The GoodNotes App: Now in Beta on Android
Keeping track of our daily lives and all of our thoughts can be overwhelming, but our favorite note-taking apps or planners can help. However, only a few of these platforms can synchronize across all ecosystems. GoodNotes, a popular note-taking app on Apple’s App Store, is now available in beta on Android, hoping to make it onto our list of the top note-taking apps on the Play Store.
GoodNotes: An Introduction
GoodNotes is a highly-rated productivity app that was initially released for Apple devices but is now in testing on Android in a limited-seat beta. During the test period, participants can access the app for free (although some features on the iOS version require payment). However, with this release, there are a couple of limitations that need to be addressed.
Limitations of the GoodNotes Beta
The biggest limitation is that the GoodNotes beta only works on Samsung Galaxy tablets with an 8-inch (or larger) display and at least 3GB of RAM. While this app is a Progressive Web App (PWA), it requires constant internet access, which could be a disadvantage to the overall user experience. Enthusiastic redditors comment that the PWA may not deliver an iOS-like fluid experience for features like handwriting input.
GoodNotes emphasizes that the Android app is separate from the iOS version, so notes made on one won’t sync with the other, limiting the usefulness of this release. Early user reports suggest that the app has some mixed reviews. For example, some Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 users observe that the S Pen isn’t pressure-sensitive in GoodNotes, while others report that it works. In addition, some new testers note that the app doesn’t work as intended in portrait orientation. During the Android beta test period, users are limited to 20 notebooks.
GoodNotes: Possibilities for the Future
While the app is quite basic at present, with just three pen widths, no support for the S Pen button, and four main tools to jot down ideas, GoodNotes plans to add support for more Android tablets in the future. Users should keep in mind, however, that GoodNotes hasn’t committed to a timeline for further updates. The app is promising, especially if we consider the acclaim GoodNotes has received on Apple devices. If your Samsung tablet meets the minimum requirements, you might want to check out GoodNotes—there are good things to come!
