Simplenote is a note taking web app and iPhone app. Notes created are sync to the cloud.

Recently, the iPhone app changed from being a paid app to a free app. However, the free app now supports ads. Premium members and previous buyers of the app will have the option of turning the ads off.

Simplenote as it’s name would suggest is a minimalistic approach to note taking. There are no fancy note paper or marker felt fonts. Note titles are based on your first line of text in the note.

Premium users getting the benefits of automated backups, unlimited API calls, create by email, rss feeds, premium support, ad free, early access to new features.

Desktop Apps

Nottingham is very similar to Notational Velocity but it includes native syncing to Simplenote. To create more than 10 notes, you can register the app for US$14.95. Some have been known to face some problems with syncing with Simplenote so please try before you purchase the app. Tyler, the developer, is already aware of this issue so expect this issue to be resolved soon. I really like the ability to colour-code your notes much like the files in finder.

Dashnote is a side project developed by Resen Corp. This is a dashboard widget instead of an app like the other two. This is definitely the most beautiful app out of the three. However, the lack of off-line note creation is really a bummer.

Justnotes runs in the menu bar and works great though it is still in beta. It is freeware but donations are greatly appreciated. Great point to note is the ability to email notes right from the app.

Notational Velocity has been the choice desktop app for note-taking and it used to require a hack to sync notes with Simplenote. With the latest update, Simplenote sync has been built into the app. NV in my opinion has the best implementation of Simplenote. With the ability to undo deleted notes, merge/replace notes during sync, NV will be a tough app to beat especially with it being freeware.

Redesigning the Boarding Pass

ASCII Pronunciation Guide

2009 has been a very interesting year with a change of environment and new responsibilities. New friends, new work, and brand new experiences. December has been a huge rush with all the events piling up and work weighing down on me. The year has flown by and I’m already starting to miss it a little. Not trying to get stuck in the past, I’m setting down some resolutions to keep my 2010 in check:

1. Be more efficient with work. Work has definitely taken a huge toll on me and everything has been piling up. I need to be more efficient and quick about things to keep the ball rolling. 2010 looks like a good thing to make sure it flows smoothly to the outbox.
2. Take up a new skill.Its high time I stopped doing boring stuff and learn a new trick. It would be great to take up a sport or course to keep things fresh for me. I think I’ve been staring at my laptop too much and losing my life.
3. Dress better.People have been commenting that I don’t dress my age or I seem sloppy. New year, new clothes. Time to clean up my wardrobe and give it a new lease of life. Looks like a trip down fashion street is in order.

These 3 points would already be a tall order for me and I hope I can keep to them. What’s your new year resolutions, feel free to comment below and share some of them.

There is a new coin system which is a convert from points in Tap Tap Revenge 2 and credits can be earned by taking offers and installing other applications to buy music. One feature i really like is the need to unlock music by levelling up. However, I believe this can be done offline. The current system only lets you download the song after you reach a level. Which means, depending on where you are, you have to wait to download the next song. Being able to download first and unlock on the system would make this feature so much more popular.

Going to start up the app and try to download some tracks for the next few days.

The first few games have definitely impressed me with their quality. These are not random, make-you-regret-you-downloaded-them, taking-up-space-on-my-screen games. They would definitely be staying on my iPod for awhile, at least most of them. Do yourself a favour and get them while you can.

Yesterday, I downloaded Ramp Champ and have been addicted to it since. It is definitely a game that would be unique to the iPhone/iPod Touch and makes the device much more enjoyable. It is very iPhone-like and brings back memories of playing the actual games at fairs and arcades. It can be very frustrating when you can’t get the ball where you want and find it hard to put your iPhone/iPod Touch down.

Being an Iconfactory product, the graphics are beautifully designed. The physics engine is well done, although I sometimes deny my misses due to poor skills, and gameplay is engaging. You are also able to play you music collection while the game is running. However, it is noted on the site to disable sounds for smoother gameplay.

The aim of the game is to complete the goals given for each ramp and collect tickets to exchange for prizes. Every 500 points awards you with 1 ticket. The ticket idea certainly got my friends going when they saw it.

The game comes with 4 ramps with the ability to do in-app purchases of 4 more add-on packs with 2 ramp each.

1Password Touch securely stores your important information and logs you into websites automatically with a single tap on your iPhone or iPod touch. No need to remember the username, password or even the website address. Your data is protected using the same state of the art encryption algorithm used as a national standard in the United States.

The give away is for 1Password Pro which has more features like copy and paste and better Mobile Safari integration. Don’t miss out your chance to get this great app for your iPod/iPhone. If you think this is great, check out 1Password for Mac

ShoveBox
ShoveBox catches all those little scraps of information that you can’t act on now but would rather not forget. It sits up in your menubar, waiting for you to drag in text, images, URLs, and more.
It’s much like having a cork board up on your wall and you can just pop something up there for later. Might be useful if you’re doing research or just need to be more organized.

Writeroom
WriteRoom is a simple, but powerful app that provides you with a distraction-free writing environment. WriteRoom does one main thing and does it incredibly well: It’s all about writing…
This is one app that I have been considering getting my hands on. I love the idea of being able to black out and just focus on your writing. There are freeware on the Windows platform but I missed it after switching to Mac. MacHeist just put a huge smile on my face.

Twitterrific
Twitterrific is an exquisite app that enables you to make the most out of your Twitter experience. It has a clean user interface that’s designed to take up little of your precious desktop space.
I would have been a very happy man if I got this a few weeks back but after switching to Tweetie, there isn’t much of an incentive to head back since the ads in Tweetie are actually unobtrusive and nice.

TinyGrab
TinyGrab is a simple, powerful app that enables you to quickly share screenshots of everything on your Mac.
Having an app for taking screenshots is a great idea and with how easy TinyGrab makes it, its hard not to. But sharing them, I haven’t really found a new to do too much of that.

Hordes of Orcs
Hordes of Orcs is a Tower Defense strategy game where you build walls and towers to defend your village from orcs gone rogue.
This is an interesting one, its a game. I don’t think I will be using this as I like to leave my MacBook Pro for work and using it for games just feels like I’m abusing it. Another time maybe?

Mariner Write
Now unlocked. But there are only hours left to get the nanoBundle!
Mariner Write is a fast, streamlined word processor that’s useful for everyone… professional writers, educators, students, casual computer users, and everyone in-between. It has a simple, elegant user interface so that you can create beautiful documents the very first time you start using it.
I would like to give this a shot and see how well it works. Having Pages and Word on my MacBook Pro seems like overload so this would have to be able to replace one of them to make a spot on my MacBook Pro.

I’m exploring the apps, starting with Writeroom, to see if they could earn a spot on my MacBook Pro. Some might not be that useful to me but given the option to get $154 worth of apps free, you must be crazy to pass it by. Getting the licenses and taking your time to check it out is totally worth the minutes you’ll need to get a MacHeist account. And you can contribute in the effort to unlock Mariner Write.