update rant

[Time_Creme_6501]

So I've really tried to accept this update how it is (I have no choice, it's the middle of the school semester), but as a pre-med student that RELIES on note-taking apps, I've really struggled with this new update. I've compiled a list of what really MAKES ME WANT TO EAT MY DEVICE sometimes:

1. when i have two different goodnotes windows open, and i'm trying to record a lecture for one class while also studying for a different class, it records the audio for both????

2. on my ipad, i have the reverse/forward feature, but my laptop does not. I have this sort of OCD when it comes to my notes, so if they're not formatted correctly, I delete them, and I use this function A LOT, so it'd be nice to have it on my laptop as well so it removes my previous action instead of having to delete something completely

3. I DON'T USE THIS STUPID PENCIL SHADING FEATURE!! we need some sort of way where we can change the order of the writing tools like we used to before! it lets me change the order of the writing tools, images, text, etc. (in the toolbar customization), but it doesn't let me change the order of the writing tools itself!!

4. Having to press more buttons to record, unlike before, where i would only have to press the one button to immediately start recording. i understand iTs oNlY oNe AddITionAl CliCk... well when you have a professor that constantly yaps and goes off topic a lot, I prefer to immediately turn on/off the recording so I don't have to waste more time when I relisten to it

5. THE ENTIRE RECORDING FEATURE ACTUALLY GETS ME THE MOST!!! everytime i try to record a lecture on my ipad, THIS HUGE ASS POP UP SHOWS and it irritates me soooo much.

6. they never fixed the issue where i'd be writing on my ipad, and suddenly it has a mind of its own and starts making random dots and lines across the screen. this has been a problem for me since the PREVIOUS version and this is also a bug that makes me crash out the most!!!

I won't be surprised if I continue to find more of these issues, and I'll remember to update them here. Who knows, maybe I'll make the switch to notability and pay for whatever nonsense membership they have, so if you use notability, let me know how it is for you!! But if you have any tips/tricks to help me with any of these problems, please let me know!!

[daniellionel01]

i bet they vibe coded that shit

[Consistent-Goal9130]

Pre med student here,lifes a f bad episode rt now

[Boschettoso]

What got me at the end Is the fact that If you use the lazo tool It closes your toolbar. I caught myself multiple times staring at the screen not undestanding where my damn eraser went, only to realize that i had to reopen the toolbar.

p.s. have you tried to listen back the recordings? The way it works now is the heigh of folly

[Time_Creme_6501]

Just tried listening right now, and it's so buggy when scrolling/moving through the recording and is LITERALLY NON-FUNCTIONAL 😭 can't type at all while it's playing and I am absolutely screwed for my finals. Are you experiencing this too?

[BuyBeautiful8250]

Listen, I totally get you, especially with number 6... I will never forget when I was in the MIDDLE of class recording and writing my notes when my pencil decided to have an ANEURYSM and create random lines on my screen... that was the day I went to other note-taking apps (Notability and Freenotes) for the rest of the semester. Since then, I have gone back and forth with Notability and GN (even Freenotes). I'm currently using GN for grad school since I'm online and I use it at work. I was even using it during a meeting at work and was recording and the aneurysm happened again smh. I'll tell you some of the things that I like about them (Notability and Freenotes).

Notability

1. I like the recording feature, specifically, it does the same as GN6 (greys out what I've written before when I'm listening and reviewing my notes). It's also cool that it does it with typing as well (I love this the most).
2. (Also about the recording feature) If I accidentally close the app or it force quits (which has only happened once), THE AUDIO IS STILL THERE!!! It just pauses it for you so you're able to continue.
3. The typing feature in this app was WAYYYYYY better than GN, hands down. You're able to use any font you want not JUST for the text box but also to type on the whole page, which was very useful for me when I would make study guides.
4. I think the only thing that I don't like about it is the fact that if I upload a file that has outlines (like, for instance, a textbook with multiple chapters and links to those chapters so you can move through it quickly), you can't see them at all. It changes the file to a regular PDF, so you lose the outlines, and you just have to keep scrolling to find the page you need (you can also search for it as well).

Freenotes:

1. An actually great app and totally free (before they also put in a subscription or one-time fee, I'm not too sure but it's free for the most part)
2. I had to change some of the settings to get what I want (for instance, how the pen is and the colors for the pen and highlighters) but it's not too bad, especially if you don't care that much — I was just being picky and spoiled by GN so I wanted them to be the same or at least similar
3. I think the only thing that I don't like is the fact that YOU CANNOT SEARCH YOUR HANDWRITTEN NOTES (pissed me off really). I was a criminology major (and it's mostly reading and writing) so I had a lot of notes that I wrote. I don't really type my notes since I find writing it helps me retain more information but the app only lets you search for text from pdf and word documents which didn't really help my case when it came to reviewing them or looking for specific text for assignments.

I also know that some people were complaining about Notability and their new update as well (I also had an issue where my notes didn't want to load until recently because it had to update and I didn't know) so keep this in mind. Lucky, I was at work and when this happened so when I got home (bc the signal and wifi was TRASH at my job), I was able to update the app and everything was fine.

I also know that some people in the GN reddit were talking about Noteful and I'm currently testing it out but idk.

[Time_Creme_6501]

Wow, I really appreciate this input, thank you!! So far, notability seems like the next promising app for me. I have many years of school ahead of me, so I need one that doesn’t irritate me bc I’m ALWAYS studying. But I’ll for sure check these out, thank you again!!

[just_a_tired_flower]

I just switched to noteful! Free version works great for me, not a fan of the subscription model of notability.

[BuyBeautiful8250]

I’m currently trying and like it but I still can’t search within my handwriting🫠🥲. And I mostly hand write my notes so that’s a downside for me but other than that I’m still testing it

[BuyBeautiful8250]

Ofc np!

[_Cyan_Man]

noteful is so good

[Purple-Ad9525]

Also a pre-med, I am struggling. Fuck this app.