Tip: BlackBerry Calendar + Remember = enhanced productivity

Note-taking is one of the most frequently performed documentation activities. It is often easier to pick up a pen and a piece of paper than use a computer for this task because these machines aren't always ready to receive our input. With the extra steps of reaching for the mouse, navigating to the note-taking app, starting it, switching to keyboard, typing and then saving the note; it's no surprise. Fortunately, Blackberries have out-of-the-box facilities that make them a viable first-choice for note-taking.

BlackBerry 10 significantly reduces entry time because the "Active Frames" multitasking system provides a shortcut to any app in a "running state." It takes just the usual exit swipe-up, selecting the Active Frame and creating a note. On other systems, from desktops to competing mobile devices, leaving apps "ready to go" is not as straightforward.

Even with BlackBerry's fast multitasking, note-taking apps still feel slower than reaching for a pen and paper because grouping, dating, attachments, reminders all seem like separate actions. Discovering the utility of the Calendar has been a true revelation for me. Not only does it start faster than Remember or any specialised app, but it also allows creation of a fully featured note when a new "Task" is created.

Like most computing functions, perspective can be very useful in discovering unintended use cases. I never used planners, calendars or organisers before because I don't feel busy enough. I feel my memory works well enough; I haven't been able to develop the habit of updating such a tool and, pen + paper + notes has served my basic needs so far. Regarding the Calendar as a notebook / journal instead of a planner has increased my productivity, motivation to record my experiences and appreciation for this built-in BlackBerry facility.

Following is a short guide to taking notes using the Calendar as a companion to Remember:

• Start the Calendar. The view can be changed using the bottom-left menu
  
• Instead of the Plus(+) button at the bottom, use the overflow menu on the bottom-right and select "add task"
  
• This will open up Remember's task creation interface. Don't think of it as a task, you are taking a note.
  
• Your note will be able to add a title, body, images, attachments and the option to set a reminder
  
• I recommend setting a reminder for each new note so that they appear as a list in the daily view. Notes without reminders will be grouped under a collapsible menu at the top.
  

Wish List

• The "Notes" space in the Calendar's event-creation could be replaced with this full-featured task interface for a more unified experience.
• All apps should enable batch selection and creation as is available in the File Manager. This would be especially useful in the Camera.

Advantages

• Faster startup and direct access to Remember's full-feature task creation interface.
• Notes are automatically grouped by date and will not clutter a new day's activities
  
• Calendar and Remember are unified so the notes are accessible from either app
• A motivating way to chronicle experiences

Disadvantages

• Tasks are not searchable in the Calendar, surprisingly. Use Remember to search through tasks.
• Events and tasks are separate so event-specific features such as location and participants cannot be added to tasks
• BlackBerry uses a sandbox for this Personal Information Management(PIM) so distributing the note content requires BB10's "sharing" facility.

BlackBerry make productivity tools and this fact is evident in the features they include with every device. I hope you've been inspired to explore new ways to "write this down."