Posts tagged digital office
I’ve used and abused, ignored and overlooked dozens of note-taking and sticky note-saving apps over the years. I was a loyal user of StickyBrain (which later became SohoNotes which retails for $39.99 and is compatible with an iPhone and iPad app, $4.99 and $9.99 respectively ) and have even tried a few of the online organizational tools like Evernote and Remember The Milk but in the end, simpler always seems better. There are some notes I want with me, and for those I resort to paper and pen but for things like serial numbers, web links, bits of code for a blog or other random bit of digital detritus, I keep going back to Notational Velocity (free).
Foremost, Notational Velocity is the epitome of simple. You type a title or keyword in the search bar. If you’ve already created a note with the text, it will show in the box below. If not, it will just create a new note with that text as the title. Then in the bottom field, you add the content. Easy-peasy. As the epitome of simple, Notational Velocity does not store photos, include tags or folders. Its just a searchable list of bits of text, thoughts, notes, code, etc.
Notational Velocity syncs with Simple Note, an iPhone and iPad app which is also free so you combine both online and offline note-saving as well as have a smooth, free back-up system for your notes.
Do you have any apps that help keep your desktop clear of clutter and your notes and thoughts organized? Leave a note in the comments!
A new iPad and the hunt for accessories
So, in preparation for a big trip, I fell off the bandwagon (again) and bought a new iPad. Yeah, one of those newfangled iPads with the Retina display. This purchase was not made without some trepidation; I had owned one previously and found it too devoted to games and content-consumption and not enough about making, editing, and reviewing content, not to mention iPads are not inexpensive. That said, when I compared the other options available at the moment that would let me watch movies and tv, read books and magazines, and on occasion check my email, twitter or web, there weren’t many options: the Amazon Kindle Fire and the Nook Tablet/Color were about the only other candidates in the running. I KNOW there are other options but as a fairly devoted Apple-user I was not quite ready to go down a fully-Android path.
So, now we come to the crux of my issues. I need a good cover/case for my new gadget as well as a good bag to trek across the globe with.
So far, I’ve been debating upon just getting one of Apple’s stock magnetic Smart Covers as I’ve not seen much in the way of small, reasonably-priced protective covers for the new iPad.
As for other goodies, I did stumble upon the Moop Messenger No.4 for iPad. While slightly out of my price range at $185, it looks lovely. I’m intrigued by the names of their other models as well, including The Letter Bag and The Letter Clutch.
Any suggestions for accessories, apps, cases or bags for our fine readers? Leave them in the comments! Thanks!
The Wall Street Journal collects a list of apps that turn your tablet into a sketchpad as well as offering some options for styli to use with your tablet.
(via WSJ.com)
At the start of every year, I try to determine if I am working most efficiently and what, if any tools, exist to make my job easier. Cloud is such an app. When installed on your Mac, it automatically uploads screenshots to your web storage. This is great if you are working on client work or collaborating and want a way to share images with people quickly, without cluttering up your email. But there’s more to Cloud than that. Its got the kind of functionality that makes it fast and easy to upload music tracks, videos and links (with shortened URLs) quickly with the Raindrop plug-ins in the preferences. Give it a try and let me know what you think.
(via CloudApp)
Four months ago, I mentioned a new app discovery called Alfred. I thought I would follow-up to let you know, I cannot live without it now. The simple act of clicking Option+Spacebar and keying in the first few letters of anything has shaved so many seconds of clicking around on my computer that I think I’ve added at least a day of productivity to my life. Really.
Add to the free app with the PowerPack (£15 or $24) and you can do even more than just locate files, calculate, spell and shutdown (favorite feature!). With the PowerPack, once you’ve located an image or file, you can immediately email it or open it with a specific application. There is an iTunes mini player controller, ability to find a contact in your Address Book quickly and access clipboard hisories. There are opportunities for even more functionality with scripts and more but that’s outside my realm of expertise.
So, try out the app and see if you find it useful. If you do find it useful, try out the PowerPack and really blow your mind! My fingers hardly ever leave the keyboard now.
Have I told you about The Donut Project? In their wallpaper category are some of my favorite options for computer wallpaper. For the New Year, freshen up that desktop view. Enjoy!
(via The Donut Project)
The Wallpapers section on The Fox Is Black is a great resource for wonderful art and design to grace your desktop, iphone, ipad or other digital device.
(via The Fox Is Black)
For serious back-up and data recovery, I recommend SuperDuper!. It has actually saved my bacon in the past so I can say with certainty that it works. In layman’s terms, SuperDuper! quickly and easily creates back-ups and clones of your harddrive in case of emergency. This is not Time Machine, that stores iterations of files and versions but a straight-up back-up of your data, home folder or clone of your drive. SuperDuper! does claim it is a perfect complement to Time Machine though.
I had not yet gotten around to installing the most recent version of SuperDuper! on my laptop before it got stolen last week so trust me when I say $27.95 is a small price to pay for the lost work-hours, family photos and treasured memories.
(via SuperDuper!)
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