I have tried many note-taking tools, hoping to quickly jot down the ideas that pop into my mind during fragmented time. But if these ideas are not further pondered, they will disappear like fireworks in a flash.
I have been thinking about how to turn those shorthand inspiration notes into something tangible.
Various note-taking tools#
At first, I used the memo app on my phone, which was very convenient as I could take notes as soon as I picked up my phone. But the problem was that these notes couldn't be synced to my computer for editing, and if I switched to a different brand of phone, the memo format would not match.
Later, I tried Flomo, which felt handy and allowed me to take notes quickly. However, after accumulating hundreds of notes, I found it more troublesome to organize them. I couldn't write articles in Flomo, so I had to transfer these notes to my main editor for further processing.
This process was not very convenient, especially since Flomo only exports in HTML format, which was quite disappointing.
I also tried using memos deployed with Docker. It had similar functionality to Flomo, could export in Markdown format, and had local data management, which seemed secure. However, it couldn't connect to the internet. If I wanted to sync data to my phone, I had to go through the hassle of setting up a local network tunnel.
TickTick was good for making to-do lists and tracking habits. It could also be used for note-taking, but it was easy to mix up notes with to-do items. After trying it a few times, it didn't work for me.
Of course, Notion could also be used for quick note-taking. It had many desktop widgets on the mobile side, allowing me to quickly open a recording window or corresponding note page with just a tap. However, as everyone knows, sometimes it takes several seconds to open a note in Notion. By the time it finishes loading, I have almost forgotten the inspiration I wanted to record.
This year, I have been using Fleeting notes. This tool supports all platforms, including browser extensions, and allows me to quickly capture ideas and sync them to Obsidian. The free version only supports syncing on one device with Obsidian. This means that if I choose to sync notes on my phone, the browser extension won't be able to sync.
However, my needs are simple. I just want to sync the fragmented notes on my phone. When I'm at home on weekends and don't turn on my computer, I can write diary entries or jot down something using Fleeting notes on my phone. When I open Obsidian on my computer, the notes have already been synced, and the notes on my phone will be automatically deleted (this can be set).
I think this feature is great because the mobile app always remains clean and tidy, without the anxiety of having too many notes. It also reminds me of which notes haven't been synced yet. Besides occasionally needing to manually trigger a sync, what more could I ask for from a free tool?
In short, all fast note-taking tools ultimately need two functions: multi-device syncing and note integration capabilities.
Note Integration Capabilities#
I use Obsidian as my main note-taking tool. I can use various apps to take notes, but in the end, they all converge in Obsidian for creative purposes. This is because I'm used to having all my written content, including voice notes, images, and website links, flow into Obsidian for archiving.
For example, after testing and using productivity tool websites, I summarize them in the "Cold Bench Weekly" newsletter. If inspiration notes can be expanded into a blog post, I consolidate them into articles. I also record daily activities, backup techniques, and methods for using tools.
Since the mobile version of Obsidian is not user-friendly, syncing the notes recorded in various app tools with Obsidian is a crucial problem.
Fleeting notes is good, but the free version charges for additional devices, and it is a foreign service, so there may be network delays. I can only say that it is barely usable.
Actually, my needs are simple. I just want to sync the text recorded on my phone to Obsidian on my computer. For this purpose, I have also tried various third-party syncing software, such as Weili Sync and Resilio Sync. However, since the mobile version of Obsidian is not user-friendly, it is futile to tinker with these syncing tools.
Today, I saw a tweet about "sending messages to Obsidian via WeChat," and I felt a more convenient way quietly appeared before me.
OB Message Assistant#
All the aforementioned quick note-taking tools require installing an additional app. If the same functionality can be achieved using the most frequently used WeChat, wouldn't that be more convenient?
Moreover, it's not just about installing one less app. Familiar input environment and user interface greatly reduce the cost of recording text.
OB Message Assistant supports both text and image syncing, and the syncing speed is acceptable.
Of course, it is impossible for this WeChat interface-based service to be free. The free version allows 10 messages per day.
The unlimited premium version costs 39 yuan per year, which I think is very reasonable. It's the price of a cup of coffee to sync fleeting note-taking to Obsidian using WeChat for a year.
Download and install the plugin, bind it to WeChat, and enter the token API key in the Obsidian plugin settings to achieve the ability to send notes from WeChat and receive them in Obsidian.
The plugin is currently in the development and optimization stage, so there is no rush to become a premium member. You can try using ten messages per day first and consider paying when it stabilizes.
Official Website👇