Holiday reflections

Posted by jaslar
Dec 24, 2014 at 08:38 PM

First, happy holidays, everyone.

Second, my thanks. I check this site probably three times a day, and find it consistently cogent and on point. This is what an online community is supposed to look like. I appreciate your keeping it real.

Third, I wonder if I could ask members to reflect on how your software behavior changed over 2014. That is, while CRIMPing away, did you in fact make significant shifts in your outlinersoftware application tool chest or use of it?

For me:

- a longstanding Notecase Pro user, I still think it reigns supreme in its mix of features for me (a thinking, writing, and journal tool). Use it on Windows, Mac, Linux. But my desktop use has dropped; mobile use (Nexus 7 and iPad) has risen. The Android version just doesn’t cut it. No iPad version.

- LOTS more use of Workflowy. A lot of my work is migrating here. Why? I think it’s the deep but simple interface, plus speed. It doesn’t get in the way.

- SimpleNote works for me in many ways: capturing short notes, and even writing short pieces (online journalism). Again, I love the stripped down, zenware UI. Tagging isn’t outlining. But it’s not bad. ResophNotes on Windows is pretty slick, which I sync to SimpleNote.

- a specialized (running for elected professional office) but intense use of TreePad on Windows and Outliner on Android. An odd coupling, but handy and effective. It doesn’t seem to be growing beyond that particular life circumstance, though.

- moo.do really helped me crystalize the big picture. I was then able to move the results over to Worfklowy, but I find that I keep dipping into moo.do to fiddle with it. I think it will BECOME a keeper.

- WriteRoom pooped out on iOS. Plaintext is still a wonderful tool for writing, especially with Dropbox integration. But I don’t live in it.

On the horizon for 2015:

- very intrigued by markdown with code folding.

- Google seems to be always more compelling as a platform. Workflowy, Simplenote, moo.doo, and maybe some markdown editors, plus Google Docs, starts to look pretty complete.

What about your own shifts?