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Noteshelf is a fantastic note-taking app that we haven’t given enough attention to in recent years. There are several reasons why Noteshelf might be the perfect choice for your digital note-taking needs.
One of the standout features of Noteshelf is its availability on Android, which is rare among note-taking apps designed for the iPad. While it doesn’t offer true cross-device syncing, you can potentially access your notes on different devices using Evernote sync. Although we haven’t tested the Android version, on the iPad, Evernote sync allows you to save your documents to Evernote.
However, Evernote does come with some limitations. You can authorize Noteshelf in Evernote for up to a year, but you can’t delete notebooks, tags, or permanently delete notes in Evernote from within Noteshelf. You also have to choose which notebooks to back up rather than syncing your entire library. The free version of Evernote only backs up your notes without syncing them, meaning you can view them but not annotate. Upgrading to a subscription plan could allow you to annotate PDFs, though this might be an expensive option.
We hope Noteshelf will develop a true syncing feature across different operating systems, especially since the app has been on Android for a while now. It seems likely they’re working on it.
One of the joys of digital note-taking is customizing your pen tools, especially when you’re new to it. There’s so much to explore! But after several months of serious note-taking, you might appreciate having a favorites toolbar. Noteshelf doesn’t limit the number of tools you can save as favorites, unlike most apps. This is great if you use a variety of tools regularly.
The same flexibility applies to text formatting—you can save multiple text templates for headings, emphasis, and more. This feature saves time and ensures consistency in your notes. You have full control over your favorite text styles in the app, with options to name, rearrange, or delete them.
If you prefer focusing on content creation rather than the tools you use, Noteshelf is your go-to app. The favorites toolbars for text and writing tools are incredibly convenient.
To further save time, Noteshelf lets you access stock images from Unsplash and Pixabay directly within the app. We’re excited about the possibility of more stock images, both paid and unpaid, becoming available. You can also adjust the layering of images, bringing them to the front or moving them behind the ink on the page.
Another useful feature for images is the Lock function, which prevents accidental movement or edits by locking images in place. This adds a layer of selectivity to the lasso tool.
Noteshelf also simplifies adding emojis to your notes. You don’t need to bring up the keyboard or move them around—just tap where you want the emoji, and it’s done.
Bookmarks in Noteshelf are more customizable. You can name them and even color-code them for better organization. With color-coded bookmarks, tags become less essential, but we’d still love to see universal tags that work across multiple notebooks, which would clearly distinguish tags from bookmarks.
Before we dive into reasons why Noteshelf might not be for everyone, here are a few other cool features worth mentioning:
– **Customizable pen and text tools** that save you time.
– **Access to stock images** within the app.
– **Image locking** for better control.
– **Easy emoji placement** without needing the keyboard.
– **Color-coded bookmarks** for enhanced organization.
Despite its strengths, Noteshelf lacks the standout features that could set it apart in the crowded note-taking app market. It’s a solid app, but it doesn’t quite reach the excitement or frustration levels that other apps might. It combines features from apps like GoodNotes and Notability, but it doesn’t implement them as well. Hopefully, future updates will introduce unique features that help Noteshelf shine in its own right.
