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Tuesday 18 September 2012

MagicalPad - App Review


If you have ideas, and especially if you have a grasshopper mind, keeping track of your 'light bulb' moments can be a problem.

If you're working on more than one 'project' at a time then, not only do you need to write down your ideas but you then will want to put them into some order with all the other ones. Enter MagicalPad to the rescue. Just double tap the screen and enter your idea (or at least a mnemonic), and do this as many times as you want. When you are in a more 'planning' moment, you can look at all your great thoughts and easily organise them. You simply drag and drop them wherever they need to be and automatically create relationships.

It is Mind Mapping made easy, as it ought to be.

An added bonus is that MagicalPad syncs with Evernote and Dropbox.

Now for the ACIDS test:

Aesthetics
Whenever you open the App, it automatically loads the last file you were working on (which is probably a good thing) but (a slight niggle) there is always a pop up screen with all the files that you need to tap to make go make it  away; it takes up valuable screen real estate. I am also not too keen on the fact that text notes (which could be quite long) are handled in the same way as headings; this can make the outline look messy.

Cost
This is a low cost App and worth every penny.

Indispensability
If you are not used to writing down notes and ideas then, this is not for you... unless you change your approach, in which case you will use this App every day.

Dependability
It works fine but, I suggest you read the manual (RTFM), especially concerning exporting to Evernote, Dropbox, and Google docs.

Security
Unless you export information, it is only on your iPad so, there is no security issue... unless you mislay your iPad



ACIDS Test Rating:
 Very good App but slightly flawed


To find out how the ACIDS Test works, click here.

You can get Support here and the iPad App here.

11 comments:

  1. The developer advises that there has been an update to version 2.8 of the App.

    This includes the following enhancements and alterations:

    Evernote login doesn't work - fixed
    Dropbox login doesn't work - fixed

    ReplyDelete
  2. The developer advises that there has been an update to version 3.0 of the App.

    This includes the following enhancements and alterations:

    • Completely Redesigned With Stunning User Interface & Great New Features.
    *** IMPORTANT - Existing users need to update their existing version and NOT Uninstall it in order to get all In-app purchases unlocked for free. If you uninstall previous version, you will get asked to pay for in-apps. If you never used the previous version, you need to open it and add some content before you upgrade so that it saves activity. This was due to API limitation for moving from paid to in-app.
    *** Rest assured that next version will address this and you don't have to worry about this anymore. All existing users will have free unlocked in-apps for all subsequent versions.

    • Full new intuitive & streamlined UI with just the things you need when you need them
    - Full screen mode, collapsible toolbars
    - Tap-hold quick menu to add elements to the page
    - Context menu for selected items to copy, paste, checkbox, delete, format and more
    - Keyboard toolbar for quick indent/outdent, checkbox, move up/down, carriage return for outline items and pop-up editor
    • Notes with Paper Inside® - add drawings, doodles and handwriting. Annotate images.
    • Insert photos from the iPad camera or from the photo library
    • Pop-up editor - edit each item on a window for more flexibility. Attach multiple photos and drawings.
    • Revamped formatting:
    - Saved custom colours, favourite colours, colour shades
    - Quick access to context formatting menus
    - Quickly format an item and apply to siblings, children or both
    - Default formatting for items to be created next
    - Multi-select items and change formatting for all selected items
    • Customisable notebooks with beautiful colours and with your own graphic
    • Multi-select tool - a great way to move multiple items in a mind map or format selected items. You can multi-select within an outline as well
    • Smoother rendering engine for large pages
    • New quick guide with overview videos and contextual tooltips

    ** Fixes **
    • Implemented the latest Dropbox, Evernote and Google Drive SDKs which fixed some of the authentication issues with Dropbox and Evernote.
    • Many other minor fixes and enhancements

    ReplyDelete
  3. The developer advises that there has been an update to version 3.01 of the App.

    This includes the following enhancements and alterations:

    Fixed minor bugs and typo.

    *** IMPORTANT *** Existing users who were asked to buy in-app purchases can now buy the Essentials Package (everything) for FREE for a limited time. If you are not promoted to buy when you access mind mapping, insert photos, and other tools, this means that your app is unlocked already. You are all set, no further action is required.

    *** This is for a limited time only July 2nd till July 5th.

    Here is what you need to do *** if you get prompted to buy an in-app. ***
    Tap on insert photo or any other in-app add-on.
    From the in-app window, tap on "Included in the Essentials Package" text to go to the essentials package in-app page. Tap on buy for $0, complete the free purchase. This will unlock everything in the app.

    If you don't act within this period, then you have to pay for in-apps after that. We can't keep it free as new users also get it for free.

    ReplyDelete
  4. The developer advises that there has been an update to version 3.02 of the App.

    This includes the following enhancements and alterations:

    You asked and we listened! The app is free and fully functional with all tools & features unlocked. The only in-app purchase is to unlock unlimited content.

    The free app has these limits and can be unlocked with the Essentials pack in-app. Everything else is unlocked.
    Notebooks - 2
    Pages per notebook - 10
    Outlines per page - 15
    Text boxes - 50
    Items per outline - 50

    We fixed some minor bugs.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The developer advises that there has been an update to version 3.3 of the App.

    This includes the following enhancements and alterations:

    iPhone version is now in review with Apple and will be released any time now - share your content via iCloud and access across devices.
    Use iCloud to share content (full notebooks) across devices
    Copy notebook to cloud
    Copy notebook from cloud
    Notebook change notification flag
    Cloud icons on cloud notebooks
    IOS 7 support
    Duplicate full notebooks
    Semi-transparent notebook title bar to see more of your notebook art
    Some bug fixes

    ReplyDelete
  6. The developer advises that there has been an update to version 3.3.1 of the App.

    This includes the following enhancements and alterations:

    ***** iPhone version is now available, just released! - share your content via iCloud and access across devices. Mac version is coming the end of this year.


    Some Bug fixes
    Better support for IOS7

    ReplyDelete
  7. The developer advises that there has been an update to version 3.4 of the App.

    This includes the following enhancements and alterations:

    FYI. You have to use Landscape Mode to view and exit tutorial.
    - NEW-----
    Mindmapping
    Visual task management
    Dedicated Task view
    Attach PDFs, MS Office and Apple iWork documents
    Icons
    tags

    - IMPROVED----
    Improved formatting behavior, remembers last item's formatting so other items like siblings have the same formatting as the parent
    Select an item to pick-up formatting then insert new items with that formatting
    Faster rendering of content

    - Fixes----
    Evernote related issues
    App crashing in some reported cases

    ** Tutorial is designed for Landscape orientation, so make sure to unlock rotation and view on Landscape to go through the tutorial slides.

    P.s. iPhone version is being updated with Mindmapping and will be back on the iTunes store. So this version of the iPad might not be compatible with your old iPhone app.

    ReplyDelete
  8. The developer advises that there has been an update to version 3.4.1 of the App.

    This includes the following enhancements and alterations:

    IMPORTANT - if you have any Notebooks on iCloud that you don't have locally on your device, download them to your device before this update. We changed the notebook export/import from iCloud to Dropbox.

    Changed Notebook Import/Export from iCloud to Dropbox to support the new mac version coming soon.
    Tutorial now shows properly on portrait or landscape rotation.
    IOS6 text formatting.
    Google Drive password change issue.
    Stabilization fixes to items rendering
    many other minor fixes.

    ReplyDelete
  9. The developer advises that there has been an update to version 3.4.2 of the App.

    This includes the following enhancements and alterations:

    New Features:
    1. Arrange and nest pages with unlimited hierarchy levels. Expand & collapse pages. Best for Project/Topic/Notes kind of structure.
    2. Added numbering for mind mapping and outline items (1.2.3.4 and A.B.C.D.)
    3. Added collapsible sections to the side panel for better management and visualization of info panel

    Many bug fixes.

    Automatic Sync is coming next.

    ReplyDelete
  10. The developer advises that there has been an update to version 3.4.4 of the App.

    This includes the following enhancements and alterations:

    IOS8 Support
    Automatic Sync
    Simplified User experience and UI
    Build your own Styles or clone existing ones for text boxes and simple items
    Build themes for mind maps and outlines for automatic level-formatting
    Background images for pages, items and everything else
    Stability and performance fixes
    Improved rendering when typing and managing content
    Ability to handle larger content gracefully
    Notebook icon is back by popular demand :)
    Check out the new videos and tutorials @ http://www.magicalpad.com/videos

    ReplyDelete
  11. The developer advises that there has been an update to version 3.4.51 of the App.

    This includes the following enhancements and alterations:

    Fixed bottom toolbar issue with IOS7
    Other small bug fixes

    ReplyDelete

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