Microsoft and Apple together? They actually make a great combination. Microsoft OneNote for iOS.
introduction
Microsoft and Apple might be two competitive giants when it comes to innovation and technology products, but what happens when these two companies join forces for a “greater cause” for students, education and productivity? As soon as I got the iPad Pro 10.5 and the Apple Pencil I started searching for the best note-taking app available on the AppStore for a University student like me. After trying many apps like Goodnotes, Evernote, Notability and Notes Plus I was surprised to find out that OneNote was the best fit (for me). This is the BadFive’s review of the Microsoft OneNote app on the Apple iPad Pro & Apple Pencil.
FEATURES
Cloud sync & backup
The OneNote app for iOS packs a bunch of useful features that take note-taking to the next level. First and foremost , cloud sync and backup. OneDrive is Microsoft’s cloud storage service and it works seamlessly with OneNote. Every time a change is made, OneDrive will automatically sync and back up all the data, in real time, to ensure it’s safety , when an internet connection is available. That enables the user to share, view or edit their notes on the go and even access them from a different device using only their Microsoft account. On top of that the user can easily share their notes with friends and coworkers , in view only or edit mode.
Pdf printout and Insert space
PDF Printout is one of my favorite features I personally use every time I take notes. It lets you “digitally print” PDF, Word or Power Point files right into the note-taking space. On these “digital pages” the user can annotate , highlight or even type. OneNote on iOS 11 lets the user to import a file using the Files App. That simply means native support for cloud files (Apple, Google, Microsoft, Dropbox etc) and on device storage.
“Insert space” is another great feature and guess what?! It does what you would imagine. Insert space lets the user create space by simply pushing everything up or down. It just works ! There is no need for manually selecting and moving note elements one by one . (easy peasy lemon squeezy :p )
apple pencil integration
Using the Apple Pencil with the OneNote app elevates the whole note-taking experience to a whole new level. Combining the accuracy of the Apple Pencil and “Draw” mode on OneNote, the user can use pens and highlighters in order to create wonderful notes. The tip width and the color of the pen or highlighter are fully customizable. Draw mode is definitely meant for the Pencil. (P.S. there are some glittery pens that everyone has to try out).
Conclusion
To sum everything up, using the Apple Pencil transforms OneNote into a digital paper that automatically syncs and backups everything. Documents and other files are “printed” on digital pages and the user can annotate on top of or next to them. Packed with many features, this combination brings out the elegance of Apple products and the power of Microsoft productivity tools all in one for one of the best note taking experience, for education, for businesses, for the world.
Oh! I almost forgot to mention that One-Note for iOS is completely FREE!