MacNoob

It isn’t often I come across an app that I find completely indispensable after only a couple of week’s use. I downloaded Evernote based on a recommendation from one of the TWiT podcasts and it has become one of a handful of applications I can’t live without. I find myself using it several times per day and it has become such a part of my workflow I can’t imagine how I functioned without it.
Evernote is for keeping track of notes (of course), but it does so much more I find it hard to decide where to begin with my description. First, it is a client app that resides on a Mac or PC that includes several tools for collecting and organizing random data. This can be text, pasted from any document, audio, pictures, links or entire web pages just to name a few. Second, it is a web service that continually synchronizes your notes and provides almost all the functionality the desktop application does for adding, modifying and organizing your data. Third, it is a mobile application for Windows Mobile or iPhone 2.0 devices with a neatly tailored UI for small screens that stays completely synchronized as well. I haven’t tried the Windows Mobile version, but the iPhone application lets you record audio notes, picture notes with OCR (from a saved photo or new snapshot) and regular text. The OCR (Optical Character Recognition) is especially cool. I can take a snapshot of a receipt, for instance, Evernote recognizes the text and I’ve got a record of my transaction I can search, cut and paste to my expense report or do anything I would do with any normal picture! Great for keeping track of expenses.
One of the most powerful features Evernote offers is the ability to organize. You can attach any number of tags to a note, name it anything you wish and Evernote automatically saves notes with meta data like location, time and date. All your notes become instantly searchable by any of these criteria as well as by their content. This video provides a nice introduction.

Being an IT guy, I use Evernote to store product keys, installation notes and procedures, all the static IP addresses on my network and much more. The really great part is I don’t have to carry it with me. Any computer with an internet connection enables me to see, search and manipulate all my notes using any browser. I can also modify existing or add new notes as well. Like I said, I’m having a hard time imagining how I did my job without it. I’m sure I did it quite a bit slower.
The most amazing thing about Evernote?…..IT’S ABSOLUTELY FREE! ALL VERSIONS! FULLY FUNCTIONAL! There is a paid version, but all it adds is the amount of monthly bandwidth you’re allowed and phone support. Unless you’re a complete freak (like me) you probably won’t need it though.
Needless to say, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND EVERNOTE. As a matter of fact, you need to be really creative to dream up an excuse NOT to use it!  Get it here.

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