This summary of the video was created by an AI. It might contain some inaccuracies.
00:00:00 – 00:11:51
The video aims to identify the best note-taking app for the iPad, specifically comparing GoodNotes 5, Notability, and OneNote. GoodNotes 5 is praised for its intuitive interface and smooth writing experience but criticized for its hard page breaks and cumbersome organization system. Notability stands out due to its unique audio recording feature that syncs with written notes, as well as its continuous pages and user-friendly file organization using subjects and dividers. OneNote, a free app, offers seamless cross-device syncing, infinite scrolling pages, and robust organization with notebooks and sections, though it suffers from some writing lag with the Apple Pencil. Ultimately, Notability is recommended for students because of its audio capabilities and organizational features, while OneNote is suggested for users needing extensive cross-platform functionality. The video ends by recommending a screen protector like Paperlike to improve the note-taking experience on an iPad.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, the presenter introduces the goal of the video, which is to find the best note-taking app for the iPad Pro or any other iPad. Three apps are being compared: GoodNotes 5, Notability, and OneNote. The presenter notes that GoodNotes 5 has the best writing experience, Notability offers an essential audio recording feature for lectures, and OneNote has some features that surpass both GoodNotes 5 and Notability. To test these apps, the presenter used a 50-minute psychology lecture from the University of Toronto and took notes using each app for one-third of the lecture. Starting with GoodNotes 5, the presenter highlights its simple and intuitive user interface, easy PDF import, and features such as auto deselect on the eraser, highlighter auto-straightening, and customizable templates and notebook covers.
00:03:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the smooth writing experience of GoodNotes, noting its lack of lag when importing images or moving text. However, they highlight some drawbacks, such as the hard page breaks that disrupt writing and image movement, as well as the inconvenient organization system that requires fitting all lectures into one notebook, which can become messy. The app is priced at $7.99 on the App Store. The speaker also mentions the issue with writing on an iPad’s glass screen and introduces Paperlike, a screen protector that mimics the feel of paper, as a solution, emphasizing it as a valuable accessory. The segment then transitions to Notability, focusing on its standout feature—the built-in audio record function, which syncs audio playback with the timing of written notes, offering significant advantages for lecture recording.
00:06:00
In this segment, the speaker compares different note-taking apps, highlighting their features and usability. The speaker prefers Notability for its audio reference capabilities, intuitive page viewer, and superior file organization using subjects and dividers. They appreciate Notability’s seamless image manipulation and the continuous pages feature but note the lack of an auto-deselect feature. The speaker then introduces OneNote as a strong competitor, emphasizing that it is free, syncs seamlessly across devices, and includes customizable pen options. The speaker shares their personal experience using OneNote throughout college, indicating its reliability and efficiency for academic use.
00:09:00
In this segment, the speaker discusses the advantages and disadvantages of using OneNote for note-taking. OneNote features “infinity pages,” allowing endless scrolling and easy note insertion, making it useful for annotating lecture slides. The organization system in OneNote is highly praised, with notebooks, sections, and individual pages. However, the writing experience with an Apple Pencil is noted to have some lag. The speaker compares OneNote to GoodNotes 5 and Notability, declaring Notability the best for students due to its audio recording feature and superior file organization. Despite this, OneNote is recommended for those using both a PC and iPad, owing to its seamless cross-platform connectivity. The video concludes with a recommendation to use a screen protector to enhance the note-taking experience and an invitation to join a community Discord server.