PaperHelper - App Review

People love their iPads... and many of them wish that you could share a screen with more than one App.

This is especially useful when researching using that gigantic library, the Internet. The problem is that you research in the browser and then need to swap to your note taking system.

PaperHelper effectively enables the screen to be split between notes input and research.

Now for the ACIDS test:

Aesthetics
When you first use the App, it's important to have your iPad in landscape mode; this way you will clearly see the screen split in two with the left-hand side being a text editor, and the right-hand side a browser.

There are 3 controls that you need to get familiar with immediately; this will ensure a more beneficial experience. The first 2 are at the bottom corners of the screen; these are used to make either the text editor, or the browser, into a full screen (there are opposite arrows to reverse this process). The other control is the two way arrow at the top of the screen (just to the left of the line splitting the editor/browser). This control allows you to choose whether the editor is on the left or right (in my view, for right-handed people, it should be on the right).

The editor allows you to format your text with fonts, sizes, colours, alignment; it is very fully featured. In addition you can directly email, print, record voice, draw (using many colours, widths), access your dictionary, set a reminder, add detailed citations (directly from browsed pages), and save your work, including to the ubiquitous Dropbox.

It's probably best to touch the cloud icon and download your free PaperCloud service on your PC or Mac.

Cost
The App is a very inexpensive $1; amazingly good value for all you get.

Indispensability
The App is aimed at students but, is useful to anyone who researches and takes notes; it saves much time, and frustration, at not having to flick between applications.

Until iOS allows the screen to be split between Apps, this is the solution.

Dependability
This App is, not surprisingly, designed for the iPad; the smaller screen of other iOS devices really not being up to the job.

The browser seems slower than Safari but is still much faster and more convenient than using a browser and taking notes in another App.

There is the occasional crash but, the App does not lose data.

Security
There is the possibility to use Dropbox (and saving to any folder), as well as PaperCloud.

ACIDS Test Rating:

Research on an iPad without flicking between Apps.

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

You can get PaperHelper here and support for the App here.