Top Takeaways from Evernote Conference 2014 - Adds New Web Client Feature, Introduces Work Chat Collaboration Platform, Announces Presentation Mode, and More

On Thursday Evernote held its 4^th annual Evernote Conference (EC4), during which it announced an upcoming major update in which it will completely revamp its web client and introduce a brand new enterprise collaboration platform known as 'Work Chat'.

During the announcement, Evernote's CEO Phil Libin discussed how the company was looking to rethink the way it develops apps and integrated services. He explained that the latest updates have been developed based on the fact that most people in the workforce use notetaking apps for one of four reasons – finding, collecting, writing, and presenting – and that Evernote was being redesigned to more effectively accommodate all four of those primary uses.

Back in March Evernote rolled out a major update for its Android app as well. However, that update wasn't nearly as robust as the latest update, which of course is announced right after the release of the much-anticipated iOS 8 (for which Evernote produced the big iOS 8 update).

Overall, we'd say the top 5 takeaways from this year's Evernote Conference were:

• a new writing feature added to the Evernote web client to eliminate clutter and distractions

• enhancements to Presentation mode that will make it easier to present your notes and notebooks

• the 'Work Chat' collaborative platform that challenges the inbox

• a new standalone app called Scannable that lets you scan documents directly into Evernote

• new 'Context' feature that uses artificial intelligence to enhance and personalize Evernote's functionality on an ongoing basis

Note: Some of the above features will only be available to users who pay $10 per month for Evernote Premium.

In the following paragraphs we'll take a closer look at the top 5 takeaways from Thursday's 2014 Evernote Conference:

1. Evernote's Web Client Gets A Writer's Makeover

In previous versions of Evernote the web client was more of an alternative to the desktop or mobile app versions of the software. However, Evernote has introduced an improved version of its web client, and it could give the online version of Evernote just as much usefulness as the native apps. What's the major enhancement, you ask?

The new web client is designed to eliminate unnecessary distractions while you're writing. It does this by automatically hiding all of the editing and navigational toolbars when you start writing, so all you see while you're writing is what you're currently writing.

When you stop writing, all the features and tools you need will reappear in the client's original three-pane mode. The developers say that eventually the feature will become a standard part of the web client and the old version will be discarded. For now it is optionally available to users to try via opt-in.

In a way it seems that the revamped and super-simplified version of the web client is a response to the apparently common complaint that it is too cluttered, complex, and buggy for a web client. Still, props to Evernote for recognizing the problem and creating a solution that puts the focus on writing while the users are writing – smart move.

2. Collaborative 'Work Chat' Platform Challenges the Inbox Way of Communicating

With the introduction of its new 'Work Chat' feature, Evernote is looking to replace the classic inbox style of communication that is often used on an enterprise level. The basic premise of the new collaboration tool is to give users a platform in which to share notes and exchange ideas and feedback with colleagues and teammates.

In Work Chat you can share content with as few or as many people as you'd like instantly. This allows for easy group collaboration on important projects, making Evernote an even more valuable tool for the online entrepreneur, business owner, project manager, and other enterprise-level users.

As soon as you reference a note or notebook within a Work Chat session, the content you've mentioned will appear within the same chat window, making it a breeze to discuss pertinent information found within the notes you've stored in your Evernote account.

Also when a note is emailed to someone in Evernote, the same note will also show up in your Work Chat with that person. So when you're referring to content within a previously email you don't have to wait for the person you're chatting with to find the appropriate email in their inbox. The new feature really takes Evernote from an outstanding notetaking app to an all-inclusive project management interface with powerful notetaking capabilities and social sharing built-in.

3. New 'Scannable' App Allows Mobile Scanning Directly Into Evernote

Also at this year's Evernote Conference, Libin showcased a new standalone app called Scannable, which uses your device's camera to snap a picture of a document and scan it into a note that can then be easily accessed and used within Evernote.

One of the most interesting and impressive parts of Scannable is that the user doesn't even have to press a shutter button to take a scan – the app automatically recognizes a document, crops it accordingly, adjusts the focus, and captures it for scanning, all without any input needed from the user.

The new app is even compatible with the mini mobile scanner ScanSnap Evernote Edition, which retails at a hefty $495.

4. New 'Context' AI Features Enrich the Notetaking Environment

Another huge revelation at this year's conference was the introduction of the upcoming Context features, which will utilize artificial intelligence to enhance the notetaking and research process. On their blog, the company essentially explains it like this:

The research process usually happens in the following phases:

• First, you recall any relevant information you already know related to the topic at hand

• You then consult with someone

AND/OR

• Consult with external sources (i.e. - searching the web)

Context is designed to make all of three of the phases above easier and more intuitive within the Evernote notetaking interface. The software will be using augmented intelligence and machine learning technology to automatically present the user with helpful information within the workspace as it is needed.

Every phrase you type informs Evernote's Context algorithms, which then fetch and display any content that may further your project. The kind of information that Context can automatically fetch and display includes but is not limited to:

• content within notes that you've saved

• content within notes that your collaborators have saved

• information from relevant news stories from the top news outlets, including TechCrunch, The Wall Street Journal, Inc. Magazine, and Fast Company

• profile listings from LinkedIn – type someone's name and you'll have instant access to their LinkedIn profile, if one exists.

• Evernote Business members will enjoy the additional perk of receiving info from Factiva.

Context features are expected to be released on Android, iOS, and Mac and Windows devices before the end of the year.

5. Upcoming Presentation Mode Will Provide Simplistic Alternative to PowerPoint

Finally, a new and improved Presentation mode will be rolled out on desktop and mobile versions of Evernote next month. At this year's Evernote Conference Libin compared Presentation mode to PowerPoint, even calling the latter “hostile” and saying that it was actually “setting us back.”

The enhancements added to Presentation mode will make it easier to neatly present your notes and notebooks within slideshow presentations that are professional-looking yet easy to create and manage.

The video below provides an elegant summary of what Presentation mode does: