Dropbox is many different things to different people. In the simplest terms, Dropbox is a way to synchronize files across different computers. In fact, it performs this task brilliantly. However, if you use your cabeza, it’s so much more.

Synchronizing files
Upon installing Dropbox, a Dropbox folder is added to your home folder. Since I have less than 2GB of documents, I simply use the Dropbox folder instead of the Documents folder. All these files are automatically kept in sync with every computer that install Dropbox on.

Let’s look at a simple example. Let’s say I create an Excel spreadsheet on my iMac. When I’m finished, I save it in my Dropbox folder. Later that day, I open up that spreadsheet on my MacBook Pro. Everything looks as it should, since Dropbox automatically synced the file. Making a few changes, I save my spreadsheet and go on about my business.

Later on I’m stuck in Windows hell, but need to make some more spreadsheet changes. No problem – I open the file, see my most recent changes, and make some more. I’ve been able to work on the same file from three separate computers seamlessly. Each computer gets the most current version nearly instantly. No flash drives; no emailing files back and forth.

Automatic backup
Every file in your Dropbox folder is not only kept in sync across your computers, but also backed up to Dropbox’s servers. It’s a real time, completely automated backup system for your most important documents.

Backing up your files is absolutely crucial in this increasingly digital world. Sometimes it can be downright complicated to back up properly. Using Dropbox for your most crucial files can take a weight off your shoulders.

Getting Creative
Basic file synchronization and backup are great, but Dropbox’s usefulness doesn’t stop there. In my case, Dropbox serves two other important functions.

First, my 1Password database is stored there. That keeps my logins and passwords available to me from any of my computers – including my iPhone.

Second, my Things database lives in Dropbox as well. While there are some limitations, this allows me to use one Things database with multiple Macs. It’s certainly not as seamless as Omnifocus, but it works for me.

**Update** I don’t normally update posts once written – I’m too lazy for that. However, Norcross (good guy, you should follow him) showed me a great Dropbox use that I couldn’t ignore. You can actually use your Dropbox account as a CDN (Content Delivery Network) for WordPress. Talk about wild.

Limitless potential
There are dozens of ways to use Dropbox that I haven’t touched on. Undoubtedly there are plenty more in the works, or not even thought up yet.

This is an amazing service that can only help simplify our digital lives. Better yet, it’s absolutely free if you’re a light user. Free accounts can store as much as 2GB. Sign up if you aren’t a user yet.

Dropbox Review is a post from: The Simple Llama - where you can learn to live a simple life today.

Last month I wrote about Notational Velocity, my favorite writing app for OS X. Notational Velocity’s counterpart on iOS is the lovely SimpleNote. Completely and fully functional as a standalone app, SimpleNote is a very, well, simple, writing app for iOS. I use it daily on my iPhone 4.

To use SimpleNote, you’ll need to create a free account. You can do this from the iOS app or on the SimpleNote website. It takes about 4 seconds – there’s no possible way it could be easier. Set your email address, pick a password, and you’re done. My kind of setup.

Once your account is set up, you can get started. Since it’s your first time, all you’ll see is a search field, plus sign, and a big blank white area. Once you start creating notes, they’ll go in that space. When you want to create a note, press the plus sign and start typing. Your first line is the title, so no need to worry about that. When you’re finished up, just press back. No saving – that’s all automatic. Remember, this app is all about simplicity.

• No thinking of titles.
• No text formatting.
• No remembering to save.
• No organizing.

SimpleNote is as much about what isn’t there, as what is there. There are no fancy organization schemes. There are no extra buttons. There is no clutter. There are no distractions. In fact, the latest version of SimpleNote added an excellent full-screen mode.

Search

When you want to find a note, whether for reference or to edit it, simply type a word or two into the search bar. All notes that contain those words will appear below in real time.

Sync with Notational Velocity

All your notes live on SimpleNote’s servers. If your iOS device dies, you don’t lose your notes – simply install SN on your new device and you’re up and running very quickly.

Maybe the killer feature of SN is the ability to sync with Notational Velocity. Any notes that you create on your iOS device can be edited on your Mac using NV, and vice versa. If you use the NV DropBox storage trick, then all your notes live in three separate places: your hard drive, SimpleNote’s servers, and DropBox’s servers. That’s one heck of a backup system – and it’s all completely automated.

Versioning

Down on the toolbar of SN is a little clock icon. Press it, and you can choose between several older versions of your note to roll back to. Take a minute to think about how useful this could be.

Say you edit a note, and accidentally edit out a large portion by mistake. Unfortunately you don’t realize for a few days. No problem with SN – just roll back to the older version – your hard work is back. If you have a tendency to edit a little *too* ruthlessly, this is a killer feature.

Sharing and Collaboration

Let’s say you have a note written up, but you need some help with it. Rather than hand over your iPhone, SN has a much, much better solution. Press the icon in the bottom left to bring up your Sharing menu. Switch “Publish Web Page” to on, and an email appears. This email contains a link to your note in web page form – and this web-note syncs with your SN note. Send it to whoever, and get your collaboration on.

Final Thoughts

Simple Note is the best note-taking and text document storing application on iOS. Period. It is amazingly simple to use. The syncing options with Notational Velocity and DropBox mean your data is as safe as it could possibly be. None of this requires any technical ability – it’s all dead simple. That’s exactly why I love SimpleNote.

Instead of sitting around thinking “What pile of flashy new, semi-useful features can we add today?” , they instead seem to ask “What’s the bare minimum amount of incredibly useful features needed to store notes?” The difference in philosophy is clear. SimpleNote makes writing on my iPhone a joy. It’s simple. It’s seamless. It works. And it works amazingly well. All the features I covered today are included with the free version of SimpleNote. If you have an iOS device, you have to try it.

SimpleNote Review is a post from: The Simple Llama - where you can learn to live a simple life today.

Much has been said about Notational Velocity . This application is growing to be my favorite OS X app of all. If there’s a better tool for pure writing on the Mac, I don’t know what it is.

What is Notational Velocity?

A note creation and storage application. A very simple application at that. Open it up, and there are three sections. A search / title bar, a list of notes, and the writing area. If you want to find a note, start typing in the search box. The search is instant, and changes as you type. To select the note, use the down arrow key. The content of the note is displayed below, where you can edit to your heart’s content.

Let’s say you don’t find what you’re looking for, and want to create a new note. When you’re done typing, just press enter. A new note is created automatically, and the cursor moves down to the writing area. Get to work.

How do I save?

You don’t, of course. Notational Velocity saves automatically (Are you getting tired of that word yet?) every few seconds. You never have to worry about forgetting to save, or application crashes. You type it, it’s staying put.

Keyboard Shortcuts

When you’re in NV, the mouse could fall off a cliff and die, and it wouldn’t matter a bit to you. Sure, you can use it, if you like working slowly and less efficiently. Instead, use these simply keyboard shortcuts.

• Esc – Exit your current note and go to the search bar; start fresh
• ⌘ L – Jump to the Title / Search Bar without exiting your current note
• ⌘ R – Rename your current note
• ⌘ B – Embolden your text
• ⌘ E – Export current note (in plain text, of course)

There are more, of course. These are the only ones I use, and they handle everything I need.

Backup and Synchronization

Notational Velocity has the best possible solution for backup and synchronization in place. All notes are stored as plain text files, so long as you select this option in the preferences. Plain text is the simplest format known to man, which means extremely low chance / zero chance of file corruption. There’s also a way to keep your text files in your Dropbox account. The process is extremely simple, following these steps.

SimpleNote

This is where NV really shines. You can synchronize your data with the lovely SimpleNote.

Just put in your Simple Note username and password, and you’re done. Any notes / edits you make in Notational Velocity are available in Simple Note, and vice versa. No fighting with configuration – it just works. And it works very, very well. I use the Simple Note app on my iPhone along with NV for the ultimate writing combination. The pricing of the combo is pretty impressive too.

Notational Velocity: Free. Simple Note: Free.

The best solution available, at any price, and it costs nothing.

This post, just like nearly every post on this site, was written in Notational Velocity. I love the interface, and it allows me to keep a backup of everything I write. If you write at all… whether in large volume or just tons of little notes… get NV and Simple Note. Thank me later.

Notational Velocity is a post from: The Simple Llama - where you can learn to live a simple life today.

Instapaper is part of my daily information flow – a huge part. I’ve written some thoughts about Instapaper in the past, and recommend it fully. However, Milind Alvares of Smoking Apples wrote up such a fantastic review of the service that I simply must share it with you. Here’s a snippet:

Instapaper is not about urgency, and its design philosophy speaks about its intended use. There are no unread counts, anywhere. You don’t have to read something now, if you don’t want to. It will always be there, and that’s okay. Just flick through the list, which can go as long as you want, and pick something you like. If you start reading an article, and find that you aren’t in the mood for that kind of article, Instapaper will remember your position in that article the next time you open it. Heck, the new Instapaper even syncs your position across your devices.

This defines what I love about Instapaper more eloquently than I could ever hope to. Instapaper lets me set aside articles to read later, when I have time – but it never pressures me. I can read when I want to… on my own schedule.

Instapaper Review by Milind Alvares is a post from: The Simple Llama - where you can learn to live a simple life today.

Recently I downloaded an ebook called “The Zero Hour Workweek” , written by Jonathan Mead of Illuminated Mind. The concept behind the book is getting paid to be yourself – an interesting concept. After all, put into practice, it would eliminate the traditional 40-60 hour work week that most of us have become accustomed to.

In reality, the book unfolds a bit differently. Obviously no one is technically going to pay you just to exist. You must create something of value, or else you will starve. What the Zero Hour Workweek does push you towards, is doing work that you love. If you truly, truly love what you do, the line between work and non-work becomes blurred. Sure, you’ll be working the same amount or more, but it simply won’t feel like work.

Now that, I can get on board with. I’ve always worked long hours, often more than I’d truly like. If I was doing something that I loved, full time, it wouldn’t feel so bad. I wouldn’t dread getting up on Monday to trudge off to work. Imagine how much simpler life would be, without all that stress.

This ebook is free, so there’s no cost to read it, except for your time. At 60 pages, it will take some time, to be sure. I’m glad I did though, as Jonathan has a great perspective on life. Go ahead and download The Zero Hour Workweek today and get reading.

The Zero Hour Workweek Quick Review is a post from: The Simple Llama - where you can learn to live a simple life today.