iOrganize alternative

[Andy Lee]

On Sep 2, 2007, at 2:20 AM, Andrew Brown wrote:
> What programs can be recommended for storing frequently-consulted  
> sensitive information?

I've been using LittleSecrets, by Manfred Schwind, since 2003.  It's  
very well thought out and at IMO way underpriced at $9.  There may be  
a newer better alternative, but I haven't felt the need to look for one.

Here's what I like about LittleSecrets:

  * Two-pane interface allows you to create pages and groups of  
pages, and navigate them quickly.

  * Instantaneous find-as-you-type search field.

  * Freeform rich text.  I don't find any benefit in having  
structured records with fields for username, password, etc.  With  
freeform text I don't have to think about the structure of my data.

  * Option to auto-detect URLs as you type them in.

  * Times out and hides window contents if you don't do anything for  
a while, where "a while" is configurable (it's in the Change Password  
sheet).

You can have multiple LittleSecrets documents, but I just have one  
with multiple pages -- one page containing all my product  
registration keys, another for my blog and ISP passwords, another for  
banking passwords, another for family members' passwords, etc.  With  
the fast search, even that's more structure than I need.  At some  
point I started entering all new info in my "Miscellaneous" page.  If  
I want to look up my Amazon password, I just start typing "amaz" and  
there it is.

The only possible drawback I can think of is that everything is  
entered as readable text.  You can't type a password without it  
appearing on the screen.  That hasn't been a problem for me.  Also,  
because I have many passwords on one page, when I'm looking at that  
page, someone looking over my shoulder will see all those passwords,  
not just the one I was looking for.  But that's just because of the  
way I personally use the app.

If I were looking for alternatives I might consider the Mori/Notebook/ 
Yojimbo category of apps.  Those do a lot more than I need, so I'd  
only be attracted if I wanted the extra power.  I suppose I could use  
LittleSecrets as a general-purpose notepad too.  (I currently use  
Xcode for that, which is not bad but slightly cumbersome, but I  
haven't found the perfect alternative yet.)

There's also SBook, which I just discovered has become open-source.   
I remember trying it many years ago and being impressed, but not  
sticking with it for some reason.

LittleSecrets: <http://www.mani.de/en/software/macosx/littlesecrets/ 
index.html>
SBook: <http://www.simson.net/ref/sbook5/>