Penultimate Review — Write with style and simplicity
By App Type: Uncategorized
Our rating: 
By: Cocoa Box Design LLC
Version #: 3.3
Date Released: 2012-01-10
Developer: Cocoa Box Design LLC
Price: 0.99
User Rating:
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At its core, Penultimate is an iPad app that enables the user to create an unlimited number of notebooks each with an unlimited number of pages. Notebooks are displayed on the main menu in a neat carousel arrangement by default, but an alternative grid view is also available. Upon first launch of the app, the user is greeted with a notebook titled “Welcome to Penultimate.” This notebook itself exemplifies the capabilities of the app and doubles as the app’s help section, as its pages contain instructions on how to use Penultimate.
One of the best things I like about Penultimate is its thoughtful simplicity. Rather than shock and confuse the user with the sight of numerous buttons tucked in every nook and cranny of the screen, Penultimate has no more than eleven buttons and icons appearing on any page at any given item. And these interface functions are really all the user needs in making the most out of the app.
At the bottom of the page resides the group of icons used mainly for editing. The pen icon, when held down, lets the user choose the color and line width with which to create lines, which materialize on the page by writing on the screen with a finger or with an iPad-compatible stylus and which mimic the appearance of gel ink. The eraser tool does exactly what its name says, but apparently without the option to specify the eraser size. There’s also the scissor icon, which enables the user to cut and copy any portion of the page, and the “x” icon, which clears the page in one go.
Up top are buttons for going to the main notebooks view; undoing or redoing actions; choosing a paper style from the preinstalled styles, from the in-app Paper Shop, or by creating a new template by converting a photo from the iPad’s photo library; inserting a photo into the page; changing the app settings, including Dropbox and Evernote account syncing and Wrist Protection activation; and sending the current page or the entire notebook as a PDF or Penultimate file via email or other avenues. That’s a lot of functions, but Penultimate cleverly condenses them into only a few menu items to avoid cluttering up the screen, thereby giving the user more room to breathe while writing for whatever purpose.
With the abundance of notebook apps in the App Store, choosing what works best is a daunting task. Many of these apps take a rather perfunctory route, offering a bevy of functions with nary a touch of creativity or not enough consideration for usability put into them. Fortunately, a few notebook apps do stand out by virtue of their undeniable elegance. One such app is Penultimate. At a sale price of only $0.99, Penultimate is doubtless a powerful notebook app optimized for the iPad. It boasts great functionality and pleasing aesthetics to boot.
Quick Take
Value:High.
Would I Buy Again:Yes.
Learning Curve:Low, with the help of the “Welcome to Penultimate” notebook.
Who Is It For:Users who are in need of a clutter-free notebook app.
What I Like:Minimal number of menu items on the screen, nice gel ink appearance
What I Don't Like:No option for eraser size, no keyboard function
Final Statement:It has a lot of competition, but Penultimate may well be the notebook app to end all notebook apps.
cocoa box Penultimate gives you the fast, tactile gratification of writing on paper, with digital power and flexibility. Take notes, keep sketches, or share your next breakthrough idea -- in the office, on the go, or home on the sofa.
ESSENTIAL, EASY TO USE, BEAUTIFUL
Penultimate stands with the core productivity apps on your iPad. Every detail of the user interface has been designed and refined to be simple and intuitive - no complicated or cluttered settings.
UP AND RUNNING
When you first open your new copy of Penultimate, you'll find a "welcome" notebook that will walk you through all of the major features. You'll be scribbling and whizzing through your pages and notebooks in no time.
AMAZING INK AND PAPER
Your handwriting and drawing looks spectacular in bold gel ink. Our writing technology is second to none. Use colors or stick with classic inky black. Three different photorealistic paper styles are included, along with a magically effective eraser tool that's always the right size. Want a special paper style? Import any image to create and share your own attractive template, or visit The Paper Shop in the app to see the latest convenient collections available for download.
KEEP IT TOGETHER
Store your thoughts in named notebooks for each topic, project, or category. Penultimate can manage as many notebooks as you can create, each with an infinite number of pages. View your list in a notebook carousel -- or sort and scroll in a fast grid view. When your notebooks get large, you can browse quickly through all pages, or insert, delete, duplicate, and reorganize pages within and between notebooks.
SERIOUS SOFTWARE
Beneath its graceful exterior Penultimate is a powerful application. Our superior inking technology produces pen strokes that look better-than-real. The pioneering automatic Wrist Protection mode prevents most stray marks from appearing on a page for writers of all grips. Image import allows photo annotation, cataloging, and design work. Powerful ink selection and copy/paste is a touch away.
PENULTIMATE MEANS BUSINESS
Send single page images or full notebooks in PDF format to anyone. Dropbox and Evernote integration bring the best cloud services for files, backup, and notes organization right into the app. Collaborate with your colleagues by exporting and importing Penultimate Notebook and Paper files directly via email, iTunes File Sharing, or Dropbox. Whether you're in a conference room or classroom, you can use the iPad VGA Adapter to share your notes on a screen or projector, as your audience follows along with your work in real time. Print directly from your iPad with ePrint printers.
WE'RE HERE FOR YOU
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"Penultimate" and the Penultimate icon are trademarks of Cocoa Box Design LLC. All Rights Reserved.
