Ask HN: Tools for recording product ideas

whiteboard + beer

I use Microsoft OneNote for jotting down my ideas. I found it pretty fuctional and free flowing for my use. I can also just output a project notebook as a PDF and send it over.

I am proud of whoever at MS made that piece of app.... for some reason it feels different than any of their other stuff.

I use paper and a pen. But anything that I don't plan on using right away goes on http://folist.com -- It's simple, but works.

I use a firefox plugin called "Pencil" to make GUIs and design interactions. For more complex stuff I go back and forth between DIA and Paint.NET (a graphics editor.)

The first is good for designing networks and servers, as you can draw lines between "nodes" and the lines snap into place. The second is good because it has layers. I put each object in a separate layer for maximum ease of use.

I personally use Things (http://culturedcode.com) with a simple "Projects" project created to dump them in. (at least, for directly recording)

However, I also use a whiteboard to scribble stuff on and these can be a great solution for presenting ideas, especially if you can add to them as you present.

I would suggest Balsamiq Mockups too, especially for drawing up interfaces, although you might find that using a "thinner" solution better for you. (Mostly related to the size of the elements in Balsamiq.

vim ~/ideas.txt

One part of my idea tool kit is def balsamiq mockups :) / other than that - evernote is good ,drop box or base camp - but as far as one tool ... perhaps that should be your one idea.

I usually just use a text file (Textmate is my editor of choice) to create a spec sheet describing what my idea is and how it works. From there I share that planning doc with my partner and we start making mockups together (or more likely, she does, since my Photoshop skills suck). If I need to make a mockup for her to clarify something in the text file, I use Photoshop, or since my Photoshop skills suck, pen and paper (not that my pen and paper drawing skills are any better).

No wow factor, but it works for us.

To present ideas to people on the outside, I usually just do it verbally or via email. You should be able to explain your idea in relatively simple terms using nothing but words, imho. Again, no wow factor, but it works for us.

I like to explore my ideas verbally and wish I had a better way to refer back to those audio brainstorms which I sometimes record. One problem is that the audio file is rarely "tight" in terms of signal-to-noise, which makes review tedious. It would be nice if I could cheaply outsource that work to a secretary type who would listen to my rantings and just return to me the salient bits, eliminate the pauses or maybe just transcribe what I say. I've looked into CastingWords but can't justify their prices (~$120 to transcribe a 90-minute recording, 2+ weeks ETA). I think there are strong opportunities for service developers in this space.

Hacker News? Seems like you are using it for that now.

Blank piece of paper and a pen.

I like Omnisio , nothing beats a screencast of a prototype