Evernote allows for a user to quickly store valuable information with the click of a button. It involves three simple steps of capture, recognition, and search. For example when a scholar is doing a research project on Pol Pot, one simply has to highlight all relevant information, click the Evernote button on the toolbar and the note is stored!(Reference Slideshow; Slides 10-13). Once a note is stored the library sync’s itself and data can be searched on any medium a user wishes, whether it be via web- access or mobile phone. There are multiple ways a user can get a note into Evernote. One can drag-n-drop, create, snap, clip, email, scan, record and even tweet a reminder into your notes which is pretty cool.
Evernote is yet another web 2.0 product to grow insurmountably in the last few years. The software was created by an independent, privately held company headquartered in Mountain View California. Born in October 2006, Evernote has made tremendous progress forward since its creation. The idea was grasped by Stepan Pachikov, the same founder as former “Parascript” and is an achievement to having founded multiple tools in a growing technological era. Evernote also includes the capability to recognize text from within in pictures thanks to Ritescript, a division of Evernote which allows for handwriting recognition and digital ink technology. Hopefully the future of this resource will be as promising as the functionality today, with more breakthrough recognition software from its Ritescript division!
This application is used by both Students and the business world alike. Evernote’s functionality includes a large spectrum of capabilities that allows a user to store virtually any thought, anywhere. Various ways people use the software include tasks and to-do lists, Store notes and organize research, clip web pages, snap a picture of whiteboards, log your favorite wine label when out to dinner our your local restaurant and even to keep track of contacts via business cards. In the business world it is hard to keep a list of contacts up to date. With Evernote a user is able to simply lay out all the business cards, take a snapshot and store it into their library. Evernote’s digital recognition allows for a user to then search through their contacts once the data has been indexed. (See Slideshow). Other common ways this tool can be used is to keep track of recipes, store music and software serial numbers, blog posts or even where you parked the car.
There are many helpful student oriented tools on the internet which are all made possible by web 2.0. Research has skyrocketed tremendously due to the growth of the internet and the ability to share information worldwide. Often the hardest task for a student is keep notes in an organized fashion. With Evernote every piece of information entered into the database is stored in an ordered manner. For example when a user clips a section of text from the internet, Evernote arranges it exactly as copied as well as includes the web source above to always have a point of reference.
Mobile devices also have the capability to incorporate Evernote software which expands the range of note taking. On a mobile device a user is able to snap pictures, text or even record voice notes and shoot them directly into your library. For example say you are walking down Jefferson Boulevard and you see an interesting add on the bus-stop which you want to blog about it when you return to your work station. Simply snap a picture on your mobile device, send the picture into your Evernote library and you are able to search for it at a later time. Currently Evernote only allows mobile devices which host windows mobile or the iphone to use its services. In terms of the future of this tool hopefully users will be able to download a blackberry application that syncs to a “cloud,” and that offers the same functionality as an iphone. This poses a problem for the business world which is overloaded with blackberries. I personally have a blackberry so don’t panic, there is a work around. Despite not being able to install Evernote onto your blackberry you can simply install the twitter application and send notes to your library via tweets. (See Slideshow; Slides 16-17).
Evernote’s key functionality is its ability to been store information from all mediums including applications such as Twitter or an email providers. Social bookmarking websites have become extremely popular as of late. Media websites such as Twitter are expanding its community of followers faster than the Tiger Woods can win another major. Non-the-less the ability to use twitter as a medium to store notes is an added benefit of Evernote’s versatility. A user simple has to follow “myen” on twitter; link the Evernote account with the twitter account and boom, a user can begin “tweeting” notes to one self. (See Slideshow; Slide 15 for visual). For example twitter allows for messages to be broadcasted to an individual’s followers. However you can also “tweet” privately by changing the setting from public to private. A user simple has to include “@myen” anywhere in the tweet and it automatically stores a copy in your database. Evernote also works in a similar fashion with note saving via email. Simply include “@myen” anywhere in the email and a copy is saved in your Evernote library. A Library which can be accessed virtually on any device making a user’s database available in anywhere!
FREE, FREE, FREE, FREE, FREE! That is the price of Evernote. This valuable resource is available for use for free which is quite remarkable in this day and age where even a mere trip to the library seems to cost you a penny here and there. Evernote does however monetize the tool by giving a user the option to upgrade his or her account for $5 per month/ $45 a year. The difference between the two versions is slight and I suggest going with the free version. If you are considering upgrading your account one of the advantages is boosting your monthly upload allowance from 40GB to 500GB which is quite drastic depending on how much uploading a user might inquire. Added benefits of a paid premium version also include SSL encryption, priority image recognition, and skipping the advertisements on the various columns. Unless you are using Evernote to its maximum potential and need the bonus 460GB storage, I recommend the standard version which has the same functionality minus the additional cost. (Reference slideshow; Slide 18).
What about the competition? Indeed Evernote’s main competition for note taking software is none other than Microsoft’s OneNote. When comparing the two resources I found differences right off the bat. First and foremost OneNote is not as appealing as Evernote aesthetically. OneNote’s user interface feels much like a Word doc while Evernote seems to have a more user friendly, itunes feel to it. In regards to the functionality both programs allow for text recognition however Evernote has much better workability. Evernote allows for handwriting/image recognition and auto-import, while OneNote does not include such features. Web clipping is much more accurate in Evernote compared to OneNote in terms of formatting and speed. The most important aspect which boosts Evernote superior to Microsoft’s OneNote is pricing. OneNote licensing fees can be quite costly running a single user roughly $75 per license while Evernote is absolutely free. Also let’s not forget with Evernote a user is able to access his or her library from virtually anywhere. (Reference Slideshow; Slide 19).
Excitement is an understatement when referring to the Evernote! I am hopeful that my readers will use this tool as a resource when researching political power around the world. I strongly believe that this tool is the most powerful web 2.0 resource I could introduce you, my readers to. This is a tool you can use not only in an educational setting but also in the business world and even in the social context. I encourage my readers to use Evernote in blogging, storing important notes, or simply remembering your favorite beer when out for a night on the town. Technology has boosted society forward in such great ways so please take this tool and never “miss a note again!”
The slide show presentation on Evernote!
Evernote
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