Comments on: EverNote Technical Preview for Windows Mobile rocks!

By: Leonid Kitainik

Leonid Kitainik — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 19:22:47 +0000

Thanks All for your good words about our software. As an EverNote staffer, I would like to clarify a few points.
1. Irrespective of the platform, we see EverNote as a way to keep *all* user data in any format.
2. So, we pay special attention to easy capturing, rendering, search and organization of all types of content.
3. On the desktop, by far the most popular data types are typed notes and Web clips (for users with tablets, digital pen&paper devices and such, handwritten notes are also very prominent). To facilitate data capturing, EverNote has special Web and Mail clipper plug-ins for IE/FF/Outlook/Thunderbird, and a Universal Clipper which allows capturing selected content from any application and, additionally, capturing screen snapshots as images (with some advanced markup capability).
4. Smartphones, expecially Pocket PC Phones, are very rich "capturing devices", so we are doing our best to support their key capturing features: camera snapshots, ink, and voice.
5. We don't perceive EverNote an ink-centric application, but 18 years of team's digital ink expertise helps us to offer quality solution. This version of EverNote (both on Pocket PC and on Windows PC) features new patent-pending ink capturing and rendering technology which, in our opinion, makes a serios step forward compared with other technologies currently available on the market. To illustrate this, we would propose to view *on the desktop* the handwriting captured *on the Pocket PC screen* (which has a much lower screen quality and resolution compared with, say, Tablet PC).
5. Yes, Aaron is right: all types of recognition, the "AIR" (Advanced Image Recognition) indexing of images with typed or handwritten text and the "ANR" (Advanced Notes Recognition) recognition of digital ink notes are currently available only in the full desktop version. However, indexes are transferred to the WM device once a user copies the database back to that device; at that time, both the images and the digital ink notes become searchable by keywords.
6. If the advanced features are of limited interest, it is possible to use the Windows Mobile version of EverNote separately; still, it has been our thinking that EverNote's goal is to keep *all* your data with you at *all* times and on *any* device. So, we strongly encourage the use of both the desktop and the mobile version.
7. The 60-day trial version of EverNote on our website does not fully expire after 60 days; in fact, only its advanced features (AIR, ANR) expire and the basic functionality works perpetually.

Thanks for reading this.

By: JohnNull

JohnNull — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 17:25:24 +0000

Alas after waiting for mobile Evernote for years, it only supports WM5 and WM6 devices and not my beloved iPaq 4700 running 2003 OS. That said, it does look like they have done a very good job. Evernote is currently one of my favorite apps. I love it on my UMPC. I think it is hard to compare OneNote to Evernote as they really are targeted at different markets. I have never been able to use Onenote. It just doesn't suite my needs.

In case no one picked up on this, there is no recognition on the WM app. It captures only, all the recognition happens on the Desktop after you sync. -Makes sense to me. Another thing Evernote neewbies might not understand is that if you capture images all the text in that image will be recognized and searchable. This includes handwriting as well as printed text.

Next year they are taking the platform live as well as offering a Mac client. All devices will sync to your online account. I can't wait.

By: Aaron J. Walker

Aaron J. Walker — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 12:22:24 +0000

Aw James!

Last week when the news broke about the free for a day EverNote I tried in vain to find a good comparison review. Nada.

I already have OneNote 2007 and wanted to see if there was anything different to make me ditch my investment to grab EverNote. Now you say the WM experience is better?!?!?! Argh!

Like you said in your post about WMDC, I like the integration (or supposed integration) of Windows products, but OneNote Mobile isn't ready for Prime Time IMHO.

At least it's still on sale until the end of December. Guess I better download the trial :S

By: Steve Paine

Steve Paine — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 09:49:57 +0000

Hi James.

The Advantage (and all other touchscreen WM5 devices?) are touchscreen (passive) and not 'inking' screens. (active digitisers) right? Is the screen hardware going to be a major problem for this ink-focused software or do you think people will be happy inking on a passive touchscreen?

I'm just wondering if common WM5 platforms are the right choice for this software.

Steve.

By: James Kendrick

James Kendrick — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 08:58:08 +0000

The main draw of the WM version is the ability to sync all of your notes over to the WM device. I think that's why they say that.

By: Robert Irving

Robert Irving — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 08:55:28 +0000

Although the site says you "have" to have the desktop version installed, I can't see why if you don't need to sync to the desktop. I have installed the mobile version (from CAB) and it works perfectly

By: James Kendrick

James Kendrick — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 08:54:06 +0000

I am confused by your question then, Steve. Are you referring to the PC side of EverNote or the WM side? Again, the particular device will vector, not the software.

By: Steve Paine

Steve Paine — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 08:41:38 +0000

Yup. As you can see i've tested OneNote. I'm also well aware that vectoring is a hardware related issue!!!

I'm asking if the hardware gives you vectoring issues that make the software unusable?

Steve

By: James Kendrick

James Kendrick — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 07:49:48 +0000

Steve, vectoring is a product of the hardware, not the software. EverNote works as well as any other application built for inking, the HWR is very good and it can give OneNote a run for its money. The endless roll of notes is a great concept borrowed from the Apple Newton which is not surprising since the team that developed EverNote were the Newton team from back when.

What rocks about EverNote is the great way in which this preview works on WM devices. It is great to finally be able to see ink notes on the WM side which OneNote Mobile can't do.

By: Steve Paine

Steve Paine — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 07:29:15 +0000

No vectoring issues then?
Hows the handwriting recognition?

It looks like a similar experience to that which I had using OneNote on the Everun. It was OK when you enter text at the bottom of the screen becuase you can rest your palm on the frame.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBW7_3UdGjA

Steve.