Snapture That Before It Gets Away!

[Jon Westfall]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.bluesquirrel.com/products/snaptureppc/' target='_blank'>http://www.bluesquirrel.com/products/snaptureppc/</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Snapture is the easiest way to capture information and take it with you. Want to "remember" little things like driving directions, eBay listings, funny jokes, clever quotes, receipts, URLs, etc? Now you can "remember" these things with just one keystroke. Highlight, hit F11 and the information is instantly ready to sync to your Pocket PC. "</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/westfall-20050322-snapture.jpg" /><br /><br />This is something that I think we've probably all wished we could do, but never thought someone would actually implement. Working with multiple machines, with multiple pieces of information, and needing to be multiple places with that information means that the yellow sticky note has been a big friend of mine, however with this software, I could simply select the text I want to capture, hit a hot-key, sync my device, and boom - its with me. No more forgetting that URL, no more writing down that phone number. After all, I'm much more inclined to electronically document something if I need only press 1 button (i.e. instead of popping open outlook, etc..) I'm planning on trying this later when I have some time - has anyone else tried this software?

[T4RZ4N]

I can achieve all that Snapture is able to do using Repligo, and in its original format or reflow, while this one looks to grab just the text, CMIIW.

[DaleReeck]

I tihnk you are talking apples and oranges here. Repligo can duplicate an entire document while Snapture does pieces of text. For instance, if there was a web page and I wanted just a portion of something that was written there, Repligo will capture the entire page. Snapture can capture just the piece you need.

[krypticide]

I wish there were more screenshots. I don't like demoing anything that interfaces PC and PPC without screenshots to show me it's worth the trouble. Does it copy graphics too? How does the formatting look?

[T4RZ4N]

I tihnk you are talking apples and oranges here. Repligo can duplicate an entire document while Snapture does pieces of text. For instance, if there was a web page and I wanted just a portion of something that was written there, Repligo will capture the entire page. Snapture can capture just the piece you need.

True, but if you can capture the entire document (with graphics and text in it) with the same ease, why would you like to capture just the text? Any other reason besides saving up space?

Well, my main point is, what is the main selling point of Snapture, if for now it seems like it's a "subset" of Repligo. It must have a unique feature which sets it apart from the rest to be successful.

[Jon Westfall]

I wish there were more screenshots. I don't like demoing anything that interfaces PC and PPC without screenshots to show me it's worth the trouble. Does it copy graphics too? How does the formatting look?

After playing around with it a bit today, i can tell you why there are no screenshots - their is nothing to capture on the screen. After you've set the options for it, you simply hit F11 and you see the word "Snap" on your screen for a second. It then creates the pocket word document and places it in your My Documents folder so that on the next sync, its sent over. I believe it does support graphics, but might not support the original formatting.

Repligo is deffinetly not the same as this app in functionality. If I wanted to see all the pretty formatting, I'd use Repligo (And do use Repligo), if I want the text bare-bones, this looks like the way to go!

Jon.

[Jon Westfall]

True, but if you can capture the entire document (with graphics and text in it) with the same ease, why would you like to capture just the text? Any other reason besides saving up space?


Why would I want to capture an entire webpage just for one phone number? Why would I even want to capture just the text of an entire webpage just for the phone number?

I guess your question is a bit strange to me - why do you need another reason other than saving space? I guess you could say another reason would be that some of the information could be sensative (i.e. copying off a registration code for software you've just purchased - and on the confirmation screen it lists code and credit card information used to purchase the code), or a file you intend to share later and don't want others to be confused.

[beq]

How would this compare to using something like EverNote/OneNote (or TexNotes)? I guess it wouldn't be as simple and quick as hitting F11 to start up and capture, but aren't the former apps also meant for free-form capture of notes and snippets and such?

[Jon Westfall]

How would this compare to using something like EverNote/OneNote (or TexNotes)? I guess it wouldn't be as simple and quick as hitting F11 to start up and capture, but aren't the former apps also meant for free-form capture of notes and snippets and such?

I use OneNote and would love to see it fully support Pocket PC's, but alas, it doesn't. It can import notes from the device, but can't export them to a device readable format yet. Hopefully this functionality is on its way.

That being said, hitting F11 is faster than opening up a side note in onenote by using the system tray, unless you use some sort of macro that can bring it up instantly.

[phritosan]

$20? please.

im far more inclined to highlight, copy, shortcut to notepad, paste, transfer. no way is this software worth $20

[T4RZ4N]

Why would I want to capture an entire webpage just for one phone number? Why would I even want to capture just the text of an entire webpage just for the phone number?
Agree Jon, now, if only they provide a client like PhatNotes on PPC to organize all of them, that'll be sweet.

I guess you could say another reason would be that some of the information could be sensative (i.e. copying off a registration code for software you've just purchased - and on the confirmation screen it lists code and credit card information used to purchase the code), or a file you intend to share later and don't want others to be confused.
good example Jon. Still, I am not convinced that it worth $20 0X

[zilla31]

once evernote comes out w/ their PPC piece - that will be 100% the way to go w/ this.

[beq]

once evernote comes out w/ their PPC piece - that will be 100% the way to go w/ this.

Off topic, but I only recently started relying on PhatPad (coupled with PhatNotes). Should I stop before I get too hooked, and just wait for EverNote PPC? In the past I've tried riteMail (also by EverNote) and their digital ink technology from what I recall seemed roughly similar to PhatPad...

[PPCRules]

This is the functionality I've been envisioning for a long time. But like the others, $20 is a show stopper for me for this type of utility. Looking at their product lineup, everything is priced real high, so they aren't trying to attract large numbers of customers, rather maximize profits from a few. However, this might inspire me to finally sit down and whip up my own implementation (it's just a Windows app, after all).

Edit: 12:30PM Version 1.0, text only, is done. Pretty slick.

[disconnected]

I think I'll have to try this. I often see something on a web page that I'd like to save, and if it's not something too important, it usually seems like too much trouble to copy it to a document and save it where it will get synched. I usually end up with piles of notes on scrap paper that end up getting lost.

[OTHHC]

$20? please.

im far more inclined to highlight, copy, shortcut to notepad, paste, transfer. no way is this software worth $20

I was also interested until I saw the price. This is worth $5 to me and I bet they would sell 100 times more copies if they priced it at what it is worth.

[winsquared35]

I agree with most of you, $20 is too much to chargefor the utility.
Has anybody tried Syncnotes by Cynapse? (www.syncnotes.com). I believe I learned about it here in the forum.
It's free, and it's like the sticky notes, but it syncs with multiple computers, including the PPC. I keep it on the application bar at all times, when an idea comes, info from phones or info from the web is needed, I can just cut and paste it, hit the sync button, and the note appears on my PPC (and on all other PC's I installed it in) when I sync it. I can send notes or messages to myself of the PPC or to other computers in my office or at home. Great free system, web-based.

[happety]

I have a few things - I personally really like this little utility. Actually, like it was mentioned earlier, I could probably develop something similar to this and use it free, but I'm not going to do this.

I could also easily copy and paste into a text editor, do a quick save as into "My Docs" folder, but I very seldom do this either.

I also use (and love) Repligo, and this is nothing (in practice) to that app. Having snippets of text sent to my PPC immediately with one keystroke is very different than Repligo (at least my usage of it.)

And I noticed by browsing around their website that in March, this app is 50% off, so it's only 10 bucks, not 20... If you care, it's in the "Products-->Product Specials" tab.

Finally, I think it would be quite cool if this had the option to popup a one line window after activiting the send process to allow the user to add a quick title - it's another step, but one that could help organize the notes. In my trial usage of this so far, many times, the text I copy doesn't normally start with something identifiable (which is used to auto create the notes title.)

[lonesniper]

Has anybody tried Syncnotes by Cynapse? (www.syncnotes.com).
I use Syncnotes in the same way you do and I love it. I just synced a note that will popup on my work PC tomorrow reminding me to do something. That is the feature that I really like and find very useful.