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NOTE: This post began as a demonstration of how quickly I can create and publish blog entries on the go using Working Copy Git Client on my iPad while in India. I got 90% of the way through this post, but I didn't have time to finish it, utterly defeating the point of the post. Anyway, without further ado…

I thought this would be the most opportune moment to try out the Working Copy Git Client app on my iPad to see if I’m able to update my blog on the go. I’m also using this time as a small test to myself to see whether I’m able to focus and write on the fly anywhere. The last time I did anything similar was on my return from Bali, where I wrote my experiences offline using Evernote on my phone to then add to my website later.

This time, I wanted to try something different as I have a few hours to kill. So I'm writing this post sitting in the seating area of Heathrow Airport waiting to board my flight. If everything goes to plan, this very post should auto-publish on commit to my website hosted on Netlify.

I’m off to India to experience one of the most major milestones in my life - getting married Indian style! I’d like to class this as part deux of “getting married” after performing our English ceremony during the back end of Covid restrictions last year. So this seems a great time to put the Working Copy app and my iPad writing flow to the test, where my beloved Macbook Pro is nowhere in sight to aid the publishing of this post.

As I write this post, it looks like my core writing eco-system will remain unchanged:

1. Write up the post in Evernote.
2. Spelling, phrasing and grammar check using Quillbot (previously Grammarly).
3. Add post in markdown format to my Gatsby website project.
4. Commit website updates.

The true test will come when I write a post that contains more than a handful of images. It's something that doesn't happen very often - only when it comes to holidays. But I can see cropping, compressing and positioning images for a blog post on an iPad a little fiddly, especially on an 10 inch iPad Air.

So how does Working Copy fair in my very first piece of "on-the-go" writing?

Initial Setup

Getting up and running couldn't have been easier. After installation, I logged into my Bitbucket account and cloned my website repo, I was ready to go. For a site housing approximately 294 posts, it has a relatively small footprint (images are included): 54MB. I am so glad I decided to make the switch to GatsbyJS static-site generation and move away from the traditional server-side application connected to a database.

Everything you'd expect from a git client is present, such as:

• Clone
• Pull
• Push
• Fetch
• Merge
• Branch Creation

Editor

The editor is as I would expect it to be. Simple, clear and concise with basic syntax highlight, which is something that I would expect from an app built for a tablet device. If you think this can be a replacement for your traditional coding IDE, you'd be mistaken. Anyway, why would you want to do full-on coding on a tablet device?

I like how easily navigable the interface is. There is little to no learning curve when using it for the first time.

Native Integration with iOS Files

Now, this is where I feel I'm familiar territory. Being able to drag and drop files, such as images and text files from iOS’s Files layer into my Git repo - just like if I was working on a laptop. I’ve also seen other users write their posts outside using iA Writer or Pretext editor apps before dropping the text file into their repo.

Working with Images

I've never found working with image manipulation on the iPad that easy, hence why I like to use my Macbook Pro for the final finessing of my post before publishing. I have the tools I need to resize and compress images. Most photo app's on the iPad solely pull in images housed in Apple Photos. Even though I have an iPad and Macbook Pro, I don't like being locked into a single eco-system, especially when the majority of apps work well across different platforms.

Image Size is a free app that allowed me to crop and resize photos stored in iOS Files by simply stating the dimensions I require. Added bonus: The app is free!

Once the image is resized, I can carry out compression using TinyPNG and lastly simply perform a drag and drop into the Working Copy app.

Conclusion

I always wanted to have the ability to update my website on the go on a tablet device and Working Copy makes this very easy. When you add the iOS File System and Image Size app, you have everything for your writing needs.

I never thought that I'd be comfortable publishing posts directly to my website from an iPad. Overall, I found the writing experience to be very efficient as I encountered fewer distractions when compared to working on my Macbook Pro.

If there was anything I could change, it would be the size of my iPad. I did find Working Copy took a lot of screen real-estate, especially when having multiple windows open. The 12-inch iPad Pro looks very tempting.

Did I manage to write and submit this post directly from my iPad? Yes.
Would I do it again? Yes!

Following up on my previous post about the joy that is using my new iPad Air, I thought I’d write about what I deem are essential accessories and applications. It’s only been a couple of weeks since making my purchase and has surprisingly found the transition from Android to iOS not too much of a pain. It’s fast becoming part of my daily workflow for creative writing and note-taking.

Here are some applications and accessories I use…

Accessories

Keyboard Case

Apple’s own Smart Keyboard Cover felt very unnatural to use and didn’t provide enough protection for my nice new tablet. The Inateck Keyboard Case is an absolute pleasure to use and the keys have a very nice responsive rebound. I can literally use this anywhere and feels just as stable on my lap as it is when being used on a desk.

The only downside is the connectivity relies on Bluetooth rather than Apple’s own Smart connector which would normally power the keyboard. Nevertheless, the pairing has no latency and the battery lasts weeks even with daily usage.

Apple Pencil

The iPad Air is only compatible with the first generation pencil and has a really ridiculous way to charge using the lightning connector. Apple could have quite easily made the iPad Air work with the second generation pencil. If the iPad Pro was a cracker, then the second generation pencil would be the caviar.

Regardless of the design, it’s refreshing to scribble away notes to store electronically. Previously to keep track of my written notes, I would write on paper (oh how old fashioned!?) and then scan digitally using Evernote on my phone.

Draw Screen Protector

Writing on glass using the Apple Pencil is a little slippery and need something that gives the texture to almost simulate the friction you would get when writing on paper. There are a handful of screen protectors that provide this with varying degrees of success. The most popular being is Paperlike, which I plan on putting an order for when I’ve worn out my current screen protector.

My current screen protector is Nillkin and isn’t too bad. It provides adequate protection as well as giving enough texture with enough anti-reflection qualities that doesn’t hinder screen visibility. Added bonus: a nice light scratchy sound as you'd expect if writing with an old-fashioned pencil!

Applications

I'm deliberately leaving out the most obvious and well-known apps that we are well aware of such as YouTube, Netflix, Gmail, Kindle, Twitter, Spotify etc.

Jump Desktop

I wrote about this very briefly in my previous post. If you want a link to your laptop/workstation from your iPad, Jump Desktop is your best option. Once you have the application installed on your iPad and host machine you are up and running in minutes. Judging by past updates, it’s getting better with every release.

Evernote

I don’t think I can speak about Evernote highly enough. I am a premium member and is one of my most highly used applications across all mediums. Worth every penny! It organises my notes, scribbles and agendas with little effort.

Evernote is effectively my brain dump of ideas.

Notes haven’t looked so good with the use of a recent feature - Templates. On creation of a new note, you have the option to select a predefined template based from the many Evernote provides from their own Template Gallery.

Grammarly

Grammarly is a must for all writers to improve the readability of your content. I myself had only started using Grammarly since last year and now can't think of writing a post without it. In the iPad form, Grammarly forms part of the keyboard that carries out checks as you type. This works quite well with my writing workflow when using Evernote.

Autodesk Sketchbook

If the Apple Pencil has done anything for me, is to allow me to experiment more with what it can do and in the process allowing me to try things I don’t generally do. In this case, sketch! I would be lying if I said Autodesk Sketchbook is the best drawing apps out there as I haven’t used any others. For an app that is free, it has a wide variety of features that will accommodate both novice and experts alike.

1.1.1.1

Developed by the team who brought you the Cloudflare CDN infrastructure comes 1.1.1.1, an app for providing faster and more private internet. This is something I always have running in the background to have a form or protection using public hotspots and to stop my ISP from snooping where I go on the internet.

When compared to other DNS directory services, Cloudflare touts 1.1.1.1 as the fastest. As everything you do on the internet starts with a DNS request, choosing the fastest DNS directory will accelerate the online experience.

I was fuelled into writing my own views upon reading a very interesting post by Scott Hansalman, where he argues that we would all be more productive and stress free if we were to assimalate all our thoughts and ideas to paper rather than to an electronic device. I was intrigued by Scott's argument and he brings up many valid points that I agree with.

I for one have been addicted to taking notes on electronic devices from the very first day I used Evernote on my old HTC Hero. There has been no other note taking application that has organised my thoughts in such a way. In fact, majority of the blog posts I write start out in Evernote for wherever I have a spark of imagination. You can read how profoundly Evernote has affected my life in a post I wrote last year.

Now, as great as Evernote is, it suffers from one problem (same for any other note taking app for that matter): They stifle the flow of free thinking. Scott Hansalman sums this up quite well:

The problem is, at least for me, is that there isn't a great way to see the big picture when you've just got pixels to look at. Life is much higher resolution than I think folks realize. I'm frankly surprised that so many of you can feel organized and productive on those 11" laptops. What a tiny window into your life!

Scott hits the nail on the head. I too feel the same way. Paper has no fixed structure that you are forced to conform to, which makes processing your own thoughts very easy. Unfortunately, software for note taking has not advanced nearly as fast. It's still all too linear and fixed.

What is the happy medium? Can software applications and conventional note taking work hand in hand? I believe it can. Notes I either jot down from client meetings or from just simply brainstorming will always be scanned, tagged and organised to Evernote. This allows me to store my hand-written notes away safely and easily refer back to them through a simple keyword search.

I do like to write (even if my writing is not exactly legible). Whether I'd be making notes or the odd doodle, either way writing is a very cathartic experience. I'll always get more of a kick crossing out completed tasks from a hand-written todo list then I ever would from simply ticking a checkbox within an application.

Pen is not only mightier than the sword, but also mightier than any form of technological device.

Ok. So for those of you have not heard of Evernote (and who hasn't!?), it's an online app/service that allows you to record voice, text and hand written notes that can synchronise across multiple devices and platforms.

Ever since I had my first smartphone, I've always relied on Evernote to record my daily thoughts and reminders. There are numerous note taking apps on the market, which (for me) just doesn't seem to cut the mustard and end up always coming back.

Evernote not only has the functionality, but it also has the infrastructure to make it more than just a "note taking" platform. So much so I'm hoarding major amounts of everyday things. Evernote is starting to act as a repository of things I don't want to let go of.

With the help of IFTTT, I have created numerous recipes that aggregate data from my social platforms such as Instagram and Twitter to importing RSS feeds from websites that interest me. Now Evernote is my one-stop-shop for getting everything I need on a daily basis instead of logging into different platforms individually.

If there is something I happen to like, I just Evernote it. Even if I won't ever need it. Typical sign of a hoarder! But I'm an organised data hoarder, utilising clearly named notebook stacks. Strangely enough, the more notes you add, the more useful Evernote becomes and this maybe the reason why I am hoarding so many things. It's more than a "note taker"!

One feature I didn't expect to be so useful was the ability to take pictures of printed or handwritten documents. I can take quick snapshots and go completely paperless. On top of that, Evernote makes everything searchable. It's even clever enough to search through my rubbishly written notes. I only found out how truly powerful this feature until I was going through the motions of purchasing my first property. At this time of my life, I was in constant note/documentation mode and Evernote helped me organise my thoughts, reminders and record all email correpondence neatly.

What I've done in the past with other note taking apps is delete old notes or files just to be completely sure that I will be able to search what I require quickly and easily, mainly due to the fact that sifting through large volumes of data was a headache! Nowadays, I don't delete anything in Evernote. I can now keep a record of things I previously done and refer to later without any worries at time of need.

It's safe to say my addiction to Evernote will only increase as I find more uses for it. But that's not a bad thing...right?

Update - 12/12/2014

I came across some posts from others with the same issue, which is nice to know that it's not only me with a problem:

• On digital hoarding
• Confessions Of A Digital Hoarder