"Google Keep" notetaker ??
Started by jimspoon
on 3/20/2013
jimspoon
3/20/2013 6:03 am
shatteredmindofbob
3/20/2013 9:56 pm
I can't help but be cynical and wonder how long this will be around before it's put down like Google Notebook and now Google Reader...
Dr Andus
3/20/2013 10:48 pm
I'm amazed that Google Bookmarks is still around... Just stumbled upon it after years of not having come across it.
Alexander Deliyannis
3/20/2013 11:37 pm
Thanks for the link; BTW in the article I found a link to another interesting post by 'our own' Dave Winer with his views on Google Reader http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2416704,00.asp
Stephen Zeoli
3/21/2013 1:29 pm
For what it is worth (much, I think), James Fallows is approaching this new Google service with some skepticism. See here:
http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/03/a-problem-google-has-created-for-itself/274232/
Steve Z.
http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/03/a-problem-google-has-created-for-itself/274232/
Steve Z.
steveylang
3/21/2013 6:54 pm
It's hard to rely on any smaller Google service if we don't know the criteria for Google to continue offering it. Reader may not have been as big as Gmail, but it was big in the RSS world- look at the 'ecosystem' of products and services built around Google Reader compatibility. So in that sense I would consider it a successful product, unless they had unrealistic expectations.
It's certainly their prerogative whether to go/no go something, but they should take into account that it affects perception of their other offerings (if only for their own sake.)
shatteredmindofbob wrote:
It's certainly their prerogative whether to go/no go something, but they should take into account that it affects perception of their other offerings (if only for their own sake.)
shatteredmindofbob wrote:
I can't help but be cynical and wonder how long this will be around
before it's put down like Google Notebook and now Google Reader...
Alexander Deliyannis
3/21/2013 8:05 pm
I don't think that even 'major' Google products are safe. Google Buzz was very much promoted and integrated with other Google services, but it was still put under the carpet.
I believe Fallows is right; there's no guarantee that any service--free or paid--will be around forever, but for free services insecurity increases exponentially.
I believe Fallows is right; there's no guarantee that any service--free or paid--will be around forever, but for free services insecurity increases exponentially.
shatteredmindofbob
3/21/2013 8:51 pm
Alexander Deliyannis wrote:
I don't think that even 'major' Google products are safe. Google Buzz
was very much promoted and integrated with other Google services, but it
was still put under the carpet.
I believe Fallows is right; there's no guarantee that any service--free
or paid--will be around forever, but for free services insecurity
increases exponentially.
Exactly. If were a betting man, I'd put money down that Blogger is next on the chopping block.
At this point, I'm even making sure I have an exit strategy for Gmail. Though, I doubt they'll shutter it outright, I could see some unpleasant changes, like removing IMAP support, happening.
xtabber
3/23/2013 2:37 am
Evernote was once a stand-alone program for Windows PCs that stored collected information and notes in a single sequential “endless tape.” It didn’t have a lot of organizational capabilities, but it was dead simple to use, good at capturing info from web pages and desktop documents, and had the ability to sync databases across computers. Sometime in 2008, Evernote switched to a cloud-based model, and left behind many who depended on features of the stand-alone version. Hardly a shining example of loyalty to one’s customer base.
I have used Evernote since version 2.2, but have never found the cloud implementation all that compelling. It’s still a good choice for capturing information, but much too limited for serious data management and organization. I personally find the interface too busy for quick note taking, particularly on tablets and phones, where I need it most. So I’m not likely to subscribe to the premium version at $45/year, without which it is essentially crippleware, lacking even the ability to work offline on mobile devices.
What’s interesting is that Keep actually looks more like the original Evernote than does the current version of Evernote itself. Since I’m not about to trust my data exclusively to any cloud-based service without having secure local copies, I am not too concerned about whether Google supports Keep in perpetuity. For now, it’s really quick and easy to use, and to me, that’s a big advantage.
I have used Evernote since version 2.2, but have never found the cloud implementation all that compelling. It’s still a good choice for capturing information, but much too limited for serious data management and organization. I personally find the interface too busy for quick note taking, particularly on tablets and phones, where I need it most. So I’m not likely to subscribe to the premium version at $45/year, without which it is essentially crippleware, lacking even the ability to work offline on mobile devices.
What’s interesting is that Keep actually looks more like the original Evernote than does the current version of Evernote itself. Since I’m not about to trust my data exclusively to any cloud-based service without having secure local copies, I am not too concerned about whether Google supports Keep in perpetuity. For now, it’s really quick and easy to use, and to me, that’s a big advantage.
Dr Andus
1/14/2014 11:36 am
I've had another look at Google Keep and I'm amazed that it still doesn't have an export function (or an import one). How does Google expect anyone to take this service seriously? At this moment it feels more like a trap for unsuspecting new users than a serious option for heavy note-takers.
On the plus side, it does have an off-line Chrome app.
For now, it just seems to be an alternative to iOS's Reminders to-do app, rather than an actual note-taker. Disappointing...
On the plus side, it does have an off-line Chrome app.
For now, it just seems to be an alternative to iOS's Reminders to-do app, rather than an actual note-taker. Disappointing...
Dr Andus
12/28/2018 12:52 pm
4-5 years later, I have to revise my opinion about Google Keep in a big way. In fact it's has taken over from WorkFlowy as my main on-the-go note and todo capture and prioritisation tool.
I would still not trust it enough to make it my Zettelkasten system (though I have toyed with the idea, and there is a lot going for it), mainly because it is not possible to link notes to each other and each note does not have its own URL.
But in many other ways Google Keep has become a key part of the emerging Google (+Android) ecosystem that is structured around the latest crop of convertible Chromebooks and Chromebook tablets that come with Wacom styluses or similar. But it also works across platforms.
Why do I like it suddenly? There have been a lot of new features added compared to the version 4 yrs ago, which make it a more complete solution.
1. It's cross-platform and sync is instant. I use it on iOS, Windows, Chrome OS, and Android.
2. I can take both typed and handwritten/drawn notes (using an EMR stylus on my convertible Chromebook), and capture URLs and web text using a Chrome browser extension.
3. It works on the basis of a post-it note metaphor, whereby you can pin the most important notes at the top permanently, and you can rearrange them manually at will, which is very helpful for dynamic daily prioritisation.
4. There are two main ways to categorise notes (besides pinning them): by colour coding or by adding "labels". The latter can also be done now by just typing # in front of a word in the body of the note.
5. You can toggle between regular note text or a todo list with checkboxes. There are options for different behaviours as to what happens to checked todos (or where new todos are added - top or bottom of the list).
6. You can set reminders.
7. You can export notes to Google Docs.
8. You can share notes with others.
9. The "Archive" feature is handy for keeping to main view less cluttered and not having to delete notes that you may need later.
10. It's integrated with Google Calendar and Google Drive apps (Google Docs, Sheets etc.), where you can toggle it in a bar that slides out on the right.
11. There is a good search function, as you'd expect from Google.
And it's 'free' in the sense that it doesn't cost extra money, with all the caveats that entails (i.e. you allow Google to analyse your data in exchange - I personally don't have a problem with that, as I'm getting a lot of value from Google in exchange accross the various Google products I use, and I use uBlock Origin, so I never see any ads).
What are the advantages over WorkFlowy? When I got really busy, I started to have difficulty focusing with WorkFlowy's growing mountain of lists (though I still use it for other purposes).
There is something about the concept of a single post-it note or index card that helps focus on a smaller set of issues within that visual metaphor, especially if it can be colour-coded and pinned and moved around, while in WorkFlowy all bullet points and lists look exactly the same, which seems to exert some kind of a cognitive tax, once one gets really busy with it.
As for the earlier concerns about the longevity of this service, at this point this seems to be a strategically important tool for Google, so I would expect it to last for a while (at least until Fuchsia OS replaces Chrome OS + Android, and possibly beyond), especially that it now becomes clearer how Keep acts as the heart of the stylus-enabled 2-in-1 Chromebooks and tablets that have been starting to replace the traditional laptop style Chromebooks.
I would still not trust it enough to make it my Zettelkasten system (though I have toyed with the idea, and there is a lot going for it), mainly because it is not possible to link notes to each other and each note does not have its own URL.
But in many other ways Google Keep has become a key part of the emerging Google (+Android) ecosystem that is structured around the latest crop of convertible Chromebooks and Chromebook tablets that come with Wacom styluses or similar. But it also works across platforms.
Why do I like it suddenly? There have been a lot of new features added compared to the version 4 yrs ago, which make it a more complete solution.
1. It's cross-platform and sync is instant. I use it on iOS, Windows, Chrome OS, and Android.
2. I can take both typed and handwritten/drawn notes (using an EMR stylus on my convertible Chromebook), and capture URLs and web text using a Chrome browser extension.
3. It works on the basis of a post-it note metaphor, whereby you can pin the most important notes at the top permanently, and you can rearrange them manually at will, which is very helpful for dynamic daily prioritisation.
4. There are two main ways to categorise notes (besides pinning them): by colour coding or by adding "labels". The latter can also be done now by just typing # in front of a word in the body of the note.
5. You can toggle between regular note text or a todo list with checkboxes. There are options for different behaviours as to what happens to checked todos (or where new todos are added - top or bottom of the list).
6. You can set reminders.
7. You can export notes to Google Docs.
8. You can share notes with others.
9. The "Archive" feature is handy for keeping to main view less cluttered and not having to delete notes that you may need later.
10. It's integrated with Google Calendar and Google Drive apps (Google Docs, Sheets etc.), where you can toggle it in a bar that slides out on the right.
11. There is a good search function, as you'd expect from Google.
And it's 'free' in the sense that it doesn't cost extra money, with all the caveats that entails (i.e. you allow Google to analyse your data in exchange - I personally don't have a problem with that, as I'm getting a lot of value from Google in exchange accross the various Google products I use, and I use uBlock Origin, so I never see any ads).
What are the advantages over WorkFlowy? When I got really busy, I started to have difficulty focusing with WorkFlowy's growing mountain of lists (though I still use it for other purposes).
There is something about the concept of a single post-it note or index card that helps focus on a smaller set of issues within that visual metaphor, especially if it can be colour-coded and pinned and moved around, while in WorkFlowy all bullet points and lists look exactly the same, which seems to exert some kind of a cognitive tax, once one gets really busy with it.
As for the earlier concerns about the longevity of this service, at this point this seems to be a strategically important tool for Google, so I would expect it to last for a while (at least until Fuchsia OS replaces Chrome OS + Android, and possibly beyond), especially that it now becomes clearer how Keep acts as the heart of the stylus-enabled 2-in-1 Chromebooks and tablets that have been starting to replace the traditional laptop style Chromebooks.
Dr Andus
12/28/2018 12:57 pm
Dr Andus wrote:
Another reason I didn't pursue the idea of a Zettelkasten (for a reading notes database) is because it does not support rich text, and quotes often have italics. Arguably this could be overcome by just using markdown notation. The bigger limitation for me is the lack of wiki style linking and the lack of separate note URLs (so I could link to them from other apps).
I would still not trust it enough to make it my Zettelkasten system
(though I have toyed with the idea, and there is a lot going for it),
mainly because it is not possible to link notes to each other and each
note does not have its own URL.
Another reason I didn't pursue the idea of a Zettelkasten (for a reading notes database) is because it does not support rich text, and quotes often have italics. Arguably this could be overcome by just using markdown notation. The bigger limitation for me is the lack of wiki style linking and the lack of separate note URLs (so I could link to them from other apps).
satis
12/28/2018 3:12 pm
I've been using Keep for a couple of years now.
Last month I bought into Todoist for a year, but it is pretty anemic if you need bulleted, dashed, numbered lists or checklists, so I continue to use Keep for my lists.
To a certain extent the free Zoho Notebooks can replicate the Keep experience, but it has certain usability quirks and I prefer the way Keep works.
Last month I bought into Todoist for a year, but it is pretty anemic if you need bulleted, dashed, numbered lists or checklists, so I continue to use Keep for my lists.
To a certain extent the free Zoho Notebooks can replicate the Keep experience, but it has certain usability quirks and I prefer the way Keep works.
Gorski
12/29/2018 12:25 am
mainly because it is not possible to link notes to each other and each note does not have its own URL.
Each note **does** have its own URL. It's not possible to retrieve the URL with the mobile apps as far as I've been able to discover, but when you open a note in the browser the URL is unique to that note and can be linked to from other notes or from wherever.
Dr Andus
12/29/2018 12:59 am
Mark wrote:
I guess I never see that because I mainly use the standalone Chrome app (both on Windows and in Chrome OS), not the browser version.
when
you open a note in the browser the URL is unique to that note and can be
linked to from other notes or from wherever.
I guess I never see that because I mainly use the standalone Chrome app (both on Windows and in Chrome OS), not the browser version.
Gorski
12/29/2018 1:43 am
it does not support rich text, and quotes often have italics. Arguably this could be overcome by just using markdown notation.
A Googler on Reddit recently hinted that Markdown may be coming:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/9p395l/google_keep_notes_material_design_update_apk/e7yu0ob/
Dr Andus
12/29/2018 12:52 pm
Mark wrote:
That is good news but it's still probably not enough to convince me to make Keep my main Zettelkasten solution.
For that I would need a few more functions:
1) ability to set up an automatic daily backup or export of all notes.
2) true wiki linking between notes.
While in the browser version it's possible to link to a Keep note, the URL is long and can't be masked, and clicking on it opens notes in new tabs, rather than in the same tab, as it would happen with a wiki. So it's unwieldy in that sense.
A Googler on Reddit recently hinted that Markdown may be coming:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/9p395l/google_keep_notes_material_design_update_apk/e7yu0ob/
That is good news but it's still probably not enough to convince me to make Keep my main Zettelkasten solution.
For that I would need a few more functions:
1) ability to set up an automatic daily backup or export of all notes.
2) true wiki linking between notes.
While in the browser version it's possible to link to a Keep note, the URL is long and can't be masked, and clicking on it opens notes in new tabs, rather than in the same tab, as it would happen with a wiki. So it's unwieldy in that sense.