In today’s world we’re inundated with information. Too many things coming at us to remember. We don’t always have a pen handy to jot down crucial information. This is where note-taking and archiving software like Evernote or OneNote come in handy.

Both applications allow you to collect, organize and share pictures, videos and handwritten notes. The application is the gathering point. The biggest benefit offered by these programs is that they do away with the notepads, business cards, and clippings you’ve been using to jot down random bits of information. Once you’ve created notes in either application, you can save and organize them into folders and groups and share them with others. Both programs also give you the ability to gain access using mobile computing devices, such as tablets and mobile phones.

OneNote comes individually, or as part of the Microsoft Office suite of productivity software programs, which includes Word, Excel and Outlook. As part of the Office suite, OneNote gives you the advantage of seamlessly sharing notes with each of the other applications by pressing a button. If you use Microsoft Office products, then the integration with OneNote is seamless. With one click, items are instantly added to OneNote and you get to select which notebook, section, and page to place the item on. Instant organization. OneNote also has a blog with tips and tricks for users.

Evernote is a handy suite of free software and services designed for note-taking and archiving. Evernote’s definition of a "note" is quite broad and allows users to capture, organize, and find information across multiple platforms. Users can take notes, clip webpages, snap photos using their mobile phones, create to-dos, and record audio. All data is synchronized with the Evernote web service and made available to clients on Windows, Mac, Web, and mobile devices. Additionally, the Evernote web service performs image recognition on all incoming notes, making printed or handwritten text found within images searchable.

There are many applications of this software. David Pierce, in his blog, MakeUseOf, gives 7 Ways To Make Use of Evernote, including sharing photos, bookmarking websites, Shopping/To-Do lists, and scanning receipts. And Evernote’s blog gives many examples of how you can use Evernote and its ancillary products in your business or personal life.