Unlocking the Power of Markdown in Apple Notes for Enhanced Productivity
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Apple Notes
For those who utilize Apple Notes, incorporating Markdown is essential.
After transitioning to Apple Notes six months ago, I decided to abandon paid applications in favor of the built-in productivity tools available in the Apple ecosystem. Tools like Mail, Reminders, Calendar, Notes, and Maps have all found their roles in my daily routine. Instead of lamenting over any missing features, I committed to optimizing these apps for my needs.
While they may lack the visual appeal of premium applications, they are functionally effective for accomplishing tasks. Reminders, with its Smart Lists and user-friendly templates, has proven indispensable. Although Calendar may not win any design awards and can be somewhat counterintuitive, it's essential for my scheduling needs. As for Mail, it may not be my top choice, but its cost-free nature has led me to appreciate its functionality. By utilizing various rules and filters on my MacBook, I efficiently manage my inbox.
Maps, initially unappealing, has become sufficient for my navigation requirements over time. However, Apple Notes is the standout app.
Chapter 2: The Markdown Challenge
I frequently alternate between Apple Notes and Drafts, primarily due to one significant drawback: Apple Notes lacks Markdown support, resulting in cumbersome formatting processes.
Despite improvements in iOS 17, particularly with note links, it wasn't enough to sway my preference. I enjoy how Drafts employs tags for organization, but Apple Notes' Smart Folders can replicate this functionality.
Then I discovered ProNotes, which transformed my experience with Apple Notes.
Section 2.1: Introducing ProNotes
ProNotes is a free tool that provides basic Markdown capabilities. According to the ProNotes website, it also allows access to formatting options through slash commands:
This feature enables users to toggle Markdown commands on or off within the settings.
Additionally, ProNotes includes a convenient formatting bar above the selected text, allowing for quick adjustments such as changing font size, making text bold, inserting links, or creating checklists without needing to navigate to the toolbar.
Section 2.2: Enhanced Linking and Backlinks
Apple Notes only supports unidirectional note-linking. However, ProNotes offers a unique lookup feature to identify any links referencing a particular note. By clicking on a small icon at the bottom of the note, users can see linked notes, making navigation seamless.
With these enhancements, Apple Notes has become significantly more dynamic.
Subsection 2.2.1: Integration with Drafts
I will continue using Drafts for capturing information, as it has a fantastic feature that allows me to send a Draft directly to Apple Notes, providing the best of both applications.
Section 2.3: AI Features in ProNotes
Like many modern apps, ProNotes also integrates AI functionality, utilizing either gpt-3.5-turbo or 4.0. This feature is available for a monthly fee of $7.99, placing AI capabilities directly within Apple Notes. While I don’t find AI usage justifiable for my needs, it may be beneficial for others.
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Chapter 3: Additional Resources
For further information about ProNotes and to download it, click here: