Finding the ideal text application can be a challenge though and I think many of us are intrigued by watching what kind of creative solutions developers come up with. I use it at conferences to take notes – at All Things D 2 years ago I wrote about 11 pages of text in Pages on the iPad.
I know it’s not perfect, and without a Bluetooth keyboard it’s not as precise, but it’s still pretty darn good. I don’t care what anybody says, I think the iPad is a great device on which to type. This interview is fun for both the sighted and the blind, wait till you hear what they have to offer at TravelEyes.ĭoesn’t that sound like a cool way to travel? Check it out at. This one is wonderful if only for the VOICE on this guy! He could pretty much read me the phone book and I’d be mesmerized. It’s time to play the very last of my CSUN Persons With Disabilities Expo interviews. Today is Sunday April 1st, 2012 and this is show number 360.
Hi this is Allison Sheridan of the NosillaCast Mac Podcast, hosted at, a technology geek podcast with an EVER so slight Macintosh bias. Jeff Gamet of The Mac Observer joins us in Chit Chat Across the Pond to try and teach me the value of color calibration. The best note taking app on the iPad for handwriting I’ve used to date is Notability from Ginger Labs. Trunk Notes from Apps on the Move to take type written notes on the iPad using wiki technology and using the Markdown language. iCloud is also supported, and this makes it simple to sync Notability files between Mac, iPad and iPhone.We learn about TravelEyes, a unique travel agency that pairs up sighted and blind travelers in group tours, giving the blind access to travel and the sighted a discount on amazing vacations from. Notability sports an "AutoBackup" feature that works with Dropbox and Google Drive, putting files in a new Notability folder. Quite frankly, this is where Notability really shines: Taking notes, sketching and doodling on the iPad is effortless, then bringing it to the Mac to take further notes or edit what you've done is very simple, straightforward and intuitive. Notability for the Mac integrates with iCloud to provide really seamless workflow with your iOS Notability data.
If you already use Notability on your iOS device, getting the Mac version is as close to a no-brainer as possible. You can slow down and speed up playback as well. The files can be easily scrubbed during later playback, to make it easy to find that segment of the lecture or conversation you found particularly illuminating. You can start and stop recording at any time each audio file is indexed. You can also import Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel content after a fashion (using Google Drive as a bridge), along with RTF files, and Note files.Ĭlicking the mic button attaches an audio file to the note, recorded from your Mac's microphone. Pinch and zoom works as you'd expect it to.
You can import images and PDF files, editing them using the pen and highlight tools. The erase tool will step back actions you take using the highlighter and pen tools.
Of course, handwriting and visual input isn't quite so straightforward on the Mac, but if you're lucky enough to be working with pen tablet (or skilled enough with a mouse), then you can combine your written notes with sketches, highlights to text and other visual embellishments.ĭrawing and highlighting tools include a palette of 16 different colors, pen and highlighter width adjustment, and pen style (uniform, which paints an even line, and variable). The handwriting and highlighting tools should be familiar to Notability for iOS users this is really where the app made its bones on the iPad and iPhone. Text also reflows around images you've embedded in your notes. You can style text with different fonts and colors, add bold, italics and underline and select three different list styles: plain, bulleted and ordered (by number and letter if you use multiple indents bullet lists change formatting as they indent as well). Writing in Notability is a linear affair position the cursor where you want, it'll flush left on the page.