Next to Evernote, Dropbox is one of my favorite web-based, cross platform tools. Now that they have added an iPhone app this productivity tool has gotten even better. Now in addition to accessing my files from my Windows, Linux, or OSX I can access my files on go on my iPhone.

If you are not familiar with Dropbox Tyler Wall and I have written about it several times before:
Another take on Dropbox: Syncing Apps
My head is in the clouds but so are my files
Top Free Software

Syncing apps and a password database like Keepass or KeepassX has not gotten even more powerful. Thanks Dropbox!

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The often discussed notion of an external brain or place to keep all sorts of information in an easy to access format is no longer just an idea it is reality with Evernote.

Evernote allows you to easily capture information in any environment using whatever device or platform you find most convenient, and makes this information accessible and searchable at any time, from anywhere. This free tools works on Windows and OSX, any smartphone and on the Web. Information input into Evernote is automatically synced across all devices.

Watch the following video, then go to the Evernote website and view the What is Evernote Page and I will guarantee that you will start using this free web-based tool.

If you want even more power and control you can download and install the Windows or OSX client and your information from the web will automatically be synced to your system.

One of my favorite ways to use Evernote is as a digital voice recorder. On a recent trip to Calgary I had several good ideas that i didn’t want to loose so I simply fired up Evernote in my iPhone and recorded my thoughts.

The New Note screen on the Evernote iPhone App gives you four options so capturing information in any format is just a single click away.

Educational Applications

• Evernote is the consummate research tool I wish I had in when I was doing my graduate studies–the ability to capture, store and index all forms in information in almost any format makes it so easy to get at the information at a later date.
• Evernote will also do OCR and is able to capturing and indexing text from images so capturing notes from a whiteboard, signs, product information sheets, business cards, etc. save you valuable time.
• Because Evernote syncs across all devices I will create my meeting agenda or lecture notes in Evenote on my laptop and then access them via my iPhone.
• The indexing and search functionality make is very easy to access the valuable tidbit of information that you stored in just in case you needed it someday.

There is a premium version of Evernote that costs $5 per month or $45 per year but to date I have not had the need for the added security and additional storage space that this account offers.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Top 5 Reasons to Use Evernote (chris.pirillo.com)
• 6 Ways To Add Your Information To Evernote (makeuseof.com)
• Evernote now syncs your files across devices (news.cnet.com)

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About a year ago I was looking for a good solution to share large files that email couldn’t handle (20+mb), I also needed a few other things that I wanted it to do like:

1. Sync files automatically across multiple computers.
2. Have access to my files regardless of the computer that I am using i.e. read a PDF from an internet cafe computer.
3. Collaborate with people via sharing large files.
4. Store files online.


Dropbox - Home - Secure backup, sync and sharing made easy. via kwout

Luckily I found a tool to help with all of that and more, Dropbox. Here is a highlight reel of what Dropbox offers:

1. 2 GB free storage space online
2. File syncing across multiple computers
3. OS independent
4. Large and small file sharing via public folders
5. Photo sharing via photos folder (includes a web interface web gallery)
6. Public folder sharing where multiple Dropbox accounts can have access to specified folders and all accounts gain syncing power to constantly be updated with new files in that folder.
7. Invisible syncing and through the web interface you can see Dropbox activity.
8. Web interface to access your files while away from your computer
9. A public folder that allows you to put up files, grab a url from the file, and give the link to whomever and they can download the file without downloading Dropbox. Try it out for yourself by clicking here. http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/17187/Dropbox%20public.pdf and here http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/17187/division%20of%20power.html . as you can see it allows you to link right to html documents and flash files.

To use Dropbox you just download the software install it and it will create a folder in your computer called, you guessed it, Dropbox. It runs in the background and only syncs when you add a file or take one out of the folder. Install Dropbox on any computer you want to sync files across and it will run in the background making sure that the Dropbox folder is synced.Watch this video to better understand what Dropbox has to offer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maQrWC-raFQ and go here for a tour of dropbox http://www.getdropbox.com/tour#1 .

So how could you as an educator use it?

1. Well how about posting important files for download into your public Dropbox folder and sending the link to all your students so they can download it?
2. What if you are working with another instructor or content expert, you could set up a collaborative folder so you both would be up to date with what the other has done.
3. Leave your work computer at work and know that those files will be on your home computer for you to work on later.
4. Have your students all get dropbox accounts and you could set up a folder where they can send put up their assignments like an assignment dropbox.
5. With an account your students could have group collaboration and you would be able to see their progress (as long as you are invited into their group folders) and who is most active and it keeps track of versions and if a file has been deleted which would reduce the odds of cheating.
6. Use it to archive important files (you can undelete deleted items and even restore different versions of the same file)
7. Whatever you want!

So how do I (Tyler Wall) use Dropbox? Well I have a fellow comic aficionado back in my home town and we are creating a web comic together so I created a new folder in Dropbox and invited him to it. We now both have access to the folder (and no one else) and if I put up a new drawing it syncs to his computer and it is like sharing a folder on the web. I also use it to backup important files, all in folders that no one else has access to.

It has revolutionized the way I collaborate on a large scale project. I haven’t seen my friend in over a year but I feel like we haven’t missed a beat with thanks to Dropbox.(and a few other online tools). Without Dropbox collaboration would be much more difficult.

So if you have Dropbox and use it regularly or have ideas of how to use it for education by all means post a comment and let me and everyone else know your great idea.

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