Evernote Hello

I've been a diehard Evernote user for a long time, but making it useful required developing my own complicated system "built on" Evernote. To me, Evernote is a platform, rather than a product or system. I don't find it very useful out of the box, and I feel like they have a fairly myopic vision.<p>So it didn't surprise me that the product demo video demonstrated a shocking lack of understanding of customer problems and behavior. Okay, everyone's first red flag is surely the idea of taking pictures of faces, so let's pass right over that one. Now, are they really juxtaposing their contact list manager with a rolodex instead of Apple's Contacts app? While showing their app on an iPhone? I know you can import people from your address book, but this is just... a bizarre demo.<p>Anyway, no one has a problem with how to keep notes on their contacts or remember who they are. People have a problem with not bothering to keep notes on their contacts or remember who they are. The obvious (only?) solution is to automatically "add encounters" when they occur.<p>I haven't tried norada.com yet, but I've been scoping it out because it seems like using it requires no new behavior (it just goes right into Gmail in Chrome). Any norada users care to comment?<p>The way I WANT contact management to work is that when I email or call someone for the first time, it starts a case for them, and slowly grows that over time.<p>Final note, from the appstore reviews of Evernote Hello, another big red flag demonstrating myopia:<p>"Be aware that this app sends a message (without any warning or chance to review) to people when you add them to the contacts list. In my case it was a little embarrassing to tell my clients that I was trying a new app and didn't know it would send them an email without my knowledge."

I think that there's definitely room for an app that helps you remember people, but this is not it. First of all, photographing people to save them in your phone is just plain weird. At least in my circles, it is not socially acceptable to acquisitively photograph people and add them to your own personal database. I think many people would react with, "Is this because you don't think you'll remember me?"<p>Secondly, "Add an encounter" is too involved.

Am I the only one who see's the whole "meet someone, and fill out a profile (or have them fill out a profile)" to be a major source of friction?

"Hand someone your phone" is a dealbreaker. Specially someone I want to remember - it means I don't know them already, ergo don't trust them with my phone.

When I saw the video my first thought was: VC money. They have to show how they're spending it, and so Evernote is more likely to develop a product could be the "next big thing" but that feels completely wrong for people outside the "VC money bubble".<p>Can you imagine if I had to go to a client and ask him to take a picture of him, going to "photo booth-mode"?[^1] Or a potential client, met somewhere?<p>[^1]: The video says the go automatically to "photo booth-mode" so I wouldn't have to ask, but still…

Can someone do a Captain Planet like feature.<p>All users hold their phones in one hand. Put their phone-holding hand in the middle. And then, all together, raise their hands at the same time. (Think awesome team building morale boost.)<p>You would get:<p>1. The history of which elements were around you during such Captain Planet amazingness.<p>2. The contact information for whoever possesses: Earth, Fire, Wind, Water, and everyone's favorite... Heart.<p>3. The location where Captain Planet should find you.<p>4. A clear reminder you grew up in the 90s.

First of all, this is silly and far more awkward than just exchanging business cards. I feel like they entirely forgot about business cards while developing this. Why would anyone want to enter in all their contact info over and over when they could just have their face and info printed on like 500 cards and hand you one of them?<p>That being said, I go to a lot of networking events and I have found that not bringing business cards is the best way to make connections - they often are forgotten or thrown out. What I do is I hand the person my phone and say send yourself an email. Then when you get it tomorrow, reply back and we can talk, maybe arrange to meet up later for drinks or something.<p>This strategy has been incredibly effective in maintaining the conversaton - usually they send an email with something about the event or what we were talking about and it provides context.<p>This comment isn't really going toward any great conclusion, really. I feel like they are on to something with the 'give them your phone' part, but doing it wrong by replicating a business card. And nobody wants to take a picture of themselves up close, that's just awkward.

This app fails to do anything innovative in my opinion, as the fact that you have to hand your phone to a stranger and ask them to add their details illustrates. How is that better than just using the contacts app on your phone?<p>I think Cardflick is a much better solution. It is still not optimal, but definitely a better solution than Evernote's hello:<p><a href="http://cardflick.co/" rel="nofollow">http://cardflick.co/</a>

I'm not sure how this is better than Bump at exchanging profiles/contact info.

Interesting concept. After spending the last week at Startup Riot and LessConf, intensely socializing with several hundred people, I'm not convinced this would have helped much. The one thing that stands out is taking a photo of the person, though I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable handing my phone to a stranger (nor would they).<p>I still hand business cards to people, but only after 2-3 minutes of conversation and only as a means to prevent having to spell my name and email/twitter in a crowded, noisy environment. I collect all of the cards I get and batch process them later, following folks on twitter, adding contacts, etc. This systems works much better for me and seems more efficient than typing into my phone.

I actually use Evernote for this all the time: I have a note with a list of new acquaintances along with descriptions and how we know one another. Like:<p><pre><code> Becky: Friend of Kellie, works at UT. Likes chicken n' waffles. At Nau's: Omar is young. Lulu is young. Gilbert is older. </code></pre> While this method is far from ideal, I don't see Evernote Hello replacing my list anytime soon.

It would seem inappropriate to ask people to take their pictures because you can't remember who they are. Can you actually do that to girl you met at a bar? Or a new client you just had a meeting with.<p>I have been collecting a lot of information on Evernote and I am also getting rid of my online social profile. I certainly do not think social networking in Evernote can be of any use.

I'd really rather just find out their full name and add them on Facebook or LinkedIn. Pictures then show up automatically, and it's already a shared platform with network effects that add value while reducing the awkwardness.

This app has been around for a couple of months ... why the HN love now? This is OK for random networking. If you're looking for a proper CRM manager on iOS, try out Contacts Journal.

Nice idea, but when I meet somebody I am not going to take photos and log who I was with etc. It seems a little overboard.

Yet another app I'd buy immediately if there were an Android version...

Clever timing ... just in time for SxSW