Brief Summary
The video reviews the new features in Apple Notes in iOS 26, comparing them to a wishlist from a year prior. While Apple has introduced some changes, particularly with markdown support, the author finds the update limited and somewhat disappointing. The markdown implementation is flawed, and many desired features, such as improved formatting options, better linking, and enhanced table functionalities, are still missing.
- Limited markdown support with flawed export/import.
- Minimal changes to formatting, calendar integration, and text options.
- Lack of improvements in linking, writing on canvas, favorite pens/fonts, and tables.
Intro and First Impressions
Apple introduced the new operating system at WWDC, emphasizing a "liquid glass" design and Apple Intelligence. The author focuses on the changes to Apple Notes, launching the beta version on an iPad for review. The new interface features translucent elements, but it doesn't particularly evoke a "liquid glass" feel. The sidebar is now black and white, and the menu bar has been replaced with floating icons. New micro-interactions, such as animations for dragging and deleting items, have been added. Accessing note settings is now more convenient, and windows can be resized and moved using a corner icon, similar to macOS.
Markdown Support
The author's top priority was markdown support, and Apple has added some functionality. However, instead of allowing users to write and format notes using markdown syntax, Apple only allows exporting and importing notes as markdown files. The export feature is not perfect; for example, when exporting a chemistry note with various formatting elements, the mono-style text is broken, headers contain inconsistent asterisks, and images do not display correctly in Obsidian, despite the links being present in the source code. The export requires manual fixing. Importing markdown files also results in broken formatting, with mono-style text and highlighted sections not rendering correctly.
Formatting and Integration
The author discusses the lack of improvements in formatting options, such as changing the background color of notes or adding new templates. There are no changes to calendar and reminder integration, such as migrating unchecked items or adding dates to checklists. The ability to change font, text size, and text color on iPhone and iPad, which is already available on Mac, is still missing.
Linking and Navigation
Internal links, introduced in iOS 17, remain half-baked. The basic ability to navigate back to previous notes after clicking a link is still absent, as is the ability to link directly to specific headings or subheadings within a note.
Canvas Writing and Favorite Options
The ability to write anywhere on the canvas, such as on images or text, is still not available in Apple Notes. The feature to set favorite pens or fonts, common in other note-taking apps, is also missing.
Table Improvements
Tables in Apple Notes remain basic, with no additional features borrowed from Apple Numbers, such as formatting headers or adding calculations in columns. The inability to add links inside a table, which feels like a bug, persists.
Audio and Import/Export
Some audio improvements were introduced in iOS 18, but speaker identification is still unavailable. The author reiterates the need for better import and, more importantly, bulk export options to avoid being locked into Apple Notes. With the exception of the flawed markdown changes, there are no additional changes in this area.
Conclusion
The update to Apple Notes is limited and disappointing, especially considering the annual update cycle compared to the monthly releases of other apps. The author plans to review it again when it comes out of beta.
