Chapter 1: Introduction to Apple's Journal App

Apple has officially launched its Journal app, which was first hinted at during WWDC23. The company announced that it would become available "later this year," and it has certainly generated significant anticipation among users of iOS 17.

Recently, I updated my iPhone to the iOS 17.2 Developer Beta 1, and to my delight, the Journal app was readily available. It's officially here, exclusively for iOS 17.2—currently, it appears to be absent from macOS 14.2 and iPadOS 17.2.

If you’re interested, you can find its App Store link, but keep in mind you’ll need to be on iOS 17.2 for it to download. Interestingly, there seems to be a pattern with new app releases:

• iOS 16.2 Beta 1 introduced the Freeform app
• iOS 17.2 Beta 1 brought us the Journal app
• iOS 18.2 Beta 1? We’ll have to wait and see!

Exciting times ahead with the Journal app!

Chapter 2: First Impressions of the Journal App

Although I don’t frequently journal, I decided to give the app a spin to gauge its capabilities. Here's a brief overview of my initial experience.

Upon launching the app, I was greeted by a welcoming splash screen, guiding me through the setup process.

To start my first entry, I clicked the question mark icon located at the bottom of the screen.

The Journal app leverages on-device intelligence to generate personalized journaling prompts based on your daily activities. It can gather insights from:

• Recent calls in your Contacts
• Locations you've visited
• Music and podcasts you’ve enjoyed
• Photos taken recently
• Workouts logged

These suggestions appear when you tap the question mark icon, providing a helpful nudge to get you started.

For instance, you might write: "I worked out today at Central Park and felt good after buying ice cream for a child I saw." The app offers prompts to inspire your writing, making it easier to reflect on your day.

In this video, we take a hands-on look at Apple's Journal App in iOS 17.2 and explore its features in depth!

Chapter 3: Key Features of the Journal App

You can refresh the suggestions by tapping the question mark icon again. If you prefer to write freely, you can start with a blank page.

Here’s what you can do while journaling:

(From left to right)

• Get journaling suggestions
• Add photos
• Capture a photo
• Record a voice note
• Attach a location

The app automatically sets the journal entry to the current date, but you can easily customize this by tapping the three-dot icon to select a different date.

For those entries that are particularly meaningful, you can bookmark them for easy access later. To do this, swipe right on the entry in the app’s dashboard and tap the bookmark icon.

You can filter your entries by bookmarked status or edit/delete them by swiping left on the entry.

A handy tip for deletion: swipe all the way left to remove an entry.

Section 3.1: Enhancing Your Journaling Experience

To cultivate a journaling habit, setting reminders can be beneficial. Access the "Journaling Schedule" feature and enable reminders for specific days and times.

Another convenient feature allows you to journal quickly about a photo you find in your library by sharing it directly to the Journal app.

For privacy, you can secure your journal with Face ID or a passcode, ensuring that your thoughts remain confidential.

Section 3.2: Customizing Your Journal Experience

You can also adjust your preferences for journaling suggestions by navigating to the settings. If certain apps are providing unwanted suggestions, you can deselect them.

To maintain your privacy, you can choose not to receive suggestions based on proximity to others.

If you prefer starting from a blank slate, there’s an option to skip all suggestions before journaling.

Chapter 4: Conclusion

To wrap up, the Journal app from Apple provides numerous features designed to improve your journaling experience. From personalized prompts to security options, it caters to both new and experienced journalers alike.

What’s your favorite feature of the Journal app? Isn’t iOS 17 impressive?

This video discusses how Apple's Journal App is nearly perfect, covering its strengths and areas for improvement.

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