows Phone Coming Soon)
- Windows OS
- Mac OS X
Most of the functionality is available on each platform, but they do vary a bit.
How Others Use Evernote
One way that Evernote is showing it’s usefulness to everyone is by soliciting stories / use cases from regular users and prominently displaying them on their website. They have stories from collecting favorite recipes, to be more productive, write songs, and even to use it on the farm. This has the effect of humanizing the company and answering the question, “Okay, I’ve installed it now what do I do.” Even their CEO practices what he preaches and talks about it on the website. You can find them at Evernote Quotes.
How Can This Be Free?
All of this fabulous technology is free…there are some limitations however. In the free version you are limited to 60MB of data transfer (syncing) per month, only a few file formats syncable, and no access to note history or offline notebooks. They do offer a premium version with 1GB of data transfer monthly, any file format syncable, note history and offline notebooks on devices like iPad and Android. All for the completely reasonable price of $5.00 / month or $45.00 / year.
In our fast and ever changing world where we’re being bombarded with messages, tasks, and things impossible to keep straight, nice to have a helping hand. Especially for a slightly A.D.D. IT professional like me…and you?
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