Having used Journal for a number of days now, I really feel assured saying that Day One isn’t staring down an existential risk — at the very least not but. Be mindful we’re speaking about Apple has a widely known historical past of Sherlocking new apps with function updates (it was, in spite of everything, the corporate that gave rise to the time period), however in its present kind, the brand new journaling app nonetheless has a methods to go to meet up with Day One’s head begin.
In spite of everything, the Automattic-owned app has been kicking for greater than a decade, at this level. It’s price mentioning right here that Apple’s lengthy been a fan of their work, naming it “Mac App of the Yr” in 2014 and giving it an Apple Design Award two years later.
“Relatively than seeing this as competitors, we embrace Apple’s entry into digital journaling as a testomony to its rising significance,” Paul Mayne, head of Day One informed TechCrunch. “This evolution is not only useful for Day One, but additionally for our valued customers.”
It’s the rising tide method to dealing with down a juggernaut. I believe it’s protected to say that Apple coming into your small slice of the App Retailer is a sort of validation of your mission. Day One has a fairly loyal fanbase, from what I collect, and switching over to a different app fully could also be extra bother than it’s price. We’ll must reassess the state of affairs when Journal has a wider function set and is (hopefully) out there on extra platforms.
Picture Credit: Apple
Day One’s cross-device performance/syncing has been an enormous promoting level for me — I paid for the premium model for exactly that motive. When Apple introduced Journal at WWDC, I used to be excited to test it out. In spite of everything, Apple is the ecosystem firm. Certainly the corporate would prioritize the creation of an app that works on macOS and iPadOS, together with iOS.
I’m not saying “by no means.” Actually, I’m not even saying “undoubtedly not subsequent yr.” However as I write this, the corporate has expressed no plan to supply the app on different first-party platforms, regardless of all of the work it has carried out in recent times to take away the friction that comes with porting an iOS app to macOS. For the time being, Apple’s stance is that iOS is the absolute best solution to expertise the app.
Within the meantime, the closet it involves cross-device syncing is its assist of iCloud backups.
I consider that’s very a lot rooted in the way in which that content material is centered. Journal may be very a lot being positioned as a multi-media app. The idea is to transcend the usual textual content journal by totally harnessing the facility of digital. There’s little query that the iPhone is a extra versatile content material seize machine than the Mac. Which means photographs, movies and voice recordings. It’s additionally a tool tied to (opt-in) location-based providers, which performs an element right here.
As you’ve possible gathered from my 7.5 years at TechCrunch, I’m a author. And in contrast to lots of people who’ve been doing what I do for a very long time, I nonetheless like it. After I punch the clock for the day or weekend, I maintain doing it. For some motive, I used to be initially hesitant about journaling. I don’t know. An excessive amount of earnestness feels corny to me. I additionally got here up as a blogger, so the moment gratification of writing for an viewers is now woven into my DNA.
As soon as I compelled myself to do it, nonetheless, in fact I appreciated it. It’s unencumbered writing. And it’s writing fully about oneself in a approach I by no means had earlier than. As a author, it’s most likely apparent that writing is one of the simplest ways for me to course of my experiences. It was a helpful software through the pandemic and an incredible useful resource for somebody with an admittedly horrible reminiscence.
Picture Credit: Apple
Being a author, nonetheless, means I have a tendency to write down lengthy — simply spilling my ideas onto the paper. For me, essentially the most tough side of journaling is the tacit acknowledgement that it’s inconceivable to get your entire ideas down on the identical time. However I discover getting my ideas all the way down to be a way more frictionless course of whereas utilizing a laptop computer. With Apple’s imaginative and prescient for Journal, nonetheless, textual content is sort of secondary to photographs, movies and textual content.
Clearly, photos and video are nice for evoking visceral reminiscences, however writing via issues on the finish of a protracted day is an effective way to course of the final 24 hours. And sitting down in entrance of a laptop computer is an effective way to present that processing the eye it deserves.
Solutions are the actual secret sauce right here. Apple is trying to differentiate itself by providing writing prompts based mostly on algorithmically curated moments that span the corporate’s ecosystem, together with photographs, exercises and different media. The corporate says the opt-in function will enhance the extra you employ the app, although actually, I don’t suppose I’ve been utilizing the app for lengthy sufficient to essentially get that algorithmic enhance.
It’s a pleasant function for individuals who battle to refill a digital pocket book each day. My suspicion is that Apple got here up with the concept of content-driven prompts after which constructed a journaling app round it. Actually, the corporate has already opened up an API that lets rivals entry the aforementioned secret sauce. It’s an fascinating and novel play for Apple, however maybe it should additional sluggish future Sherlocking within the class. I’m typically of the opinion that extra competitors = good.
Picture Credit: Apple
There are some good safety touches. For one, the app will be checked out with a code, so somebody who has entry to your telephone can’t learn these private musings.
The app will nearly actually be in comparison with extra established journaling choices for some time. Journal is a bit barebones when in comparison with the veterans. Relying in your choice, that may both be a destructive or constructive. Some will nearly actually love its simplicity. Others will lament its lack of customization choices, folders and tags. Voice recordings, in the meantime, don’t save as transcriptions.
There’s additionally a number of alternative for deeper integration with the prevailing ecosystem. How in regards to the new temper logging function tied to Apple’s new psychological well being choices? Very similar to that function, Journal will be set as much as ship you notifications when new recommendations pop up. Tying the 2 collectively looks like a no brainer.
Be mindful, we’re nonetheless early on this. Heck, it’s nonetheless solely out there as a part of iOS 17.2’s public beta. There’s a number of room for progress right here, and journalers are usually a passionate selection, so Apple will nearly actually be getting a number of suggestions, together with from me, as I shout from the rooftops for a Mac model.