Outline (note-taking software)

Last updated
Outline
Developer(s) Gorillized Corporation
Initial releaseJuly 2011;12 years ago (2011-07)
Stable release
4.2306.0 (3308) / June 1, 2023
Operating system macOS, iOS, iPadOS
Available inEnglish
Type Note-taking software
License Freeware, Proprietary commercial software
Website outline.app

Outline is a note-taking application, available on macOS, iPadOS and iOS platforms. It is being developed by Gorillized Corporation, specializing in Productivity and Business apps for Apple devices. The distinguishing features of Outline are design, hierarchy, free placement of notes as in a paper notebook, support of various types of content (text, images, inks, tags, web-content, etc.), synchronization options and Microsoft OneNote compatibility. [1]

Contents

History


Outline was first released in July 2011 as a reader of OneNote files on iPad. The next update enabled editing and creation of new notebooks. In 2012, the app was released on the iPhone.

Outline for Mac also developed from the reader to the editor on OS X. Its first edition was launched in March 2013. Since December 2013 it performs as a full-functional note-taking app on Mac.

Design

Outline's design was invented as an alternative to standard office look.

Hierarchy

Outline hierarchy resembles that of a real notebook: there are notebooks for general subjects, section tabs for specific topics and pages for actual notes. For more complex notebook structures additional section groups can be created within a notebook. There is no limitation on the number of notebooks, section groups, section tabs and pages.

Platforms

Outline for iPad is compatible with iOS 9 and later. Outline for Mac requires OS X 10.9 and later. [2] [3]

Outline for iPad and Outline for Mac are separate though compatible apps. They can be synced between each other via Box, Dropbox, iCloud, Google Drive, OneDrive, SharePoint, WebDAV. [4] [5]

Features

Besides the built-in standard editing tools Outline is equipped with additional features: [6]

Handwriting mode in Outline for iPad Handwriting mode in Outline for iPad.png
Handwriting mode in Outline for iPad

Compatibility

Outline supports Microsoft OneNote file format. Each notebook consists of .one – section files and a .onetoc2 – table of contents file. Outline can open and edit notebooks consisting of such files and also create new ones in the same format. [7] [8] Currently Outline is compatible with OneNote 2010 and 2013. OneNote 2007 is supported in read-only mode. OneNote 2003 is not supported.

Import/Export

OneNote notebooks can be imported into Outline. It performs manual transfer of a notebook in its actual state to Outline. [9]

Outline also allows pages to be exported to PDF and e-mailed directly from Outline.

Synchronization and backup

Outline supports several backup and sync options.

Notes may be synchronized with users' accounts on Box, Dropbox and Google Drive online services, which retain versions history and deleted items. Files are stored in .one and .onetoc2 standard OneNote format. On Windows and OS X this feature requires native client software for these services.

Outline also syncs data over iCloud.

Alternatively, Outline notes may be synchronized with Microsoft OneDrive (Microsoft's online storage service for OneNote software) and Microsoft SharePoint (versions 2010 and 2013 only). Files are stored in single notebook files, which does not retain versioning information and deleted notes. Only incremental updates are sent to the server during synchronization, reducing transfer time and bandwidth usage.

Also there is a sync option with WebDAV.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microsoft Word</span> Word processor developed by Microsoft

Microsoft Word is a word processor developed by Microsoft. It was first released on October 25, 1983, under the name Multi-Tool Word for Xenix systems. Subsequent versions were later written for several other platforms including: IBM PCs running DOS (1983), Apple Macintosh running the Classic Mac OS (1985), AT&T UNIX PC (1985), Atari ST (1988), OS/2 (1989), Microsoft Windows (1989), SCO Unix (1990), macOS (2001), Web browsers (2010), iOS (2014) and Android (2015). Using Wine, versions of Microsoft Word before 2013 can be run on Linux.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Personal digital assistant</span> Multi-purpose mobile device

A personal digital assistant (PDA), also known as a handheld PC, is a variety mobile device which functions as a personal information manager. PDAs have been mostly displaced by the widespread adoption of highly capable smartphones, in particular those based on iOS and Android, seeing a rapid decline in use after 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palm OS</span> Mobile operating system

Palm OS was a mobile operating system initially developed by Palm, Inc., for personal digital assistants (PDAs) in 1996. Palm OS was designed for ease of use with a touchscreen-based graphical user interface. It is provided with a suite of basic applications for personal information management. Later versions of the OS have been extended to support smartphones. The software appeared on the company's line of Palm devices while several other licensees have manufactured devices powered by Palm OS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microsoft Outlook</span> Email, notes, task, calendar software and contact management

Microsoft Outlook is a personal information manager software system from Microsoft, available as a part of the Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365 software suites. Though primarily being popular as an email client for businesses, Outlook also includes functions such as calendaring, task managing, contact managing, note-taking, journal logging and web browsing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Contacts (Apple)</span> Address book software by Apple

Contacts is a computerized address book included with the Apple operating systems iOS, iPadOS, watchOS and macOS, previously Mac OS X and OS X. It includes various cloud synchronization capabilities and integrates with other Apple applications and features, including iMessage, FaceTime and the iCloud service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maxthon</span> Freeware web browser for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Android and IOS that is created in Singapore

Maxthon is a freeware web browser, created by JeffChen in Singapore. It is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and as Maxthon Mobile for Android, iOS, and Windows Phone 8. Since version 6, Maxthon is based on Chromium.

iWork Office suite of applications created by Apple Inc.

iWork is an office suite of applications created by Apple for its macOS, iPadOS, and iOS operating systems, and also available cross-platform through the iCloud website.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pages (word processor)</span> Word processor developed by Apple Inc.

Pages is a word processor developed by Apple Inc. It is part of the iWork productivity suite and runs on the macOS, iPadOS and iOS operating systems. It is also available on iCloud on the web. The first version of Pages was released in February 2005. Pages is marketed by Apple as an easy-to-use application that allows users to quickly create documents on their devices. A number of Apple-designed templates comprising different themes are included with Pages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microsoft OneNote</span> Free-form note-taking app for personal computers and smartphones

Microsoft OneNote is note-taking software, developed by Microsoft. It is available as part of the Microsoft Office suite and since 2014 has been free on all platforms outside the suite. OneNote is designed for free-form information gathering and multi-user collaboration. It gathers users' notes, drawings, screen clippings, and audio commentaries, and notes can also be shared with other OneNote users over the Internet or a network.

Evernote is a note-taking and task management application developed by the Evernote Corporation. It is intended for archiving and creating notes in which photos, audio, and saved web content can be embedded. Notes are stored in virtual "notebooks" and can be tagged, annotated, edited, searched, and exported.

The tables below compare features of notable note-taking software.

MobileMe is a discontinued subscription-based collection of online services and software offered by Apple Inc. All services were gradually transitioned to and eventually replaced by the free iCloud, and MobileMe ceased on June 30, 2012, with transfers to iCloud being available until July 31, 2012, or data being available for download until that date, when the site finally closed completely. On that date all data was deleted, and email addresses of accounts not transferred to iCloud were marked as unused.

iCloud Cloud storage and cloud computing service by Apple

iCloud is a cloud service developed by Apple Inc. Launched on October 12, 2011, iCloud enables users to store and sync data across devices, including Apple Mail, Apple Calendar, Apple Photos, Apple Notes, contacts, settings, backups, and files, to collaborate with other users, and track assets through Find My. It is built into iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS and macOS and may additionally be accessed through a limited web interface and Windows application.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Notes (Apple)</span> Combination of two software applications developed by Apple Inc

Notes is a notetaking app developed by Apple Inc. It is provided on their iOS, iPadOS and macOS operating systems, the latter starting with OS X Mountain Lion. It functions as a service for making short text notes, which can be synchronized between devices using Apple's iCloud service. The application uses a similar interface on iOS and macOS, with a non-textured paper background for notes and light yellow icons, suggesting pencil or crayon. Until 2013, both applications used a strongly skeuomorphic interface, with a lined, textured paper design; the Mountain Lion version placed this inside a leather folder. This design was replaced in OS X Mavericks and iOS 7.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nimbus Note</span>

Nimbus Note is a note-taking app designed by Nimbus Web company based in Cleveland, Ohio. The app is cross-platform, for Android, iOS, macOS, and Microsoft Windows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pre-installed iOS apps</span> Apps pre-installed on the Apple iOS operating system

Pre-installed iOS apps, referred to in the App Store as 'Built-In Apps', are a suite of mobile applications developed by Apple Inc. which are bundled with iOS and installed by default or through a system update. Many of the default apps found on iOS have counterparts on Apple's other operating systems macOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS, which are often modified versions of or similar to the iOS application. As each app is integrated into the operating system itself, they often feature greater support for system features than third-party alternatives and are quick to adapt new features of iOS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Notability (application)</span> Best selling Note-taking application

Notability is a note-taking application for iOS and macOS. The application allows note-taking and the annotation of PDF files. Notability is the best-selling paid note-taking app on the App Store.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GoodNotes</span> Note-taking application developed by GoodNotes Limited

GoodNotes is a note-taking application developed by GoodNotes for use on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, with limited beta support for Android.The app is designed for taking handwritten notes and annotating PDF documents on iOS devices with GoodNotes 5 being the latest update.

iOS 16 2022 mobile operating system by Apple

iOS 16 is the latest major release of Apple's iOS mobile operating system for the iPhone. It is the successor of iOS 15, and was announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 6, 2022 alongside iPadOS 16, and released on September 12, 2022.

References

  1. "Outline+ app for iPad (and Mac)". Abbey Dufoe. 2015-02-06.
  2. "Outline on Mac App Store". outline.app.
  3. "Outline for Mac". outline.app.
  4. "16 Best Note Taking Apps and OneNote Alternatives: Outline for Mac and iPad". MacHow2.
  5. "Syncing Options in Outline". outline.app.
  6. "Make notes on the go with Outline+". James Cull. 2012-09-04.
  7. "Outline for Mac offers OneNote alternative note-taking". Peter Cohen. 2015-02-02.
  8. "Outline 3.3. for Mac review". J.R. Bookwalter. 2015-03-26.
  9. "Open Local OneNote Notebooks on Mac". outline.app.