Evernote

A friend of mine recently sent me an invitation to Evernote. This is a web-based tool that allows you to keep all of your notes, images, and ideas in one "searchable" environment. Client software (free) is also available for Mac or Pc and enables the user to work offline. The easy sync mechanism can be set for manual or automatic. The webclipper embeds easily into firefox (I was not successful with the safari version) and you can easily clip selections from the internet and store them in your notebooks.

I was also excited to see that Evernote integrates with Jott on my iPhone. I now can easily use Jott to dictate a 30 second audio file that will be transcribed and stored in my notes. I also successfully used the iPhone camera to capture images and sent them via phone to my Evernote web account. Best yet - you can take pictures of text (even hand-written notes) and email the file to Evernote. The website utilizes handwriting recognition software that allows the search process to discover both written and printed words within an image - Now how cool is that!

One more thing - it also integrates with Skitch - a product of Plasq - makers of Comic Life. If you haven't tried this remarkable product - please check it out. Skitch allows one to manipulate pictures and images, add text or digital inking, and upload to Evernote. The threesome - Evernote, Jott, and Skitch - offers a comprehensive solution.