Apple Notes in iOS 18 seems to up the ante with Microsoft OneNote

Exclusive: One of Apple’s most quietly popular apps, Notes, is sure to get even more powerful when the company unveils its next-generation operating systems in June, AppleInsider has learned.

Among its new features will be built-in audio recording support at the app level, similar to built-in voice memos, according to people familiar with the matter. The feature is currently in development for iOS 18 and macOS 15 and should ultimately come to the new version of iPadOS as well.

We’re told that early preview versions of the operating systems also reference a new feature called “Math Notes” that will allow new versions of Notes to leverage and communicate with Apple’s Calculator app.

The new in-app audio recording feature will allow users to record, save and play audio recordings directly from the Notes app. It is expected to debut alongside the first public betas released during Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June.

Voice Memos in iOS 18

Recordings made within the app are integrated into individual notes, meaning users will have the option to include additional text or images alongside their audio recordings. This would allow users to, for example, add descriptions or context to an audio recording made within the app.

The audio recording feature has the potential to benefit a wide range of Apple users. With it, students could record their classes or lectures and then add notes or screenshots of the whiteboard, all in a single note. The same use case and general concept could also apply to business meetings.

People traveling could record a guided tour of an area and then add screenshots of things mentioned in the recording. This information, once again, would all be stored in a single note, making navigation relatively easy.

Users will also be able to sync app recordings across all iCloud-enabled devices capable of running iOS 18 or macOS 15. While the Notes app will maintain iCloud support, AppleInsider He was told that the app would be modified to reflect the planned change in branding from Apple ID to Apple Account.

According to those familiar with early versions of the software, the user interface for the new audio recording feature will closely resemble the current Voice Memos app, with nearly identical graphical representations of the recorded audio, providing a unified experience. throughout Apple’s operating system. systems.

Math Notes in iOS 18

In addition to in-app audio recording, Apple is working on another new feature known internally as “Math Notes.” The feature is said to take advantage of connectivity with the company’s Calculator app, allowing users to integrate Calculator information within the Notes app.

Although it remains incomplete at the time of this publication, the update is likely to make way for the display of proper mathematical notation, an essential shorthand for academic, scientific, and engineering applications.

Versions of these two new features have long been a staple of Microsoft’s OneNote, which has become the notebook of choice for curricula and professions involving mathematical notation. It has also established itself as one of the most popular apps in Apple’s iOS and macOS app stores.

The iOS version of the app has been reviewed nearly 900,000 times, while the macOS version recently received Apple’s Editors’ Choice award. For comparison, Microsoft Office for iOS (arguably one of the most popular apps in the world) has been reviewed 2.1 million times, while Apple’s Pages has around 179,000 reviews.

Microsoft’s OneNote contains a variety of math-related features. These features allow users to add and solve equations, create handwritten formulas, perform unit conversions, and even view 2D graphs in their notes.

It is very likely that Apple plans to add similar features in the form of Math Notes. The introduction of Math Notes is also expected to coincide with the release of a redesigned calculator app for macOS, allowing for even more improvements in the realm of math.

Users will be able to open Math Notes from the Calculator app via a dedicated option or button, allowing for quick and easy navigation. However, the exact implementation of this new feature remains to be seen.

By adding Math Notes to its app, Apple could capture a portion of the market that currently relies on rival apps for work. Educators, students, scientists, and engineers are among the groups that would benefit from the addition of Math Notes.

Another round of Sherlocking

Given the established presence of in-app audio recording and mathematical annotation in Microsoft’s OneNote, and considering the app’s popularity, it would only make sense for Apple to try to build a capable rival in the form of its own Notes app.

Apple’s Notes app began life as a simple companion app for the original iPhone. Since then, its popularity has grown by leaps and bounds in both academic and professional use cases.

The Notes app has certainly come a long way since its humble beginnings. As usage of the app increased, Apple began updating it with more impressive features.

Over the years, the app has received a constant stream of improvements. This includes support for photos, tables, links, and more. Notes can also be password protected for added security. Users also have the option to organize Notes into folders, making navigation significantly easier.

With these latest improvements (in-app audio recording and Math Notes), Apple aims to make Notes the note-taking app for every type of note and every type of user. Math Notes will take its place alongside other types of notes, such as business plans, receipts, shopping lists, and more, all in one app.

We’ll likely see these features debut in early June at WWDC 2024. However, it’s important to note that Apple has been known to cancel features or delay them for later OS releases. As a result, there is always the possibility that the company will alter its plans, in whole or in part, for one reason or another.

While Apple Notes will join several other default iOS apps to receive feature improvements in iOS 18 and macOS 15, artificial intelligence is expected to take center stage when Apple formally unveils its next-generation operating systems at WWDC on June 10. .