Website of the Week (Springpad - save and organize information online for free)

At first glance you might think that Springpad is much like the better known Evernote (online note taking and saving).
There are some similarities but their core functions are different.

Springpad is more like a personal organizer or assistant. Springpad uses virtual notebooks to organize information, you can create your own notebooks and there are pre-made ready to use notebooks for a large array of tasks. For example, if you save a recipe from the web, Springpad adds a list of ingredients and a link back the original source for the instructions, and you can create a shopping list that can be printed or sent to your smartphone.

Springpad has many features and apps for you to use, but you can add information to the default My Stuff notebook and worry about sorting it later. Here are a few notes about Springpad:

• - You can use Google, Yahoo, Facebook or Twitter to log in, or you can create an account.
• - It's free, no matter how much stuff you put in it.
• - You can easily add content to Springpad using their web clipper, email, and mobile phone apps (iPhone, iPad, Android and other mobile devices are supported.
• - You can use Springpad to add notes, calendars, reminders, to do lists, alarms, home inventory, recipes and meal planning.
• - Springpad allows you to share or keep private anything you add to it.
• - Springpad syncs with your Google Calendar and can add Gmail Contacts.
• - Springpad goes beyond just storage. If you added a specific product such as a large screen TV your notes, Springpad will provide a link to buy it (it uses amazon.com), a link to a CNET review of the product if it's available, and compares prices at various outlets.
• - Springpad is a web application, there isn't a separate program you install on your computer.
• - Springpad is under active development; some recent additions are RSS and iCal feeds of your data, local data backup, ability to add tags, bar code scanning, import your notes from Evernote or Google Notebook to Springpad, import your Instapaper & Read it Later Articles to Springpad, and save notes from Google+ directly to Springpad.

Springpad does have more features than the ones I've listed, though if you like things clear and easy you can saving things to the default My Stuff notebook is the way to go. It's easy to search for anything you've tucked away.

I've used Springpad and Evernote for some time. I use Evernote for snippets of things I need to keep or remember, while I use Springpad for organizing larger types or groups of information. I can't say one is better than the other, they are both very good. I don't use the downloadable version of Evernote so that isn't a factor. Evernote has a free version that's ad supported and limits the amount of information that can be stored, and a premium paid version with fewer limitations while Springpad is free. Both have ways to easily add information from most browsers and mobile phones.
I'd recommend keeping an eye on the Springpad blog, that's where new features show up first and there are usually excellent tips to make Springpad easier to use and the intro video is the best place to get started.

Springpad - quickly and easily save the ideas and information you want to remember

Enjoy,
Rhiannon

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