iPhone 3.0: Notes Sync

[Vincent Ferrari]

<p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1237462911.usr18053.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>While not on the level of some of the other announcements made, Notes sync is the one thing I wanted so bad that if they didn't do it eventually, I'd have to find another platform of choice.&nbsp; Okay, that's not true, but that's how much I wanted it.&nbsp; As a former Windows Mobile user, I got accustomed to using the Notes app for pretty much everything.&nbsp; As a BlackBerry user, it was pretty much the same thing.&nbsp; When I got my first iPhone, the utility of the Notes app was seriously compromised by its inability to sync with a desktop client of some kind despite Apple building one into every single Mac.</p><p>Not much was said about this except for the fact that it "Syncs through iTunes," but that's good enough for me.&nbsp; A couple of other goodies (small ones) they've added are YouTube accounts (thank God!&nbsp; No more re-favoriting!), LDAP, Auto Filling of usernames and passwords on sites, and other fun features make this a pretty complete tune up of the OS.</p>

[emuelle1]

I used to just about live and die by the Windows Mobile/Outlook notes syncing. Suddenly, when I got a BlackJack II and upgraded to Windows Mobile 6.1, then took it back for an Epix, I haven't been able to get my notes to sync no matter what I do. I've tried it on several computers and my notes just won't sync. I finally gave up and started using Evernote, since it now has web-centralized notes available across several platforms.

I've determined that the Samsung Epix will be my last Windows Mobile phone. I've spent too much money on too many Windows Mobile devices and seen too darn little progress on the platform. After the iPhone 3.0 announcement, I'm going to get an iPhone the first chance I get. I honestly expected Apple to come out with new hardware and lock out the first generation devices, but instead they announce a free update that will be backward compatible in most cases except for 3G specific. As far as I understand, my 1st gen 32GB iPod Touch should be able to upgrade. I think it's time to jump platforms.

[woa1]

After using Win Mobile also I missed the notes syncing on my Touch. I found this very simple free program for the iPhone/Touch on the App Store "gNotes" which syncs to Google Notebook. It is very basic but works well as a simple notepad with syncing, offline usage, folders & ability to rename folders. I'll probably stick to this but will definitely give the v3.0 notes sync a try.

[treynolds]

I felt lost without the ability to use my Touch for notes. I have used Palm and WM devices for years, PRIMARILY as notepads. The inability to be able to take notes in a meeting and get those *easily* on to my notebook computer have meant that I have needed to resort (HORRORS!) to paper.

If I can sync notes, have cut and paste and be able to rotate the screen to landscape to get a larger keyboard for the notes app, I'll be a happy camper indeed!

Tony

[emuelle1]

A friend of mine has a developer kit, and I was able to play with 3.0 on my 1st gen Touch. It's awesome. I'd forgotten about notes syncing, but when I went to try copy and paste, I opened up notes and saw a bunch of old Outlook notes in there. Most were duplicates because ActiveSync doesn't seem capable of synchronizing without duplicating tons of records.

I tried beta 2, but for some reason networking won't work so I went back to 2.2.1 for the time being. I use my Touch heavily for podcasts, and the podcasting feature just wasn't stable enough on 3.0 beta 1 for my daily use. Hopefully beta 3 will be out soon, networking will work, and I can use that.