Note.s : Daily Journal Review

Just when users thought that there couldn’t possibly be room for another journaling and note taking app, Note.s : Daily Journal enters into the App Store and takes everyone by surprise. With its well-designed and very simple user interface, this app may cause one to question why no one ever thought of it before.

What makes Note.s : Daily Journal so different from all the rest? Well, for one thing it’s just simple. There aren’t a myriad of features to wade through nor are there various functions to explore. It’s designed to help users focus on writing, and it does this well.

Whether users desire to journal, scrapbook, jot down notes or create a private diary, it’s easy to get started. Simply tap on the pencil icon at the bottom of the screen in note list to create a new note or in entry list to create a new entry. The keyboard pops up and then it’s time to start writing away. There are various fonts and styles for users to select so that notes may be customized.

Not only can users write down their thoughts, but the app also lets them attach locations and photos to each entry which can be viewed later by scrolling left or right. Just tap on the small paperclip at the bottom of the screen and you’ll be able to add either a map or picture in just a few seconds. This is a nice feature when pictures can do more justice than words.

Once a note is entered, it’s possible to tap on the eraser icon to edit the note title and change the order of notes, select the delete button to remove it, set a passcode to protect it and back it up to restore notes via Dropbox and iTunes. Users may also feel comfortable knowing that they can duplicate to other notes and share their entries to E-mail and Twitter.

The simple and clean UI makes this a beautiful notes app. It doesn’t come loaded with a lot of features, but that’s the point of the app. It’s not supposed to be complicated. The only real downfall is that there is no iPad or universal version for those who prefer to write on the larger screen, but it is optimized for the 4-inch retina display on the iPhone 5 for all those lucky users.

When all is said and done, users can go back and tap on the Calendar view to see what days notes were added. Tapping on a specific day lets users view an excerpt. That’s all there is to it. Note.s : Daily Journal is ideal for anyone looking for a nice, simple way to journal. It’s easy on the eyes and worth giving a try. As for me, I’ll be replacing the native yellow pad Notes app with this gem.