Image via CrunchBase
Last week I highlighted five things that Apple needs to fix in iOS, OS X and iCloud, and several of the points I raised revolved around problems associated with moving and sharing data between different platforms. While iCloud offers OS X and iOS users a way to share data between devices – using certain apps – Windows and Android users are, predictably, left out in the cold.
Since I happen to use Windows, OS X, iOS and Android in equal measures, I've needed a way to overcome the problems associated with sharing documents and data between the different platforms that I use that doesn't involve messing about with a myriad of cloud storage services such as Dropbox or
After years of hunting, there's only one service that fits the bill – Evernote.
Evernote is a cloud service that, in the words of the maker, "makes it easy to remember things big and small from your everyday life using your computer, phone, tablet and the web." Having been an Evernote user for several years across a variety of platforms, I can vouch for just how useful this service is.
The beauty of Evernote is its overwhelming simplicity. You put something – document, photo, sound clip – into Evernote, either using the appropriate for the platform you are using – there's an app for Windows, OS X, Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone and WebOS – or one of the handy browser plugins – there's one for Safari, Chrome and Firefox – and it is automatically available on all your devices, no matter what platform you are running. There's no need to go digging through endless folder, or having to download the files to your device (which is a real space saver on devices such as the iPad which have limited storage).
Linux users can also join in on the fun, using an unofficial Evernote client such as Everpad (installation instructions are available here).
An example of how I use this in my workflow is as follows. I tap out some notes for a blog post on my iPhone in Evernote, refine this on using the Evernote app on my iPad. I then go on to do the final editing on one of my Windows or Mac machines, again through Evernote, before posting. I like this because I lot of the time I'm only working in a single app, rather than switching between different apps. This makes the workflow quick and easy.
I can do a similar thing with all sorts of other documents, ranging from spreadsheets to Photoshop files. It's far easier and a lot more versatile than working with files stored in something like Dropbox, and the Evernote apps give me a selection of great tools for working with a variety of documents so I can do more from within a single app.
And the best thing about Evernote is that the basic service is free. You can set up an account and be using the service in a matter of moments. However, if you want more storage, the ability to upload bigger files, or be able to access Evernote files when offline, you can upgrade to the premium service for $5 a month, or $45 a year.
Addendum. A few people have asked me about the security breach that Evernote suffered and whether that has shaken my trust in the service. My take is that security breaches are on the increase, and while they're unfortunate, Evernote took the right steps in locking down user accounts and keeping people informed. I continue to have faith in Evernote and hope that the company implements two-factor authentication in the near future.
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