Simplenote
{{short description|Note-taking application}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Simplenote
| logo = Simplenote.svg
| author = Simperium
| developer = Automattic
| operating system = {{unbulleted list | Android | Linux | Microsoft Windows | iOS | macOS | web}}
| genre = Note-taking {{!}} Markdown
| license = Clients: GPL-2.0-only
Server: Proprietary
| website = {{URL|https://simplenote.com/}}
}}
Simplenote is a note-taking application with Markdown support. In addition to being accessible via most web browsers,{{cite web |url = http://www.macworld.com/article/2089229/simplenote-review-basic-note-taker-for-mac-bests-os-xs-notes.html |title = Simplenote review: Basic note-taker for Mac bests OS X's Notes |first = Roman |last = Loyola |date = 27 January 2014 |work = Macworld}} cross-platform apps are available on Android, Linux, Windows, iOS, and macOS.
Simplenote has an externally accessible API, allowing other clients to be written: macOS Dashboard widget DashNote; nvPY, a cross-platform Simplenote client; amongst others. In addition, the macOS program Notational Velocity and the Windows utility ResophNotes can also sync with Simplenote.{{cite web|url=http://lifehacker.com/5815743/the-best-syncing-note+taker-for-mac|last=Dachis|first=Adam|publisher=Lifehacker|accessdate=2012-01-11|date=2011-06-27|title=The Best Syncing Note-Taker for Mac}}{{cite web|url=http://lifehacker.com/5799238/resophnotes-is-an-excellent-simplenote-syncing-notes-app-for-windows |last=Dachis|first=Adam|publisher=Lifehacker|accessdate=2015-02-25|date=2011-05-06|title=ResophNotes Is an Excellent Simplenote-Syncing Notes App for Windows}}
History
Simplenote was originally developed by Simperium in 2008.{{cite web |url=http://lifehacker.com/behind-the-app-the-story-of-simplenote-1691767814 |title=Behind the App: The Story of Simplenote |first=Andy |last=Orin |publisher=Lifehacker |accessdate=2016-04-25 |date=2015-03-08}}
Simplenote Premium was introduced on November 23, 2009.{{cite web |url=https://simplenote.com/2009/11/23/an-overview-of-simplenote-premium/ |title=An overview of Simplenote Premium |first=Michael |last=Johnston |accessdate=2016-04-25 |date=2009-11-23}} It removed ads and added extra features such as syncing Simplenote with Dropbox.{{cite web |url = http://www.macworld.com/appguide/app.html?id=89982&expand=false |title = Simplenote Review |first = John |last = Fuller |work = Macworld |access-date = 2011-08-15 |archive-date = 2012-04-10 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120410034309/http://www.macworld.com/appguide/app.html?id=89982&expand=false |url-status = dead }}
Automattic acquired Simperium and Simplenote on January 24, 2013.{{cite web |url=https://simplenote.com/2013/01/24/simplenote-supercharged/ |title=Simplenote supercharged |first=Michael |last=Johnston |accessdate=2016-04-25 |date=2013-01-24}} In September, Automattic released an Android version{{cite web |date=September 10, 2013 |last=Bhushan |first=Amarendra |title=Simplenote Now Available On Android Devices |url=http://ceoworld.biz/2013/09/10/the-note-taking-and-syncing-app-simplenote-now-available-on-android-devices |publisher=CEOWORLD Magazine}} and later relaunched Simplenote, which suspended the premium service and removed ads for all users.{{cite web |url=https://ma.tt/2013/09/on-the-new-simplenote/ |title=On the new Simplenote |first=Matt |last=Mullenweg |accessdate=2016-04-25 |date=2013-09-23}}{{cite web| url= https://webzash.com/ |title= Webzash }} Tuesday, 31 December 2019
In May 2016, an official client for Linux for Simplenote was released.{{Cite web |date=2016-08-11 |title=iOS, Android, and macOS Apps Now Open Source |url=https://simplenote.com/2016/08/11/ios-android-and-macos-apps-now-open-source/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=Simplenote |language=en}}
Automattic open sourced code for its Android, Electron, iOS, and macOS Simplenote apps in August 2016, making all its client apps open source.{{Cite web|date=2016-08-11|title=iOS, Android, and macOS Apps Now Open Source|url=https://simplenote.com/2016/08/11/ios-android-and-macos-apps-now-open-source/|access-date=2020-11-04|website=Simplenote|language=en}}
Reception
The application was reviewed by Mac Life,{{cite web |url = http://www.maclife.com/article/features/app_showdown_simplenote_vs_notes_plus |title = App Showdown: Simplenote vs. Notes Plus |first = J |last = Keirn-Swanson |date = 22 December 2010 |work = Mac Life |access-date = 15 August 2011 |archive-date = 22 September 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150922033259/http://www.maclife.com/article/features/app_showdown_simplenote_vs_notes_plus |url-status = dead }} reviewed in the book Lifehacker: The Guide to Working Smarter, Faster, and Better,{{cite book |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=d-FYJceblAMC&q=simplenote+application&pg=PT146 |title = Lifehacker: The Guide to Working Smarter, Faster, and Better |first = Adam |last = Pash |author2=Trapani, Gina |year = 2011 |publisher = John Wiley & Sons |isbn = 9781118133453 }} and covered in the book The Business of iPhone and iPad App Development.{{cite book |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=uF8Ccf80idkC&q=simplenote+application&pg=PA220 |title = The Business of iPhone and iPad App Development: Making and Marketing Apps that Succeed |first1 = Dave |last1 = Wooldridge |last2=Schneider |first2=Michael |year = 2011 |publisher = Apress |isbn = 9781430233008 }}
Daniel Aleksandersen of Ctrl.blog said:
I like Simplenote and I use it every day. I’m not super-happy about the many tiny issues and inconsistencies, but it’s one of the better note-taking platforms available. Simplenote’s many apps need to iron out their differences and become a little more uniform. The differences mostly seem to be caused by one team not knowing/caring what the other was doing. The features and design are excellent but the execution isn’t uniform across platforms and leaves something to be desired on all of them.{{pb}}I’d recommend Simplenote to pretty much anyone, but with the caveat that they’d take the time to learn about note-recovering methods (restore-from-trash, revision history, backups, hope) before committing to the platform.{{Cite web |last=Aleksandersen |first=Daniel |date=2017-03-14 |title=The not always Simplenote |url=https://www.ctrl.blog/entry/review-simplenote.html |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=www.ctrl.blog |language=en-US}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website}}
- {{GitHub|1=https://github.com/Automattic?q=simplenote|2=Simplenote}}
{{Automattic Inc.}}
Category:Android (operating system) software
Category:Free note-taking software