10 Killer iPhone Apps: #5 Simplenote

Simplenote is a simple text note app that syncs your notes to your iPhone, mac computer and a website. It is free with ads on your phone, but you can buy a $4.99 upgrade to remove ads. There is also a premium version with some extras for $11.99 a year that adds some extra features. For me, the free version is plenty.

Why do I need this- I have Notepad?

Wherever possible, I have abandoned any apps that  lock my data into the phone and apps that require syncing with a cable to get the data to my computer (I am talking to you, iTunes). This app is great for keeping short notes that you must always have within your reach. It has been great to cut down on post- it notes, envelopes with scribbles, short reminder emails and the app-happy note sprawl that I suffered early on in my iPhone ownership.

Bonus: Mac users

If you have a Mac, you can get a free program for that lives on your mac and provides a secure copy of your notes (password protected). You can download the program, install it and visit the preferences to turn on the sync with Simplenote function.

Elements vs. Simplenote: FIGHT!

Why recommend 2 apps that essentially do the same thing? In short, Simplenote is well suited for quick-entry note archival and quick-search kung fu. The bare-bones interface is no-nonsense and if you opt to use it with the the even-more-straight-forward Notational Velocity for Mac (what! No save button!?), it is the holy grail of round-trip note-raking. Elements is for longer entries and a bit more relaxed with an eye to font choice and user interface and features. Elements also requires a Dropbox account to sync your textual stylings to your computer. I use them both and it has helped me clearly define and separate the two major buckets of content and modes of work that I typically use. Elements for long form pieces and Simplenote for the short, random or important snippets that fly through my brain wildly throughout the day.

Here I go violating my previous rule: I wrote this article in Simplenote on my iPhone.