• Shopping list
• Honey do’s
• New project ideas
• Many other things

Apple had allowed for Notes to be synced to Google over the air but killed it in one of the latest updates to the OS.  This was a great feature.  You can still sync up your notes to Google but now you must do it through iTunes.  Why must everything for the iPhone go through iTunes?

I wrote a guest post at www.lehsys.com that might help explain.  It will be posted on 10/22/2010.

Let’s get back on topic.  How can I have my notes with me no matter where I am?

With Google you can download their application and use the Task or Doc service.  Task and Doc are not applications on your phone.  The Goggle application opens up your web browser to their site.  Google does a great job with the web pages.

No, on to Microsoft, I have tried (without have to buy an app) to be able to create or edit a Word or OneNote document online, but can’t.  You can view Word, but not OneNote.  This is a bad thing for me, as I want to use this service.

So, given what is out in the world, I use GoogleTask for my task list now.  To find it when you are on a computer (I know your phone is a computer, but I mean one that is not an iPhone), go to Gmail and click on Tasks under the Contacts link in the upper left hand side.

I hope Microsoft catches up quick.

As for the Notes application on my iPhone, I no longer use it.

I have several different silos that I use.  LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, etc all have their own contact list.  I do not have a place that consolidates it all, but I want it.  I do have some requirements though.

I know that Outlook is incorporating it in 2010 and Mozilla is working on Raindrop, but so far they do not meet my wants.

I want a service that can provide access to all of these contacts from a local client on my computer, my phone and via web site.  I want is so that when I make a change on one of the clients it shows up on all locations. 

The companies that should be looking at doing this should be Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Oracle.  That’s right, I put Oracle in that group.  Many people look at this from the personal or social aspect.  Try looking at it from a business or CRM perspective.  I would love to be able to see everything that my customer or potential customer thinks about me.  This is not a new concept.  Some are calling it Social CRM.  I would call it smart business, having your thumb on the market pulse. 

Now most people will say that these companies already do this.  Well, that is probably right, but how many offer software that can do it for their customers?

How could this help your company? 

Do you know what people are saying to the masses about you or your company?

I don’t think everyone has to be posting on the social sites, but everyone should be monitoring what is being said about them.

I have an account with Microsoft’s Hohm.  My energy provider is not setup with them, so I would have to enter all the information in myself.  The interface is simple and clean.  I like it.  They also give you several recommendations on how to reduce your energy usage, like cleaning your air ducts.  The nice things about the recommendations is that they provide an estimated cost, annual savings, and annual CO2 benefit.  Microsoft also has a community section for Hohm, but it is more informative than connecting with other users.

Google powermeter, I do not have an account.  To use this service you have to install a Google powermeter device and install it in your home.  My energy provider, TXU, has offered it to me, but I declined.  I already have a programmable thermostat in my house.  I do not want to buy a new one just so it can give me some reports.  Although, having it give me a breakdown by hour of my energy use would be cool.  I also do not know what or who will be able to connect to that device.

For now, I will use Hohm and enter it myself.

I told you I would write about it.  I am just a little slow.

So, now they are going to have all of your communications data.  Not just email, but text messaging, phone calls and voicemail.  Here is a list of features they talk about:

One number for all your calls and SMS

• Call screening – Announce and screen callers
• Listen in – Listen before taking a call
• Block calls – Keep unwanted callers at bay
• SMS – Send, receive, and store SMS
• Place calls – Call US numbers for free
• Taking calls – Answer on any of your phones
• Phone routing – Phones ring based on who calls
• Forwarding phones – Add phones and decide which ring

Voicemail as easy as email, with transcripts

• Voicemail transcripts – Read what your voicemail says
• Listen to voicemail – Check online or from your phone
• Notifications – Receive voicemails via email or SMS
• Personalize greeting – Vary greetings by caller
• Share voicemail – Forward or download voicemails

More cool things you can do with Google Voice

• Conference calling – Join people into a single call
• Call record – Record calls and store them online
• Call switch – Switch phones during a call
• Mobile site – View your inbox from your mobile
• GOOG-411 – Check directory assistance
• Manage groups – Set preferences by group

Don’t get me wrong, this is cool stuff.  I would use it if I did not know they would be using my conversations as ways to advertise to me.  I would happily pay for this kind of service.  Another option you could have is to setup your own PBX (phone system) and you would have most of these features.

Google is going to be the Big Brother to not only the US, but the world soon.

l8r