Google Keep: Why does this exist?

[Michael Goff]

Android exists to compete with iOS. It also provides a rather nice experience that contrasts with the closed nature of iOS.
Chrome started off as a sleek and fast browser to compete with IE. It can still compete with the best of them.
GMail started off to try to modernize the email.

Keep, though?

I can't figure out what Google sought to fix with this. Evernote and OneNote simply do more. Is there something I'm missing?

 

[MRU]

I use it all the time tbh. It's one of my main used apps. Just like the fact it's all synced with 1 account rather than having different apps with extra sign-ins. I find Evernote continuously pushes user towards an Evernote premium subscription and one note lacks the quick simplicity of Keep.

 

[epicrayban]

I love Keep. I use it all the time. I love that all the notes sync across my Gmail account.

 

[mclld]

because it is great, I use it over Evernote or anything else

 

[MRU]

My biggest issue is the lack of Keep iOS app. On iOS I have to bookmark the webpage for it, but would prefer a dedicated iOS app too.

 

[Michael Goff]

because it is great, I use it over Evernote or anything else

Okay.

But what makes it great?

 

[MRU]

Okay.

But what makes it great?

It just works, it syncs with Google now & you can set reminders and the fact it's as we say one account "to rule them all" makes it just handy.

It's also very lightweight (app size) and just feels streamlined. It gets the job done, done well, and without fuss.

Love the dynamic search features and material aesthetic. It makes my note taking a coherent experience across all the devices I use it on.

 

[apolloa]

Are you kidding? It's a great small and light weight app that doesn't integrate itself into everything else like the opposition do, and it also updates across all my devices with no setting up.

So it's lightweight, unintrusive, doesn't hog resources, updates on all your devices, is dead easy to use.

 

[MRU]

Are you kidding? It's a great small and light weight app that doesn't integrate itself into everything else like the opposition do, and it also updates across all my devices with no setting up.

So it's lightweight, unintrusive, doesn't hog resources, updates on all your devices, is dead easy to use.

Yep exactly that

 

[mclld]

Is this really that hard to get? Seriously? Preferring others over this I can see, sure..but not getting why people like it I dont. This thread has already really summed it up nicely why people do like it

 

[sracer]

Okay.

But what makes it great?

There is no other useful utility that has a greater probability of being killed off by its creator.

Android exists to compete with iOS. It also provides a rather nice experience that contrasts with the closed nature of iOS.
Chrome started off as a sleek and fast browser to compete with IE. It can still compete with the best of them.
GMail started off to try to modernize the email.

Keep, though?

I can't figure out what Google sought to fix with this. Evernote and OneNote simply do more. Is there something I'm missing?

Evernote started out lean and mean back-in-the-day but it has suffered from Acute Bloatum Featuritis. OneNote is quite good, but the differences in user experience across platforms and unreliability of OneDrive syncing makes it less than optimal.

Essentially, EverNote and OneNote are terrific for digital hoarders who want to save anything and everything. Where Google Keep comes in is the ability to quickly store and retrieve small and simple notes and snippets.

Given Google's track record of killing off utilities, I try not to rely on anything of theirs that can't easily/quickly be migrated off of. I prefer plain text files stored on a dropbox folder tree... accessible by numerous tools on every platform.

 

[epicrayban]

Yeah, it's just simple.

 

[Jessica Lares]

It's a note/to-do/checklist app. Google didn't ship one with Android otherwise, manufacturers did though. That's what Keep solved for them when the Nexus devices started gaining more traction. (The word processing in Drive/Docs doesn't count)

 

[Michael Goff]

It just works, it syncs with Google now & you can set reminders and the fact it's as we say one account "to rule them all" makes it just handy.

It's also very lightweight (app size) and just feels streamlined. It gets the job done, done well, and without fuss.

Love the dynamic search features and material aesthetic. It makes my note taking a coherent experience across all the devices I use it on.

Thank you.

Is this really that hard to get? Seriously? Preferring others over this I can see, sure..but not getting why people like it I dont. This thread has already really summed it up nicely why people do like it

You misunderstand. I simply asked about why it exists on the basis that Google normally tries to fix something when they make a new product.

There is no other useful utility that has a greater probability of being killed off by its creator.

Evernote started out lean and mean back-in-the-day but it has suffered from Acute Bloatum Featuritis. OneNote is quite good, but the differences in user experience across platforms and unreliability of OneDrive syncing makes it less than optimal.

Essentially, EverNote and OneNote are terrific for digital hoarders who want to save anything and everything. Where Google Keep comes in is the ability to quickly store and retrieve small and simple notes and snippets.

Given Google's track record of killing off utilities, I try not to rely on anything of theirs that can't easily/quickly be migrated off of. I prefer plain text files stored on a dropbox folder tree... accessible by numerous tools on every platform.

Okay, so if I'm understanding correctly... the problem of too many features causing bloat is being solved by being what Chrome was initially?

It's a note/to-do/checklist app. Google didn't ship one with Android otherwise, manufacturers did though. That's what Keep solved for them when the Nexus devices started gaining more traction. (The word processing in Drive/Docs doesn't count)

Thank you.

 

[pedro_martins]

Keep is the only GREAT google app on Android. When you just want to anote something simple, there's nothing better on Android.

Microsoft's apps are much superior (outlook >>>> Gmail, especially for iCloud users), but for a fast note, keep seems better than Onenote. Great little app.

Also, Chrome is bad on all platforms, even on Android. Firefox is so much better!

 

[sracer]

Okay, so if I'm understanding correctly... the problem of too many features causing bloat is being solved by being what Chrome was initially?

Yes, I believe so. When Chrome was first released, it was a lean and mean browser that was fast in comparison to IE and Netscape. Then Google decided that it would be a good idea to morph Chrome into an operating system (or perhaps it was their intention all along) masquerading as a browser.

 

[Michael Goff]

Yes, I believe so. When Chrome was first released, it was a lean and mean browser that was fast in comparison to IE and Netscape. Then Google decided that it would be a good idea to morph Chrome into an operating system (or perhaps it was their intention all along) masquerading as a browser.

Seriously, thank you. My brain was not quite getting it.

 

[Vegastouch]

I have it but rarely use it. Rarely used Evernote either. I just dont need to keep notes i guess.

 

[mclld]

Keep is the only GREAT google app on Android

 

[epicrayban]

Ha yeah. Don't know what that comment was about!

One word: Google maps.

Okay that was two.

 

[pedro_martins]

Ha yeah. Don't know what that comment was about!

One word: Google maps.

Okay that was two.

Nokia Here >>>>> Google Maps

 

[Oohara]

I fully agree with the majority here. Keep is by far my fave app on Android and what I miss the most on iOS. With Keep for iOS the harmonious co-working of my iStuff and my new love the Tab S 8.4 (ADORE!!!) would be complete... Santa PLZ!

And in terms of design, Keep >>>>>>>>>>>>> iOS Notes

 

[soulreaver99]

Google Keep is an awesome app compared to iCloud Notes which is an unreliable mess. iCloud Notes has never synced correctly across my devices. Since I use both iOS and Android, Simple Note is my go to app.

If keep were to come to iOS, I'd use it full time!

 

[tbayrgs]

My biggest issue is the lack of Keep iOS app. On iOS I have to bookmark the webpage for it, but would prefer a dedicated iOS app too.

It's curious how it's the only relatively prominent Google application/service without an iOS version---trying to understand Google's logic for excluding it.

Consequently it's one of the only Google services I don't use (don't use Apple's Notes either for the same reason). Evernote is very full featured (though a bit of a hot mess) and have use it for years so it's my go to notes app right now.

 

[tbayrgs]

I fully agree with the majority here. Keep is by far my fave app on Android and what I miss the most on iOS. With Keep for iOS the harmonious co-working of my iStuff and my new love the Tab S 8.4 (ADORE!!!) would be complete... Santa PLZ!

And in terms of design, Keep >>>>>>>>>>>>> iOS Notes

I haven't spent any meaningful time using Keep so I won't presume to evaluate it. And I agree that Note in iOS/OS is really rudimentary. Thankfully, Apple has given it a major overhaul in iOS 9 and the changes look nice. I've just barely taken a look at it as I just installed the iOS 9 beta so time will tell if it's genuinely more useful. Still probably won't rely on it since it's not cross platform.