Evernote has been acquired — right here’s how its new proprietor can repair it
For some time, Evernote was on prime of the world. The Californian note-taking app surfed the 2000s tech productiveness increase to grow to be the chief in its area. However then it fell from grace, turning into sluggish, buggy, and costly. Customers deserted the platform, heading in droves to different note-taking apps.
And it seems like extra change is afoot. On January 3, the sale of Evernote to the Italian company Bending Spoons was finally confirmed.
On one hand, this may very well be regarding for remaining customers. Evernote will not be an unbiased firm, which means there may very well be large modifications to its present path. However however… good?
I used to be an Evernote consumer for near a decade earlier than I switched final 12 months. Issues had merely gotten too dangerous with the bloated, gradual, and cumbersome software program, so I turned to Bear, a streamlined and exquisite little bit of app.
With a brand new proprietor, Evernote now has a chance for a clear begin. Bending Spoons already has a suite of consumer apps which can be trendy, highly effective, and intuitive, and we have now to consider the Italian firm will use its experience to form a brand new Evernote.
The query is what ought to it do? How can Bending Spoons carry Evernote to its former glory? Effectively, we have now some concepts.
Pace up Evernote apps
This was one of many essential the reason why I moved away from Evernote. Whereas I used and liked a few of the app’s options (corresponding to web clipping and document scanning), the primary motive I used Evernote was for, properly, notes.
Whereas the pace of writing and looking out on desktop was acceptable, the identical wasn’t true on cell units — particularly in the event that they had been just a few years outdated.
If Bending Spoons desires to carry the shine again to Evernote, making its vary of apps as lightning quick as doable can be begin.
Take away the bloat…
Within the mid-2010s, as Evernote was within the midst of accepting huge amounts of VC funds, the corporate diversified its choices as a way to open up extra income streams. What that buzzwordy sentence means in human communicate is Evernote jammed an entire load of options into the app and tried to be energetic on as many shops as doable.
A lot of this was poorly deliberate and examined, resulting in the software program being infamously described as a “bug-ridden elephant” by Jason Kincaid.
Whereas there have been upgrades to Evernote since which have improved total efficiency, it nonetheless feels that the app is attempting to do an excessive amount of. In fact, having multimedia capabilities and integration into a number of apps is nice for some individuals, however Evernote’s core mission must be note-taking. As a substitute, it feels targeted on issues like chat, calendar, and duties, regardless of these areas of its software program performing far worse than opponents.
Bending Spoons ought to both take a look at shearing again Evernote’s options, or permitting individuals to simply deselect sure options so the app can act as seamlessly as doable.
…however mix app performance
Evernote has an array of various apps outdoors of its core little bit of software program — and a few of these must be folded again into the primary product.
On one hand, combining these apps into Evernote is antithetical to the above level of lowering bloat, however hear me out.
The software program has tried to do lots of the stuff you don’t desire a note-taking app to do. Why, for instance, would I ever need to chat on the identical factor I’m writing on?
However take a look at these apps above once more. They embody a sketcher, a doc scanner, and a handwriting app — all issues which can be helpful to taking notes. As a substitute of being walled off from Evernote and largely forgotten about, these must be key options to make the method of taking notes as highly effective as doable.
Cut back Evernote’s worth
Value was an enormous ingredient of me abandoning Evernote. On the time, I used to be paying €70 a 12 months to take notes. That’s a foolish sum of money — particularly with how I used it.
I by no means received anyplace close to the allotted 10GB a month of storage, had no want of calendar integration or job administration, and by no means discovered a motive to connect with Google Drive. So what was I paying €70 a 12 months for?
Bear — my present app — prices me round €14 ($15) for a similar interval, and I can’t say I’ve missed any of Evernote’s options since my transition.
I perceive there will probably be some energy customers who need to use a full suite of options, however I assure there are scores extra who simply need to clip websites and retailer notes. So why not introduce a tier that’s nearer to €20 a 12 months? One thing that provides all the fundamental options that folks want?
Lastly, Evernote should respect customers
If Bending Spoons desires to save lots of Evernote and for it to reclaim some its former glory, the very first thing it ought to do is respect customers. Cease pushing upgrades on individuals at each single doable alternative. Cease being so overly restrictive on the variety of units people can use the free model with. Cease ignoring customers’ complaints.
As a substitute, there must be a tradition of respect and dialogue, treating those that use Evernote like individuals, moderately than strolling greenback indicators.
Sure, Evernote has taken a fall, however it nonetheless has a powerful sufficient model and sufficient followers to grow to be particular once more. The times of the unbridled tech increase are carried out, however there’s nonetheless a spot for wonderful apps doing easy issues properly. Let’s see if Bending Spoons could make that occur.
