Signing Off, And What Does A TechCrunch Writer Actually Use?
Duncan Riley
72 comments »
This is my last post at TechCrunch as a full time writer (I may yet do the occasional guest post). It’s exactly 12 months to the day since I started writing here and the date seemed like a good time to go. I won’t bore you with a self indulgent retrospective; if you are interested in my reasons and thoughts I did a podcast with my old site The Blog Herald yesterday - listen to here.
We cover some amazing startups here at TechCrunch, and for every service we cover there’s probably a dozen we miss as well, given the hyper-inflated nature of the second great web boom. You can appreciate a service without ever actually going on to use it, but the better ones can change the way you interact with the web or run your working day. I thought as this is my last major post here that I’d share some of the services that I actually use. I started using most of them based on posts at TechCrunch, so if you like these turned out to be my practical standouts in the sea of noise.
Evernote has completely changed the way I deal with paper (yes, old fashioned paper). Its been described as everything from a scrap collection through to a bookmarking service, but at its core its a database service with industrial strength OCR capabilities. To use, you can clip data or a link, type a note, add a photo (with support for webcams) or scan info in. Everything added can be tagged and indexed, and is searchable via the text within each document, for example a wine label with no other information becomes searchable by every word on the label itself. I scan every paper bill or letter I receive, allowing me to shred/ dispose of them cutting down on the need to file things manually. More importantly it cuts out the need to have to go through my filing cabinet searching for the bill later. The service has a desktop client and web interface, so you have the security of knowing that your scanned documents always have a local copy, but if you’re at another computer or on the go, you can easily access the same data.
See Erick’s review here.
Things
This isn’t a web application yet, but hopefully one day it will follow Evernote’s lead and offer a web backup/ sync services as well. Things is a clean, simple Getting Things Done client for the Mac that’s helped me overcome my constant cases of email bankruptcy. It takes a little discipline (I process my email at once every morning and add everything requiring follow up to Things), but its been a godsend in terms of information management. Users can add links to emails, webpages, or simply make notes, and you can tag, categorize and set due dates on all entries. They’re currently testing iCal support, so I’m hoping that if this works well I’ll be able to sync the data, via iCal, across various computers.
Skitch
Michael put me on to Skitch initially and I’ve never looked back. Skitch is a Mac image editing tool that also links into web based image hosting. It’s not a Photoshop replacement, but it handles 95% of my own image editing needs. Simple, quick, brilliant.
See Michael’s review here
Plaxo is trying to be many things to many people, from activity streams through to social networking, but its core syncing product has unlocked my data across multiple computers and even my iPhone. Plaxo syncs data from your calendar, address book and elsewhere between computers. It can also pull data from LinkedIn and some Google services. This allows my laptop, desktop and iPhone to be always in sync, and in case of emergency I can get to my address book via the web as well.
TechCrunch coverage here
I never really appreciated LinkedIn until Plaxo gave me access to the data elsewhere. LinkedIn remains the premium business social networking destination and I find myself regularly using details I’ve pulled from it. I use Facebook as well, but I find LinkedIn provides more value.
TechCrunch coverage here.
Twitter is like being married, you love it dearly but some times you want to strangle it. Twitter has transformed my networking in the last 12 months. It served as a conduit to building new relationships in a way that Facebook, FriendFeed and others never will. I can walk into a tech meeting/ conference/ meetup anywhere in Australia now and although I may have never met anyone in the room in person, I’ll know at least one person (usually more) from Twitter; you cant buy that level of contact and its given me friendships and acquittances that could never have come around by any other means. Twitter still has problems ahead: like a complete lack of a business model, but expect Twitter to continue to grow, with somebody (maybe Yahoo, although Biz prefers a Google exit) acquiring the service before December.
TechCrunch coverage here.
Until recently this would have been Seeqpod, but since reviewing the Grooveshark player I’ve found myself listening to music there regularly. MyPlayList is another service I’ve been using, although not as much. The bonus with Grooveshark is quality: as all songs are uploaded by users (legally) and the quality is usually first rate, where as Seeqpod can be hit and miss sometimes. I want to love Pandora, and I used it for years, but given it’s now georetarded I’m blocked out. Last.fm isn’t bad, but it’s not a team player in terms of the industry and it’s also owned by CBS; I’d rather support the little guy.
There’s probably others as well I’ve forgotten about. One last shout out to 37Signals: I’ve used their services in the past when running a startup and they’re great (I’m not using them today) but their management ethos is a breath of fresh air in a world where people who want balance should (apparently) be working at Starbucks. If I were local and looking for a job, I’d be begging for a look in.
I’m sad to see you go Duncan. You’ve contributed some great posts over the last year, and really helped expand TechCrunch’s coverage of the smallest start-ups.
I wish you the best of luck with all of your future endeavors.
Duncan - have been nice to know you, of cos via your articles on TC, and they’ve all been good reads… it would’ve been nice had you had time to also reply some of my earlier emails to your techcrunch account.. though of cos am highly doubtful if they ever had any chance to make it to your eyes..
Anyway, sayonara.. and live goes on!
Good luck Duncan.
Duncan,
I think that you did a great job at TechCrunch. Enjoyed reading your posts,
Jamie
Well, this is a surprise. I’ll miss the bashing, as it became such a staple. Seems like just yesterday…Good luck in your new endeavors Duncan!
Good luck
Thanks Duncan! You’ve given me many a great post to read at 3am (Toronto). Best of luck on your future adventures.
Thanks,
Jaafer
Thanks for a great year Duncan. Good luck.
Aw crap, besides Micheals ramblings here I really enjoy your stuff Duncan. I seem to remember that you had another blog that you wrote half heartedly in and then showed up here at Tech Crunch and have written tons of great stuff.
I really hope that Micheal lets us know what you are up to so that we can follow your next great blog
I appreciate your insight Duncan. Good luck with your next steps.
I wish you much luck after TC. It was great to meet you when you were here in Silicon Valley. Hope to run into you when you’re back in town. I guess I’ll have to start following you on Twitter now that I can’t do that here.
I liked reading and commenting on your posts quite a lot. I’ll be checking out your other blogs.
When you started writing at TC way back when, I didn’t like many of your articles and most of the commentators didn’t either (as I’m sure you’re aware), but eventually I grew to enjoy your posts and understand where you were coming from. Sad day, indeed, for TC readers and I’ll look forward to any future guest posts that you write. Take care!
Duncan, thanks for the fine work on TC, I’ve spent a great many hours reading your articles over the past year.
I look forward to your next projects & collaborations.
Aaron Spence.
Wow had no idea that you were leaving. It’s been great reading your posts over the past 12 months, and a fantastic final post.
Thanks for everything. Best of luck in your future endeavors!
Best of luck Duncan. Listening to the podcast now. Great getting to know you via various online routes (not that any of that will change just because you’re leaving TC).
Its at sad day at TC to see you go. Keep us informed about your next adventures!
Duncan,
Your industriousness and expertise in all things tech will be sorely missed around here. You’ve got a great nose for news. Can’t wait to see what you do next.
Duncan — all the best from India. Thanks for your thoughts.
Thanks for the super list, and good luck in the future!
Farewell, Duncan. It was great having you with us at TC.
Duncan, I’m sorry to see you go from TechCrunch. You have been a real asset at TechCrunch.
I can see what great things are coming in your future.
Hey Duncan…good luck in whatever’s next! I have a feeling I’ll keep seeing your name pop on my sites…
Sad to see you go. You’ve contributed a lot of great posts. Where are you heading? Good luck in whatever you are going to do.
Bye Duncan, best of luck to you and we’ll miss you!
Well Duncan hate to see you go - I always enjoyed waking up and reading fresh content from the land down under.
I hope you keep us up to date on your personal blog, (http://www.duncanriley.com) so we can follow you wherever you go.
Cheers Mate
I look forward to seeing Duncan on the World Series of Poker some time soon… good luck mate!
Best of luck to ya D. Your reads were always an adventure with added Drama. Keep up the good work…. were ever karma takes ya…
Duncan, write a blogpost about what you discussed on that podcast of yours.
I’m having a hard time understanding you in the podcast, due to your thick accent.
Best wishes to you for the future!
Good luck man, thanks for the great posts - will see ya wherever you write next.
I’ve enjoyed your perspective over the last year. All the best!
Best of luck, will continue to follow you wherever you write.
Farewell Duncan, I really laid into you when you wrote the Calacanis Startup Tips piece, buuuuut, you deserved it! haha. All the best at your new home.
Duncan the Trolls will follow you.
We are not happy with Michael.
Should follow Duncan at the Inquisitr
Duncan,
Best of luck. Count me as a subscriber at Inquisitr. Cheers!
Duncan - I’m going to miss your regular work on TechCrunch (there’s nothing like an Australian to stir things up!) but I look forward to checking out The Inquisitr and reading you back on TC now and again. Best wishes for the future!
Btw,who will replace Duncan at TechCrunch?
Good riddance! Tech Crunch just lost its biggest tool.
Good Luck Ducan
Good luck Duncan
Shame to see you leave, good luck!
And just to shamelessly plug for one final time
Try Wakoopa Duncan: http://wakoopa.com I’d love to see what you use on the desktop in more detail as well. My profile is here so connect with me if you’d like: http://wakoopa.com/robert
Sad to see you go mate. Looking forward to your guest posts ..
Every Farewell is sad.
I will really miss your posts on the TC, Duncan. Despite some of the complains in some of your posts from readers, I think the majority of your posts were very good.
You did not mention anything about your future plan.
Best Wishes,
Best of luck with The Inquisitr!
I’ve really enjoyed your, often controversial, posts on TC and I’m really looking forward to a lot more on The Inquisitr.
Duncan,
one of the premier web writers! sad to see you leave but I know what I have to do now…yep…gotta bookmark The Inquisitr!
take care bud!
Good luck with it mayt. I’m sure you will do well.
Hi Duncan …. we will be surely missing you from Techcrunch ….. anyways …. wish you all the best for your future startups
Good luck Duncan, I’m one of those “silent” readers but I had to take a moment to say thank you. See you at the new site as now I can follow Techcrunch and your new site. Thanks for a great year of knwloege.
Hi Duncan,
How about spreading some EverNote invitations as a way of goodbye?
Good luck!
Good luck Duncan!
RE: Evernote, can you describe your workflow after scanning in a document? How do you get it into Evernote? Do you just do a screenshot? There doesn’t appear to be a facility to import files into Evernote.
Duncan,
You did a great job at TechCrunch.
All the best for your new blog. Looking forward to it.
Rajan Tawate
http://www.meetingflex.com
http://www.jobcertify.com
Good luck, and happy trails Duncan! You’ll definitely be missed. Hopefully your new venture will bring you out to the Bay Area at some point so we can meet up.
Good luck Duncan, take it easy
Duncan - All the best with The Inquisitr. I look forward to seeing where you take it.
Thanks Duncan! Very cool to hear the various apps you’re using. They were all new to me. I especially love anything like Evernote that helps us go more and more paperless.
Good luck in your next endeavors.
Thanks Duncan ! You are probably looking a step ahead of TechCrunch… will not be easy but nothing can replace own projects. Nice last post…again nothing replace personal experiences. Thanks for sharing. Good Luck
good luck deflating that ego a bit, mate!
You won’t be missed…I’ll just start reading your site.
good luck Duncan, your the star today m8..
All the best Duncan. Sorry to see you go… Though we can still follow your posts from other sources.:)
Thanks for the pointers to your toolbox. I actually have an Evernote beta invite sitting here, so I’m off to give it a whirl.
Best of luck to you.
Excellent choice of plugs for your final post.
Evernote looks amazing - now I’m (im)patiently waiting for my beta invite…