App Review: Awesome Note

You might think the name of this app is a bit self-glorifying, but Awesome Note
from Brilliant Idea lives up to its name.

Awesome Note combines full-featured notetaking with GTD-style task management. And, you can sync and backup notes to Google Docs and Evernote.

A good test of an app is how well it works when you need to use it. This isn't just about raw performance. It's also about convenience and usability.

Simple and Pleasing from the Start
When you launch Awesome note, it presents a simple, stylish interface: you can create a new note, create a Quick Memo (more about this in a bit), browse All Notes, or view notes by Folder.

Note-and-Go
A Quick Memo is like a Stickies note on the Mac. Quick Memos are useful for use-once-and-throw-away kinds of information: taking a quick address for a restaurant, noting the URL of a web site, listing a few items to pick up at the store, etc. When you're done with a Quick Memo, you can clear it. Or, if you decide you want to keep it, you can turn it into a note.

More than Simple Text
Add a picture to a note - snapped with the iPhone's camera, or chosen from a Photo Album. Change the font - color, style, and size - for each note. There are 13 different fonts and 38 font sizes to choose from. Apply one of 12 unique and beautiful backgrounds.

Notes as Tasks
A note can be designated as a task, too, by assigning a date to it. The task view lists tasks by Due Date, Priority, Name, Date Modified or Date Created.

Organize Notes
With Awesome Note, you can organize your notes into folders. Give a folder a name, color, default background, and icon.

Folders are displayed in the home screen. If you have more than five folders,  swipe left to scroll to next five folders.

Backup, Sync and Share
There are a number of ways to share, sync and backup your notes: Email a note, Sync notes to Evernote, Sync notes to Google Docs, Backup notes to Google Docs.

Overall, WoowooMac gives Awesome Note a "Woo woo!" for a feature-rich app that is gorgeously presented.

Pros

• Simple and convenient user interface
• Backup and Sync to Google Docs and Evernote
• A combination of notetaking and task management that works very well
• Supports portrait and landscape modes
• Attach a picture to a note
• Gorgeous Backgrounds

Cons

• When composing or editing a note, it's not obvious what folder it is in - Fixed in Version 3.0
• No support for repeating tasks. - Now supported in Version 3.0.
• While the icons and backgrounds included are wonderful, a feature to import images would be great
• A quick way to get back to the home screen would be a welcome feature

Awesome Note is available from the iTunes App Store, for the iPhone and iPod touch, for $3.99. A free Lite version is also available to try.

Update on Sunday, March 14, 2010 at 9:11AM by WoowooMac Editor

Awesome Note has been updated to version 3.0. Read about the new features in 3.0.