Content Management Software: Evernote
A Free Cross-Platform Program with Data Synchronization
Sep 8, 2009
Like other content management software (Devonthink, for example), Evernote allows users to store various data formats in a single program: text, photos, web content, and audio. Unlike other programs, Evernote synchronizes this data through its servers, giving users access to their notes from any computer or mobile browser.
The Basics of Evernote
The first step to using Evernote is to create a user account on the Evernote website. This account is used for synchronizing data across any device that can access Evernote. After the account has been created and verified, the user may download one or more clients, depending on the platform(s) they prefer to work from:
- The browser-based interface (no download required).
- Computer operating systems: Mac or Windows.
- Mobile platforms: iPhone, iPod Touch, BlackBerry, Palm Pre, Windows Mobile.
Each client's preferences can be set to automatically synchronize data at specified intervals, or to make synchronization manual if the user wishes.
Evernote Free and Premium Versions
A basic Evernote account is free, but this version has limits regarding the type and amount of data that can be synchronized every month (a bar at the top of the Evernote client indicates the month's quota).
For a yearly fee ($45 USD at the time of this writing), users can upgrade to the Premium version of Evernote. Evernote Premium gives a larger monthly allowance for synchronizing data in any file type. Premium users can also collaborate with others through shared notebooks, and their data is encrypted with SSL.
Sample Uses for Evernote
Evernote is a great program to either catch random snippets of information or keep an organized set of notes for projects.
For example, students, researchers, and authors might use Evernote to store and back up their work. A single Evernote file can contain many notebooks, and tags can also be used to easily classify and look for files. This data can then be retrieved from anywhere whenever it's needed.
While Evernote is not a suitable program for advanced word processing (it doesn't have footnotes or a word count feature, for example), it's a valuable tool for taking notes or backing up files. With a Premium account, students and researchers can collaborate on selected notebooks.
Users with mobile units (iPhones, BlackBerries, etc.) can upload snapshots and voice memos straight from their device, in addition to written text notes. This feature is useful for creating quick notes or making visual shopping lists.
For example, a user may take a snapshot of a book or CD cover before heading to the store. Snapshots are also helpful for remembering favorite restaurants or shops, or for larger projects such as a large-scale home decoration.
Final Thoughts
While Evernote is neither a powerful word processor nor a media player, it can create and store many kinds of files and keep them synchronized across various platforms. Evernote is the perfect software for people who need to access their data on the go, or who can't always work at the same computer and don't want to carry their files in a portable drive.
With a free basic account and client downloads, it's easy to try Evernote for an unlimited time before deciding to purchase a Premium account. For many users, the basic account will be enough to meet their needs; others may want to take advantage of the extra space, additional file types, and secure collaboration that the Premium edition provides.
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