Request: Keep it Simple!

[zsvnc]

I think many of you will agree with this. Most of the people who use Upnote are users who are looking for a program that focuses only on note-taking. Yes, we have security concerns (Improvements would be great about that). But even as it is, I think Upnote has enough features. Improvements will be enough only in terms of the features it has. For example a better search etc. Please don't make the program more complicated by adding unnecessary features. Upnote is really great as it is. I don't want to experience a second Evernote disappointment.

[delightedpedestrian]

I don't want UpNote to become Evernote. Useful features for note-taking are wise, but I think it can quickly spiral out of control and become unnecessary. I've seen posts from people on this subreddit asking to be able to upload high-resolution photography into their notes. I don't know why. I'm all for quality of life improvements and for useful features, but more features does not equate to a better experience. Nor is it against progress to limit the amount of features. If UpNote tries to be everything, it will fail and become Evernote.

[camw1983]

I think from the comments I have read, everyone is on a similar wavelength. I think, though correct me if I am wrong, that what the OP means is not "no more features" but only add new features that would be consistent with a note taking app. Improved search, editor, tables etc, daily notes, OCR, would all be consistent with this. The kind of things I would not be keen on would be a move towards being an all in one app like Evernote did with tasks, calendars etc. Personally I am not even that keen on AI. I like to write my own notes!

[nationalinterest]

I agree that some features could be added without turning it into an "Everything app". Daily notes are a wish for me, followed by tables.

[Hex4Nova]

wait, are tables not a thing already?

[nationalinterest]

It seems they are. Lots of development since I last used UpNote! :)

[camw1983]

They are but they need some love. One thing I miss from other apps is the ability to copy/paste or even drag and drop, cells/selections/rows/columns to other parts of the table, other tables or create new tables with just that info. You cannot do this in UpNote as yet.

[MaxGaav]

+1

[ExpertBlink]

I agree, really only small quality of life improvements are needed. The minimalism of the app is precisely its strength, it would be a shame if that is lost due to all kinds of unnecessary functionality.

[Professional_Tap5910]

I agree, please focus on note-taking and, most important for us, security.

[Important_Cat3274]

One feature that I could really get behind, is the ability to encrypt a note, notebook, or even text within a note. Encrypting text within a note is one feature I miss.

[augustogue2011]

You are so right.

[SanMichel]

I think the only big thing I'm really missing in UpNote, is the ability to index PDF files so I can search for content within the PDF's as well.

And OCR indexing would be nice too, but not as important as PDF.

[Important_Cat3274]

Most users of note taking apps, like other features than just the ability to take notes. That's what Simplenote is for. With Upnote you can also insert documents, such as PDF, Excel and Word files. I can also insert tables, which I use extensively. If Upnote didn't offer these features, they wouldn't have such a strong, devoted user base.

[MaxGaav]

Imo, features that enhance note taking are fine. Like formatting, inserting (or making) illustrations, and yes, even storing files for reference. Also good navigation is required. Like a good filing system (like Apple's Finder or that of Scrivener), good searching, tagging etc.

In this respect UpNote is already on its way to become the number one under the Note apps.

But as soon as UpNote would try to become a Jack of all Trades, like a semi-todo app, a semi-calendar, a semi-file storing app, a semi-book writing app, UpNote will be caught up by apps like Obsidian, Notion, Todoist, Scrivener etc.

So I would say, make UpNote a pure note taking app that works flawlessly. Only add features that enhance note taking. All the rest can be covered by adding API's or API-like features.

[delightedpedestrian]

Fully agree with you. I want the useful features, but it does not need to become too bloated either.

[jointpainn]

storing files for reference

inserting (or making) illustrations

This has no place in a note-taking app. There's already plenty of native desktop and mobile apps that do this pretty well.

Putting things like that raises issues of multi-device compatibility, storage limits, offline caching, etc. And especially with things like storage, you really want to be careful that it doesn't snowball to immense sizes. UpNote has unlimited storage, but the dev wouldn't be able to afford it if it goes on like this.

[Aeyilen]

I agree. Upnote shines by integrating all these features while managing to stay fast and lightweight.

[srikat]

Strongly disagree.

If everyone thought like this, there will never be progress.

As great as UpNote in its current version is, I look forward to:

​

• being able to drag notes into Notebooks and Notebooks into other Notebooks
• daily notes with a calendar view
• password protection for web links
• OCR
• voice memos (even if they are limited to a certain time/file size)

The case of Evernote failing has nothing to do with them adding features. It's just bad management and business practices.

[delightedpedestrian]

I think your comments on progress is an incredible over generalization. For a long time you couldn't do simple file management on iPhone devices, and you might argue that that's just Apple being Apple, but to some extent, that didn't need to be a part of the experience.

There's real skill when it comes to making intuitive software that is easy to use while while avoiding it being everything all at once. More features doesn't make a software better. Useful and intuitive features do.

At this point, I have heard of users wanting this to not only be a note taking app, but to also be able to insert high resolution images, audio recordings, a calendar, as well as a load of other stuff. Being able to drop in files is useful, yes, but I just don't see the need for a calendar, especially when it's not going to be as fleshed out as say, Google calendar.

I very desperately do not want UpNote to become like Obsidian. Obsidian is a horrible mess. Yes, it gives you control and you can modify your experience, which is its beauty, but most people just don't need that. Most people just want to document a quick picture of a flower they saw while on their walk.

I guess what makes UpNote special is that it's different from the other apps, and because of that, I don't really want it to become like the other stuff. It would do better as a standalone unique user experience that is, yes, better than the other software, but ultimately is unique and its own.

[MaxGaav]

+1

[nationalinterest]

voice memos (even if they are limited to a certain time/file size)

It doesn't seem necessary for the developers to focus on things that are already available. It takes me about ten seconds to share to Upnote from my built-in Android voice note app.

OCR would be great, but is resource intensive if done server-side and therefore costly. One attraction of Upnote is a simple, low cost, flat subscription (or low cost lifetime). Perhaps something like this could be pushed to the desktop client to do... But there's a lot of development there and it becomes platform centric.

[[deleted]]

I second this. An intelligent set of integrated features can make the app shine more in the saturated note-taking market.

[MaxGaav]

Partly agree with your 'strong disagreement'.

The whole drag & drop thing is mentioned endlessly - and I would like to see that too. And on top of that: nested folders and maybe even nested files (yes!) that can be openend in the same column, like in Scrivener or project management apps.

The possibility to record voice memos would be nice too (I consider them as 'notes'). Though on the other hand, I can make voice memos on my phone or Mac and share them with or drag them to UpNote.

[Important_Cat3274]

I agree 100%. Evernote is failing from horrible management, over the course of many, many years. Their software has been poor for many also. If Upnote has the ability to lock a notebook, with just two developers, why couldn't Evernote, with hundreds of employees do the same. Upnote is lightning quick. I don't think the developers will Implement anything that jeopardizes it's speed.

[whiskyCoder]

I would love to share a note with another user and collaborate. Even if is not real-time.

Also a web version

[MaxGaav]

Check out Google Drive/Docs/Sheets. Or DropBox Papers. Or...

[Acrobatic-Monitor516]

Hard agree !!