Ask HN: Does anyone else, other than myself, need a secure note app?

6 points by VuongN 10 years ago | 7 comments

Hi friends,

I'm working on a secure note taking/saving app. Think Evernote + Wunderlist + 1Password with a hardy layer of encryption combined with a unique(?) way of note discoverability/consumption.

I'm an engineer so I tend to just dive in, prototype and code. I've been focusing on the core key management system, pretty far along (I think). Then for some reason, today, I woke up and realized: "shoot! do people really want this stuff?" Because, not to offending anyone here, but good key management stuff is pretty hard core work and requires a little bit more time & attention than the usual engineering project (at least for me).

My wife and I need this for our own purpose and I promised my wife I'd build it for her (heh!). So I guess, I'll ask an honest question, without any ulterior intention here: does anyone else need this? I would love and appreciate any thought one way or another about this.

Thanks,

-V.

kjksf 10 years ago |

I also work on a note-taking application and my thoughts are: ability to have secure notes is somewhat important but it's not important enough to make it a primary benefit.

Your app would have to be great at non-secure notes AND have an option to add secure notes.

Evernote, btw, does support secure (encrypted) notes. They have a lousy UI for them but the option is there.

If you don't think that your app is better in at least some ways than existing note-taking apps, that having secure notes will not make a difference.

VuongN 10 years ago | |

EDIT: You did launch your note app. Congratulations! I would to hear more about QuickNotes if you have a chance.

You make a good point. Having worked in consumer & enterprise security space, I can definitely confirm that security is indeed a very VERY difficult thing to sell. It's a chronic pain killer often-time conceived as a vitamin. I wasn't planning on pushing the security aspect of it, but yeah, engineering habit--I get excited about tech and forget that most people don't find it as as fascinating hah.

I sincerely hope you launch your note app. I think there's a reason why there are so many of them out there. No one has gotten it right yet. I thought Evernote did a pretty good job as conquering the market, but I think there's enough individuality, because I think that's what it is, everyone captures and consumes notes differently. We can certainly carve out a niches :)

Good luck!

-V.

duncan_bayne 10 years ago |

Yes. But I rolled my own out of pre-existing software:

* Emacs (desktop / laptop editor)

* Orgzly (Android editor)

* org-mode (the note mechanism itself)

* Unison (for file sync)

* Ubuntu LTS + OpenSSH (on the file server)

Happy to provide more detail if you're interested.

VuongN 10 years ago | |

Hi Duncan. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Yeah, I currently use multiple tools to manage my stuff as well but it's starting to feel like playing lego with tools. As much as I love to play around with lego, I'm getting tired of jumping from app to app to just handle a couple of "seemingly related" tasks to me. Not to mention usability and collaboration isn't without much friction. If anything, I need a tool that I can tell my wife: "here, use this, write your note and secure your passwords here" instead of scattering them everywhere.

vldx 10 years ago |

Slightly different, but however - I've been journaling daily for the past 4 years. It turned out it's a healthy habit. I'm writing to myself and I would be really happy knowing that my thoughts are secure. There's nothing to hide, but knowing that probably helps you being more direct and upfront with yourself. As far as I know, Day One are planning to roll out encryption this year.

VuongN 10 years ago | |

Thanks for getting back to me. Wow, Day One looks like an amazing app. I would certainly use it if my needs were simply journaling AND I can read their key management system specs. For some reason, I'm stilling writing on a notebook when it comes to private thoughts--just a force of habit I suppose. I think I'm like you, I would probably be more honest if I know what I write is going to be for my eyes only.

CiPHPerCoder 10 years ago |

I've always just used encrypted pastebins, e.g. https://defuse.ca/b/