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 Notes app iniOS 17 | |||||
| Developer(s) | Apple Inc. | ||||
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| Stable release(s) | |||||
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| Operating system | iOS,iPadOS,visionOS, andmacOS | ||||
| Type | Notetaking software | ||||
| License | Proprietary | ||||
| Website | www | ||||
Notes is anotetaking app developed byApple Inc provided on the company'siOS,iPadOS,visionOS, andmacOS operating systems, the latter starting withOS X Mountain Lion.
It functions as a service for making short text notes, which can be synchronized between devices using Apple'siCloud service.
The application uses a similar interface on iOS and macOS, with a non-textured paper background for notes and light yellow icons, suggesting pencil or crayon.
Until 2013, both applications used a stronglyskeuomorphic interface, with a lined, textured paper design; the Mountain Lion version placed this inside a leather folder. This design was replaced inOS X Mavericks andiOS 7.
In iOS 7, as with all other default apps, Notes was redesigned, losing thenotepad like UI in the process.
Starting withiOS 9, Notes received a significant functional overhaul:iCloud sync (instead ofIMAP; in-line with theOS X El Capitan version), the ability to createsketches (and later, support forApple Pencil), advancedtext formatting options, several styles of lists, rich web andmap link previews, support for more file type attachments, a corresponding dedicated attachment browser and a system share extension point for saving web links, images, etc.[2]
As of iOS 9.3, individual notes can be password-protected (with the ability to useTouch ID to unlock all notes on compatible devices), however, only one password can be set for all notes locked henceforth. The password syncs across compatible devices.[3]
IniOS 10, Notes now has a collaboration feature for many people to work on a note at the same time.[4]
The update to Notes released withiOS 11 adds tables,[5] pinned notes,[6] a document scanner,[5][6] graph and lined paper,[6]monospaced text support,[6] handwriting search[6] and improved integration withApple Pencil.
Tapping the Pencil on the Lock screen will bring up a new note, with drawing active; the Pencil can also be used while in the Notes app to start an inline drawing.
IniOS 13, the Notes app includes a new gallery view that displays notes as thumbnails, and shared folders.
Checklist items can be automatically moved to the bottom when completed, and can be reordered usingdrag and drop.
Search can find text in documents scanned using Notes and can recognise images within notes.[7]
Notes supports using tags to categorize notes, and using mentions to notify collaborators of important changes to shared notes.
A new Activity view shows all the recent changes to a shared note.[8]
Quick Notes is now available on iPhone through the Share Sheet, and Smart Folders support new filters for organizing notes.
Notes can be locked using the device passcode, instead of using a specific passcode only for locked notes.[9]
Prior to Mountain Lion,Apple Mail on macOS supported a mailbox containing notes, which was synced with notes in the Notes application in iOS. This situation was akludge: as Apple Mail already implemented theIMAP mailbox synchronization protocol, it could also sync notes with minimal additional work.[10]
In Mountain Lion, notes were moved to a separate Notes application.[11][12] Created notes are synced through all the user'sApple devices through theiCloud service. Notes can be arranged in folders and pinned to the user's desktop.
When the application is closed, the pinned note still remains. Additionally, unlike the iPad, iPhone, andiPod touch versions, the OS X Mountain Lion Notes application allows for images to be embedded within notes.
Originally, notes could be created in three different default fonts, Noteworthy, Marker Felt, andHelvetica. Users could also add custom fonts by visiting the "Show Fonts" menu. The menu allows users to change text size, and format lists, choose the alignment (left, center, justify, or right), assign a writing direction, and indent text. Attachments, images, andhyperlinks can also be added to a note. Attachments cannot be viewed on iOS devices.[13]
Due to the proprietary nature of the data storage mechanism for the Apple Notes apps, users of this software may be locked into it without a convenient way to export all Notes data to a different format.[14]
While Apple does provide a way to export individual notes as PDF files, the software does not provide a mechanism to export the text of all notes to a text file, a Rich Text File, or other commonly-used data file formats as a bulk data transfer. However, advanced users can utilizeAppleScript orShortcuts to automate note exports.
As ofOS X El Capitan, Notes received a significant functional overhaul (in-line with theiOS 9 version), with major features including:iCloud sync, the ability to viewsketches created on the iOS counterpart, advancedtext formatting options, several styles of lists, rich web andmap link previews, support for more file type attachments, a corresponding dedicated attachment browser and a system share extension point for saving web links, images, etc.[15]
As of OS X El Capitan 4, individual notes can be password-protected, with the password syncing across compatible devices.[3]
The update to Notes released withmacOS High Sierra adds tables.[16]
The new Notes app inmacOS Catalina lets users turn their notes into reminders.[17]
WithmacOS Sonoma, Notes now lets users create links between notes.
Social media users have often used the Notes application to write short notes, which can then be posted as ascreenshot to social media sites such asInstagram orTwitter.[18][19]
Writers have noted that this form of communication has often been used by celebrities to make public statements, perhaps to give them an informal feel or extend beyond platform character limits, including often to post public apologies.[20][21]
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