The first beta version of iOS 17.2, released two weeks ago, introduced the new Apple Journal app. The idea is to offer users some basic journaling functionality so that people can write about their day based on reasonable suggestions. But the Apple Journal app is too basic, which can ruin it.
I've tried journaling several times using third-party apps, like the popular Day One. However, at some point I always lose interest and forget to write about my days. Since I'm running iOS 17.2 beta on my iPhone, why not try the Apple Journal app? And that's exactly what I've been doing since launching the beta.
First, I need to make a disclaimer: I know I'm writing about a beta app—or rather, the first beta -versions. Things may change between now and the final release later this year, and of course I'll be careful not to talk about bugs or confirmed features that don't yet work properly in this beta.
How the Apple Journal app works
When Apple announced the Journal app at WWDC 2023, the company said it would provide a simple and easy way for users to keep a diary. The app makes recommendations based on your photos, the music you listen to, places you've visited, and people you've messaged to generate memory suggestions.
You can either create a new blank entry or use suggestions to add text, additional photos, a specific location, and even a voice note. The offers (other than photos) aren't showing up here for some reason, but I think it's just a beta version. New entries can be created for the current day or any other date of your choice.
The app is very clean in terms of interface and there are not many complicated options that make you wonder how to use it. . This is great because the focus is on the content. The app's home screen works like a social media feed in reverse chronological order, so you can see all your memories.
I love how the Journal app shows a preview of what you've written, as well as photo thumbnails , videos and any other content you add. If you tap on an image or video, the app will expand it to full screen with details about when it was taken. You can also explore the map when it comes to locations.
Apple&# 39;s The Journal app is missing some basic features
As I add new entries to my Journal app, I realize that it is missing some important and basic features.
I immediately skipped the keyword search. The app has a few basic filters, but they only allow you to filter posts by photos, videos, or other media files. This may seem normal now, but it will become a problem when I add more entries since there is no way to find a specific one. What happens if I have 60 or more than 100 posts?
Best comment by David Long
I think anyone who thinks they can predict the future of the Journal should think about what Notes was like when it came out, and how powerful it has become. Does it have everything that, say, Evernote has? Maybe not, but Evernote is constantly asking me for money. This was one of the reasons I switched to OneNote. iCloud will be Journal's hidden strength (if Journal is good enough), and Day One's main selling point will be the lack of additional subscription fees.
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I'd also like to have search by calendar to select a date and see what happened that day. Another great feature is a map for viewing entries based on location (the filter only shows all entries with a location).
But what irritates me the most is that Apple's Journal is an iPhone-only app. There are no versions for iPad or Mac yet, and there is no evidence that they will appear any time soon, as the company will primarily focus on improving the iPhone app. I'd write more about my day if I could use an iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard instead of an iPhone.
Wrapping it up
Overall, the Apple Journal app is great for those who just want to write down something about their day. However, this extreme simplicity may become an issue in the future, and it certainly makes me think there will still be plenty of room for third-party logging apps. Hopefully the Journal app will improve over time, but for now I may want to switch to another app.
Have you used Apple's new Journal app? What do you think about that? Let me know in the comments section below.
