Thanks Google, but I’ll Keep my Evernote

Yesterday Google officially announced what has been swirling around as a rumor for days, their note taking application – Keep (read the announcement).

The service is very similar to Springpad and my personal choice, Evernote. It allows you to input your notes, take pictures, and create lists. Currently you can use it from your Android phone (running 4.0 and above) or from the web – Google Drive integration is coming.

If you had asked me about this service a few months ago you might have gotten me to take more than just a look at – I might have even jumped to it, but not now for a variety of reasons.

The shutdown of Google Notebook

There are still a few of us out there that remember Google Notebook, Google’s original note taking app. We also still remember when they decided to shut it down and everyone went scrambling for a way to save off their notes (this was before takeout). The folks at Evernote, among others, stepped up and offered a solution and in some cases tools to import your notes.

The shutdown of Google Reader

This was just announced (read about it here) and like Google Notebook it hits home for many of us. I’ve been a fairly regular user of either Reader or a service that depends on it for some time and have been now forced to find an alternative (I’ll post about it when I decide). I won’t sit here and “rage against the machine” that Google is for taking away this service as it is their right and they have given us plenty of time to migrate to something else. It does go to show though, that once again we were beholden to the almighty Google.

My decision to diversify

I mentioned a few months back, I’m diversifying my tool set. As many who know me would tell you, if it was a Google product, Scot would be “all in,” but that has changed. While the prospect of having my notes available right there in Google next to other items of mine I cannot bring myself to contradict my earlier decision. Will Google Keep be better than Evernote? There’s no way of knowing at this point but given that Evernote is working to be a 100 year startup, have clients for all the major platforms (Linux the notable exception) and have a profitable business model (yes, I pay for it) it’s hard to argue against them.

So, I know where I stand, how about you? Will you take to the walled Google Keep or use a different tool for your note taking and web gathering? Take a minute and share your thoughts.

 

Don’t mess with my todo app!

todotxt_logo_2012I’ve never understood the reason why folks have to mess with a tool and try to turn it into something that it’s not. Take the “to do” app for example.

At it’s heart the todo app or list is just a listing of those items that you need to accomplish. Nothing could be simpler or cleaner when it comes to productivity – it goes on the list and you cross if off when it’s done.

So why is it that every time a solid option comes along to manage your todo list there’s a group that wants to “improve it,” by adding what I would consider just a bunch of unneeded bells and whistles to it?

They want to add things like,

  • Due dates
  • Reminders
  • Location awareness (for the mobile versions)

Folks, those items shouldn’t be part of the tool you use to manage your list.

If the item as a due date, put it on your calendar.
If you need a reminder to do it, put it on your calendar.
Location awareness? I don’t need my phone to go off as I drive by the store to remind me to stop. I made a list of things I need to pick up – it’s why I’m there in the first place.

I’ve been that person that had to have every bell and whistle in the tool and after spending more hours than I can count I always come back to the mantra, “keep it simple stupid.”

Keep it simple and the tool will do the work you need it to do.

Do you like all the add-ons or do you like to keep it simple? Why not sound off in the comments.

Image from Todotxt.com

 

Choose the tab cycle behavior in Opera

Opera BrowserAs I mentioned previously I’ve move to Opera as my primary browser and like most the more you use something the more you learn about the tool you’ve chosen. In this case it’s the behavior when you use the key combination Control-Tab to cycle through your open tabs.

You can set this behavior from your preferences screen. You can get there from the Opera menu, under Settings -> Preferences or you can just hit Control-F12. Once on your Preferences screen select the Advanced tab and the first option is for tabs.

opera-tab-cycleThe first drop down box allows you to select the behavior you want Opera to have when you click the Control-Tab key combo. The first two options will give you a window that comes up in the center of your browser that will who a list of the tabs you have open – the order is determined by your choice (I prefer the highlighted option). The last one, cycle without a list, is the default behavior you’ll see in most of the other tabbed browsers. With that option you’ll simply cycle through the tabs from left to right.

 

Building your own knowledge base

How many times have you been in a position and said to yourself, “where did I see that article?” Given the great expanse of the Internet more than once I’d wager. Of course that’s only the online world, what about all those books and magazines (you do remember paper right?) you have piled up? How about the all the interesting sites and sounds you’ve come across when you’re out and about?

We’re exposed to thousands of data points everyday and the question becomes how to take that information again when we need it. To do that you need a personal knowledge base.

I’m not talking about just a collection of information, nearly everyone has the ability to do that. With the advent of the modern browser we can bookmark articles, save emails forever (or just about), review articles from hundred of websites if we choose. With the phone you have you can take snapshots of anything you wish, short videos, record your voice and even send a text message or make of phone call.

Then you have all the social media you’re reading and creating.

So you have all that information but that’s not a knowledge base.

A knowledge base is that collection of data overlaid with your own comments, observations and what you learned from the experience. When you read a book or an article you take something away from it – make a note of it. You took a snapshot of your kids playing in the snow, you’ll get the time, date, and place recorded automatically if you took it with a smartphone but not the why – add it to your notes.

Of course the other part of the challenge is finding a way to make it all available to you when you what it – no matter where you are. A place that you can continue to add items as well as pull from that stock of knowledge.

For me that tool is Evernote. Every device I own and use as it loaded on it. It’s become an integral part of what I do and who I am. It’s not just receipes and receipt photos – it’s also where I’ve stored photos of my kids, articles I wanted to read and any observations I had about them. I keep meeting minutes, newsletters, even voice mails – it’s a treasure trove of data.

As I’ve used Evernote I’ve come to learn more about how these pieces of data are connected – I even connect them using note links so I can move easily between them. I tag things, use keywords in titles and date code them (date codes is an upcoming post) all so I can find things easier and draw conclusions from that information.

I’ll be coming back to this topic often but my question for now is, do you have a personal knowledge base?

Also, be sure to check out the Wikipedia article bout Personal Knowledge Management.

 

GQueues for Android Released

gqueuesIf you use Google Tasks as your task manager than you many just want to take a look at the release of GQueues for Android.

The product brings the GQueues website to a native app which should improve the experience.

From the Play Store:

GQueues is a full-featured task manager that helps you stay organized, be more productive and reduce stress in your life.

Whether you’re new to GQueues or already have an account on the web you’ll find the GQueues app for Android is the perfect tool for managing your tasks on the go.

Please note that you will need a GQueues subscription ($25/year) to use this app. New users get a 2-week free trial when you first open the app.

Get GQueues from the Play Store.