Re:Using Google Docs to write down your ideas the right way.
by gvb on Saturday December 18, 2010 @08:31AM
(#2019460)
The key for me is accessibility through my (Android) phone. It is my personal portable computer - I carry it everywhere except the shower (hmmm, maybe a Ziplock[tm] bag would work there ;-).
Google docs (finally!) got their mobile editing working for the "writer" app. I've been keeping notes in the spreadsheet app because I could edit it on my Android phone (crude, and deleting rows is a problem, but worked). Now that docs works, I'll be keeping more notes on that.
GDocs can synchronize docs with Google Docs for offline editing. It has had some bumps in its operations, but has mostly worked when I needed an offline editor that could synchronize with Google docs.
I've also used Note Everything which can export to Google docs, etc., but I really like the universal accessibility and lack of synchronizing issues (assuming a network connection) of using Google docs directly.
Re:Using Google Docs to write down your ideas the right way.
by DanHulton on Saturday December 18, 2010 @08:45AM
(#2019475)
I just use a textfile in Dropbox. There's a sweet iPhone app called Nebulous Notes, specifically for editing text files in Dropbox, and bam - access to my text files everywhere.
This is especially handy, since I'm a little old-fashioned and work best via text files anyhow.
Re:Using Google Docs to write down your ideas the right way.
by electromagnetic on Saturday December 18, 2010 @07:49AM
(#2019414)
This is how I handle ideas. I'm a writer, and it's incredibly annoying that inspiration comes at the most asinine times like literally being on the toilet or in the shower, or often in the middle of doing something you can't walk away from. But then a huge wack of ideas simply come whenever your mind can stray, and a lot of the time I'm online is time that my mind can stray so having Docs open is a life saver.
However, I don't change the privacy settings, and I've yet to encounter a frequent problem with Google signing me out. I've maybe been signed out once or twice in the past month. Does Mac or Safari have problems with cookies or something? Because I don't see this problem with Chrome.
Re:Using Google Docs to write down your ideas the right way.
by gregpilling on Saturday December 18, 2010 @09:53AM
(#2019559)
I use a private blog with Posterous. When I have an idea I just send off a quick email from a computer or my phone to ideas@posterous and its done. I can also use the voice recorder on my phone and email the file if I am driving and can't type a long note. Posterous of course accepts website links, video clips, photographs etc. The blog is password protected and I could share it if I wanted to.
Re:Using Google Docs to write down your ideas the right way.
by kolinko on Saturday December 18, 2010 @09:41AM
(#2019541)
If you don't alter the privacy settings then you after the computer restart / Chrome restart / whatever the tab/pin with notes will contain a login screen and not your notes. It can be a drag if you have more than one pin with notes (you need to click "login" on each one of them).
Re:Using Google Docs to write down your ideas the right way.
by biot on Saturday December 18, 2010 @10:36AM
(#2019610)
The article title is misleading though. This actually has no advice on what the best way to write down ideas is. I was expecting a comparison of bullet point to free-form text to some kind of mind map.
Instead this seems to be little more than a tutorial on how to make a doc world editable.
Google docs (finally!) got their mobile editing working for the "writer" app. I've been keeping notes in the spreadsheet app because I could edit it on my Android phone (crude, and deleting rows is a problem, but worked). Now that docs works, I'll be keeping more notes on that.
GDocs can synchronize docs with Google Docs for offline editing. It has had some bumps in its operations, but has mostly worked when I needed an offline editor that could synchronize with Google docs.
I've also used Note Everything which can export to Google docs, etc., but I really like the universal accessibility and lack of synchronizing issues (assuming a network connection) of using Google docs directly.
This is especially handy, since I'm a little old-fashioned and work best via text files anyhow.
However, I don't change the privacy settings, and I've yet to encounter a frequent problem with Google signing me out. I've maybe been signed out once or twice in the past month. Does Mac or Safari have problems with cookies or something? Because I don't see this problem with Chrome.
When the idea of changing privacy settings came to my mind it was a real "a ha" moment :)
But you might be right that some of the people don't have the issue with the signing off..
They just need to get those mobile apps done and I'd be in bliss forever.
I have discovered it two weeks ago and it has already a dedicated tab in my browser. As simple as your solution, but with more value, I believe.
Using the great GTasks App (http://www.appbrain.com/app/gtasks/org.dayup.gtask), I always have all notes/tasks perfectly synchronized in my pocket.
Instead this seems to be little more than a tutorial on how to make a doc world editable.