Best (handwriting + text) notes application?

[adamvk]

I'm looking for an iPad application that allows you to type, use handwriting, draw the occasional image, etc. What's the best app that does this?

Also, it's it's retina, that would be preferred.

Yes, I know, there's a million threads/articles on this, but since there are new applications available each day this answer changes frequently. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[palpatine]

I'm looking for an iPad application that allows you to type, use handwriting, draw the occasional image, etc. What's the best app that does this?

Also, it's it's retina, that would be preferred.

Yes, I know, there's a million threads/articles on this, but since there are new applications available each day this answer changes frequently. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

here is a review that recommends note taker hd.
http://www.princeton.edu/~cmayo/reviewhandwriting.html

here is one recommending notability.
http://www.cultofmac.com/167892/best-of-round-up-ipad-note-taking-apps/

your mileage will vary depending on your usage.

 

[adamvk]

here is a review that recommends note taker hd.
http://www.princeton.edu/~cmayo/reviewhandwriting.html

here is one recommending notability.
http://www.cultofmac.com/167892/best-of-round-up-ipad-note-taking-apps/

your mileage will vary depending on your usage.

Ok thanks for the reply! Yea I've heard good things about Notability. Note Taker Hd also looks fine, I'm just personally not a fan of the ui. Being a graphic designer is a curse sometimes. I notice too much.

 

[JacaByte]

So far I'm enjoying GoodNotes and am considering purchasing the full version. You should give it a try, there's a free version on the app store that's limited to two notebooks so you can try it out.

 

[bijju]

i would say try UPAD app .. i am using it from last 4 months for all my college classes(5) to take notes... worth $5.

 

[gorskiegangsta]

Having tried more than a few note taking apps, Notes Plus beats all of them handily. It isn't cheap (at $7.99) but for the quality of the app and number of features it is well worth it.
I'd recommend checking out videos on it to see if it suits your needs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty3tdlSbM7M

 

[adamvk]

i would say try UPAD app .. i am using it from last 4 months for all my college classes(5) to take notes... worth $5.

Good suggestion, thank you!

So far I'm enjoying GoodNotes and am considering purchasing the full version. You should give it a try, there's a free version on the app store that's limited to two notebooks so you can try it out.

This is basically EXACTLY what I'm looking for, thank you!

Having tried more than a few note taking apps, Notes Plus beats all of them handily. It isn't cheap (at $7.99) but for the quality of the app and number of features it is well worth it.
I'd recommend checking out videos on it to see if it suits your needs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty3tdlSbM7M

Oh, wow. This is also EXACTLY what I'm looking for, but seems to have a little more features. Hmmm....You can customize more it seems like which I really like.

 

[andrewnguyener]

So far I'm enjoying GoodNotes and am considering purchasing the full version. You should give it a try, there's a free version on the app store that's limited to two notebooks so you can try it out.

I agree with GoodNotes. It's so worth it. I've tried all the notes apps and this is def the best.

 

[palpatine]

I agree with GoodNotes. It's so worth it. I've tried all the notes apps and this is def the best.

goodnotes is really nice. and free

notes plus? blurry handwriting in my opinion.

 

[sk1wbw]

What about Remarks, from Readdle?

 

[juliainor]

What about Remarks, from Readdle?

Remarks if my personal favorite. I like its UI. The handwriting is very good for me. Literally my only gripe about it is I wish its highlighting tool would automatically follow a line of text (or at least have that option). My highlighting is a bit messy at times.

Remarks does everything I want it to and looks good doing it.

I can't stand Note Taker HD's UI and I don't find the handwriting to be very smooth.

I used Notability until Remarks came out. No real complaints about Notability, but I prefer the look and feel of Remarks. Handwriting is slightly better (for me) on Remarks.

I have not tried either Notes Plus or GoodNotes, but I have not seen anything about them that is tempting me away from Remarks.

 

[sk1wbw]

Remarks if my personal favorite. I like its UI. The handwriting is very good for me. Literally my only gripe about it is I wish its highlighting tool would automatically follow a line of text (or at least have that option). My highlighting is a bit messy at times.

Remarks does everything I want it to and looks good doing it.

I can't stand Note Taker HD's UI and I don't find the handwriting to be very smooth.

I used Notability until Remarks came out. No real complaints about Notability, but I prefer the look and feel of Remarks. Handwriting is slightly better (for me) on Remarks.

I have not tried either Notes Plus or GoodNotes, but I have not seen anything about them that is tempting me away from Remarks.

I find Remarks to be, well, remarkably easy to use, no play on words intended. I tried to annotate some PDF files the other day and Remarks came out the winner on how easy it was to do.

 

[wadjj]

Remarks if my personal favorite. I like its UI. The handwriting is very good for me. Literally my only gripe about it is I wish its highlighting tool would automatically follow a line of text (or at least have that option). My highlighting is a bit messy at times.

Remarks does everything I want it to and looks good doing it.

I can't stand Note Taker HD's UI and I don't find the handwriting to be very smooth.

I used Notability until Remarks came out. No real complaints about Notability, but I prefer the look and feel of Remarks. Handwriting is slightly better (for me) on Remarks.

I have not tried either Notes Plus or GoodNotes, but I have not seen anything about them that is tempting me away from Remarks.

Highlighting seems good with remarks,that's the only thing I don't like with notability. But as I recall, remarks doesn't have zoom writing box, right? That's a big no to me.

 

[epicmar]

Highlighting seems good with remarks,that's the only thing I don't like with notability. But as I recall, remarks doesn't have zoom writing box, right? That's a big no to me.

I primarily use the zoom writing box for the handwriting apps I use, Note Taker HD and Notes Plus, but I have to admit that the handwriting in Remarks is so good that it might not need a zoom writing box. It is not my default notetaking app because it doesn't yet have the ability to copy/cut/paste/move handwriting entry, at least not that I found the last time I checked.

 

[JacaByte]

I also heard that Remarks has stability issues, have those been smoothed out since its release or is there still a threat of losing your unsaved notes?

 

[wadjj]

I primarily use the zoom writing box for the handwriting apps I use, Note Taker HD and Notes Plus, but I have to admit that the handwriting in Remarks is so good that it might not need a zoom writing box. It is not my default notetaking app because it doesn't yet have the ability to copy/cut/paste/move handwriting entry, at least not that I found the last time I checked.

Not for me cuz I have to write formulas, anything without zoom writing makes little difference to sketch apps like penultimate. If PDF expert and remarks have zoom writing I'd definitely try them. I don't like goodreader's userface but for now I have to stick with it.

 

[juliainor]

I also heard that Remarks has stability issues, have those been smoothed out since its release or is there still a threat of losing your unsaved notes?

I have not had any stability issues with Remarks but YMMV

 

[qijianjonathan]

I use Note Taker HD.

 

[GerritV]

Interesting topic!
Here's a comparison test of Noteshelf vs Remarks vs Notability, I thought it to be quite interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw18-CTo6ok&feature=related

 

[GerritV]

What about Remarks, from Readdle?

Soon after reading your tip, I googled some and checked several apps from this topic.
But I was instantly in love with the unique and clean interface of Remarks.
Bought it right away
So, cheers to you!

 

[sk1wbw]

Soon after reading your tip, I googled some and checked several apps from this topic.
But I was instantly in love with the unique and clean interface of Remarks.
Bought it right away
So, cheers to you!

Glad to hear that. It is rather a nice app and very easy to use.

 

[shyam09]

which stylus are you guys using. I've heard a lot of things of Amazonbasics and the targus one... are there any recommendations?

 

[GerritV]

I'm using the Architect Stylus from Arctic Accessories. The protective cap is a nice feature IMHO.

 

[sk1wbw]

The Wacom Bamboo stylus is the one I like to use.

 

[GerritV]

Highlighting seems good with remarks,that's the only thing I don't like with notability. But as I recall, remarks doesn't have zoom writing box, right? That's a big no to me.

Remarks does have a zoom writing box, actually.