Evernote + Moleskine Smart Notebooks

I’m sure this isn’t the first time you’ve heard about the recent union between Moleskine and Evernote but I thought I’d go ahead and include info here for those who might not have heard the news.

Moleskine announced an Evernote-specific “smart” notebook last week at the Evernote Trunk Conference. The book includes stickers that, when scanned or photographed and stored on Evernote, will automatically help to tag your page. The embossed covers are really pretty and the grids and/or lines on the page are actually dots to help correct the skew when taking digital snapshots of your pages though I’ll have to see it to believe it.

The 3.5×5.5″ size can be pre-ordered for $24.95 and the 5×8.25″ is $29.95.

More details can be found at Design Taxi.

UPDATE: Our sponsor, Notemaker in Australia will also be stocking the Evernote X Moleskine Smart Notebook. You can pre-order now for delivery the first week of October. Their prices are $29.95AUD for the pocket-sized and $39.95AUD for the larger size. Don’t forget to use the discount code WELLAPPDESK at checkout to receive a 10% discount.

Need Advice on News and Digital Detritus

I’ve had a couple questions floating around in my organizationally-obsessed head and I was hoping you fine readers might have some input.

  1. What is your favorite way to get your news? I’m talking weather, politics, big news — not just RSS feeds from Gizmodo and the Pen Addict.
  2. How do you collect and track online tidbits — articles to read, review or remember for later? Do you use Readability, Delicious, Pocket or something else entirely? Do you use different services for personal content and business? Do you use the same app to track to-dos, projects and other digital detritus?

I’d prefer a service that can be accessed via web-based/cloud AND iPhone for both news and article/tidbit collecting.

Please leave your recommendations in the comments here. I’d really appreciate any input as I’ve floated from one option to another without finding one I’ve been really happy using.

Saki Collection Pen Roll

The Saki Collection pen roll (P-661) is a fabric pen roll available in six different traditional Japanese fabrics. The P-666 which is another variety of the same design available in seven solid colors with contrasting ties, if you are not a pattern lover.

The case holds about six pens, two in each of the three divided areas. Thinner pens or pencils might fit up to four in each compartment. Its a good option to keep finer pens from rubbing against one another if you store just one pen per compartment. My pens aren’t so fine that I need to be that cautious. It definitely is a better solution for full length pens, my little Kawecos and Ohto Tasche got sort of lost in the compartment though they did seem quite cozy all tucked in.

The Saki Collection pen roll is a lovely, elegant option at a reasonable price. Is it time to give your pens a classier home?

Available from JetPens for $13

Notice Life Business Stationery

Notice Life is an Australian-based office stationery company that has created a whole series of large-scale project planning and goal-mapping tools. They sent me a copy of their weekly planning pad, 2012-13 financial year wall calendar and a set of to-do sticky notes.

The financial calendar is designed to align with the Australian fiscal year but as it starts in July, its more than adequate to start those long term planning goals stateside. It clocks in at a whopping 33″ x 23.5″. The months are listed across the top with the days below in long columns. In a small team or office, it would even be great to use to track time-off, holidays and other activities that effect the whole team. It could even be used as a family activity calendar.

The planning pad is a substantial 11.75″ x 16.5″ with 65 heavyweight sheets glue padded on the left edge — more than enough for a whole year with a few extra for mistakes. Along the left side are spaces for tasks for Monday through Sunday, in the center is space for general to-dos, Best of Web and rewards and at the far right is a space for notes. I keep thinking it would make a great desk blotter for an individual or wall-mounted to track activities for a whole team. Since the paper seemed so sturdy, I reached straight for a Sharpie pen and a Le Pen and didn’t even get any show-through on the back. Later, I tested with a Sharpie marker and only got slight show-through on the reverse of the stock but no bleed-through. This is some quality paper!

The to-do stickies have been divided up into areas to list to-do, notes, the owner of the task and the finish date. Its A7-sized, about 2.75″ x 4.25″ and has 50 heavyweight paper sheets.

The whole line of Notice Life products are available through our esteemed sponsor, Notemaker. If you order any of these products, you can receive a 10% discount when you enter the code WELLAPPDESK at checkout.

If you would like to win this Notice Life office collection (the planning pad is less one sheet used to test pens), please leave a note in the comments.

FINE PRINT: All entries must be submitted by 10pm CST on Monday, August 27, 2012. All entries must be submitted at wellappointeddesk.com, not Twitter, Tumblr or Facebook, okay? Winner will be announced on Tuesday. Winner will be select by random number generator from entries that played by the rules (see above). Please include your email address in the comment form so that I can contact you if you win. I will not save email addresses or sell them to anyone — pinky swear. Shipping via USPS first class is covered. Additional shipping options or insurance will have to be paid by the winner. We are generous but we’re not made of money.