Note app on Max 2

[Jmirko]

I am trying to use the built-in Note app on my M96, and am suffering from the following issues:

•No search by filename (!)
•No view options, only thumbnails with the beginning of the filename, long filenames cannot be fully displayed
•No pen calibration (my pen writes 2mm below the touch point)
•Default filename is not retained when renaming a note, I must retype YYYY-MM-DD even though that is the default before starting to rename
•Backgrounds are not customisable, only a few pre-installed backgrounds are available
•It's not possible to save background and pen setting preferences, I must set them every time
•No cut/copy - paste
•Not possible to export notes as single pdf files (only as separate png files per page).

It seems that the Max2 has a newer version of the Note app. Could someone please confirm which of these features have been added, and which are still missing?

This could help me decide whether to replace my M96.

[sogaiu]

The quick summary as far as I can tell is that not a whole lot has changed. Details follow.

Originally Posted by Jmirko

•No search by filename (!)

Still don't see this feature.

•No view options, only thumbnails with the beginning of the filename, long filenames cannot be fully displayed

Not sure how long is long for you, but when I tried to rename a note, I was allowed to rename no longer than "Sample Name Which is". But it did display that whole string. Didn't find any view options apart from sorting -- may be someone else may know better.

•No pen calibration (my pen writes 2mm below the touch point)

I didn't see anything in the app, but IIRC the device has calibration settings somewhere: Bundled Settings -> Extension -> Calibration. But may be you are already familiar with that and you were looking for something else...

•Default filename is not retained when renaming a note, I must retype YYYY-MM-DD even though that is the default before starting to rename

Sounds just like what I see currently, unfortunately.

•Backgrounds are not customisable, only a few pre-installed backgrounds are available

I see 14 in the current version (including blank), but I don't see a way to add any new ones -- may be someone else knows if this is possible.

•It's not possible to save background and pen setting preferences, I must set them every time

I tried changing background and pen settings in a note, saved it, and created a new note. The settings seem to have reverted and I didn't see any way to save a different set of defaults.

•No cut/copy - paste

One of the features I'd really like too -- and sadly I haven't found a way to do this either.

•Not possible to export notes as single pdf files (only as separate png files per page).

This was recently discussed in another thread -- it's the same story as far as we could tell (exports each page to a single png image). In that thread there were some suggestions on things one might do, but they didn't seem particularly convenient.

On a related note, I wonder if the LectureNotes app developer might consider examining:

https://github.com/onyx-intl/OnyxAnd...nyx-Pen-SDK.md
https://github.com/onyx-intl/OnyxAnd...oActivity.java

to see if support for the Max 2 (and possibly other devices) might be easy to add. That app seems so close to being a wonderful fit for the Max 2.

[Jmirko]

Many thanks for the detailed testing, I appreciate it. Looks like the usual Onyx story: they are making progress step-by-step, but at this rate it will take years before the app is usable.

Actually, I had the same idea when this information appeared on this forum: I immediately contacted Markus (LectureNotes developer) and asked him to look into the code. He did, and he concluded that he would need to rewrite a substantial part of the LectureNotes app - not worth it, unless Onyx decided to license his app. He said he would think about it. As far as I can tell, this is the only way Onyx has a chance of having a decent writing app anytime soon.

[sogaiu]

Originally Posted by Jmirko

Actually, I had the same idea when this information appeared on this forum: I immediately contacted Markus (LectureNotes developer) and asked him to look into the code. He did, and he concluded that he would need to rewrite a substantial part of the LectureNotes app - not worth it, unless Onyx decided to license his app. He said he would think about it.

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

BTW, as I understand it there is more than one API for working with the stylus -- the one I've tested a little bit and mentioned above is the most recent one. I guess that is the one you asked the LectureNotes developer about, not an earlier API, right?

If my eyes didn't suffer so much from tablet screens, I think I'd be using LectureNotes with an ordinary Android tablet.

[mdp]

Originally Posted by sogaiu

If my eyes didn't suffer so much from tablet screens, I think I'd be using LectureNotes with an ordinary Android tablet.

A file is for filing and a screwdriver to drive screws, but - have you tried OLED (black background, matte screen)? You minimize the amount of light that reaches you and get speed everywhere.
Nonetheless, I am sure the issues with the notes software can be fixed. I have not yet checked any, as I do not use note taking software (I use my own, the one I wrote for my need). But I see that LectureNotes has a trial, I could check that. If the solution is easy, we ping Markus. Otherwise, maybe a different product will do.

EDIT: I need to be more clear: to make (S-AM)OLED useful at all, you need:
-- a matte screen, professionally installed;
-- very high resolutions, >400ppi - although a good matte screen can make miracles in melting the light dots, "from laser to high resolution inkjet", and hide possible visual abominations like netfish pentile;
-- it makes sense only if you use black - #000000 - backgrounds in all productivity software.
EDIT2: and of course, scarcely lit places! Don't think you can use it everywhere...

[sogaiu]

Originally Posted by mdp

have you tried OLED (black background, matte screen)? You minimize the amount of light that reaches you and get speed everywhere.

No I haven't, and thanks so much for the idea. Am now investigating this angle.