simpleaf is a clean, simple note app that stands out
by Toni McQuilken
Jun 15, 2012 4:42 PM –
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Have you ever had the need to jot some notes, yet you were in another app? simpleaf is a very simple and surprisingly efficient handwriting memo app that is accessible from the notifications bar allow you to note take from any app.
Price: Free, $1.23
Tested on: Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
Content Rating: Everyone
Pros & Cons:
Pros
- A very simple notebook app!
- Transparent overlay makes it easy to make notes on top of other apps!
- You can launch it from the notification bar, so you don’t have to leave an app to make notes on it!
- If you don’t want or need the transparent background, you can use a solid grid to take notes!
Cons
- No way to erase a mark without deleting the page and starting over.
Features:
I use my tablet to write notes, so I’m always interested in trying out new handwriting apps on Android. This is a nice basic one, with some great features.
The best, by far, is the ability to launch from the notification bar, with a transparent background. So basically, you get an overlay to let you make notes on the app or screen you were working in. This is great for a lot of applications and needs, and I was impressed with how seamless and easy it was.
There aren’t a lot of other side features – no way to pull up the keyboard, or change fonts or colors, or any of those advanced things a lot of the larger note apps have. This one is designed to be very slim and simple. The only feature I missed, to be honest, was the ability to erase a mark. Sometimes, you just write the wrong word, or spell something wrong, or even accidentally swipe your finger the wrong way. I’d like an eraser to quickly just correct the problem, rather than have to either live with it or start over.
In the free version, you have a 10 page limit on notes, and it’s supported by ads. The paid version has no page limits or ads – I like when developers do this, allow you to really use the app in the free version to get a feel for how it will fit into your routine before you invest in buying the full version.
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Simpleaf Transparent
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Simpleaf Grid
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simpleaf Notes on Phone
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simpleaf Note Taking in Other Apps on Phone
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simpleaf Sharing Options
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Simpleaf Settings
Usefulness:
The ability to pull this up as an overlay on other apps, where you can make quick notes and save them, is a fantastic thing. It allows you to make the notes while looking at what prompted them, and turns this into an app that supplements every other app on your device.
Ease of Use:
After you start it for the first time, the app stays in your notification bar for quick access no matter what other app you’re working in. You can turn this off in the settings if you want, but it is this feature that turns it from just another basic note app to something you can use in a wide variety of ways.
Frequently Used:
For anyone who uses their device for business, this is going to be a great app for you, and one you use frequently. It just makes it so easy to jot down notes and thoughts as you have them, while looking at anything else, from emails to spreadsheets to stock portfolios, for later use.
Interface:
As I mentioned above, this is a very clean, very simple app. It doesn’t have a lot of bells or whistles, and is really designed to be a quick way to take notes when you think of them, rather than a more dedicated app that does nothing except act as a notebook. I found it very quick and easy to learn and use, overall.
Tags:
Android App,
Android Apps,
Android Notes,
Android Tablet Apps,
AndroidTapp.com App Review,
Note Taking,
Note Taking App,
Simpleaf
Categorised in: Business, Productivity
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