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Evernote 5 for Mac exits beta, is now live in the Mac App Store
Back at the beginning of the month, when Evernote 5 for Mac launched in beta, the app's creators warned users that they could suffer data corruption, data loss and other such indignities if they tried out the unfinished software. If you chose to wait, you probably made the right call: just two weeks later, a final, more stable version of the note-taking app is live in the Mac App Store. All told, version 5 has 100-plus new features, with some of the bigger ones including: a left pane showing tags, shortcuts and recent notes; a redesigned note list; and a predictive search feature called Type Ahead. It's free, so you don't have much to lose by checking it out (unless, of course, you find subtle UI tweaks enraging). Or, if you're really that cautious, we've embedded a short "What's new?" video after the break.
Livescribe Sky WiFi Smartpen review
More Info Livescribe unleashes new Echo smartpen Livescribe outs the Sky WiFi Smartpen Smartpen leads to airport chaos For a relatively niche company that has only been around for five years, Livescribe has grown quickly. Its smartpens -- which cleverly digitize handwritten notes and audio -- have already attracted a million users. However, just because these customers prefer to write their notes the old-fashioned way, that doesn't mean they aren't also obsessive about technological progress. In fact, many of them have been waiting on one new feature in particular: a totally wireless workflow, which would allow them to write a note with their smartpens and then -- without any docking or syncing -- see their scribbles appear in the cloud and on their mobile devices. Well, as you've probably guessed by now, that is precisely the gap that the new Sky pen is looking to fill. The first half of its operation is identical to that of its predecessors, the Pulse and Echo: it contains a camera and microphone, which enable the capture of handwritten notes and time-linked audio files. (You can choose between 2GB, 4GB and 8GB of built-in storage.) But what happens next is totally different. You use "buttons" printed inside Livescribe's proprietary stationery, in conjunction with the pen's OLED display, to select a local WiFi network, enter the password and sync your files directly to Evernote. The popular online note-taking platform then handles everything else, automatically filing the text and audio in the cloud using a time stamp, making it available on whatever devices run Evernote's apps or web interface. What's more, it makes the note searchable through optical character recognition (OCR) of your handwriting. If there's a downside to users getting what they've been asking for, it's that they are the ones expected to pay for it. The Sky's base model matches the Echo's $170 launch price, but that older pen came with twice as much internal storage, and can also now be had at a discount. Moreover, the 4GB and 8GB Sky pens rise to $200 and $250, respectively, which means this is only likely to be sensible if you really, really dislike writing or typing on a screen. Even assuming that you're totally stuck in your pen-and-ink ways, could a $170 pen ever be worth it? Read on to find out.
Evernote 5 now available for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch
It was just a few days ago that Evernote proudly teased us by saying it's fifth major release on Cupertino's mobile platform would be "coming soon," but the good news is the revamped note-taking application didn't take too long to officially arrive on iOS. Starting today, Evernote 5 will be available for folks using an iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, bringing with it a completely redesigned experience, a more accessible home screen (with quick access to notes, notebooks and more), as well as new features tailored specifically for Apple's slate and Premium users. Evernote 5 is up for download now, so those of you looking to try the new app should give the App Store link below a quick tap or download it straight from your device.
Evernote 5 for iOS coming soon: new UI, revised places view, same inability to forget (video)
Evernote? More like ever tease. Just this week it was tempting badly organized Mac owners with a beta release of Evernote 5, now the team is back to dangle its 5th version for iOS in front of our noses. The theme here is speed, with the new design putting everything just two taps away -- along with quick note buttons right on the home screen. The places view also gets a lick of paint, to help you better pin down those moments of inspiration (or panicked remembering). Other tweaks include a new "recent notes" bar, and -- generously -- easier access to premium features. Ironically, the creators forgot to give us a release date, leaving us only with "coming very soon" for reassurance. While you wait, however, why not watch the preview video after the break for solace.
Evernote for iOS also getting a redesign soon
Now that the Evernote 5 for Mac beta is in the wild, the note-taking software maker has announced that it is currently in the process of redesigning its iOS app. Evernote 5 for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch is taking some visual cues from its desktop counterpart, with its designers focusing on improving its overall speed and reducing the number of taps required to perform common tasks. In the preview video below, you can see the shift to a card-style "views" interface that allows for quick flipping between different elements including notes, tags, locations and notebooks. Single-tap actions are also being introduced, including the ability to add new notes with a tap. On iPad, you'll be able to quickly see a list of recent notes as well. Evernote is saying to expect the update to hit the App Store "very soon," so keep an eye on that Updates tab.
Evernote 5 for Mac beta is here to keep you on the bleeding edge of hyperorganization (video)
Evernote 5 for Mac is finally here ... sort of. At least the beta is here, but that's totally out now. Of course, you may not wanna jump into the madness of a beta -- Evernote's warning users that they could suffer data corruption, data loss, or other such calamities. Should that be the case, you'll only have to wait "a bit" for the public release of the final software. Also, if you snagged Evernote via Apple's App Store, your local notebooks may be endangered by the beta; "if you install the beta, you will lose all of your local notebooks," Evernote says. Should you be bold enough to participate, instructions are right here. What does Evernote's latest release contain, pray tell? Smarter search with TypeAhead, for one, not to mention a more graphics-heavy note interface. The fine folks at Evernote have a full video rundown of new features in Evernote 5, which we've dropped below.
Skitch for Android brings revamped UI, complete integration with Evernote
Users haven't exactly been content with Evernote since it took over the Skitch reigns, but that's not stopping the Smart Notebook creator from pushing out constant updates to its Android offering. To go along with the handy tweaks from earlier this month, Evernote's now updated Skitch with a completely redesigned user interface, the addition of a couple of fresh tools (Pixelate and Highlighter), as well as, naturally, a much-improved integration with its own cloud-based service -- not to mention the ability to sync with Evernote, though said application would have to also be installed on your device. This new version of Skitch is available to download now via Google Play, and be sure to share your first impressions with us in the comments below.
Evernote for Mac update preview
At some point during this week, we expect to see a beta of Evernote for Mac 5.0, which promises to be a completely rewritten app with a much improved user interface. As reported on the Evernote TechBlog, the Evernote team has spent about a year working on adding over a hundred new features to speed up the app for current users and make it easier for new users. Some of the big changes include the use of "cards" to display notes, similar to the iOS App Store search function's display. The UI is more "Finder-like" than ever before, with user-added shortcuts and a list of most recently used notebooks. There's a new TypeAhead search feature that searches across all notes, then categorizes results by notebooks, notes, tags and recent searches. It will also suggest searches based on phrases that are used frequently. Business travelers are going to love the new Atlas feature, which shows notes on a map based on where they were written. "Place Cards" show notes ordered by proximity using geolocation metadata. Check out the details in an Evernote video below.
Livescribe outs Sky WiFi Smartpen for $170, lets you record written notes and audio straight to Evernote
The Pulse pen couldn't do it. The more recent Echo couldn't manage it either. But sending notes and linked audio wirelessly is what Livescribe's latest digital pen is all about. Branded the Sky WiFi Smartpen, it works with proprietary physical notebooks to preserve your handwritten notes and linked audio files on a minimum of 2GB of onboard storage, and then it sends them directly to your Evernote account via WiFi -- from where you can access them on pretty much any PC, tablet or smartphone. If you're wondering a how the pen selects the right network and enters a password, then it's actually pretty straightforward: Livescribe's new stationery is printed with connection buttons that, in conjunction with the OLED display on the pen itself, guide you through the procedure in a few seconds. The latest notebooks also have buttons for sending your captured thoughts to Google Drive, Dropbox and Facebook, although those services won't be activated until early next year. The basic 2GB Sky pen will arrive in stores on November 1st, priced substantially higher than its predecessor, the Echo (which will be phased out at the end of next year). The new base model will cost $170, with 4GB and 8GB varieties priced at $200 and $250. Arguably, the reliance on wireless cloud storage means that the amount of onboard memory isn't so important any more, but if you do decide to opt for the most expensive model then you'll also get a year's subscription to Evernote Premium, which is worth $45. There's a short explanatory video after the break, and as you'll see from the gallery below we've already got the Sky pen in our clutches, so expect a full review in short order.%Gallery-169459%
Ask Engadget: best Skitch replacement?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Benjamin, who feels a little let down by the most recent changes to Evernote's image-sharing software. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "Hi guys. I'm a graphic designer who, until recently, used a desktop app called Skitch to quickly share images with clients. I loved being able to just click and drag a portion of my desktop, click "share" and have it uploaded in a seconds. Of course, Evernote has screwed with it, so now it won't default to keeping my pictures private (not so good for the clients, or my reputation) and the new layout hides the sharing feature in a stupid drop-down menu. Frankly, a really useful piece of software has been ruined, so can you suggest a replacement?" We feel your pain Benjamin, even if we did have to slice out your more colorful descriptions of Evernote from your e-mail. A site favorite has been ruined by the changes, and as such we're on the hunt for an alternative. Jing, from TechSmith lets you share screenshots and even record video on your desktop. Slingshot is a Mac exclusive that'll set you back $3, but uses the cloud service of your choice (Dropbox, Imgur etc) Of course, this is the moment where we turn it over to our amazing commenters, who we hope will share the skinny. You never know, maybe some enterprising indie dev has already created the program to replace that hole in our lives -- friends, head down below, grab the candle and bang on.
Evernote 5 for Mac announced, beta coming week of October 29
Evernote has become something of an indispensable tool for compulsive note takers, a group that will no doubt be happy to hear that a major update to the Mac version of the app has been announced. Evernote 5, as it's called, has been in the works for more than a year according to its developers and will feature a refreshed UI in addition to more than 100 new features. The revamp is intended to improve usability by current devotees in addition to making the app more accessible to new users. Evernote is offering a sneak peek at the app's new functionality in the form of a video, which we've embedded below, and intends to make a beta version of Evernote 5 available for download the week of October 29. Evernote (the company, not the app) recently came under fire from longtime users upset with its redesign of Skitch, the popular screenshot tool it acquired in the summer of 2011. We'll soon find out how Skitch's unpopular revamp has influenced the new Evernote, if at all.
Evernote for Android gets new offline notebooks, widgets and more
Evernote has already revamped a few of its offerings this month, and it's now brought some changes to its Android app as well. That includes new offline notebooks for premium subscribers that'll let you download multiple notebooks in one shot, a pared down note editor toolbar, retooled Action Bars for Android tablets and a new resizable Grid Widget for your homescreen. Not surprisingly, Evernote also says that the update includes a slew of other fixes and tweaks that promise to make the app "faster and more reliable," and it's promising that there's still "lots more to come." You can find the updated app in the Google Play store at the link below.
Evernote 2.5 for Windows Phone brings new layout with improved performance
While some app developers seem to forget about Windows Phone, Evernote definitely has not. The tiled version of the cloud-based note taking app received an update on Thursday that brings an arsenal of new features, including an updated tile layout for note lists, a redesigned login / registration screen and user help tips. Perhaps the most anticipated new additions here are an improved note editing settings that adds more space to jot things down and a much welcomed performance boost. If your memory isn't quite what it used to be and you're looking for a helpful tool to take notes while on the go, you can snag the latest version of Evernote from the Windows Phone Store now. That is, if you can remember which tile to tap when trying to get there.
Everything cool about Curio just got better
Curio, one of my long-time favorite brainstorming and project management applications, has received a massive update with version 8. If you've never seen Curio, it's a highly visual environment for collecting information, lists, mind maps, websites, PDFs, emails and much more into organized projects and "spaces." You can collect, present, share and manage all kinds of information using an organization method that works for you. Whether you prefer a spatial, visual layout or a more rigid view of your data, Curio provides an amazing set of tools. The release notes for version 8 are rather immense, but definitely worth looking through. Here are a few highlights: All-new interface (fewer visible buttons, but more power) Improved mind-mapping tools Improved sharing options for projects, spaces and figures Repository-based group access to resources Split view for working in multiple spaces in a project Mountain Lion Reminders/iCal integration Bookmarks More robust audio/video recording Improved Evernote integration The list goes on. It's honestly more than I could cover in this post. There are even features which aren't specifically called out in the release notes, but which make me a bit giddy. For example, drag an OPML file (from a mind map or outliner application) onto a project space, and Curio will ask you what to turn it into: mind map, index card, outline, etc. Brilliant. You can purchase Curio 8 for US$99, and current users of either the Mac App Store version or a version purchased from Zengobi directly can upgrade for $49.99. There is a free 25-day trial available at Zengobi's site, and I highly recommend checking it out.
Evernote web interface updated with better sharing, cleaner look
We're huge fans of Evernote here at the Engadget compound (it's great for keeping track of our latest world domination schemes). But, we've got to admit, the web service is clearly the company's red-headed step child. The desktop and mobile apps are undeniably top-notch, but the webapp is just sort of there. Being able to edit your notes and share them from any browser is a great feature, but we wouldn't exactly call it an enjoyable experience. Today the company took the wraps off a revamp that should ease the pain a bit. Evernote is particularly proud of its new shared note design, that offers a much more attractive and interactive look at entries. You can reshare notes, enter a slideshow view or copy it to your own account. The broader redesign is subtle, but refreshing. There are new icons, some color changes and a tweaked top bar that lend a less cluttered feel without removing functionality. There's even a handy button that collapses the sidebar for those of you rocking smaller laptop screens. We also noticed that the new interface seems to load notes with multiple images much faster. You can read about it straight from the horses mouth at the source or just go to the Evernote homepage and check it out yourself.
iPhone 5 / iOS 6 app update roundup: new versions for a taller world
Call it a hunch, but we suspect that at least a few of you picked up an iPhone 5 today, or at least made the leap to iOS 6. If you're in either position, you may be wondering just what apps to feed Apple's flagship (or that fresh new firmware) once it's ready to go. We've got a quick-hit list of titles that have been updated to take advantage of the tall display and new OS that go beyond Apple's own work. The biggest upgrades of the lot come from keynote darling CNN as well as Flipboard: both have done more than add extra columns on the iPhone 5, offering an interface you won't see on any mere 3.5-inch iPhone. Some bread-and-butter apps have made the launch week cut as well, such as Facebook and Twitter. There's even more if you're willing to dig deep. Third-party Twitter client Tweetbot beat the official app to the punch by days, and we've likewise spotted updates to Evernote, its rival Remember the Milk and Yelp. We know some apps aren't fully iPhone 5- or iOS 6-native -- Instagram, for example, and most anything from Google -- but it's apparent that the holdouts are increasingly the exception, rather than the rule. Did you catch any other noteworthy apps that received a boost in recent hours? Let fellow owners know in the comments. CNN - App Store Evernote - App Store Facebook - App Store Flipboard - App Store Kindle - App Store Pulse - App Store Remember the Milk - App Store Tweetbot - App Store Twitter - App Store Yelp - App Store
Evernote Smart Notebook hands-on (video)
The Evernote Smart Notebook is here! Well, almost here -- it arrives on October 1 -- but we got our Moleskin-lovin' hands on the app/notebook combo a bit ahead of schedule this evening. The combination works by combining the drawings, notes, and whatever other Moleskin-bound scribblings you pen with Evernote's iOS App (said to be headed to Android as well). Snap a pic of your best Mega Man sketch and see the Blue Bomber appear magically in your Evernote account and on your phone! If you're way into archiving, a handy set of stickers allows for quick tagging. The tags can even be customized if you're not into Evernote's suggested categories. The whole concept is very neat, and it works ... sort of. An Evernote rep tried repeatedly to snag images from the page with varying results. One time a shadow interfered, and another time the lighting just didn't work out, before it finally worked. We're lending Evernote the benefit of the doubt for now as we were shown the whole shebang in the middle of a busy, dramatically lit show floor. That said, at $29.95, if it doesn't work out great, the worst that happens is you're stuck with a slightly more expensive Moleskin than a normal model (around $15 on Amazon); the iOS companion app is free. Head past the break for a hands-on video.%Gallery-166215%
Skitch 2.0 is like Skitch 1.0 without all those pesky "features"
I knew that when Evernote purchased Skitch they were destined to screw it up. Sure enough, it didn't take long. First they started pushing people to use Evernote accounts. Skitch had done this too, insisting that you keep a Skitch.com account in your "sharing" options, even if you had no interest in actually using Skitch.com. For a while, Skitch.app would actually create an Evernote and a Skitch entry in the Share preferences, and every time you deleted them, Skitch would come right back and re-create them. Because why should users get to decide what to do with software they install on their own computers? *Clearly* Evernote knows best. First they shut down Skitch.com... Well, that wasn't enough for the fine folks at Evernote. One of the things I liked best about Skitch was the ability to share images though my own server. Why? Because companies like Skitch have a habit of going bankrupt, either financially or morally. Sure enough, Evernote decided once again that they know what's best for you, and so they announced (in an email to customers): Sharing in Skitch will go through the Evernote Service, which means that you will be able to access your Skitch notes on any computer, phone, or tablet you use. What Evernote wants to sell you is the idea that it's better to use Evernote for sharing your images because then you can access them anywhere. Of course, "that's a bunch of horse hooey," as we say out here in farm country. You could access your images from your computer, phone or tablet if they were on an SFTP/FTP site. Evernote just doesn't want you doing it that way. They want you to do it through Evernote, which will give them more control and (one assumes) the ability to display ads around your content. Because who wouldn't want that? As of October 10, 2012, the Skitch.com website will be archived. You will no longer be able to sign into Skitch.com as of that date. OK, fine, I understand that they have their own web service and they don't want to manage two of them. I guess we all should have seen the writing on the wall there. How This Affects You Your public and secret images will remain accessible and the links to these will not change. Wow, that's decent of them. If you have private images, then you will no longer be able to access them after October 10, 2012. You can easily download all of your private images to your computer using the link below. Once downloaded, we recommend adding them to your Evernote account so that they're easy for you to access any time. Wow, that's not decent of them. Look, I understand not wanting to let people add content to Skitch.com. If they want to upload content to a server that isn't in their control, well, hey, these are the chances that you take. But if they are keeping the "public" and "secret" images, why not keep the private images too? Well, the answer is that they don't want to, and they don't have to. After all, it's a free service -- even though there are people, like myself, who paid Skitch to be able to use all of the features of the software back when they used a "freemium" (gross) model. OK, well, at least I can still save my own images to my own server. Oh wait, no I can't. Earlier today Evernote pushed Skitch version 2.0. They're getting heavy rotation in the Mac App Store, even being featured as an "Editors' Choice" app. (Gee, why would you release a new version of your app the same day as a new version of iOS and right before the new iPhones come out? Could it be that you knew these changes were going to go over like a leaky-leaky-bean-burrito-with-extra-chili-fart in church? I'm probably being cynical. It was probably just a coincidence.) Whatever the reason, users aren't nearly as excited as the Mac App Store's Editors. Reviews are overwhelmingly negative, and not just in the usual "CHANGE BAD!" reaction you might expect, but an entire list of features which have been simply removed and changes which make the app more difficult to use. Here are some highly rated comments on the new version: "I can't run it in the background anymore. There's no icon in the menu bar. There's no global shortcut key. There's no automatic copy link to clipboard. Why do I want to use this thing again? You've taken away all the features that made me a Skitch user." "I loved Skitch and used it all the time. I downloaded this new version today and it's a huge step backwards. Now I'm forced to have Skitch in my dock? You took away the ability to have it run in the menu bar? No FTP options? No thanks. What's really sad is that I actually paid for Skitch back when the app store was selling it. It's a sad day indeed." "Downloader beware! This changes Skitch substantially. No more menu bar functionality. Forced use of dock icon. New clunky interface. I Time Machine'd this back to the better (older) version. Make sure you have a back-up, or better yet, skip this [version] all together." There are 145 reviews for this version; 105 of them are one star. Ouch. My "favorite" new "feature" of Skitch 2.0: good news! Now you won't have to worry about setting up your own S/FTP accounts on Skitch. Because you can't. See, when Evernote said "Sharing in Skitch will go through the Evernote Service" it might have sounded like they were just saying that they are closing down Skitch.com, but what they apparently what they meant was "Sharing will go through Evernote because all of your other options are being taken away." Version 1.0.12 available for download. (UPDATE) Update 2012-09-21: When this article was originally written, it included instructions for removing the /Applications/Skitch.app/Contents/_MASReceipt directory from the Mac App Store version of Skitch version 1.0.12 (the last version of SKitch 1 which had been released), or downloading version 1.0.7 from http://update.skitch.com/skitch.html. This morning several readers alerted me that Evernote has made Skitch-1.0.12 available for download. (6,534,992 bytes/shasum 256 = b2f4181f5eb40a570547054e8ec22ca9bbe490eca02a28e2389fc5d83fdc6e97). This should be welcome news for those who "upgraded" to 2.0 before realizing what a disaster it is. (As of this writing, 257 out of 325 reviews on the Mac App Store are 1-star reviews, with another 26 reviews giving it 2-stars.) The original instructions, for those who still want to see them, can be found at https://gist.github.com/3761368. The future of Skitch I certainly hope that the folks at Evernote reconsider their decision to remove every method of sharing that isn't based through Evernote.com. But I'm not counting on it. In fact, I think this is their vision for the app: it will be a way to push content directly at their service. I'm sure that sounds great if you work for Evernote, but it's pretty terrible for users. I guess it's time to start looking for a new quick image/screenshot editor. I liked Skitch not because it was a great app, but it was sufficient for what I needed most of the time. Hopefully somewhere out there is a developer who understands and will take advantage of this opportunity to give users back what they have lost with Skitch 2.
Skitch 2.0 features new design, device sync and more
Evernote has released Skitch 2.0 with a new design, cool new features and an app for the iPhone and iPod touch. The desktop app's look has been pared down to the minimum and it looks a lot cleaner than previous versions. There are new functions, too, like pixelate. Plus, everything you create or modify in Skitch is now synced to your Evernote account. The new app for iPhone and iPod touch offers nice-looking tools and, of course, sync with Evernote across devices. We'll have a full-on review of Skitch 2.0 up soon. Until then have fun playing around with the new version.
Skitch.com transitioning to Evernote
Annotation app Skitch is moving even closer to Evernote. According to a recent knowledge base article, Skitch will now upload your images into your Evernote account and not the Skitch.com website. Users will be able to sync and search their Skitch images using their Evernote account. Skitch.com will be archived on October 10, 2012, and users will no longer be able to login to the website. For customers, this means that all private images will no longer be accessible. Evernote advises Skitch customers to download their private images and upload them to Evernote. Customers can then set these images as private in their Evernote accounts. Public and secret images will continue to be accessible as the links for these items will not change. You can read more about these changes on Evernote's website.
