Chapter 1: Introduction to Apple Notes

Apple Notes, which comes pre-installed on iPhones, iPads, and Macs, has typically been overshadowed by other note-taking applications that offer advanced functionalities or unique features. While many users gravitate toward these alternatives, Apple has recently made significant improvements that enhance the usability of Apple Notes, particularly with the introduction of Quick Notes in iPadOS 15 and macOS Monterey 12.

Despite my preference for note-taking apps that support Markdown—a user-friendly text markup language—I find myself increasingly utilizing Apple Notes due to its recent updates. Markdown's simplicity allows for seamless writing and formatting, a feature I value in any note-taking tool.

Chapter 2: The Convenience of Quick Notes

Quick Notes fundamentally changes how users interact with Apple Notes by providing a miniature version of the app that can be accessed anytime, regardless of the active application. This functionality is especially useful for capturing thoughts or saving links while multitasking.

Activating Quick Notes

Accessing Quick Notes on both iPad and macOS is straightforward, primarily through corner gestures. By default, you can activate Quick Notes by swiping from the bottom right corner of the screen. This setting can be customized through the device's Settings or System Preferences.

Here's how you can open Quick Notes by swiping:

Quick Notes can be set to open either a new note or revisit the last note used. If you wish to create a fresh note, simply click the new document icon once Quick Notes is activated.

For those who prefer keyboard shortcuts, activating Quick Notes on macOS or an iPad equipped with a keyboard can be done by pressing the Fn or Globe key followed by the letter Q.

In addition to these methods, you can also create Quick Notes directly from Safari. By highlighting content, right-clicking (or control-clicking), a menu will appear allowing you to select "Add to Quick Note" for effortless note-taking.

Finding Your Quick Notes

Your Quick Notes can easily be located within the Apple Notes application, specifically in the Quick Notes folder.

These notes can be transferred to different folders if you wish to organize them more traditionally, moving them out of the Quick Notes category.

Conclusion

Although Apple Notes has never been my primary choice for note-taking, the Quick Notes feature has quickly become invaluable for capturing thoughts and links while I browse or read on my Mac or iPad. If you haven't yet explored Apple Notes or Quick Notes, I highly recommend giving it a try for its convenience and seamless integration within Apple’s ecosystem.

The first video titled "Turn Quick Notes into digital Stickies on iPad, iPhone, and Mac!" demonstrates how you can transform Quick Notes into a more functional tool for your digital organization.

The second video, "What's New in Apple Notes in iOS 18?" provides insights into the latest features and enhancements introduced in the app, making it a great resource for users looking to maximize their note-taking experience.

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