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Microsoft has released a new Google Chrome extension that allows users to “clip” Web pages directly into their OneNote notebooks.
Once installed, the free extension, called OneNote Clipper, appears as an icon that resides just to the right of the browser’s “omnibox,” Google’s combined search and address bar. Clicking the icon saves Web pages as searchable images into a user’s OneNote notebook hosted on Microsoft’s OneDrive cloud storage service, which can be viewed using OneNote Online or on smartphones, tablets and PCs with the OneNote app.
The add-on builds on the original tool released in March. Previously, users were required to drag a link from the OneNote Clipper home page onto their favorites bar, creating a bookmarklet. Now, Microsoft is offering a more integrated experience.
“After looking at the initial usage data, we saw that a lot of you are using the OneNote Clipper in Chrome,” said the OneNote Team in a June 6 blog post. “We also heard many of you asking for a Chrome extension for the Clipper.”
Since its June 6 release, the extension has attracted more than 3,400 users. So far, reviews have been mostly positive and the add-on has garnered an average rating of 4.5 stars out of five.
In addition, Microsoft is smoothing the way for users of the competing Springpad note-taking platform to import their data into OneNote. Springpad, is shuttering its service after encountering challenges in the competitive market for cloud-enabled mobile apps, despite attracting 5 million users in its six-year history.
“Unfortunately, we were not able to secure additional funding or scale to become a self-sustaining business,” said the company in a May 27 statement. “As part of closing our business, a portion of our team is joining Google.”
The company released a tool that offers Evernote migration capabilities. Alternately, users can back up their notes in a viewable HTML format or as an importable JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) file. And time is running out.
“You will have until June 25 to continue to access your data and complete your migration,” warned the company. After that date, “Springpad.com will no longer be available; all online and sync features of the mobile apps will stop working, and your personal data will no longer be stored on our servers.”
To help with the transition, Microsoft has released a Springpad to OneNote tool of its own.
The multi-step process requires users to download a backup .zip file of their data and upload that file to the Springpad to the OneNote tool Website. After signing in with a Microsoft account, the data is imported into users’ OneNote accounts, preserving Springpad notebooks and pages.
Springpad power users may have to jump through some hoops to import their collections, however. Early users report that the tool has a file size limit of 50MB.