In this day and age, nearly everyone carries a smartphone in their pocket – and with good reason. Given the rapid pace with which technology has been advancing, one undeniable observation about smartphones is that they are becoming increasingly capable of fulfilling various functions that used to be served by different devices. For instance, even an entry-level smartphone from as far back as 5 years ago can be used as a phone, a camera and a multimedia player, to say nothing about newer and more high-end devices. Apart from these, smartphones can also be made even more useful through the installation of various note-taking apps. With that in mind, this article shall discuss some of the most popular and useful note-taking apps for both iOS as well as Android – namely Google Keep, OneNote and Evernote.
Google Keep
The first note-taking app to be discussed here is Google Keep. Lee (2016) describes this app as an ideal choice for note-taking in any situation, such as for typing down quick notes, reminders, shopping lists and others. On the other hand, this app offers a slight learning curve, and can at times ‘feel strange and unlike any other note-taking app’ the user might have encountered. Notwithstanding that caveat, however, Google Keep is nevertheless a highly simple and useful note-taking app that can be downloaded free of charge by any user who wishes to boost his productivity.
OneNote
Another popular note-taking app is OneNote, which Lee (2016) describes as ‘one of the most useful, full-featured, and formidable note-taking apps on the market.’As with Google Keep, this app is described as being immensely useful and effective no matter what purpose the user might have in mind. Apart from that, OneNote also has an additional advantage in that it has ‘an incredibly easy learning curve,’ and is described as being an especially viable note-taking app for programmers as well as for ‘collecting and organizing long-term data like recipes, story ideas, and lecture notes.’Those who have become highly accustomed and make regular use of Microsoft Office will have little problem adapting to this note-taking app as well.Moreover, when one considers how OneNote has been free to download ever since 2015, its popularity should no longer come as a surprise.
Evernote
Finally, Evernote is alsoreasonably popular and useful in its own right. Lee (2016) describes this app as having been ‘the first full-featured, multipurpose note-taking app to hit mobile devices,’ and that it remains the top choice for many users even after OneNote exploded in popularity. While Evernote’s once-unique features have since become commonplace, the app still has several useful features that continue to make it‘a great option for heavy-duty user.’However, one glaring limitation of this app is its use of the freemium model. Unlike Google Keep and OneNote which allow users complete access of all their functions, Evernote keeps its best features ‘locked behind a paywall’ and requires users to spend money in order to use it to its fullest extent.
All in all, arguably the greatest strength of the note-taking apps that have been discussed is their accessibility. Google Keep and OneNote can all be downloaded freely, and while Evernote’s use of the freemium model may be off-putting for some, those who merely wish to make use of its basic functions can do so with no problems whatsoever. Also, when one considers the sheer volume of the note-taking apps available on both the Google Play Store and on Apple’s App Store, the only remaining question as to which app to download and install is that of personal preference.
Reference
Lee, J. (2016, August 06) “What Is the Best Free Note-Taking App for Android?”.MakeUseOf. Retrieved from https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/best-free-note-taking-app-android/
