In the next OS X version, Apple is adding a new ability to import Evernote into Apple Notes. This is really interesting because the Apple Notes app is actually pretty good in El Capitan. In general, I prefer using Evernote because the notes are available to Informant on iOS (and soon on the Mac) but there are some things about the Apple Notes app that I kind of like.
I like that Evernote lets you share notes and notebooks and in fact I use this functionality within Fanatic Software all the time to share plans and thoughts to the rest of the team in a coordinated way. I’m not a huge fan of the Evernote interface and in general don’t like their editor. So for me, it really comes down to using Evernote as my “backend” notes service. 
Apple Notes has iCloud though which is actually become a fantastic backend – except that they still don’t offer any real sharing features (its a one and done deal), is not cross-platform, and has no ability for apps like Informant to access the data. This last part is a key thing for me.
Apple has given us decent access to Contacts, Reminders, and Calendar events – but not notes. Why not? In 9 years Apple has deemed it appropriate to give us 2 revisions of a Contacts API and one revision of Reminders/Calendars – but nothing for notes. I’ve asked them directly and they want to know why anyone would want it. I tell them we get requests for Apple Notes integration every week; however its my word against the reality that they don’t see many developers asking them for this.
I also wonder with the next Mac version of Notes being able to import Evernote notes – how many people might drop Evernote to move to Apple Notes? There are some clear benefits: sync in the background on iOS and OS X, no limit to data in general (iCloud doesn’t count the calendar/Reminder/Notes data against iCloud data storage as far as I know), and a pretty fantastic editor at this time. Evernote has a couple benefits too: not tied to Apple so its cross-platform, sharing notebooks, tagging, and a host of features that frankly I don’t think many people use.
So here is my question – would you have any real interest in Informant being able to access Apple notes directly? Let us know. We will share that with some of our friends at Apple.
[poll id=”2″]
I’d love toodledo notes integration like the iPad iPhone.
That is coming in Release 8.
I’ve been trying to shake the Evernote dependency for a few years now. I’m sure others have too. What Informant needs is a two-pronged connection to Apple Mail (Gmail, etc.). Actionable email should be forwarded to Informant as an Inbox task. Non-actionable email should be forwarded to Informant as a note. Evernote provides such a ‘service’ by supplying every user with an Evernote email address. One area in which Informant can improve is Task Context in which keyword and tag attachments can link tasks with events, contacts, and tasks. I strongly agree with you about settling on Evernote as a note archive rather then anything active. Keep up the great work. I expect much from Fanatic.
In my experience, suggesting things to Apple seems to be a mixed bag. As a small business, but not enterprise, user, and a non-developer, I frequently run into frustration that their “guilded prison” works reliably but lacks features that would be helpful, but we small guys don’t have the voice power to affect major product development because it’s their millions of passive and content users against the smaller number of power users. Their not believing anyone would want the Notes API just reflects the idea that Apple tells us what we want, not the other way around. 🙂
Is there a department at Apple, other than their feedback web page, that Informant customers could contact to help push for this? I’ve been clamoring for Apple Notes integration into PI for a long time because I also don’t care for Evernote’s UI. I’m not a developer, but If boosting the number of people asking them for this directly would help out, I’ll certainly make a few phone calls. In the mean time, I did the survey!
We have also asked Apple for this, and have filed a request. In the meantime, we are developing our own open-platform, multi-media Notes app that uses CalDAV.
I’m here because, I prefer to see all my productivity software on the same screen.
Why apple doesn’t merge/link the services of calendar, reminder and notes, I don’t know. But this is why I prefer Informant. Apple Notes and Informant doesn’t work on split screen. May be it could be a temporary solution. Apple Notes integration will be perfect. After last update, I was migrated from Evernote to Apple Notes. Because I bored to Evernote’s offer. They try to sale extra feature very often.