Starting with this post, I am making a slight change in the title of this weekly post. It’s a small change from “website” to “webapp”. The basic reason is that is that I believe that most websites that are really useful or make life easier in some way, are a lot more than just good web design. They are more like functional web based applications. This is especially true of my favorite webapp to date: Evernote. This is a great example or definition of a webapp; a fully functioning, multi-accessible web application.
Although it started out as strictly a desktop app with a webapp piece, it really became useful after they released the iPhone app to go with it. But its still basically a webapp, with or without a high-end smartphone . The desktop app is a small download and quick install that can sync to and from the web account and accessed in a web browser.
So why should you use Evernote? This is from the Evernote “About us” page:
Our goal at Evernote is to give everyone the ability to easily capture any moment, idea, inspiration, or experience whenever they want using whichever device or platform they find most convenient, and then to make all of that information easy to find.
Pasted from <http://www.evernote.com/about/corp/>
Evernote accomplishes this goal and more. I use it to keep web clippings, shopping lists, brainstorming ideas for the blog, quick meeting notes, software license keys, copies of online receipts, and a lot of quick pics and audio clips. Like most people I think, I cant remember everything all the time. Even using a computer everyday and sometimes all day, my brain has to concentrate on other stuff. Trying to remember all those random thoughts, ideas, and other fragments of information used to be a time consuming chore. In fact, I used to have a Notepad file full of misc text. But keeping track and retrieving something was very frustrating. Evernote will let you “tag” the notes to make searching quicker and easier. But it’s not just a “note” taking app, its really more like a digital file cabinet and digital notebook all in one. The real beauty is I can access these tidbits of data on my laptop or iPhone or from any web connected computer, anytime. I don’t have to carry around the old Notepad file with me. It works on smartphones like Blackberry, Android, and on desktops either Windows or MAC. The Smartphone app has the added benefit of doing “voice” notes right from your phone. Every note, pic, or voice note syncs back to the webapp and accessible everywhere.
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What does it cost?
Its free, support of course thru small non-obtrusive ads in the desktop and web apps. There is a “Premium” account for those who want: bigger upload capacity, support for more file types, and enhanced security. I recommend starting out the “free” version to start off. Upgrade to the Premium version anytime.
If you’re not convinced, don’t take my word for it. Check out what others are saying about Evernote:
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/004070.php
You know I love it. No more pen and paper!