Yesterday afternoon, I had a positive meeting; one filled with revitalizing ideas and confirmations, and I’ve decided to post some things here instead of keeping it private.
iPhone screenshot: Momento [Software — iTunes Apps]
I’ve been testing and reviewing iPhone apps since the App Store’s launch with the intent of sharing my findings. I even thought about adding a new category here — then and again, today. However, for now, I’d like to keep it simple and concise — after all, this post was composed on my iPhone 3GS using the Squarespace application (finishing touches applied at my desktop — as the screenshot shows… I was running toward low-battery).
My first pick, and a bit about the post.
I downloaded Momento just-barely over one-week ago, and it’s already one of my most-used — and frequented apps. It’s a referral tool, a tracker, and a calendar… or rather, a journal — in condensed form.
I’m rather pleased with this app as my first-pick — Bradtastic Superfluous isn’t going to turn into a “review blog,” much-less one restricted-to, or focused-on, iPhone apps. It’s far-too restricting, limiting my outlet and output, but beyond that and significantly — there are tons of review sites out there. Some of them are even okay!
If you’re looking for iPhone apps on a regular basis…
I recommend following the Twitter trends and iPhone blogs. Better yet, follow the recommendations of people that you trust, or blogs about your industry or interests. Check back here — I will write about what works for me.
Back to Momento.
Momento is a great tool for busy people. Writers, thinkers, researchers, readers… just about anyone can benefit from this app. Additionally, the more time one spends away from the computer — primarily desktops — the more useful this app becomes. As a writer choosing to devote time and energy to pen-and-paper over keyboard and screen, much of my output isn’t searchable — at least not in the functional, tech-way — databased, tagged, indexed and hyperlinked.
Momento brilliantly indexes and displays what I’ve decided to call my “dynamic quickies;” despite what the perverse might think. (I don’t actually use that term… I just made it up) Basically, I can display my Twitter feed; my personal posts, separate from everyone else’s crap and clutter. Twitter users should have a separate app for their favorites anyway — why double-up and duplicate — there’s no reason to have two apps for one category. Beyond the feeds, Momento has a simplistic, clean interface designed for adding short entries. For those so-inclined, photos can be added as well. (I use Evernote for that, but I’ll get into that separately… Evernote certainly deserves its own review. Many exist out there already; if you aren’t using Evernote during your daily ritual, you should look into it.)
Momento’s “something special,” usable… about tagging.
If Momento just displayed external feeds (from Facebook, Last.fm, Twitter, etc) and allowed for additional entries, it wouldn’t be that special. I’m sure I’d still like it; it’s attractive, well-designed with clever artwork and graphics, but it’d lack a key element: usability. The added special ingredient: tags. And not just Plain Jane, one-dimensional, single-facet tagging; Momento offers sub-categories: tagging people, places, events, and whatever else you can think of as “extras.”
This app could’ve just been something cute and somewhat-clever; a place to dump thoughts and record daily on-goings, but tags makes the information usable. I can refer back to my entries… mostly, because I can find them. Not everything that I write is going to be relevant all of the time — some of it won’t ever be critically valuable — but I don’t want to be presented with every thought I’ve ever had when I’m trying to find just one. It doesn’t even matter how much time I have to search — it’s not pleasant. If I happen to be pressed… I’ll develop a headache. Apps should not add stress.
Bottom Line: 9 of 10.
If you don’t use your computer regularly — for whatever reasons — you should seriously consider this app. If you don’t have an iPhone… as Gordon Ramsay might say, “you’re mad.” However, seriously think about what your daily processes are before committing to a new system of any kind. Don’t use this app (or any) just because I use it — or because someone special uses it. Don’t waste your time; as a 21st-century human, time is valuable and finite — you probably won’t have forever.
Youth is fleeting and important; with so much to get done in twenty-four hour days and 168 hour weeks, maximizing your peek-efficiency and minimizing lulls is crucial. Simplifying your tools eliminates waste and makes for a life with fewer moving-parts — fewer points of failure. Consider each addition critically; positive or negative, every extra thing that you do is a complication.
While success certainly requires some intricacy, finesse is often more about what isn’t done, isn’t needed.
Coherence is order.
I hope this helped — more to come. If you do start using this app, please comment… let me know what you think.
Brad Chin uses Blogsy
