Brief Summary
This video highlights why Apple Notes is a top-tier note-taking app, emphasizing its speed, organizational capabilities, formatting flexibility, handwriting features, integration with other apps, and strong privacy features. It's free, deeply integrated across Apple devices, and continually improving, making it a compelling choice for most users.
- Fast note capture across devices
- Simple yet powerful organization with smart folders
- Flexible formatting options including handwriting support
- Seamless integration with other apps and strong privacy features
- Free and pre-installed on Apple devices
Introduction
Apple Notes is presented as a fast, free, and deeply integrated note-taking application across all Apple devices. With continuous updates, it's becoming an optimal choice for many users due to its simplicity and efficiency. The video aims to demonstrate the key features that make Apple Notes a standout option.
Convenient Note Creation from Just About Anywhere
The ability to quickly capture notes is a top priority. On a Mac, a desktop shortcut or right-clicking the dock icon allows for instant note creation. On iPhones and iPads, swiping down to the control center and using the notes widget provides quick access. With an Apple Pencil or other stylus, swiping up from the bottom right corner or double-tapping the screen opens a quick note for handwriting. Audio recordings with transcription are also supported across devices, enabling users to record lectures, meetings, or conversations and have them transcribed in real-time.
Simple Organization
Apple Notes offers organizational features such as manual folders and smart folders. While traditional manual folders allow users to drag and organize notes, smart folders automatically categorize notes based on tags. For example, creating a smart folder for notes tagged "YouTube" will automatically include any note with that tag, providing an efficient way to stay organized and synced across devices.
Formatting Flexibility
Apple Notes provides flexibility in formatting, including titles, headings, bold, italics, tables, and checklists. Checklists are particularly useful for quick task lists and project planning. The formatting options support various note-taking styles, from simple outlines to more structured to-do systems.
Handwriting Features
Handwriting is supported on compatible iPads with the Apple Pencil or other styluses. Users can customize the page background with options like lines and grids to keep handwriting aligned. Apple Notes also autorefines handwriting to improve neatness while preserving the user's style. Additionally, the app can recognize and perfect shapes drawn with the pen. The math notes integration, available on iPad OS 18 and later, can automatically solve and display steps for math problems.
Integration and Interactivity with Other Apps
Apple Notes allows for note linking, enabling users to connect related notes for research purposes. Live text and smart data detection allow users to interact with phone numbers, addresses, and links directly within the app, making it easy to call contacts or add them to the address book.
Import and Export
The app supports importing and exporting with attachments, including PDF support for viewing, annotating, and writing on files. Users can scan documents directly into notes using their iPhone or iPad. In Mac OS 26, Apple Notes also supports importing and exporting with markdown.
Privacy and Security
Apple Notes allows users to lock individual notes with a password, Touch ID, or Face ID, providing an extra layer of security for private information, especially useful on shared computers.
The price is right
Apple Notes is free and pre-installed on Apple devices, eliminating the need for subscriptions or additional installations. It syncs across all Apple devices via iCloud.
Final Thoughts
Apple Notes demonstrates that simplicity does not necessarily mean limitation. While there may be some limitations, the features available are sufficient for most users, from simple to more advanced note-taking needs. The video encourages viewers to share their experiences with Apple Notes and whether they use it instead of paid solutions.
