Official, finally.

App sees a design overhaul to desktop and mobile, including the addition of tabs. Looks much better.

https://obsidian.md/1.0

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33190433

Great news indeed!

satis wrote:

Official, finally.

App sees a design overhaul to desktop and mobile, including the addition
of tabs. Looks much better.

https://obsidian.md/1.0

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33190433

Well hot dang! This new version of Obsidian is certainly the bees' knees – what an amazing evolution. I'm a convert! I especially love the "stacked tabs" view.

Daly de Gagne wrote:

Great news indeed!

satis wrote:
Official, finally.
>
>App sees a design overhaul to desktop and mobile, including the
addition
>of tabs. Looks much better.
>
>https://obsidian.md/1.0
>
>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33190433

Yep, just been playing with Obsidian – and actually enjoying it for the first time ever!

And getting ready to ditch my combined NotePlan/Craft setup for an all-Obsidian setup instead – especially after (cautiously) installing a couple of calendar/kanban plugins.

This is so impressive!

The new version is very refined and attractive. I have been trying it as well.
One major issue is the price of the Sync. To tackle this issue, I have been trying different methods of Syncing across the iPad, mac and android phone.

I just posted the result of my experimentation in in reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ObsidianMD/comments/y8sf1c/another_workaround_for_the_sync/

Heh, interesting issue, the Android bridge. I like your solution. I've been using iCloud for macOS, iOS and iPadOS, but would probably use something like ChronoSync if I needed Android as well. As it is, I'm currently experimenting with Ionos HiDrive (Ionos is the web services provider formerly known as 1&1), which is pretty good (and runs across multiple platforms). It's very fast and so far, very reliable.

Dellu wrote:

The new version is very refined and attractive. I have been trying it as
well.
One major issue is the price of the Sync. To tackle this issue, I have
been trying different methods of Syncing across the iPad, mac and
android phone.

I just posted the result of my experimentation in in reddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/ObsidianMD/comments/y8sf1c/another_workaround_for_the_sync/

You mention using DEVONthink instead of Obsidian – I'd suggest UpNote as a possible alternative, because it's genuinely cross-platform (Windows, Android and Linux, as well as all the Apple OSes). But the new Obsidian is flexible – I've just transferred hundreds of folders of Markdown files (from e.g. NotePlan and other apps) to it, and the filters, tags etc. are all working impressively well. So in principle you could use any old markdown editor on Android and then sync the files with Obsidian on macOS/Windows.

Thanks for posting your findings. I use Obsidian on my Mac, iPhone, but have a Fire HD as well. Since Mac and iPhone are the important parts, I have been using iCloud which has worked very well. I'll sync my vault with the FreeFileSync Mac to Dropbox, and then use an app on the Fire to sync Dropbox to internal file system. It's strictly for reference though on the Fire, so I'm gonna check out your methods.

Ive been full time Obsidian for a few months and there's been no looking back for me. I love that all my notes are plain MD text files and can be accessed with file system and other apps, and the Obsidian plug in library is great for adding additional functionality. I've also been using the Minimal Theme since day 1, which really nailed the UI for me personally.

Another nice thing about Obsidian is its ability to handle really large files. I saved Moby Dick in a single MD file and opening and browsing it (using Outline view, etc.) is lightning quick (everything is lightning quick now on my new-to-me M1 MacBook Air, but before that I was happily using Obsidian on a 2013 MacBook Air...)


Dellu wrote:

The new version is very refined and attractive. I have been trying it as
well.
One major issue is the price of the Sync. To tackle this issue, I have
been trying different methods of Syncing across the iPad, mac and
android phone.

I just posted the result of my experimentation in in reddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/ObsidianMD/comments/y8sf1c/another_workaround_for_the_sync/

They've done a great job with Obsidian. I've been trying it and some other markdown programs for the last few years hoping to be able to switch from the programs I'm using now. I like the MD files being easily accessed and manipulated with GREP software and I can do complex searches without having to export then import again.

I'm moving everything over to Obsidian currently since I got everything working that I need. I use OneDrive and syncing software to easily sync it to my Android Devices. It's been really dependable whether I input data in Windows or Android.

I have the web clipper set up and it does a pretty good job. I'm having to change the way I do things a little but in the long run it's a lot easier. I also really like that I don't have to redo my tag system every time I import or export notes like I do now. I've been putting the tags in body of each note at top under the heading and I can just add note files to the Obsidian vault and it pulls them out of the notes when I load it up.

Really nice so far. I'm still trying it out and keeping my older system but I don't see me going back.

Hi Bill,
Yes, i have tried UpNote because I have read your views about it before. The thing about it is that, it is really cross-platform. The organization tools in it are also brilliant. I like it a lot.
But,there is one issue that made me to avoid it: it uses internal database just like Evernote and Bear. I really don't want that kind of system because I want my notes to be available to Foxtrot.

@steve thank you for mentioning FreeFileSync. I am not familiar with it. But, it seems similar like MacDropAny or Syncovery which can push folders to cloud storages. If it is as free as its name suggests, it could be great alternative.

OneDrive – yes, good idea, that's my preferred alternative to Dropbox nowadays (since they decided to create the Biggest Client in the World!), given that I have to use MS-Office anyway for work-related reasons.

Lb wrote:

They've done a great job with Obsidian. I've been trying it and some
other markdown programs for the last few years hoping to be able to
switch from the programs I'm using now. I like the MD files being
easily accessed and manipulated with GREP software and I can do complex
searches without having to export then import again.

I'm moving everything over to Obsidian currently since I got everything
working that I need. I use OneDrive and syncing software to easily sync
it to my Android Devices. It's been really dependable whether I input
data in Windows or Android.

I have the web clipper set up and it does a pretty good job. I'm
having to change the way I do things a little but in the long run it's a
lot easier. I also really like that I don't have to redo my tag system
every time I import or export notes like I do now. I've been putting
the tags in body of each note at top under the heading and I can just
add note files to the Obsidian vault and it pulls them out of the notes
when I load it up.

Really nice so far. I'm still trying it out and keeping my older system
but I don't see me going back.

Hm, yes, fair point, guv! Like Ulysses, too. I too am moving away from database-based notetakers, so am entirely sympathetic. I'd forgotten Bear uses databases as well!

Dellu wrote:

Hi Bill,
Yes, i have tried UpNote because I have read your views about it before.
The thing about it is that, it is really cross-platform. The
organization tools in it are also brilliant. I like it a lot.
But,there is one issue that made me to avoid it: it uses internal
database just like Evernote and Bear. I really don't want that kind of
system because I want my notes to be available to Foxtrot.

@steve thank you for mentioning FreeFileSync. I am not familiar with it.
But, it seems similar like MacDropAny or Syncovery which can push
folders to cloud storages. If it is as free as its name suggests, it
could be great alternative.

... all the more reason to switch over to Obsidian once and for all!

Yes- it is in fact free ;-) (although there is a paid version with more functionality.) I am also going to check out MacDropAny, I haven't done a lot of 2-way stuff from my iCloud devices to Android yet, I guess I'm afraid of conflicts and that sort of thing. I'm also considering just signing up for Obsidian Sync to make it simple and support the devs. When I first started using Obsidian there was an introductory price of $6/month IIRC, and those that signed up get to keep that price indefinitely. I would do it now in a heartbeat, but at the time was just trying it out.

Another great freebie Mac app for use with Obsidian and general Markdown/text files is MassReplaceIt, a great little utility for doing batch find-and-replace of file names and file contents.
http://www.hexmonkeysoftware.com

Also, MarkdownServiceTools is handy to have if you ever find yourself needing to convert from MD to rich text, etc. (pretty sure there are Obsidian plugins that can do the same):
https://brettterpstra.com/projects/markdown-service-tools/

Finally some interesting news- the Obsidian Roadmap now has a 'canvas' feature planned, which I assume would provide a notecard or Heptabase type interface. A discussion about visual note-taking here:
https://forum.obsidian.md/t/visual-spatial-note-taking-whiteboard-mind-map-concept-map/32346

Okay, one more Obsidian tidbit- the weekly Obsidian roundup newsletter is pretty cool, with updates on new features, new plugins, etc.
https://www.obsidianroundup.org


Dellu wrote:

Hi Bill,
Yes, i have tried UpNote because I have read your views about it before.
The thing about it is that, it is really cross-platform. The
organization tools in it are also brilliant. I like it a lot.
But,there is one issue that made me to avoid it: it uses internal
database just like Evernote and Bear. I really don't want that kind of
system because I want my notes to be available to Foxtrot.

@steve thank you for mentioning FreeFileSync. I am not familiar with it.
But, it seems similar like MacDropAny or Syncovery which can push
folders to cloud storages. If it is as free as its name suggests, it
could be great alternative.

I really like UpNote, but the versatility (and file format) of Obsidian won me over. With all the plugins and themes available, its more like a Markdown platform (that is completely open) than just a Markdown PIM app.

MadaboutDana wrote:

... all the more reason to switch over to Obsidian once and for all!

I'm still a little torn on using the app, but I think it's finally reaching a point where Roam should be seriously worried, and where I'd hope Logseq stepped it up a bit. I still think that there are too many core functions that ought to be included and not be dependent on 3rd party plugins of unknown quality and future support, but it does look like the app is turning a corner to become a more useful product for non-technical users.

Agreed; I'm always wary of plugins, and try to install no more than 3 in any given plugin-supporting app. But Obsidian's core plugins are already more than sufficient for most purposes. And the quality of some of the "community" plugins is remarkably high.

I'm currently using "Calendar" (for ease of daily note management), "Cardboard" (for kanban boards) and "Smart Typography" (for curly quotes etc.). Calendar I could probably do without and will ditch if I see another plugin that meets my needs even more precisely. Cardboard is remarkably flexible and – for the time being – invaluable. Smart Typography overcomes my basic dislike of nasty computer-generated apostrophes, quotes and other items of punctuation, so is, again, invaluable, until such time as it becomes a core plugin (which it should be).

satis wrote:

I'm still a little torn on using the app, but I think it's finally
reaching a point where Roam should be seriously worried, and where I'd
hope Logseq stepped it up a bit. I still think that there are too many
core functions that ought to be included and not be dependent on 3rd
party plugins of unknown quality and future support, but it does look
like the app is turning a corner to become a more useful product for
non-technical users.

Obsidian doesn't use standard Markdown for attaching images: https://forum.obsidian.md/t/have-separate-use-markdown-links-options-for-wikilinks-and-image-links/7686


This is very problematic. Images attached using the standard Syntax are appearing as Wikilinks (hyperlinks).

Here is a screenshot of what the standard image links (beautifully rendered in Devontink and Typora) look like in the Source Mode and the Read Mode.

Obsidian: Source Mode
https://monosnap.com/direct/4y1mvT2GOKPXuqWkstKNUdS7PG6PmU

Obsidian: Read Mode
https://monosnap.com/direct/bTEbZgfmq0opU896wss2ZOlSLV2Ny8

Typora:
https://monosnap.com/direct/lnQD4Jgngha1dER5FbETZq49Vq8FYV


Iti s asking me to create the note. This is bad.

I just realized that the problem is with the path rather than the format.
Obsidian doesn't like or understand the absolute path embedded into the the syntax itself.


It gets the images only when they are in the attachement folder, and refered by their name only.

Finally, I find a format to make the absolute link visible to all the markdown aware apps:


Thank you, very useful!

Dellu wrote:

Finally, I find a format to make the absolute link visible to all the
markdown aware apps:

Ditto!

Alexander Deliyannis wrote:

Thank you, very useful!

Dellu wrote:
>Finally, I find a format to make the absolute link visible to all the
>markdown aware apps:

This method, unfortunately, has a drawback.

My idea was to make the markdown notes available across the three types of operating systems:
- MacOS
- Android
- IOs

- One way to ship them to IOs is via the Devonthink app on the iPad/iphone. That works really great with the above linking method. But, the Android app fails to get the images (even they are stored within the Vault). It doesn't understand the above linking method. They need to be stored in the form of ![[]] for the android up to get them.

My experience with the community plugins that are available inside the app has been great, no significant bugs or crashes. I've never installed any plugins manually downloaded from Github, preferring to wait until they get tested somewhat.

Any piece of of software shouldn't rely on user-created plugins for core functionalities (someone else had commented), but the Obsidian plugin system and user community has enabled so many new features that would be outside the core app. It's great to be able to really customize the app for your own needs.

I have around 20 plugins enabled, and performance of the app is absolutely great. Of course I try to disable and/or delete plugins I'm not using, but the main hindrance of unneeded plugins is some take longer startup time than others (there's an option to show plugin startup time which is handy to weed out any offenders.)

MadaboutDana wrote:

Agreed; I'm always wary of plugins, and try to install no more than 3 in
any given plugin-supporting app. But Obsidian's core plugins are already
more than sufficient for most purposes. And the quality of some of the
"community" plugins is remarkably high.

Speaking of Obsidian plug-ins, I've just been reading a rather nice article on using Obsidian as a replacement for Ulysses:

https://thesweetsetup.com/turning-obsidian-into-my-perfect-writing-app/

It's got some very sensible advice for writers.

steveylang wrote:

My experience with the community plugins that are available inside the
app has been great, no significant bugs or crashes. I've never installed
any plugins manually downloaded from Github, preferring to wait until
they get tested somewhat.

Any piece of of software shouldn't rely on user-created plugins for core
functionalities (someone else had commented), but the Obsidian plugin
system and user community has enabled so many new features that would be
outside the core app. It's great to be able to really customize the app
for your own needs.

I have around 20 plugins enabled, and performance of the app is
absolutely great. Of course I try to disable and/or delete plugins I'm
not using, but the main hindrance of unneeded plugins is some take
longer startup time than others (there's an option to show plugin
startup time which is handy to weed out any offenders.)

MadaboutDana wrote:
Agreed; I'm always wary of plugins, and try to install no more than 3 in
>any given plugin-supporting app. But Obsidian's core plugins are
already
>more than sufficient for most purposes. And the quality of some of the
>"community" plugins is remarkably high.