UPDATE: I’m using Journler now… it’s really doing the job for me. Check it out if you haven’t done so.
About a year ago, I started looking at and using some PIM (Personal Information Management) applications. These things are great in that you can add notes, web pages, clippings, images, PDFs, and all sorts of other stuff. Then you can tag your items, organize them via folders and such, and before you know it, you’ve got yourself a pretty hefty database of your thoughts, bookmarks, images, etc.
Surveying a few
I started out with Yojimbo, messed around with Together, and took a look at DEVONThink. All were pretty good apps, nice and clean and worked well, but each was just a little different in its workflow.
After playing with these guys a bunch, there was one thing that bugged the crap out of me. None of them could synchronize across multiple computers. There was a small thing for Yojimbo, but I think it was still an alpha release when I looked at it. Now Yojimbo can sync with MobileMe, but I’m not going to sign up and pay for that service, especially since Apple keeps the right to remove any of my stored items if they want to.
DEVONThink looked pretty good, but it was pretty beefy at the same time. I could tell right away that getting going with DEVONThink would require me to configure bunches of other apps to work with DEVONThink, something I didn’t want to do. Mostly I didn’t want to do this because what if I changed my mind about using DEVONThink; then I’d have to go back and reconfigure everybody. Too involved for my evaluation purposes.
I also took a look at ShoveBox. It was nice, too, but it still wouldn’t sync.
Roll my own
Due to sync issues, about a year ago I finally decided I’d throw a hand in just building my own web-based PIM. I drafted the plans, relationships, interface, etc for my new, proprietary PIM. I was calling it InMind as a reference name. We began fleshing out the application using Ruby on Rails and some free module/component stuff.
We got a bit too busy with client projects, and InMind fell off the priority list. I figured I’d just stick with regular old bookmarks and folders upon folders of notes.
I’m mobile again
Just recently, though, I changed machines to a MacBook Pro, and I’m mobile again. (I also use an iPhone). Since I’d be mostly only using my own machine, I figured I’d take another look at Yojimbo, Together and others. Then I came across Evernote.
Evernote wins, hands down
At first glance, I realized that someone built my InMind application almost to the tee, except theirs actually got finished. Evernote offers both a web interface and desktop applications, for Mac and PC. Plus it offers an iPhone app! I’ve been using the hell out of it for the last few days, and I’m very happy with it.
The free plan offers a fairly generous 40MB maximum of monthly uploads. Evernote stores all your data online, which can be accessed via the web interface if you’re on the go. Also, in the desktop app, you can choose to create a local notebook, which won’t be synched online. This could help you manage your storage space a lot easier. And, you can set a Preference to manually sync, so you can clean out stuff you don’t need before uploading, saving your upload bandwidth.
The Evernote iPhone app is pretty sweet, too! You can take snapshots on the phone and upload them immediately. And you can do the same with audio snaps. Cool! Free!
The desktop app works really well, also, offering shortcut keys to add text, URLs, and other items to the database. You also get cool search options; you can search your own tags and even search depending on the source of the note text. You can add checkboxes to your notes, and use the shortcut to search for To Do items throughout all of your notes.
Evernote offers a PRO plan, which gives you a maximum monthly upload of 500MB. And it’s only $5. Just like a Quizno’s sub.
Check out Evernote
If you’re looking for a PIM, then you should really check out Evernote. It’s simple, easy, free, and it works!
Troy Malone
2008.11.18
Let me first say that I like your band’s music. I just stumbled upon that while reading your blog.
Secondly, I am glad to hear that you found Evernote. You are absolutely right that it is an amazing application and its portability is great.
We recently integrated our project collaboration application with Evernote. Now you can take a voice not on the iPhone for instance and then turn that directly into a Task in Pelotonics. The task will have the audio attachment! It is very cool for capturing your thoughts when you are mobile and then integrating them into your team project environment.
Here are some use cases to check out:
http://www.pelotonics.com/evernote_usecases.html
I would love to get your take on the two together…especially with you being a designer. We have a good deal of designers using the system!
Thanks for sharing…
Troy Malone Pelotonics.com
Steve
2008.11.18
I’m glad you like bigtoe, Troy.
What a great idea to integrate a project collab app with Evernote! I’m unfamiliar with Pelotonics, but I’ll certainly take a look!
Torley
2008.11.30
Steve, what a cheery smile in your avatar there! I was searching for PIM stuff because I’m enjoying my new Mac Pro and need better ways to make sense of my life.
Thanx for sharing your findings, I’ve heard of Evernote and some of the others before but haven’t put them to the test yet! Here goes…
mark
2008.12.02
Syncing across services is the only thing evernote has going for it. It’s simply not in the class of the other applications you mentioned.
Steve
2008.12.04
You know, it’s funny you mention that now, @mark. Since I’m using my laptop as my primary computer now, the synching really isn’t that important to me anymore.
I may have to reevaluate a few of the others now.
dan
2009.05.20
The thing about syncing is that you can’t predict when you’ll need it. So you can use journier for years, and then syncing becomes important, and you’re screwed.
Not to mention the developer of journier has said he might stop development.
Evernote has too much going for it. Journier simply can’t compete.
Steve
2009.05.21
@dan, thanks for the input on syncing. I received a newsletter from Evernote recently, and it sounds like they do have a lot more going.
I think I might take another look and reevaluate my choices (yup, again).