The Hit List — Tags & Smart Folders. These two go hand-in-hand. I have a loooong list of tags to further differentiate and catalog my tasks, even further than by context (@Phone, @Groceries, etc), or project. Then, I create a smart folder that allows me to further filter these tasks in easy-to-read lists. So, maybe I have a context that’s @shopping, with items in the context tagged #grocery, #shoe, #rattery, and a smart folder that pulls only the items I’ll need on my next trip rat shopping. I have a very large THL library now and without these further filtering techniques, I’d be sunk.

Evernote — Encryption & Text Recognition. By default, Evernote syncs your libraries to a central server so that each entry can be processed and synced across all your devices (computers, phones, etc). But what if you drop an item like a password in an Evernote note that you don’t want others to be able to accidentally stumble across? Just select the text, right click on it, and select “Encrypt!” You’ll be able to lock that text with a local master password so that you’re the only one that will be able to open that note later.

But the best feature in Evernote, the feature that got me using it in the first place, is the supremely cool text recognition. I remember the first time I used it. I wanted to buy a book I’d seen at Barnes & Nobel for my wife, but I was in a hurry. I opened Evernote to write it down for later and saw the image note button, thought I’d give it a shot. Took a snap of the cover of the book, it uploaded to the Evernote server, and I was off. Later, I opened Evernote on my computer and, not really thinking, typed the title of the book into the search field in the application. Boom — there it was. The IMAGE I’d taken of the book cover, with the text in the image actually highlighted. I didn’t have to type anything. I’ve since uploaded full PDFs, images, signs… the works. Stunningly cool in action!

Thanks for the platform to spout off on favorite features. Keep em coming!!