Latest news with #Evernote
Android Authority
15-07-2025
- Android Authority
I was wrong about Obsidian: Here's why it's actually a powerful app
Bogdan Petrovan / Android Authority Obsidian sat unused in my app drawer for months. I tried playing around with it when I first set out to ditch big tech from my digital life, but I found it far too intimidating and clunky. I'd poke around in it every now and again, and then scurry back to Google Keep. Obsidian clearly wasn't for me. Then, something subtle shifted that made me reconsider the purple app. So now I'm doing something I never thought I would: singing the praises of Obsidian. Now, I no longer stare blankly at the screen and then close the app. Instead, that initial confusion has turned to genuine appreciation for all of its intricacies, and even some of its quirks. Obsidian has become an indispensable part of how I organize my digital life. Do you use Obsidian? 0 votes It's my main note-taking app. NaN % I've tried it but it didn't stick. NaN % I've heard of it but never tried it. NaN % I've never heard of it. NaN % I dismissed Obsidian at first Obsidian's community plugins A Daily Notes template A messy Obsidian setup The name itself is intimidating compared to other note-taking apps: Evernote, Keep, and Samsung Notes. These apps sound helpful, even friendly. The name Obsidian sounds like a rock monster from a fantasy novel. Opening the app felt less like starting a new note and more like being dropped back into 1993 with only a DOS system and a blinking cursor waiting for input. It felt cold and unwelcoming. I tried to use it nevertheless. I'm familiar with markdown, so there was no problem there. What turned me off was the app's almost aggressive lack of structure. Unlike Notion, with its clear page hierarchies and thousands of templates, or the simple tagging system of Evernote, Obsidian was a vast, empty space. I dove into Obsidian's plugins. The sheer number of extensions promised customization, but that led to a sense of overwhelm. Daily notes, Templater, Dataview, mind maps…each one fragmented the app. The name Obsidian sounds like a rock monster from a fantasy novel. Ultimately, the very customizability that is touted as Obsidian's strength became its biggest weakness for me from the get-go. It morphed from a completely blank slate into a messy digital sandbox. My notes were practically impossible to locate in this mess, if I even knew where to start one in the first place. What finally made it click Nathan Drescher / Android Authority I still wasn't happy with using big tech. I appreciated Obsidian's indie roots and that it was a Canadian-made app, so I forced myself to give it another try, but this time, I did something counterintuitive. I got rid of all the plugins. That endless tinkering had been holding me back from just using the app. I had been trying to mold Obsidian into something I didn't need it to be, like some feature-rich behemoth to take on Evernote and Notion. Simplicity, I discovered, was the key. Instead, I created a few basic folders to organize my notes, set up a master note outlining my hashtag structure, and stopped fidgeting with all the other bells and whistles. I signed up for Obsidian's official sync service rather than mess around with building third-party cloud setups. Obsidian transformed from an intimidating mess into a powerful tool. What Obsidian does well My clean Obsidian setup. My Obsidian tag list. An article clipped to Obsidian from the web. I appreciate Obsidian's fundamental focus on content. The app allows me to concentrate purely on my thoughts and ideas once it is stripped of all those excessive options. The simplicity of writing in plain markdown means there are few distractions, with the text itself the primary element. This is a surprisingly liberating writing environment. This simplicity extends to how Obsidian handles my content in the background. Unlike other markdown note-taking apps like Bear (over on the Apple side of things), Obsidian stores my notes locally. There's no vendor lock-in, no walled-off ecosystems. My notes are easily accessible and, more importantly, portable. It also became surprisingly easy to navigate and find information once I embraced basic folders and a tagging system. There's no vendor lock-in, no walled-off ecosystems. Obsidian's web clipper extension is also useful. It works like Evernote's web clipper, parsing the information and stripping away all the noise to create a text-only note, complete with related information like URL, site name, and date and time of capture. The web clipper is free and is available for Chromium browsers like Edge and Chrome, and as an Android app that appears in the share sheet. I think I'll keep using Obsidian Nathan Drescher / Android Authority Obsidian isn't a flawless app. There's a definite learning curve that can be a hurdle for newcomers. The lack of built-in guidance might scare off some of the less tech-savvy who first open the app. However, my simple, content-focused setup has truly won me over. It's not the flashiest note-taking app out there. But it excels at organizing thoughts, connecting ideas, and capturing notes. Obsidian has earned a permanent spot in my digital toolset. I was looking for a powerful yet simple way to manage information that wasn't linked to a big tech conglomerate, and I can confidently say I finally found it in Obsidian.
Techday NZ
10-07-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
Brightcove unveils AI updates to transform video platform
Brightcove has set out a new direction for its video engagement platform, focusing on artificial intelligence innovation, customer feedback, and enhancing the user experience. The company, now owned by Bending Spoons, announced a range of updates and investments to its platform designed to serve the diverse needs of media and enterprise clients. Much of this transformation is underpinned by Bending Spoons' proprietary AI technology, drawing on its experience with products such as Remini, Evernote, and Meetup. AI-powered enhancements Brightcove's latest strategy features a series of AI-driven tools and capabilities. Among these are automated captioning, multilingual dubbing, smart content analysis, and a native recommendation engine. Other additions include support for ultra-high definition live streaming, intelligent video clipping, and reformatting features aimed at optimising content for various social platforms. Further AI features will be introduced to benefit both end-users and content providers, such as predictive buffering and adaptive bitrate optimisation. These are intended to improve video playback quality across different devices and network conditions. Updating user experience Accompanying the announcement is a renewed focus on the quality of experience provided to customers. Planned updates include a comprehensive overhaul of Brightcove's user interface and experience, workflow streamlining, support for vertical video formats, and the introduction of animated thumbnails. These refinements are being developed to improve day-to-day usability and ensure a more efficient and engaging workflow for video teams. Customer insight at the core Brightcove's refreshed platform strategy has been shaped by discussions with over 50 customers worldwide, drawn from various sectors and geographies. These conversations have helped prioritise feature development, ensuring the updated platform responds to practical business needs and measurable outcomes. "At Brightcove, our aim is to deliver a powerful and reliable platform that is deeply aligned with the needs of modern media and enterprise users. We're enthusiastic to bring our new product strategy to life, combining customer insight with Bending Spoons' AI expertise to build a long-term strategy hand-in-hand with our customers," Luca Ferrari, CEO of Bending Spoons commented. Brightcove's approach now follows two parallel tracks: the introduction of new innovation, such as AI-powered features and platform extensions; and improvements to the core product, focused on usability and experience. This structure is designed to ensure balanced development, continually responsive to feedback from users. Leveraging Bending Spoons' expertise Bending Spoons brings a technical foundation gained from developing digital products for a global user base. Its vertically integrated technology stack and expertise in artificial intelligence have been cited as key factors in the rapid rollout of new Brightcove features. Examples include the successful commercialisation of fully AI-powered applications and the seamless integration of new tools into existing platforms. The expanded platform aims to cater both to media companies seeking to stream and monetise content, and to enterprises looking to communicate more effectively and securely with their audiences. By continuing to invest in core technology and leveraging its parent company's resources, Brightcove seeks to ensure its future product roadmap is closely synchronised with the demands of its client base.
Business Wire
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Brightcove Unveils Its New Vision for the Future of Video Engagement, Powered by Proprietary AI and Customer Insight
MILAN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Brightcove, the intelligent video engagement company, has today unveiled a bold new chapter in its evolution, signaling a renewed commitment to innovation, customer-centricity and meaningful digital experiences. Backed by new owner Bending Spoons, and incorporating its powerful proprietary AI technology, Brightcove is reimagining its platform to meet the growing demands of both Media and Enterprise customers. This marks a strategic evolution in how Brightcove approaches product development, balancing cutting-edge innovation with a relentless focus on quality of experience. The company is investing in areas that matter most to its customers, including new AI-powered features developed in-house, enhanced monetization tools, and a more intuitive user experience. Brightcove's new direction is the result of extensive collaboration with more than 50 customers across industries, geographies, and use cases. These conversations have shaped a product strategy that is designed to meet the evolving needs of modern video teams while delivering measurable business outcomes. At the heart of this strategy is a dual focus: Innovation and Quality of Experience. These two tracks will be pursued in parallel to ensure Brightcove continues to deliver meaningful improvements for all customers. Innovation efforts will: Introduce new features, including ultra-HD live streaming, a native recommendations engine, and a pilot for a native webinar and virtual event platform. Expand Brightcove's AI-powered tools, including automated metadata generation, caption generation, translation and audio dubbing in multiple languages, intelligent video clipping and reformatting to optimize for social publishing, and smart content analysis for precise advertising targeting. Meanwhile, the Quality of Experience track will: Refine the core platform through targeted initiatives, such as vertical video support, animated thumbnails, and a comprehensive UX/UI revamp to streamline workflows and enhance usability. Implement AI features, like predictive buffering and adaptive bitrate optimization, to help ensure smoother playback across devices and networks. A key enabler of this transformation is Bending Spoons' proprietary AI technology. With a proven track record that includes building fully AI-powered products like Remini, as well as integrating AI features into broader platforms such as Evernote and Meetup, Bending Spoons brings deep technical expertise and a vertically integrated stack that accelerates delivery and ensures seamless integration. These capabilities will empower Brightcove to move faster, build smarter, and deliver a more polished experience from day one. Luca Ferrari, CEO of Bending Spoons, commented: "At Brightcove, our aim is to deliver a powerful and reliable platform that is deeply aligned with the needs of modern media and enterprise users. We're enthusiastic to bring our new product strategy to life, combining customer insight with Bending Spoons' AI expertise to build a long-term strategy hand-in-hand with our customers." About Brightcove Inc. Brightcove creates the world's most reliable, scalable, and secure streaming technology solutions to build a greater connection between companies and their audiences, no matter where they are or on which devices they consume content. In more than 60 countries, Brightcove's intelligent video platform enables businesses to sell to customers more effectively, media leaders to stream and monetize content more reliably, and every organization to communicate with team members more powerfully. About Bending Spoons Bending Spoons has served a billion people across the globe through its suite of digital technology businesses, including Brightcove, Evernote, komoot, Meetup, Remini, StreamYard, and WeTransfer. Its products are currently used by around 300 million people each month.
Hans India
09-07-2025
- Hans India
Best Digital Gifts and Offline Gifts to Surprise a Student During Exams
During exam season, many students go through pressure, sleepless nights, and long study hours. Some skip meals, some stop talking much, and some even forget to smile. In such times, one small gift from your side can change their mood, give them energy, or just make them feel supported. You do not need to spend too much. You only need to gift something that suits their exam routine. Some students study using apps and digital tools, while others like traditional notebooks and pens. You will also find many students checking their scores online or using tools like a CGPA grade calculator to track their performance. In this post, you will explore both digital and offline gifts that can be perfect surprises for any student during exams. From useful tools to thoughtful items, you will find many ideas here. Why Digital Gifts Work Best During Exams Digital gifts are instant. You do not need to wait for courier or shipping. In just a few seconds, the gift can reach the student. This works well if exams have already started and you suddenly think of sending something. Also, digital gifts are helpful for students who study online or spend most of their time on mobile or laptop. These gifts are safe and easy to use. No tension of loss or theft. You can also choose the amount you want. From ₹100 to ₹5000, everything is possible with digital options. Even students can use these gifts as per their own choice. Some may buy books, some may recharge their net pack, some may upgrade to a paid app. That is why digital gifts are becoming more popular for students these days. Top Digital Gift Ideas for Students e-Gift Cards & Subscriptions One of the easiest digital gifts you can send is an e-gift card. You can send Amazon gift cards, Google Play cards, Flipkart cards, or Paytm recharge codes. These cards help students to buy what they want. It may be a study book, a set of notes, a new pen drive, or even snacks. Students who use mobile apps can also use gift cards to purchase in-app content or subscription plans. Netflix or Hotstar subscriptions can also be good gifts for short breaks after study sessions. Audible subscriptions allow students to listen to books when they are tired of reading. You can also think of giving Spotify Premium for calm background music or study playlists. All of these give students a small way to relax between their long study hours. Educational & Productivity Subscriptions Students today attend online coaching, mock tests, and practice series from mobile apps and websites. You can gift them subscriptions to useful platforms like Coursera, Unacademy, or Byju's. These platforms provide recorded lessons, test series, and exam tips. You can also gift premium access to platforms like Notion or Evernote, which help them organize their notes and track their revision. Other good digital gifts include Grammarly for error-free writing, Canva Pro for presentation designs, or even Google One storage plans to save their documents and videos safely. Study & Focus Apps Many apps help students to focus better during study time. One example is the Forest app. In this app, a tree grows when students avoid touching the phone. If they open any other app, the tree dies. This gives a small push to avoid distractions. You can also think of gifting premium versions of quiz-based apps like Gojimo or MCQ Practice apps. These apps give daily revision practice and keep students sharp. Time-tracking apps or study planner apps like Study Bunny or MyStudyLife can also be gifted. Digital Tools for Well‑being Studying too much without rest can increase anxiety. You can gift apps that reduce stress. Calm or Headspace are two good apps that help students meditate and sleep better. You can also give them audiobook credits or white noise generators that help during self-study sessions. Security is also important. So, gifting antivirus tools or VPN subscriptions like Norton, BitDefender, or NordVPN can also be useful. This keeps their devices protected from distractions and threats during exams. Offline Gifts That Help Students During Exams Physical gifts still bring a different type of happiness. Opening a surprise box or unwrapping a new item brings a smile. For students who are not very digital, physical gifts can make a bigger impact. Offline gifts can be basic study items, relaxing tools, or small goodies that give energy and peace. You can pack these in a small box and send it to their hostel or home. These gifts show that you care about their study time and want them to feel better during exams. For example, you can gift a powerful study lamp, a set of good notebooks, a pack of sticky notes, or highlighters. You can also include green tea, protein bars, dry fruits, or glucose powder that gives quick energy. Some people even gift lucky pens, cute mugs with motivational lines, or small table plants that make the study table look fresh. Offline gifts are good because they connect emotionally. Students can keep them in front and use them whenever they need a short mental break. What to Include in an Exam Care Package Here are some useful things that you can put in a study care package: High‑energy snacks like chocolates, granola bars, dry fruits Stationery such as highlighters, sticky notes, pens, notebooks Self‑care items like lip balm, Vicks inhaler, hand sanitizer, pain balm Motivational cards or handwritten notes with short quotes A small study timer or mini table clock Reusable water bottle to stay hydrated Herbal tea bags or instant coffee sachets A small gift card (like Flipkart or Google Play) inside the box These small things can really make the student's study time feel supported and less lonely. Students may not say it, but small efforts like this are remembered forever. Combining Digital + Offline for Maximum Effect You do not need to pick only one type of gift. You can combine both. For example, you can send a study box with sticky notes, a pen, some snacks, and add a printed Google Play gift card inside. Or you can send a new notebook and write down a subscription code to a useful learning platform. This way, your gift feels complete. The student can enjoy both offline comfort and digital access. It also shows that you know their study habits and want them to use both tools smartly. This mixed approach works best when you want to make your gift more helpful and memorable. Tips to Choose the Right Gift You should always think of the student's routine before sending anything. If the student uses apps and studies online, then go for digital gifts. If the student likes notebooks and pens, or if their exams are offline, go for physical gifts. Also, do not send anything that needs too much setup or attention. Keep it simple. Avoid gifts that can become distractions. Try to send things that support their current goals. And if you are sending the gift during exams, better to go for digital options. If exams are 7-10 days away, then even offline gifts will reach on time. Add a small personal note. Even 1–2 lines can bring a smile. Conclusion Gifts during exams are not about showing money. They are about showing support. They are about telling the student that they are not alone. You saw that digital gifts are fast and helpful for daily needs. You also saw that offline gifts bring emotional comfort. Both are important. You can now mix and match these gift ideas to surprise any student you care for. Whether they are in school, college, or preparing for any entrance exam, these gifts will surely give them strength and joy. Your gift may not improve their marks, but it will surely improve their mood. And sometimes, a happy student performs better without even realising it. So go ahead, pick your gift and make someone's exam season better today.
Hindustan Times
18-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
5 open source apps which give me a premium experience for free
Are you tired of paying thousands for apps and services? Don't worry, today I am going to tell you about five of my favourite open-source apps that I use daily. These apps are completely free to use, but keep in mind that some of them are only available for Android. Give them a try, and you might just find your new go-to apps without spending a dime. Joplin is a really good notetaking app that comes with a simple interface and is available on all major platforms. It lets you sync the notes across platforms and the best part is that you can import your notes from Evernote to Joplin. It saves your notes locally on the device and also lets you sync with Joplin Cloud, Nextcloud, OneDrive and Dropbox. The interface is clean and easy to use, but can be highly customised with plugins and themes. I love to read news from my favourite websites first thing in the morning, but opening all the websites one by one is tedious. To read all the latest posts, I use ReadYou. It is an open-source app available only for Android, featuring a clean and simple interface. It uses the Material You design and has zero distractions between you and your feed. You can create custom feeds for different topics, and it can send you notifications when a new article is published. It can parse full content, so there is no need to open a browser to read the entire story. Apple users can use NetNewsWire, an open-source app available for iOS and macOS. I am an Android user but use a MacBook as my work laptop, and sharing files between these two devices can be frustrating. LocalSend is a lifesaver in this situation. I can share files across my Android and MacBook easily without using wires, even for large video files. The LocalSend app is available on all platforms and is very simple to use. There are no ads on either the phone or desktop versions. You can share not only files but also text from the clipboard, text messages, and even entire folders. Changing passwords frequently is a good practice to keep your accounts safe. But I cannot remember new passwords for hundreds of websites, so I use Bitwarden. It is an open-source app that is completely free to use. If you are a basic user, the free version is perfect and will always remain free. It offers unlimited devices and passkey management. AdAway is hands down the best ad blocker for Android users like me. It's completely free and open source, which I love. The app works by updating your device's hosts file to block ads system-wide, not just in browsers but across all apps. If your phone is rooted, it's even easier to set up, and the results are fantastic.
