NoteTag

NoteTag is now open for alpha testers!

What is NoteTag?
Notetag is an e-mail controlled, tag-based note database. It is meant to be used for short or long term note storage that can be updated and searched from the e-mail on your phone or PC.

How does it work?
You control the content of your note database via email sent from your home computer or phone. All notes you send are tagged with one or more search-able words.

A few examples;
Location-based notes: If your friend in San Diego wants a book you have, you make a note with pertinent tags to remember it:
add bob sandiego note bring book for bob
This will save the note "bring book for bob" under the two tags "bob" and "sandiego". The next time you go down to San Diego or go to visit Bob, you simply request notes for your search tags:
get bob
Or,
get sandiego
And you'll quickly get a reply which reads:
bring book for bob
After you've completed your task, you can remove the reminder:
del bring book for bob

Gift-giving: If your significant other hints he/she likes something, you can make a note of it for the next gift giving event:
add melody valentines christmas birthday present note Melody gift: 72-pin SIMMs
The next time you get put in the dog house, you vaguely recall a gift she said she'd like so you:
get melody
And retrieve all notes tagged "melody" so you don't have to sleep on the couch:
Melody gift: 72-pin SIMMs
bday june 1st
Melody is always right. Don't fight it.
(But when she says "You remembered!" just smile and nod, then look at the camera and say "Thanks NoteTag!" Then try not to be such a tool.) (omg bashing product promotion while promoting my own product)

Movies: If you're constantly having movie recommendations thrown at you, but you always blank when you hit netflix or go to blockbuster:
Right when someone tells you to check out a movie, you whip out your phone and:
add movie netflix blockbuster note dancer in the dark
Then the next time you're logged into netflix, or wandering blockbuster request all notes with the "movie" tag:
get movie
To which NoteTag replies:
master and commander
dancer in the dark
death to smoochy
Then after you decide on "death to smoochy," remove the note:
del death to smoochy

Shopping lists: If you constantly forget things at the market, you can conveniently add to your shopping list immediately when you realize you need an item, instead of trying to remember to write it down, or having several lists where you jotted an item or two.
Over the course of a week, you cook several fine dishes. As you run out of items, you quickly pick up your phone, and send notes to pick up those items:
add market note bell peppers
add market note milk
add market note vanilla extract
add market note butter
And since you get stranded in the toilet;
add market walmart note toilet paper
(note there are two tags on the last one)
Saturday rolls around, and it's time to hit the grocery store. You simply send:
get market
And in reply you get:
bell peppers
milk
butter
toilet paper
After you've picked up everything, you clear the tag you used for your shopping list:
clr market
And you're ready to add more for the next trip!

What if my phone doesn't e-mail?
If you can send text messages, it probably does! Most cell phone providers have SMS-to-email connectors that you can use for the price of an SMS text message (click here for a short list). Simply send a text message to an e-mail address, and see what happens! (NOTE: e-mail will likely be billed the same as a SMS text message, but check with your provider first!)

What does alpha mean?
It means it's still in testing. There are some cool things coming, including a web interface where you can log in, and manage all your notes, but none of the cool stuff matters if the basic functions don't work flawlessly. Thus, testing with a wide variety of users is important so I can catch the bugs and consider feature requests.

Does that mean it doesn't work?
No, you jerk! It works fine, otherwise it wouldn't be open for testing! It just means there may be periods of downtime, and possible loss of data, so don't use it for anything extremely important like your ATM PIN or your Medical alert bracelet data. Though some downtime is expected, loss of data is not, since it's still e-mail, and every command you send is backed up there after it's processed.

How are you making me ask these questions?
Good question. Next question!

How do I sign up?
Easy! Simply send an e-mail to notetag@gmail.com with your first and last name (or a fake one) from any device you want to be able to manage your notes. Or click here! I recommend sending from your phone and from your regular e-mail account, so you can manage it from a full keyboard instead of a cramped phone. You will receive an e-mail back with the rules (do's and don'ts) and you'll be good to go!

Why do you want my name? I'm concerned about my privacy and phone number.
As you should be. I don't actually need your name, I just need a unique identifier to assign you a username in the database. You could send "FluffyGoats" if you want, as long as it's unique. (NOTE: don't send "FluffyGoats," it's not unique any more) What ever "name" you choose just be sure it remember it. Most providers give away the phone number on their e-mail connectors, (7145551234@sprint.com) and if you want to protect that number, there is no problem with setting up some two-way e-mail forwarding with a free e-mail account. All the program needs is a working e-mail address, if it forwards 100 times, it doesn't matter.

Why do this for free?
(NOTE: The service is free, but e-mails and SMS messages from phones are NOT always free! Check with your cell phone provider!)
Because it's something I always wanted to have, so I made it, and figured others might want it too! I might ask for donations once I start spending money on hosting for that cool management website, but that's a ways off, and donations will be strictly voluntary. (I don't like pseudo-free services) Right now the cost of running this service is almost nil, so don't worry about money. The only way you can repay me is by using the service a lot, reporting errors, and by telling your friends!
(and if you have a blog, maybe by linking me ;)

Questions may be asked in the comments!