So, is OneDrive Sharepoint ?

Definitely not. They are two separate platforms. Each serves distinct purposes, tailored to meet different needs within an organization or private. In a nutshell, SharePoint shines as a collaborative platform for teams, designed to enhance productivity and streamline content management across a company. On the other hand, OneDrive offers a more personal cloud storage solution, ideal for individual use and private document handling. 

Let’s explore the main differences between OneDrive and SharePoint.

OneDrive – personal cloud storage

OneDrive is an individual cloud storage. It works best when used privately or for documents and files you don’t want others in your organization to access directly.

The software is tailored for individuals, providing a simple interface for storing files and basic sharing capabilities. It works especially well as a cloud storage accessible from different devices (e.g. loading PDFs from a desktop to read them later on a tablet). OneDrive files are secure and private unless, of course, you explicitly share them with others.

The good thing is that you can sync OneDrive files to your computer for offline access.

The 10 main features of OneDrive

Here are the most important functions of OneDrive. While it may seem that many of those are similar to those in SharePoint, they are built to suit different purposes. Let’s take a look at them and see where the difference lies.

Cross-platform sync

OneDrive’s cross-platform sync is a game-changer for users who operate across various devices. Whether you’re switching from a laptop to a smartphone or from a Windows machine to a Mac, OneDrive ensures your files follow you seamlessly.

This feature starkly contrasts with SharePoint, which, while also accessible across platforms, is more focused on collaborative efforts and document management within teams. OneDrive’s sync capability is about personal efficiency, making sure your documents, photos, and videos are always at your fingertips, no matter the device in use.

Sharing files

Sharing files with OneDrive is intuitively simple, catering to both personal and professional needs. You can quickly share documents or folders with a few clicks, choosing the level of access for each recipient. 

This contrasts with SharePoint, where file sharing is designed with team collaboration in mind, involving more complex permissions and settings for broader projects. OneDrive’s sharing is straightforward, focusing on individual use, making it easy to send a photo to a family member or a document to a colleague without navigating through the more comprehensive sharing settings found in SharePoint.

Real-time collaboration on Office documents

OneDrive integrates seamlessly with Office 365, allowing for real-time collaboration on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. This means you can work on a file simultaneously with colleagues or friends, seeing changes as they happen. While SharePoint offers similar functionality, it’s designed for larger-scale projects and team environments. 

OneDrive brings this powerful collaboration tool to the individual level, making it perfect for small teams or personal projects where real-time collaboration is essential but doesn’t require the extensive setup and management that SharePoint might.

Search files

The search functionality in OneDrive is both powerful and user-friendly, enabling you to quickly locate files and folders using keywords, file types, or even the content within the documents. 

This is particularly useful in personal cloud storage, where organization might not be as structured as in a business environment like SharePoint. While SharePoint also offers advanced search capabilities, it’s tailored for navigating through vast amounts of corporate data and documents. OneDrive’s search is designed for speed and simplicity, ensuring you can find your personal files with ease.

Backup and protection

OneDrive provides a secure backup for your files, safeguarding them from accidental loss or hardware failures. This feature is crucial for individuals who store important documents, photos, and videos in their personal cloud. 

Unlike SharePoint, which is more focused on document management and collaboration within organizations, OneDrive’s backup and protection features are designed with the individual user in mind, offering peace of mind that personal data is safe and recoverable.

Mobile application

The OneDrive mobile application extends the functionality of the cloud storage service to your smartphone or tablet, making it incredibly convenient to access, share, and manage your files on the go. 

This is in contrast to SharePoint, which, while also having a mobile app, is more geared towards enterprise users who need to engage with team sites, documents, and intranet on a larger scale. OneDrive’s app is tailored for personal use, emphasizing ease of use and accessibility.

Offline access

OneDrive allows users to mark files or folders for offline access, a feature that is invaluable when you find yourself without an internet connection. This ensures that you can continue working on important documents or view your photos and videos regardless of your connectivity status. 

SharePoint also offers offline capabilities, but its primary function is to support team collaboration in an online environment. OneDrive’s offline access is particularly beneficial for individuals who need constant access to their files, regardless of where they are.

Automatic photo backup

For many users, automatic photo backup is one of OneDrive’s most cherished features. It automatically uploads photos and videos from your smartphone to the cloud, ensuring that your memories are preserved without manual intervention. 

This feature is distinct from SharePoint’s capabilities, which are not focused on personal media storage. OneDrive’s automatic photo backup provides a sense of security, knowing that your personal moments are safely stored and easily accessible.

Integration with Office 365

OneDrive’s integration with Office 365 enhances its functionality, providing a seamless experience when working with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Office apps. This integration allows for easy storage, sharing, and collaboration on documents within the Office suite, directly from OneDrive. 

While SharePoint also integrates with Office 365, it does so on a broader scale, facilitating team collaboration and document management across an organization. OneDrive’s integration, however, is designed with the individual user in mind, streamlining personal productivity and document handling.

Version history

The version history feature in OneDrive is a lifesaver for anyone who has ever needed to revert to an earlier version of a document. It keeps track of changes made to documents and allows you to restore previous versions with ease. This feature is particularly useful for personal projects or documents where changes are frequent. 

SharePoint offers a similar version control system but is geared towards managing versions within a collaborative, team-based environment. OneDrive’s version history provides individual users with the flexibility and control over their documents, ensuring that no important change is ever truly lost.

SharePoint – the collaborative cloud storage

SharePoint, on the other hand, is a robust platform designed for seamless team collaboration and content management within organizations. 

It’s the ideal tool for storing and sharing documents that require input from multiple individuals. As the backbone of content collaboration across Microsoft 365, SharePoint integrates seamlessly with other MS applications.

Beyond file management, it empowers teams to create engaging intranet portals, share news, manage lists, and even build custom business applications, making it a versatile hub for organizational information and processes.

The 10 main features of SharePoint

These are the most prominent features for your organization that SharePoint brings. Let’s take a closer look at each of them. As you will see, some of them can be found in OneDrive, but rest assured – they are built to serve at a much greater scale that your organization may require. So, what difference can SharePoint make?

Document management

From our perspective, SharePoint excels in document management, standing out as a comprehensive solution for organizing, storing, and retrieving documents across an organization. It gives you control of the entire life cycle of documents within an organization, from creation to archiving or disposal. This centralized platform ensures easy accessibility, version control, and enhanced collaboration, ultimately improving overall document management efficiency.

Teamwork collaboration

The essence of SharePoint lies in its ability to foster teamwork collaboration. It goes beyond the personal cloud storage capabilities of OneDrive, providing a shared space where teams can work together on projects, documents, and tasks. SharePoint facilitates seamless collaboration, allowing team members to contribute from anywhere, at any time. This collaborative platform ensures that everyone stays informed and engaged, enhancing productivity and driving successful project outcomes.

Advanced search capabilities

SharePoint’s advanced search capabilities set it apart from OneDrive’s simpler search functionality. With SharePoint, users can quickly find documents, files, and even specific content within documents, thanks to its powerful search engine. This feature is invaluable for organizations with vast amounts of data, enabling employees to efficiently locate the information they need without sifting through countless files manually.

Workflow automation

The software offers robust workflow automation tools, allowing organizations to streamline their business processes. This feature enables the creation of custom workflows that automate tasks such as document approvals, notifications, and content publishing. Workflow automation in SharePoint reduces manual work, minimizes errors, and ensures that processes are completed efficiently and consistently, a capability not found in OneDrive.

Customization 

Organizations can tailor SharePoint sites to meet their specific needs, creating a unique and branded experience. This includes custom layouts, themes, and functionalities that enhance user engagement and productivity. While OneDrive offers a straightforward, user-friendly interface, it lacks the depth of customization available in SharePoint.

Microsoft 365 integration 

SharePoint seamlessly integrates with Microsoft 365, offering a cohesive experience with applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams. This integration enhances collaboration and productivity, allowing users to work on documents directly within SharePoint and access other Microsoft 365 tools effortlessly. The integration is more comprehensive than the basic OneDrive connection, making SharePoint a central hub for all organizational content and communication.

Security 

Data security – and control over its flow – is crucial for companies. SharePoint offers granular permissions, allowing administrators to control access to documents, sites, and libraries. This ensures that only authorized personnel can view or edit specific content. While OneDrive also offers robust security measures, SharePoint’s capabilities are designed to meet the complex requirements of organizations, suring compliance and data protection.

Mobile access

SharePoint’s mobile access feature ensures that team members can stay connected and productive, even when on the move. Unlike OneDrive, which is primarily focused on individual file access, SharePoint’s mobile application allows users to participate in collaborative efforts, access intranet sites, and manage tasks from their mobile devices. This flexibility enhances the agility of teams and supports a modern, mobile workforce.

Metadata management 

Allow your organizations to categorize and tag content, making it easier to organize, search, and manage thanks to SharePoint’s metadata management capabilities. This feature is particularly useful for large volumes of documents, enabling users to filter and find content based on specific criteria. While OneDrive provides basic file organization, SharePoint’s sophisticated metadata management supports complex information architectures and improves overall content discoverability.

Change history 

It will almost certainly happen that someone in your organization will need an older version of a certain document retrieved. SharePoint tracks the change history of documents, providing a detailed record of edits, versions, and updates. This feature is invaluable for collaborative work, allowing team members to review previous versions, understand changes, and revert to earlier versions if necessary. The change history feature in SharePoint offers a level of transparency and control over document evolution that OneDrive’s simpler version history cannot match, making it essential for collaborative projects and document management.

OneDrive vs Sharepoint – examples of use

Real-life examples and use cases for SharePoint/OneDrive vividly illustrate their distinct purposes. OneDrive, with its personal cloud storage capabilities, is perfect for the individual user. 

Imagine a freelance graphic designer who juggles multiple projects for different clients. OneDrive allows them to store all their work-related files in one place, accessible from any device, ensuring they can work on-the-go and share specific designs with clients securely and efficiently. 

Conversely, SharePoint shines in a corporate setting. Consider a multinational corporation launching a new product. SharePoint serves as the backbone for collaboration, enabling departments from marketing to product development to seamlessly share documents, update project statuses, and maintain communication through a centralized portal. 

This collaborative environment ensures that every team member is on the same page, enhancing productivity and streamlining the project management process.

Summary

In conclusion, while OneDrive and SharePoint may both offer cloud storage solutions, their optimal use cases differ significantly. 

OneDrive is best suited for individual users or small teams needing a simple, secure way to store, access, and share files across devices.Its straightforward interface and personal storage space make it ideal for private document handling and basic collaboration. 

SharePoint, however, is designed for larger organizations requiring a comprehensive platform for team collaboration, document management, and intranet capabilities. Its integration with Microsoft 365 enhances its utility, making it a powerful tool for content management and team projects. 

Understanding the difference between SharePoint and OneDrive will help you choose the right platform to meet your personal or organizational needs, ensuring efficient and effective management of your digital assets.

Do you have questions about how to tailor-cut these tools to serve the purposes of your needs perfectly? 

We have vast experience in implementing them in organizational environments, so don’t hesitate to ask.

Artykuł Sharepoint vs OneDrive – which one to use? pochodzi z serwisu IT-Dev.

If you’re using Microsoft 365 Copilot or are going to implement this AI-powered suite to your workplace, here’s the short guide you will need. 

Key takeaways:

1. Learn Prompting to Use Microsoft 365 Copilot Properly:
   • Copilot’s effectiveness depends on the quality of prompts and questions fed into it.
   • Training end users is crucial for successful adoption.
2. Know the Difference Between Copilot vs. Microsoft 365 Copilot:
   • Copilot extends beyond Microsoft 365 Copilot.
   • M365 Copilot works with a bunch of Microsoft 365 applications.
3. Decide Which Version of Microsoft 365 Copilot to Use:
   • To facilitate adoption, start using the Copilot experience right away.
   • Note that ChatGpt 4.0 requires a $20 monthly subscription.

Learn prompting to use Microsoft 365 Copilot properly

Remember, Copilot is only going to be as good as the prompts and questions that we feed it. And who’s going to be doing this feeding? Our end users. That’s why one of the most crucial tasks in preparing our organization for its use is training our end users. I’ve heard, and I completely agree, that for end users, we should start using Copilot within Bing first. It will be much easier to encourage people to try it out than to convince them to use it within, for instance, Microsoft Word.

Know the difference between Copilot vs Microsoft 365 Copilot 

Copilot offers much more than just Microsoft 365 Copilot. Even if your organization hasn’t yet obtained licenses for M365 Copilot, all of your users, including yourself, already have access to much of its power through what was previously known as Bing Chat, now rebranded as Copilot. 

Yeah, that can be super confusing. But for now, let’s imagine that Copilot is what exists outside your applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. M365 Copilot, on the other hand, is what operates within these applications. 

Decide which version of Microsoft 365 Copilot to use

To facilitate the adoption process of Microsoft 365 Copilot, we can start using the Copilot experience right away. The Copilot experience actually utilizes ChatGPT 4.0, not the freely available Chat GPT 3.5 found on Chat GPT’s homepage. 

In fact, to use ChatGpt 4.0, you’ll need to pay $20 a month. Microsoft Copilot (formerly Bing Chat & Bing Chat Enterprise) is included in the following Microsoft 365 plans at no additional cost: Microsoft 365 E3 & Microsoft 365 E5, Microsoft 365 Business Standard & Microsoft 365 Business Premium.

Know what Copilot is capable of

There are many great examples on what you can do with Copilot. One example is that you can use it to summarize a PDF document that you have open in your browser. 

Or you can just go to the official website and start playing around with different phrases. 

You can also choose the type of conversation you’d like to have with Copilot. 

Whether it should be creative, balanced, or more precise depends on the content you want to write. So, select the appropriate conversation type accordingly. 

One key element here is, once again, the phrases. You need to know what you want to ask Copilot to do, whether it’s creating a table based on information, summarizing something, or simply drafting an email for you. 

This brings us to an image that Microsoft has provided on their learning pages. 

This is a great place to start when you begin writing your own phrases, to understand how to construct them. 

Also, inside the different Copilot experiences you will get a set of examples from Microsoft to help you get started.  

So don’t wait for the Microsoft 365 Coplot license, start to write prompts today within Copilot (previously known as Bing Chat Enterprise). 

Summing up: no Microsoft 365 Copilot without prompting

If you want to introduce the M365 Copilot to your workplace, make sure your team knows the different versions of the tool and the needs these can fulfill.

The better your Copilot prompts, the better the responses that you’ll receive. That means that the best investment you can make right now is to train your employees on how to use the “free” version of Copilot which is already available today. 

This will lay the groundwork for their future use of the licensed M365 Copilot. 

Learn more about how to prompt Copilot here: Learn about Copilot prompts – Microsoft Support 

Artykuł Microsoft 365 Copilot is here, prepare your end users now.  pochodzi z serwisu IT-Dev.

Key takeaways 

• Microsoft has rolled out Copilot Pro, a subscription-based update to Microsoft Copilot that offers integration with Microsoft 365 and access to more advanced GPT models. Although it’s not yet available in every country, the list of territories in which it’s available continues to grow.  
• Copilot Pro costs $20 per month per user, which aligns with the pricing of other AI models like ChatGPT Plus and Claude Pro. 
• While Copilot Pro offers more features and faster updates, the free version of Copilot still remains a valuable tool for those seeking GPT-4 access without a subscription fee. 

What does the free Copilot include? 

The popular Copilot is a gateway to GPT-4 capabilities. With functions such as code completion, text generation and some Microsoft integrations available, Copilot allows users to generate different kinds of creative content.

It has been a great choice for those who want to use OpenAI’s ChatGPT Plus without having to pay $20 dollars a month for the subscription. Also, for some time it was not possible to even sign up for the ChatGPT Plus subscription as there were no places left, so Copilot served as a perfect solution for users who wanted to utilize GPT-4. Truth be told, who doesn’t want to save $20 dollars a month? 

What Is Copilot Pro? 

Enter Copilot Pro (not to be confused with Microsoft 365 Copilot). It’s the new subscription-based update to Microsoft Copilot bringing much more to the table.

The Copilor Pro subscription contains everything already available in the standard Copilot, plus:

• ability to build your own Copilot GPT tools tailored to your needs
• priority access to GPT-4 and GPT-4 Turbo during peak times 
• the use of Copilot Pro in some of the MS productivity apps
• generating images faster and with additional options

The major distinction, in my opinion, lies in the integration capability of Copilot Pro with Microsoft applications. It significantly enhances their usability, however, this of course necessitates having a Microsoft 365 Personal or Microsoft 365 Family License. With a Microsoft 365 Family subscription, each user intending to utilize Copilot Pro within Microsoft Applications must have a Copilot Pro license. 

If you’re into the subject, read articles Top 3 features for Microsoft 365 Copilot in Word and Top 3 features for Microsoft 365 Copilot in PowerPoint.

Still, non-Microsoft users will find their benefits too, especially if they don’t have other AI paid subscriptions already.

Who is Copilot Pro for?

If you can’t go without GPT-4 in peak times, produce high-quality AI images frequently and need customization tools that go beyond the standard usage of AI, Copilot Pro is worth the buck.

In my opinion, Copilot Pro caters to power consumers, while Microsoft 365 Copilot is tailored for enterprise usage or Microsoft fans. 

Even if you do not use Microsoft Applications like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, there might be compelling reasons to upgrade your free license to Copilot Pro. Nevertheless, I recommend comparing ChatGPT Plus with Copilot Pro or exploring Claude Pro to determine which tool you find more comfortable to use. 

Notably, Copilot Pro does not include Copilot in Teams: for that, you need Microsoft 365 Copilot.

Microsoft Copilot Pro availability

It’s also important to note that Copilot Pro’s availability is not universal and varies depending on your location. For instance, in my country, Norway, Copilot Pro is still unavailable, along with support for the Norwegian language. Nevertheless, many users, including myself, are eager to start using Copilot Pro immediately, even if it only supports the English language. 

Copilot is supported in the following languages:  

• English (US, GB, AU, CA, IN)  
• Spanish (Spain, Mexico)  
• Japanese  
• French (France, Canada)  
• German  
• Portuguese (Brazil)  
• Italian  
• Chinese Simplified  

 Copilot in Excel is currently only supported in English.  

Microsoft plans to support the following languages (in alphabetical order) over the first half of 2024:  

So be sure to check if Copilot Pro is available in your country. 

Summary: Should you buy Copilot Pro?

If you’re a Microsoft 365 user looking to integrate a highly capable GPT model in your work, then go for it. You can start with Copilot Pro or go along with Microsoft 365 Copilot version for enhanced integrations.

Because of this integration alone, I’d argue that Copilot Pro is a significantly better investment than, for instance, ChatGPT Plus.

Other than that, clearly define your needs first. If you don’t use any paid AI subscription, you can give it a try. And if you generate a lot of AI images and are looking for alternatives to Midjourney, Copilot Pro may prove helpful as well.

Everyone needs to make their own assessment and base their decision on the factors most important to them. 

For me, I’d say it’s definitely worth $20 a month – I just can’t access it yet.

Artykuł Copilot Pro – Is it worth $20 a month?   pochodzi z serwisu IT-Dev.

In this article, I’ll explore how effective digital workplaces organized with Microsoft 365 suite can bridge these gaps and foster successful collaboration of your team. Let’s get started.

Microsoft 365 can bridge the generation gap

Despite many post-covid office comebacks, the traditional office environment can no longer be the sole driver of teamwork. And that’s certainly for the better. While plenty of IT companies have solely relied on software tailored for remote work for years now, tools like Microsoft 365 are revolutionizing the way traditional and age-diverse offices connect and share information. 

However, simply having access to these tools isn’t enough. To be truly effective, a digital workspace needs to be designed with the specific needs of a diverse workforce in mind. 

Want to learn more? Watch the interview where I explain how to master team dynamics based on M365 tools.

Why your team needs a digital workplace 

There are several key benefits a proper digital workplace brings to the table. Let’s take a look at them.

Customization of user experience

Personalization is key and a one-size-fits-all approach simply won’t work. While full customization of a workspace might seem ideal, a more strategic approach is to configure a suite of services (such as Microsoft 365) that aligns with specific business needs and has a relatively low entry threshold. This ensures a user-friendly experience that is familiar and relevant across generations and cultures.

The key features of a successful digital collaboration tool lie in its ability to be:

• Role-based 

Tools should be intuitive and cater to specific roles within a team. Users shouldn’t waste time wondering which platform to use for a particular task.

• Automated and streamlined

Features like self-service catalogs and AI assistants can guide users and reduce confusion, especially with the ever-evolving landscape of M365 services.

• Data-centric

Maintaining data quality and integrity is crucial for trust and informed decision-making. Hence, tools should ensure data accuracy and a clear lifecycle for all information.

Governance with a user-centric approach

Security and governance are essential aspects of any digital workplace. However, it’s unrealistic to expect users to become cybersecurity experts. The best approach is to automate security measures and policy enforcement seamlessly. This empowers users to focus on their tasks while minimizing risks.

Pre-configured digital workspaces

Sometimes, the most significant improvements come from seemingly simple solutions. In my experience, pre-configured workspaces can significantly enhance collaboration, especially for teams that are in the process of transitioning to the cloud. These workspaces provide a centralized hub for project data and documents, fostering trust and efficient decision-making.

CTA:  A pre-configured digital workspace and start working in the cloud.
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Embracing a user-centric approach to digital workplaces can empower diverse teams to collaborate effectively. By focusing on intuitive design, role-based functionalities, and seamless governance of dedicated tools, such as Microsoft 365, we can quickly create a collaborative ecosystem that bridges the gaps and unlocks the true potential of a diverse workforce.

Transferring your digital workspace to the cloud? Here’s the FAQ

Based on my experience in implementing intranet solutions for numerous companies of many different backgrounds and sizes, let me share a list of common questions you might have at various stages of transferring your workspace to the cloud.

What are the limitations of traditional email-based communication in the workplace?

Ongoing communication through email can cause information overload, lack of user-friendliness for diverse teams, and difficulty in maintaining data quality and security. Use it for a different purpose.

How does a modern Intranet solution improve employee engagement and efficiency?

Modern intranet solutions can improve employee engagement and efficiency by providing a central hub for communication, collaboration, and access to information. They can streamline workflows, reduce reliance on email, and foster a more connected and informed workforce.

What are the key features of a successful internal communication tool?

The key features of a successful internal communication tool include:

• Role-based functionality

Tailored interfaces and permissions ensure users have the tools they need and avoid confusion.

• Intuitive design

A user-friendly experience is essential for driving adoption across generations and cultures.

• Automation

Features like self-service portals and AI assistants can reduce reliance on IT support and streamline workflows.

• Data management 

Tools that you use should ensure information accuracy, security, and a clear lifecycle for all data.

Why is it important for a communication tool to be easily scalable?

Scalability is important because a communication tool needs to adapt to a growing workforce and evolving business needs. A well-designed intranet can accommodate new users, departments, and functionalities without sacrificing performance.

What are some key challenges you can have while implementing the solution?

Challenges during implementation can include user resistance to change, ensuring data migration is smooth, and effectively communicating the value proposition of the new system to employees.

What are some key business benefits of intranets?

Intranets offer a range of business benefits, including improved communication and collaboration, increased employee engagement, and a more efficient knowledge base.

What are the benefits of integrating Microsoft 365 into internal communication tools?

Integration such as Microsoft 365 can create a more unified user experience, leverage familiar features, and provide access to a wider range of collaboration functionalities. Think of it as the golden mean of collaboration.

Artykuł Digital workspace for collaboration with Microsoft 365 | IT-Dev pochodzi z serwisu IT-Dev.

Which planner apps to choose?

Think of them as your personal coaches, guiding you through the chaos and helping you slay the procrastination monster once and for all. Whether you’re juggling deadlines like a seasoned circus performer or simply seeking to tame the ever-growing beast of daily responsibilities, these apps have got your back (and your sanity).

Dive into the list below, explore the features and pricing, and find the app that speaks to your organizational soul. Remember, a little planning goes a long way, and who knows, you might even discover a hidden zen master within yourself.

1. TickTick

It’s a powerful and versatile daily planner app designed to help you stay organized and productive. It boasts a range of features that cater to various needs, making it a strong contender for your daily planning arsenal.

Best Features:

• Comprehensive task management – create to-do lists, add subtasks, set recurring tasks, and prioritize them using different levels.
• Calendar integration – view your tasks alongside calendar events for a holistic overview of your schedule. TickTick integrates with popular calendars like Google Calendar and Apple Calendar.
• Focus Booster – employ the popular Pomodoro Technique to stay focused with timed work intervals and short breaks.
• Habit tracker – develop positive habits by tracking their completion and building streaks.
• Voice commands – manage tasks hands-free using voice commands, making it convenient on the go. Turn emails into tasks.
• Cross-platform accessibility – access your tasks and plans from any device, including smartphones, tablets, and desktops.

Collaboration – share tasks and collaborate with others in real-time, fostering teamwork and shared accountability.

Pricing:

TickTick offers a free version with basic features, including creating to-do lists, setting reminders, and adding notes. However, to unlock the full potential of the app, you can upgrade to the Premium plan.

• Premium Plan – $35.99 per year (billed annually)
• This plan unlocks advanced features like calendar integration, Pomodoro timer, habit tracker, custom themes, and more.

Overall, TickTick provides a feature-rich and user-friendly platform for daily planning, making it a valuable tool for individuals and teams alike. Whether you’re a busy professional or someone seeking to manage your personal life more effectively, TickTick can be a valuable addition to your productivity toolbox, making it a strong contender for the best daily planner apps.

2. Todoist

Todoist is a popular choice for task management, offering a clean and user-friendly interface. It allows you to create tasks, set deadlines, and add notes and attachments. You can also collaborate on tasks with others.

Best features:

• Clean and user-friendly interface – easy to navigate and manage tasks efficiently.
• Karma points – earn points for completing tasks, fostering a sense of accomplishment and motivation.
• Labels and filters – organize tasks using labels and filters for better categorization and prioritization.
• Real-time collaboration – share tasks and projects with others and collaborate seamlessly in real-time.
• 80+ software integrations – many popular applications can be integrated, such as Gmail, Outlook or Slack.

Pricing:

• Free plan available with limited features.
• Premium plan starts at $3 per month (billed annually) and unlocks features like reminders, labels, and integrations.
• Business plan starts at $5 per user per month (billed annually) and offers additional features for team collaboration.

Todoist is a popular daily planner app with a clean interface and features like reminders, labels, and real-time collaboration. It utilizes “Karma points” to gamify task completion, keeping you motivated.

3. Any.do

If you’re looking for simplicity, Any.do is a versatile app that can be used for task management, scheduling, and note-taking. It includes features like to-do lists, reminders, calendars, and a built-in assistant.

Best features:

• Unified platform – combines to-do lists, calendar, and note-taking in one app for streamlined organization.
• AI-powered assistant – utilize the built-in assistant to manage tasks, set reminders, and schedule events using natural language.
• Location-based reminders – receive reminders based on your location, ensuring you don’t miss important tasks on the go.
• Shared lists and projects – collaborate with others by sharing lists and projects, fostering teamwork and accountability.

Pricing:

• Free plan available with basic features.
• Premium plan comes at $5 per month (billed annually) and unlocks features like AI assistance, location-based reminders, and recurring tasks.
• Family and Teams plans come at $8 per 4 members per month and $8 per user per month (billed annually) respectively, offering additional features for team collaboration and project management.

Any.do is a versatile planner app combining to-do lists, calendar, and note-taking in one. Its AI assistant and location-based reminders make it a valuable tool for staying organized. Consider Any.do when searching for the best planner app.

4. Google Calendar

Google Calendar is a free and widely used calendar app that integrates with other Google products, such as Gmail and Google Drive. It allows you to create events, set reminders, and share your calendar with others.

Best features:

• Wide integration – integrates seamlessly with other Google products like Gmail and Drive.
• Multiple calendar views – view your schedule in different formats like day, week, month, and agenda for easy planning.
• Event sharing and collaboration – share calendars with others and collaborate on events for meetings, appointments, and shared projects.
• Automatic reminders – set reminders for upcoming events to ensure you never miss an important date.

Pricing:

• Free to use with a Google account.

Google Calendar is a widely used free planner app integrating with other Google products. Its simplicity allows it to be used by individual non-power users and professionals alike. It offers multiple calendar views, event sharing, and automatic reminders, making it a well-rounded option in the world of planner apps.

5. Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Outlook is another popular calendar app that offers a wide range of features, including email, contacts, and tasks. It integrates well with other Microsoft products and can be a good choice for business users.

Best features:

• Robust email integration – manage emails and tasks within the same app, improving workflow efficiency.
• Categorization and prioritization – categorize tasks and emails with color-coding and flags for better organization and prioritization.
• Offline access – access your calendar and tasks even without an internet connection.
• Meeting scheduling and booking – schedule meetings and book resources directly within the app, simplifying the process.

Pricing:

• Free version with limited features available with a Microsoft account.
• Basic, Personal and Family plans come with the Microsoft 365 annually paid subscriptions at $19.99 / $59.99 / $99.99 a year respectively and offer additional features like increased storage, advanced security, and access to other Microsoft applications.

As one of the most widely-established planner apps, Microsoft Outlook has amassed popularity with email integration, categorization tools, offline access and free accessibility. It simplifies meeting scheduling and offers features like color-coding and flags for prioritization, among numerous integrations in the Microsoft family of products.

If your company relies heavily on email communication in everyday collaboration, you might want to improve it with custom intranet solutions. This will save you time and improve productivity.

Employees spend 13 hours a week on email handling. You can use that time where it’s really needed.

6. Trello

Trello is a project management app that uses a Kanban board system to visualize your tasks, which is especially useful to engineering teams. It allows you to create cards for your tasks, move them between different stages (e.g., to do, in progress, done), and collaborate with others.

Best features:

• Kanban board system – visualize tasks and workflows using boards, lists, and cards for a clear and organized system.
• Power-Ups – extend Trello’s functionality with various add-ons called Power-Ups, catering to specific needs like voting, automation, and integrations.
• Team collaboration – collaborate with colleagues by assigning tasks, adding comments, and tracking progress on boards.
• Mobile accessibility – manage your boards and tasks conveniently on the go with the mobile app.

Pricing:

• Free plan with limited boards, lists, and cards.
• Standard, Premium and Enterprise plans come at $5 / $10 / $17.50 per user per month billed annually, and offer increased storage, Power-Ups, and advanced security features.
• Paid plans cater to large organizations with additional features and support.

Trello is a project management app using a board system to appeal especially to highly visual users, who like to have a more tangible experience while planning tasks. It allows collaboration, power-up extensions for specific needs, and mobile accessibility, making it a flexible choice for planning apps.

7. Notion

You may know Notion as a documents and wikis creation platform, but it’s a versatile tool that can be used for a variety of purposes, including task management, note-taking, and project management. It offers a flexible workspace that you can customize to fit your needs. Notion stands out with great design and branding, too, which is definitely a plus.

Best features:

• Flexible workspace – customize your workspace with a variety of blocks, including text, tables, databases, and more, to suit your specific needs.
• Collaboration tools – share your workspace with others and collaborate in real-time on projects, notes, and tasks.
• Version history – track changes and revert to previous versions if needed, ensuring you never lose important information.
• Web clipper – clip content from the web directly into your Notion workspace for efficient information gathering and organization.
• AI Q&A – an integrated AI assistant to answer anything you need, both on the work organization matters and content.

Pricing:

• Free plan with limited features and storage.
• Plus plan starts at $8 per user/month and offers unlimited storage and additional features.
• Business plan starts at $15 per user per month and caters to teams with advanced collaboration and security features.
• Enterprise plan is calculated individually, offering a number of extras 

Notion is a versatile tool for tasks, notes, and projects. And a nice-looking one too. Its customizable workspace with various blocks fosters organization and collaboration, with many guides and tutorials, as well as Notion Academy at hand.

8. Habitica

Ever thought of adding a fine dose of play to your life? Habitica is a unique app that gamifies task management. By completing tasks, you can earn rewards and level up your character. This can be a fun way to stay motivated and productive – all in a retro pixel-art style.

Best Features:

• Gamified task management – turn your daily tasks into an engaging RPG experience. Earn experience points, level up your character, and unlock rewards for completing tasks. This unique approach can boost motivation and make habit development enjoyable.
• Customization options – personalize your avatar, equipment, and even the rewards system to fit your interests and preferences.
• Community aspect – connect with others and participate in challenges to stay motivated and accountable. Share your experiences, offer encouragement, and build a support network.
• Habit tracking – monitor your progress towards forming positive habits and breaking negative ones. Track your streaks and celebrate your successes.
• Multiple task categories – manage various aspects of your life with categories like “To Do,” “Habits,” “Dailies,” and “Extras.”

Pricing:

Habitica is completely free to use with all core features available. You can upgrade to Habitica group plan as a manager for $9 + $3 per member per month.One of the most interesting propositions on this list, Habitica gamifies task management, transforming completing tasks into a game with experience points and rewards. This unique approach can boost motivation and make habit development enjoyable, making it a strong contender for the best planner apps.

9. LeaderTask

LeaderTask is a task management app that focuses on helping you stay focused and avoid distractions. It offers features like time blocking, focus mode, and task dependencies.

Best features:

• Focus mode – blocks distracting websites and applications, promoting increased focus and productivity.
• Autofocus time management – set a flag for the task you want to complete first to avoid being distracted by less important tasks.
• Task dependencies – set dependencies between tasks, ensuring tasks are completed in the correct order and preventing bottlenecks.
• Advanced reporting and analytics – gain insights into your productivity and identify areas for improvement.

Pricing:

• Free plan with limited features.
• Premium plan comes at $3.33 per month paid yearly and unlocks features like notifications or adding files to tasks. Business plan comes at $4.66/m and is dedicated to team collaboration with some additional features.

LeaderTask is a daily planner app focusing on concentration with features like focus mode and time blocking. It also offers task dependencies and advanced reporting, positioning itself as a strong choice among best daily planner apps.

10. Sunsama

Sunsama is a daily planner app dedicated to maintaining your work-life balance. It integrates with a variety of other tools, such as Google Calendar, Trello, and Asana. It allows you to plan your day, track your progress, and prioritize your tasks.

Best features:

• Visually appealing interface – offers a clean and intuitive interface for easy navigation and task management.
• Integration hub – connects with various tools and services like Google Calendar, Trello, and Asana, centralizing your information and workflows.
• Prioritization tools – helps you prioritize tasks using Eisenhower Matrix and other prioritization frameworks.
• Progress tracking – monitor your progress towards goals and deadlines visually.

Pricing:

• 14-day Trial plan 
• Paid subscription for $16 a month paid annually or $20 per month if paid monthly

Sunsama is a visually appealing daily planner app integrating with various tools. It offers prioritization frameworks, progress tracking, and a central hub for your information, making it a valuable option in the realm of productivity.

11. ClickUp

Praised as the one app to replace them all, ClickUp is a project management app that offers a wide range of features, including task management, time tracking, and mind mapping. It can be a good choice for complex projects or teams that need to collaborate on a variety of tasks.

Best features:

• Highly customizable – configure your workspace, views, and workflows to fit your specific needs and preferences.
• Multiple list views – choose between different list views like Kanban boards, lists, and mind maps for flexible task organization.
• Goal setting and tracking – set goals, track progress, and measure team performance using built-in tools.
• Automation – automate repetitive tasks to save time and improve efficiency.

Pricing:

• Free plan with limited features and storage.
• Unlimited plan starts at $7 per user per month and offers unlimited storage, integrations, and advanced features.
• Business plan is dedicated for mid-sized teams at $12 per user per month and comes with mindmaps, advanced automations and more
• Enterprise plans cater to large organizations with additional security and support features and is calculated individually.

ClickUp is a highly customizable project and task management app offering multiple list views, goal setting, automation, and integrations. It caters to various needs, potentially becoming one of your best planning apps, especially in a broad business environment.

12. Things

Things, the Apple-awarded app, is a to-do list app that focuses on simplicity and ease of use. It allows you to create to-do lists, set deadlines, and add notes. It has a clean and user-friendly interface that makes it easy to stay organized, which is one of its top characteristics. It will be helpful especially to those, who can’t stand the visual chaos. The app has recently landed on Apple Vision Pro allowing you to spice things up even more.

Best features:

• Award-winning design – simple and user-friendly interface that emphasizes clarity and ease of use.
• Focus on “Today” list – encourages prioritizing and completing the most important tasks for the day.
• Quick entry and editing – capture and modify tasks quickly using intuitive gestures and keyboard shortcuts.
• Natural language recognition – add and edit tasks using natural language for a more seamless experience.

Pricing:

• Designed specifically for Apple devices, Things require a one-time purchase within a $9.99-$49.99 range per each device.

If you’re looking for an app that offers unmatched design and UX, Things might be the go-to product for you – especially if you’d prefer to go solo with your daily endeavors. If you are an Apple fan, you might want to try it out, especially as the free trial version is available.

13. Microsoft To Do

As the name suggests, Microsoft To Do is a to-do list app that is available on a variety of platforms. It allows you to create to-do lists, set deadlines, and add notes. Simple as that. It also integrates with other Microsoft products, such as Outlook and Teams.

Best features:

• Simple and straightforward interface – easy to learn and use for beginners.
• Cross-platform availability – access your tasks from various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computers.
• Integration with Microsoft ecosystem – integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft products like Outlook and Teams.
• Assign tasks to Microsoft users – You can create tasks for users in the MS ecosystem to get a taste of collaboration.

Pricing:

• Free to use with a Microsoft account.

Microsoft To Do is predominantly a simple daily planner app dedicated rather to those lucky enough to have a structured influx of tasks. The handful of categorization features available is just enough for your daily shopping list and party preps. With cross-platform accessibility and integration with other Microsoft 365 products, you can connect with pretty much anyone on your contact list easily. Things will only get more interesting as Microsoft is now using Copilot AI functionalities for Word or Excel – stay tuned as we dig into more of the use of AI in M365 on our blog.

14. Evernote

Evernote is a seasoned note-taking app that can also be used for task management. It allows you to create notes, add attachments, and organize your notes using notebooks and tags. You can also set reminders for your notes as you please. Not entirely a dedicated task planner, it can surprise you with its versatility, especially if you’re a habitual scribbler. But if you really want to make Evernote become a professional tool, it can provide some team collaboration features as well.

Best features:

• Powerful note-taking – create notes in various formats, including text, images, audio, and video.
• Web clipper – capture content from the web directly into Evernote for efficient information gathering.
• Organization tools – organize notes using notebooks, tags, and checklists for easy retrieval and management.
• Collaboration features – share notes and collaborate with others in real-time.
• AI note cleanup – automatically structure a messy note into a bullet list, a paragraph etc.

Pricing:

• Free plan with limited features and storage.
• Personal plan starts at $14.99 per month, while Professional plan starts at $17.99 per month. Paid options feature increased storage, offline access, advanced search capabilities and more.

Evernote is a user-friendly and powerful note-taking app flexible enough to become a daily planner and a working & storage space for teams. Its functionality can be valuable for managing tasks within the world of daily planner apps for those who first take notes and then organize them into tasks. Think handymen, poets and all types of creative individuals.

15. Clockify

Clockify is a time tracking app that can also be used for task management. It allows you to track your time, set goals, and manage your projects. It can be a good choice for individuals or teams who need to track their time and productivity, where and when time plays an important role.

Best features:

• Simple and intuitive time tracking – track time spent on tasks effortlessly with a user-friendly interface.
• Project management features – create projects, assign tasks, and track team progress in one central location.
• Reporting and analytics – generate reports to gain insights into productivity and identify areas for improvement.
• Integrations – integrates with various tools and services like Trello and Asana for streamlined workflows.

Pricing:

• From $3.99 to $11.99 per user per month paid annually (monthly subscription available), if becoming a timemaster is your goal.

Clockify is a time tracking app with project management features and reporting tools, focused predominantly on monitoring, scheduling and auditing. It integrates with various services and offers a user-friendly interface, making it a strong contender for the best planning apps focusing on time management.

Summary: spotting the best daily planning app?

Farewell, disorganization! That concludes our list of 15 best daily planner applications of 2024. With these versatile apps in your arsenal, you can bid farewell to the days of frantic scrambling and missed deadlines. 

With a myriad of products to choose from, we decided to cater for the needs of all. Hence, you will find here apps for busy managers and orderly hobbyists alike.

So, what are you waiting for? Explore these apps, discover your perfect fit, and watch your efficiency soar. 

Remember, conquering your to-do list may be just a click away.

All You Need to Know about Daily Planner Apps

What are the benefits of using daily planner apps?

Daily planner apps can help you increase productivity and organization, improve focus and concentration, reduce stress and anxiety, develop better time management skills and allow you to collaborate with others more effectively.

What features should I look for in a daily planner app?

Ease of use, good design, task management features, calendar integration, collaboration features should be considered when choosing a daily planner app: 

How much do daily planner apps cost?

Many daily planner apps are free to use, with basic features like creating to-do lists and setting reminders. Some offer premium plans with additional features, typically starting at a few dollars per month.

Are daily planner apps secure?

Before using any app, it’s important to research its security practices. Choose apps with strong data encryption and user authentication measures to protect your personal information.

Can I use daily planner apps on my phone, tablet, and computer?

Many popular daily planner apps are available on various platforms, including smartphones, tablets, and computers. This allows you to access your schedule and tasks from any device.

Which daily planner app is the best?

The “best” daily planner app depends on your individual needs and preferences. Consider the features you find most important and try out a few different apps to see which one works best for you. We hope you will find your favorite.

Artykuł 15 Best Planner Apps of 2024 pochodzi z serwisu IT-Dev.

I have used it for some time now and I want to share 3 features that I think will make Microsoft 365 Copilot in PowerPoint worth the license cost.

1. Generate a Sales Presentation in PowerPoint from a Proposal file in Word.

I have a lot of experience with different RFP responses, or Sales offers, and usually after you pass the first screening you are always asked to make a presentation from your proposal, wouldn’t it be nice if you could produce a Presentation from your existing word proposal?

Now we can do just that with M365 Copilot inside PowerPoint.

Let me show you how:

In PowerPoint the experience is slightly different from Word where you get a Copilot prompt when you start. So after you have started a new Presentation you need to click the Copilot button from the ribbon.

From the window you can either create a presentation based on how you describe it to create a presentation, or you can create a presentation based on a file.

Unfortunately, you can’t select the file in the dialog box that appears: 

Because PowerPoint has some problems with the url from the address bar, you need to go to Word and click the Share Button 

And then just Copy link and paste it into the Prompt Copilot window inside of PowerPoint.

Afterwards just click the generate button and wait for Copilot to do its work. 

So, in this example, it created slides with all the key points from my Word document, but of course this is only a suggestion, and you can always change it as you like. The good thing about this is that if you have trouble starting with making slide decks, this is a great way to give you some ideas to work with based on a proposal that you already have written. 

2. Summarize your presentation

To make a summary, just simply open the presentation you want to summarize. And Select Copilot from the Ribbon. 

Either select Summarize this presentation from the available options or just type it in the chat window and click send. 

When the summary is done, you will get this option:

In PowerPoint we don’t have options yet to make the summary more formal or professional like we can do in Microsoft Word. 

So, we can only Copy the summary to the clipboard. Also, this is just a suggested summary from Copilot and it might be wrong so you always have to check and confirm the result. 

3. “Add a slide”

My last feature for PowerPoint is Add a slide or Create a new Presentation. They are pretty similar. Where Create a new Presentation will make a presentation based on your input, Add a slide will make a slide based on your input. 

To add a new slide with the help of Copilot, just type Add slide about as the text in the prompt/chat window. So, let’s try to add a slide about Bing Chat or Copilot as it’s now called. 

After the slide has been added, you can either edit it yourself, or you can also use the Designer to improve the Layout. 

Let’s also look at the Prompt window closely 

If you are not sure what prompts you can write, you can find some help here under the book icon 

If you click Create, you will see an option about suggested prompts for creating content 

If you click “View more prompts”, you will get a window that shows you all prompts including your saved prompts. 

As you can see, we also have the option to Add an Agenda slide. 

And just like that we have created an agenda slide.

Summary

With M365 Copilot for PowerPoint, I can easily start creating a presentation from a Word Sales document, that will help me to get started faster, or I can also use Copilot to add slides based on my input, or create an Agenda slide. This will help me to start writing content in PowerPoint. The last but not least, we can also create an executive summary of our presentation. I have more than once had a need to create an executive summary and with this feature, I will save a lot of time. 

Artykuł Top 3 features for Microsoft 365 Copilot in PowerPoint pochodzi z serwisu IT-Dev.

I’ve tested it out across several different apps, and when it comes to Microsoft 365 Copilot in Word, I want to highlight 3 features that in my opinion will justify the license cost.

First of all, let’s not forget that Microsoft 365 Copilot uses ChatGPT 4.0, and not 3.5 which is the free version that you get if you go to www.openai.com. If you want to use the ChatGPT 4.0 engine you must pay $20 a month for it, while with Microsoft 365 Copilot you pay $30 per month in total. So the difference in monthly cost is negligible. Microsoft has also now made Microsoft 365 Copilot available also for small businesses and you don’t need to buy 300 licenses anymore, and you can also sign up for a personal Copilot license with the new Copilot Pro license. We will get back to comparing this in another article.

But let’s get back to my top 3 features of Microsoft 365 Copilot in Word.

1. Rewrite text

To use Rewrite text, simply mark the text you want to modify with Copilot and click the Copilot Icon that will appear on left side of your text.

Then you can either click ‘Rewrite’ to get Microsoft 365 Copilot to rewrite your text, or you can also get Copilot to visualize the text as a table.

Let’s first look at the different options that you have from the “rewrite window.”

Copilot offers 3 different text versions that you can insert into your document, to replace the text that you marked. Click the next/prev arrows to navigate the different alternatives and select the one you want.

On the right side of the window you will always have the feedback buttons. Use these buttons actively to provide feedback to Microsoft about the AI generated content.

The filter button allows you to modify the tone in which Copilot generates the text.

The default tone is Neutral, but you can also choose between Professional, Casual, Concise and Imaginative.

To generate 3 new suggestions, click the Regenerate button.

‘Rewrite text’ can be particularly useful for non-native English speakers like me, helping them to learn better phrasing and grammar on the go. 

2. Create a summary

To create a summary, just open up a Word document and select Copilot from the navigation. 

You can either just click the suggested option “Summarize this doc” or you can write the same text in the Chat box to get a summary of the document.

When the summary is finished, you will get this option:

You can either refresh the summary to get another suggestion, or generate a more casual or formal summary.

3. Draft a new document

It’s possible to use Copilot to draft a new document, either by asking it to write a document based on a single text you provide or starting from up to 3 documents.When you click the new Document button you will be prompted with the “Draft with Copilot” 

Here you should describe what you want to write – the more detail you give, the better the output you’ll get from Copilot.

When Copilot is finished generating the content you can either keep it, or you can ask it to generate a more professional or concise version, or if you don’t like the proposed content you can always regenerate it. But don’t forget that you have to verify and modify the details to make sure it’s accurate and fits your tone and style. ​​

Summary

With M365 Copilot for Word I’m able to quickly rewrite my text and make it more professional. I can easily create a executive summary of my proposal, or I can draft a new document. 

I think a lot of people can relate that sometimes it’s just difficult to get started with writing copy, and M365 Copilot offers you exactly the support you need to get going. 

So if you feel that you’ll benefit from even just one of the three features mention above, then I would recommend you consider investing in M365 Copilot.

Artykuł Top 3 features for Microsoft 365 Copilot in Word pochodzi z serwisu IT-Dev.