22 replies to this topic

[thrownote]

Good morning,

I'd like to decrease the time it takes to create a new note in iOS, especially on launch.

What's the fastest way to generate a new note in iOS?

Does this vary across note-type?

( "from camera roll" - or - "new note - snapshot")

Should I consider using third-party iOS apps to reduce this note-create time?


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...I appreciate everyone's help/suggestions. Please excuse me if I've put this topic in the wrong forum, and if so, please advise...

Thanks,
Keith

-evernote enthusiast

[BurgersNFries]

IMO, the fastest way is to use the third party app, Fastever. Please search the board, if you want more info. Several of us are happy with it.

[May]

I use a separate app on iPad - fastever xl for simple plain text notes, it's still faster and more convenient to use than built in evernote note editor. It doesn't get in the way of my workflow.

[JMichael]

Doesn't it seem very odd that that it is faster to create new Note with a 3rd party app?

This is the most basic function of Evernote: creating a Note.

[May]

To me personally - no, not at all.

Evernote interface can only be organizied in a single way but it has to offer much more functionality other than just creating new notes. evernote can make creating new notes just as fast as Fastever but it can only do so at the expense of something else. Do I want to launch Evernote and be presented with a new note creation view each time? Not really!

But a separate app with only one function would obviosly be more streamlined

[JMichael]

The difference in time to create a new Note could be, and should be, insignificant.
One touch to open Evernote, another touch to create a new Note -- just one more touch than Fastever.

Two major issues with using 3rd party app:

• Extra cost
• Major security hole
  
• 3rd party apps have near-full access to ALL Notes in your account
• All permissions except delete
• Even though apps like Fastever may claim they only need ADD permission, in fact they can read and edit ALL Notes in your account.

[May]

The difference IS insignificant imho. With Evernote it takes 3 taps to start creating new note, with fastever it's only one tap. I counted launching apps as taps in both cases. Evernote could reduce its new note creation workflow to 2 taps though but no less... With Fastever it's always a single tap.

To speed up new note creation they need to display keyboard right away and get rid of top bar sliding animation. But it's still not going to get as fast as third party app.

[GrumpyMonkey]

comparing fastever and evernote is sort of like complaining that it takes so much longer to start your car than it does to get on your bike and pedal. yes, it does, but that's because they are two different things. fastever (as i understand it) puts stuff into evernote. that's it. evernote has to do a ton of other things, from giving you voice memos to searching for aunt milly's favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe (evernote challenge is almost over -- bring on the sugar!).

i agree with the op. it would be cool if evernote could start up faster. but, i think bnf's solution is the ideal one. let other developers develop niche products to meet those needs, and keep the main evernote app with all of its functionality.

[BurgersNFries]

In addition to what GM said, EN tries to sync on start up. IMO, even when you have wifi sync only selected. It seems to have to check that info & then bail on the sync, if you don't have a wifi connection. All Fastever does is let you create a new note & send it off to the EN servers. It doesn't allow photos or audio or editing/reading of existing notes. It would be odd if Fastever wasn't faster, IMO. (Hence the name.)

[JMichael]

The difference IS insignificant imho. With Evernote it takes 3 taps to start creating new note, with fastever it's only one tap.

Thanks for the correction on the number of taps.
We are in agreement, however, on the conclusion: The difference in time to create a new Note is insignificant.

So I see no meaningful advantage in using a 3rd party app, while there are a number of disadvantages.
Another disadvantage is that the 3rd party app results in doubling of the mobile device bandwidth usage.

One thing that might slow down Evernote is that it will attempt sync when it is launched.
This can be turned off by changing the Evernote setting to sync only when the device has a wifi connection.

[danielairy]

How about write an email to your evernote address.

[thrownote]

Thanks everyone, for the suggestions and commentary. I'll give some of your suggestions a try.

I wonder what the usage data say about whether mobile users search existing notes more often, or whether they create notes more often. If usage is skewed, it might be worth optimizing (mobile launch) to allow quick-search or quick-create.

I agree that the sync at launch appears to add lag. If more users are creating notes at launch, it might make sense to delay that sync for a few seconds, to allow for a quick new note. If more users are searching at launch, then the sync is probably worth triggering right away. I know I've waited, in grocery store aisles, for a note I'd just created on EN OS X, before leaving the house, to sync to my mobile. So, I can see it both ways.

[gbarry]

In addition to the great commentary (and the good OP), I'd just add that delaying sync would cause all sorts of problems for users expecting to be using the "latest" version of their notes. The expectation, when you pick up any Evernote linked device, is that you're using the latest version of your notes. Any restriction on that could cause numerous problems for users who jump in and begin editing a note they'd left previously open in the app (for example).

That said, there's always room for optimization (and really, there's no "perfect" answer for when to sync) but in general we always do err on sync first, since it sits at the core of your Evernote experience.

[May]

I think auto syncing each time you switch to Evernote is a good idea (even though an option wouldn't hurt, I guess), it's annoying having to press sync manually on the desktop client and it makes the whole process of using Evernote on a desktop feel slower overall.
I think using a 3rd party app or even just email to create new notes on iOS gives us the best out of both worlds pretty much. Ultimately you have the opportunity to do anything you want in the fastest way possible...

[E-NoteForum]

A new problem with creating notes quickly is the predictive title feature.

Before predictive titles, you could hit the + icon on your iPhone and type your title, then immediately tap in the body of the note to start typing.

Now, the list of suggestions for predictive titles blocks the body of the note. Blank spaces show up in the list if it only has one entry, covering the entire body space.

You have I tap the "Done" button in the bottom right, which is awkward if you're holding your phone with one hand; moving your thumb up into the body area is much easier and quicker.

Anyway, just another bit of feedback on the user experience. I can't wait til title suggestions, a feature I have no desire to use personally, are an optional feature.

[J-Mac]

I don’t know if this affects start-up time but on my iPad - which seems less impressive with every new thing I try to do with it! - FastEver has started showing a "queued" notes total in its header. I am up to 7 now. Anyone know what the heck that means? I have checked and all of my notes are synced with the server. What exactly is queued? Are they queued within FastEver only? I've read through all I can find on FastEver and nothing memntions this that I can find.

Thanks!

Jim

[May]

Jim, fastever should queue notes only when you're offline, sounds like a bug, I'd contact the developer

[gbarry]

A new problem with creating notes quickly is the predictive title feature.

Before predictive titles, you could hit the + icon on your iPhone and type your title, then immediately tap in the body of the note to start typing.

Now, the list of suggestions for predictive titles blocks the body of the note. Blank spaces show up in the list if it only has one entry, covering the entire body space.

You have I tap the "Done" button in the bottom right, which is awkward if you're holding your phone with one hand; moving your thumb up into the body area is much easier and quicker.

Yeah, agreed E-Note, I've experienced the same block. Noticed this myself and have brought it up.

[JMichael]

Idea -- Change iOS Opening Screen to Add "Quick Note" Icons

I just read the Evernote Blog on the new Android update and it gave me an idea.

Quick snapshot
The newest widget function is the Quick Snapshot. This feature truly lives up to its name. Tap on the Quick Snapshot icon, camera with lightning bolt, to launch the camera. Snap your photo and tap save. That’s it. A new snapshot note will be added to your Evernote account with an auto-generated title.

I don't have an Android, but evidently it has "widgets" that give the user quick access to certain functions/apps.
As far as I know, the iOS doesn't have anything like "widgets".

But what if EN iOS changed its opening screen to have several QuickNote options:

• QuickText
• QuickSnapShot
• QuickAudio

Clicking on one of the "QuickNote" buttons would take you directly to the creation of that Note type.

So, if you clicked on "QuickSnapShot" it would open the camera for a snapshot.
One click on the shutter button and the snapshot is taken and stored in Evernote.

Click on "QuickText" and a blank note opens ready for you to start typing.
One click on "Save" and the note is stored in Evernote.

In all QuickNotes, a default Note Title, Notebook, and Tags (set in Preferences) would be applied.

What do you guys think?

[May]

JM, good idea with widgets on adroid. I don't like forcing it into the opening screen. This would slow down Evernote because you'd have to skip this opening screen each time when you just want to review some notes.

A better solution in my view would be to replicate android widgets on iOS using bookmarklets.

Here is how

http://discussion.ev...ow/#entry131589