In 2007, when the iPhone was released, Apple launched several applications natively in its smartphone. They will be the first generation of applications within the iPhone. At the time we were still far from highly developed services, and we found mostly rudimentary functionalities. This is particularly the case for the “Notes” application.
But since 2007, one might believe that this application, with its limited design and functionality, was going to be outdated by its time. However, it is quite the opposite. The app has never been so useful and used. It has become, despite its design, a true virtual extension of our brain.
Apple Notes: our virtual brain
In a recent Wall Street Journal article, the iPhone’s Notes application is presented as a solution to a thousand and one problems. It can be used to make shopping lists, but also be used for a dream book or to write down ideas for first names or a whole bunch of other things, the vast majority of which don’t even come to mind.
As the article ultimately summarizes well, it is the ability of this application to transform itself according to our needs which has made it successful. Apple Notes is a simple application that users can tailor to their own image. Something that was still an exception a few years ago in the Apple ecosystem, known to be very closed.
Why Apple Notes and not another?
The simplicity of the application makes it reassuring. It can be used as a simple shopping list, or it can be constructed and expanded with sections, files, images and tables. But the question that remains unanswered is to wonder why Apple Notes has managed to take the lead, while its competitors are numerous.
You might think that the iPhone is the source of the app’s popularity. After all, it was with this device that it was born, and it is mainly on the Apple ecosystem that it is used. But this would downplay its importance on other platforms.
Another very important point to take into account is the difficulty of other applications to become a “turnkey” solution. With Apple Notes, you can take notes on your computer, tablet, and phone. They synchronize themselves and can be modified as the user wishes.
A simple app
Freedom of movement within an ecosystem which is always very pleasant and which its competitors lack. So some will say that they prefer to use the suite of Google applications, which offers a very similar service, or the very (too?) complete Notion application, which promises to consolidate 99% of your note-taking work within a single service.
But these applications are very difficult to use and they can scare users. You have to spend many minutes configuring pages and understanding how the application works. Once the service is mastered, it works excellently, but this initial effort is not encouraging. As the general public always prefers simplicity, they logically turn to Apple Notes.
