Mac Format - UK (2020-04)

If you use Noto on iPad you get a simple two–panel layout;

you can hide the sidebar if you want.

94 | MACFORMAT | APRIL 2020

W

hy use separate writing, note-

taking and to-do apps when a

single app can do all three? Noto

is a simple, elegant writing app for iOS that can

sync with its Mac sibling. Where most writing

apps tend to go down the distraction-free route

Noto is more colourful and action-packed.

The interface may be a bit more exuberant

than its rivals, but Noto still has simplicity at

heart. You can switch between list and grid

views, reorder by dragging and pinning

documents to the top, and easily nest docs

in a folder. Each document has a preview that

includes images (if they’re at the top). On iPad

there’s a bit more room and the folders and

documents appear in a sidebar rather than

full screen; you can choose whether to keep

the sidebar visible or to hide it.

In the main window you can carry out text

formatting functions: bold, italic, underline,

strikethrough and highlight, bulleted and

numbered lists. There are formatting

options for block quotes, code – including

syntax highlighting – and mathematical

equations, and when you’re done you can

export as HTML, PDF, or JPG. There’s also

a persistent word count feature, although

Noto doesn’t offer character count or

estimated reading times.

Versatile companion

The formatting options include checkboxes

and tables, so if you’re planning a trip you

could embed a map, create a to-do list, then

detail the places you want to visit, then attach

the necessary documents and booking

confirmations. That turns it into a useful travel

companion as well as an app for jotting down

things you’ve experienced on your journey.

We reviewed Noto 1.0, and it’s already

as polished and useful as many more mature

apps. If you go for the Pro version (99p per

month/£9.99 per year/£23.99 for lifetime), you

can also include attachments such as inline

images, videos, or file attachments. It’s no

substitute for heavyweight writing apps or

ecosystems such as Evernote, but if you want

a simple writing app that covers the basics,

Noto is definitely worth checking out: it’s

effective, easy, and free. (Or affordable if you

go for the Pro version.) CARRIE MARSHALL

Noto 1.0 is

already as

polished as

many more

mature apps

Noto is a simple and

friendly writing app,

but it also offers

a lot of flexibility.

+++++++

Fast and easy to use

Supports multiple

media types

Relatively limited

feature set

Limited export

options

VERDICT

Free (offers in-app purchases) FROM Yi Lun Zhao, noto.ink NEEDS iOS 13/iPadOS or later

Noto – Elegant Note

A useful all–rounder app

Image credit: Yi Lun Zhao

In addition to text, Noto

supports equations, tables,

images, and file attachments.