Scorecard: Previous Reviews

by dlangendorf on July 19, 2011

Although there are not many, I am not going to update previous individual reviews. Instead, here’s an updated scorecard.

Essay: Still on iPad and iPhone, use sparingly.

Blogsy: Still on iPad, using more — although it has a steep learning curve and is easy to forget when not in constant use.

Ruminate: deleted. Mostly forgotten.

iA Writer, OmmWriter: Use both iA Writer for iPad and Mac, replaced Omm for sheer simplicity. Don’t like the fact, though, that iA Writer (on iPad) can only see Writer folder on Dropbox, not nested folders. Omm is now available for iPad, but I’m not buying (yet) since I like iA Writer so much.

Wunderlist: Still like, don’t use, too simple. Recommended you try, though, as it might fit your needs.

Penultimate: Still like but frustrated too-narrow focus and poor notebook organization. Like NoteShelf and Upad better. Upad is note taker of choice for many reasons — stay tuned.

Notably: not being used. Still a good app, but these note apps are so close in features and functions it’s hard to tell them apart.

Total on the front 9

In use on iPad or iPhone: 2

Used sparingly: 2 (3 with OmmWriter)

Deleted: 3

(Total apps “reviewed”): 8

 

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Studio Basic Lite is Too Lite

by dlangendorf on July 18, 2011

I love note apps to the point of obsession.

A new one came out over the weekend — Studio Basic Lite.

Love the smooth handwriting. Rivals Penultimate, NoteShelf, Upad.

I like that I can add an image from the Photo Library, although for some reason I cannot draw on top of it like screenshots show.

Navigation and tool selection shows promise but it’s not well executed — yet. Kind of confusing, which is not good.

The app has been crashing more than it should. Seems unstable.

No idea what the developer was trying to do on the “home” page, where you can edit the name of the document, share, print, delete, and choose a “category” — which is, I guess, templates (basic, line, grid, idea, and travel).

I don’t hate the app (but will delete for now) because it shows promise and unique thinking, but it’s far from ready.

(And what gives with the Lite? Is there a full version coming?)

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Bite-sized app reviews

July 18, 2011

Rather than write long, exhaustive reviews — there are millions of these on the Web already — I’ve decided to write bite-sized reviews of downloaded apps for the iPad and iPhone. Hopefully I’ll add one a day, or until I run out of money. Apps are addicting. Advantages to this format: Time | I have [...]

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Essay: A Rich Text Writing App Worth Noting

April 20, 2011

Updated The app still resides on the iPad and iPhone, but I use mostly when I am collecting research and snippets of content (see below). Otherwise, for pure writing I still favor iA Writer, both on the iPad and desktop. Original Post A quiet, writer-specific environment is nice. IA Writer, Elements, and Nebulous Notes do [...]

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Blogsy: The Maiden Voyage

April 15, 2011

I’ve been waiting for this app since the day the iPad 1 was released: the ability to truly blog by easily adding images and links to a post. Let’s see how Blogsy works. To create the Blogsy link above, I swiped to the “Rich” side of the app — I assume for rich text formatting. [...]

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Ruminating on Ruminate: It’s not ready

February 15, 2011

Time to ruminate on the iPad app Ruminate. It’s not ready. Ruminate is part mind mapping, part digital whiteboard. Why we need another of each is beyond me, but the lure and promise that a new app like Ruminate can inch us closer to productivity and thought nirvana is enticing. At $1.99, why not buy [...]

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Writer, OmmWriter are two fabulous distraction-free writing tools

February 4, 2011

Distraction-free writing is all the rage. Who needs Word or Pages when all you want to do is get ideas and thoughts on “paper?” Enter distraction-free writing apps, a trend that seems to be led by creative firms — not software development houses — in Europe and Japan, not necessarily the U.S. IA, the amazing [...]

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Wunderlist = wunderlust

February 3, 2011

Right now I am into simple to do applications for the iPhone or iPad. I’m tired of OmniFocus, Things, 2Do, Informant, and all these other apps that try to capture every detail about something I need to do. While these are outstanding apps, I spend more time futzing with start and end times, categories, tags, [...]

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Update: Penultimate is the Ultimate Super-Smooth Handwriting App

February 2, 2011

Since I mentioned Penultimate, the handwriting app for the iPad, I’d better say why I like it. Like Notably, it’s no muss, no fuss, butt simple. It’s used for taking handwritten notes. You choose between three paper types: lined, paper, engineering. You turn on or off the “handwriting protection area,” meaning the lower portion of [...]

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Update: Notably is a Notable iPad App

February 2, 2011

Notably is to text on the iPad as Penultimate is to handwriting. It’s one of the most basic, no frills note-taking apps available. And I love it. You increase or decrease the size of the text by repeatedly tapping the Aa button at the top right of the interface. Using the same button, you cycle [...]

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