Today Google announced its new service named Google Keep. Google Keep is a notetaking app that rivals Evernote. There are a few things that I like and disklike about the service but for version one I think it is a pretty solid tool.

Here is an excerpt from the description from the Google Play Store:

Quickly capture what’s on your mind and recall it easily wherever you are. Create a checklist, enter a voice note or snap a photo and annotate it. Everything you add is instantly available on all your devices – desktop and mobile.

With Google Keep you can:
• Keep track of your thoughts via notes, lists and photos
• Have voice notes transcribed automatically
• Use homescreen widgets to capture thoughts quickly
• Color-code your notes to help find them later
• Swipe to archive things you no longer need
• Turn a note into a checklist by adding checkboxes
• Use your notes from anywhere – they are safely stored in the cloud and available on the web at http://drive.google.com/keep

Here are a few of my first impressions and thoughts.

Shortcomings:

• No OCR (Optical Character Recognition)
• No Categories or Organizational Tools
• Google devices only (I see this changing in the future)
• No Collaboration Tools 
• No Video Support

Positives:

• Audio to text
• Offline
• Easy Access Widgets

Google keep can be edited online as well as from your mobile device (android).

Easy to use widgets

Available in the Google Play Store

Converts Speech To Text  (Milage may very)

Overall this is a pretty solid first iteration of a product. I can only assume Google will kill off tasks in Gmail and integrate Keep instead. I also hope they integrate some sharing or collaboration features in the future.

Do you think you will use Keep? How can Keep be used by students or teachers in the classroom? Will you use Keep or stay with Evernote?