I have tried many note-taking tools, hoping to quickly jot down ideas that come to mind in 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 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 synchronized and edited on the computer, and if I changed to a different brand of phone, the memo format wouldn't 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 move 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 disappointing.
I also tried memos deployed with Docker, which had similar features to Flomo. It 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 on my phone, I had to deal with things like intranet penetration.
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 with the 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 app, and I could open a recording window or corresponding note page with just a click. However, as everyone knows, sometimes it takes several seconds to open a note in Notion. By the time it finished loading, I had almost forgotten the inspiration I wanted to record.
I have been using Fleeting notes this year. 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 OB. 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 the weekend and not using my computer, I can write a diary or jot down something on 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 (can be set).
I think this feature is great because the mobile app always remains clean and refreshing, 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 the sync, what more could I ask for from the free version?
In short, all fast note-taking tools ultimately need two functions: multi-device synchronization and note integration capabilities.
Note Integration Capabilities#
I use Obsidian as my main note-taking tool. I can use various apps to record, but in the end, everything is consolidated in Obsidian for creation. Because I'm used to it, no matter what software I use to record text, including voice notes, images, and website links, they all flow into OB for archiving.
For example, after using and testing productivity tool websites, I summarize them in the "Cold Bench Weekly"; if inspiration notes can be expanded into a blog post, I integrate them into articles; I also record diaries, tips, and backup methods when using tools, etc.
Since the mobile version of Obsidian is not user-friendly, syncing the notes recorded in various app tools with Obsidian is a key issue.
Fleeting notes is good, but the free version charges for additional devices, and it is a foreign service, so there may be network delays. It can only be used reluctantly.
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 used various third-party sync software, such as Weili Sync and Resilio Sync. However, since the mobile version of Obsidian is not user-friendly, it is useless to use these sync 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 operation interface greatly reduce the cost of recording text.
OB Message Assistant supports both text and image, and the synchronization speed is acceptable.
Of course, it is impossible for this WeChat interface 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. The price of a cup of coffee allows me to sync fleeting note-taking to Obsidian using WeChat for a year.
Download and install the plugin, bind WeChat, and fill in the token ApiKey in the Obsidian plugin settings to achieve the function of sending notes from WeChat to 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 after it stabilizes.
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