Evernote - what is it and how to use the program?

Often, in the frantic pace of our lives, we can forget about important things. To prevent this from happening, people have come up with “note-takers” - programs for taking notes. This article will talk about Evernote - what kind of program it is, what it is needed for, what functions it has and how to use it, this is what will be discussed in this article.

Before starting the story, it is worth making some remarks. Recently, the popularity of this program has decreased slightly due to the fact that the developers announced a reduction in functionality in the free version. It’s worth making a note here, explaining that up to a certain point the Evernote program was distributed free of charge. Relatively recently, a second version appeared - a paid one. The reduction in functionality is due to the fact that from now on users can synchronize the application on no more than two devices. This was a decisive factor for some, and they decided to look for analogues of Evernote. But this does not make the application any worse, and in this article you will understand why.

Program functionality

To begin with, it would be wise to highlight all the functions of the program so that the reader can understand whether there is a need to pay attention to it.

Function #1: clients

We've already established that Evernote is a note-taking program, so it's important to have access to it at all times, otherwise you'll still end up missing important things. That is why the application developers took care of creating programs for clients for different operating systems. You can easily install Evernote on Windows, Android, iOS, MacOS, Pebble and Blackbury. Among other things, there is a web client, to access which you only need the Internet. In general, if you have at least some gadget at hand, you will be able to keep track of your list of important to-dos and notes.

But as they say, there is a fly in the ointment in a barrel of honey, and so it is in our case. The problem is that there are differences between client versions. In some they are minor and relate only to the interface, while in others, on the contrary, they are significant. Thus, the controls and even the names of certain tools may differ, which, naturally, causes some inconvenience in use.

Feature No. 2: synchronization and offline mode

As we said earlier, Evernote automatically syncs between each device on which the application was installed. This function is simply necessary for the program, because otherwise you would need to manually create notes in each client, and so you enter them on one gadget, and they automatically appear on all the others.

It’s also worth highlighting the program’s offline mode. So, if you created notes and then went to a place where there is no Internet access, you will still be able to view them. For example, OneNote - a similar application from Microsoft - does not have such a function. It is worth clarifying here that this does not apply to the web client, since its use initially implies a connection to the World Wide Web.

There is also an option to cache all notes on the device, but, unfortunately, it is only available to owners of a paid subscription.

Function No. 3: structure of notes and their systematization

We have already learned that Evernote is a program that has useful options such as cross-platform, synchronization and the presence of an offline mode, but this is only the beginning, because we did not touch on the “stuffing” itself, which we will now fix.

And we’ll talk about the structure of notes and their systematization. The Evernote program has a three-level structure, which can be designated as follows: group of notebooks - notepad - note. This, of course, may not be enough if you have more than five thousand records, but for the average user it is, as they say, enough. But in any case, you can create folders, subfolders and add tags. The latter, by the way, are very convenient to use. Don’t forget about the search, which is carried out not only according to the titles of notes, but also inside them.

Feature No. 4: types of notes and their capabilities

Now it's time to talk directly about the notes themselves. Now you will understand the whole essence of the program - its convenience and a huge range of possibilities. First, let's discuss regular text notes. But the word “simple” is not very suitable in relation to the presented program; they are not quite like that. Unlike, for example, notes in Windows (the Note program), Evernote has the ability to format text. You can highlight it in bold, italic, underline, or strike through. You can also change the font size, thereby dividing the text into subheadings. If necessary, you can create numbered or bulleted lists, put checkboxes (very convenient to apply to a shopping list, for example). But that's not all. Evernote allows you to attach media files to text notes, be it audio, video or simple images. The most important thing is that they are not displayed in the text as an attached file, but are inserted into the document itself. Also, no one will prohibit you from adding various documents of the DOC file type. Now you understand that Evernote is not just a note-taking program, but a feature-rich application that provides convenient interaction with all the elements you add. But that is not all.

So, we figured out that Evernote is an application in which it is convenient to create text notes, but in addition to text ones, there are others. That's right, no one will forbid you to create an audio note by dictating the desired text into a voice recorder. What is noteworthy is that the voice recorder is built into the program, that is, by pressing the appropriate button, recording will begin instantly, and you will not need to create an audio file in advance and then attach it in the program. Evernote also has a built-in image editor. Of course, it is not as powerful as Photoshop, but with its help you can easily make notes or crop out excess. I would also like to pay attention to the “Handwritten Notes” function. Its peculiarity is the fact that any photo or text added to the program will be recognized and converted into a more readable form.

Feature #5: Sharing and Collaboration

Already at this stage, you can conclude whether you need Evernote or not, but for those who still doubt, we will now tell you about a very interesting and useful opportunity - collaboration.

In this sense, the program is perfect for those people who work on the Internet or collaborate on a project. The fact is that Evernote has the ability to share; this function allows multiple users to view or edit the same entries. And to make it convenient for several people to work, the application has “Work Chat”. In it you can chat in real time. By the way, you can share an element in different ways - for viewing only (great for those who want to show the customer the progress of work) or for reading and editing (when you are working in tandem with someone).

As for sharing, it happens through social networks, email or a direct URL link. This makes working in tandem with someone even easier.

Advantages of the application

So we have finished with a description of the functionality of the Evernote program. It’s convenient to create notes in it - this is the main thing we found out, but let’s summarize and outline the main advantages of the application:

• A huge set of tools for creating and editing notes.
• Fast synchronization of added attachments and text between all devices.
• Cross-platform.
• Opportunity to work in tandem with someone.
• Availability of the "Evernote Clipper" version (web client of the program).

These are the main theses that can be used to characterize the presented program, and now let's talk about its shortcomings.

Disadvantages of the application

In fact, the shortcomings are purely conventional and, to a large extent, far-fetched. So, these include the restrictions that are imposed when using a free subscription, but, in any case, if you like the program, you will not mind signing up for a paid one, thereby thanking the developers. You can also find fault with the notepad tree, saying that it is not “deep”. But this factor only affects your work if you create a huge number of new notes every day.

Instructions for use

Having understood all the functionality of the application, let's now move on to the story of how to use the main functions. As we remember, there are only five of them: text, audio, handwritten, screenshot, webcam image.

Text notes

Without going into all the details, let’s move directly to the instructions on how to add a text note in Evernote:

1. Launch the program.
2. Click the blue "New Note" button.
3. Enter the desired text.
4. Format it.
5. Add attachments if necessary.
6. Click "Save".

This is how easy it is to create a text note in Evernote.

Audio notes

Audio notes are great for when you want to add notes while your hands are full. Adding them in the program is as easy as shelling pears. You initially also need to click the “New Note” button, and then select “Audio Note” on the toolbar. The corresponding interface will appear. It looks very simple - a button to start and stop recording, a volume slider and a cancel button. Immediately after the recording, you can listen to it or add it to your notes.

Handwritten note

If you are a designer or like to draw, then this type of notes will definitely suit you. When you start a handwritten note, the drawing area will open. In it you can make a sketch of the future drawing or write the text by hand. It is worth noting that this function is best used if you have a pencil.

Screenshot

With this, everything is as simple as shelling pears - you can click the "Screenshot" button, then select the desired area to create a photo, and then edit it in the built-in editor.

Webcam Note

Same as taking a screenshot, only this time the webcam will turn on and prompt you to take a photo. A specific option, but its presence is still pleasing.

So we figured out the program for taking notes. Now you can decide for yourself whether you need this Evernote program or not. We hope the article was useful, and after reading it you will be able to draw conclusions.