i have redescribed this idea:
this is all i want on my pocketpc: a single button that turns it on and launches an app, that, stores text or scribbling in a page by page format, just like the paper pocket calendar journal i use (see link).
the paper pocket journal is a classic design that
is well liked. why should i have to look for my note in an alphabetical list? i just want to flip back a few pages- there is it, exactly where i left it.
here is a spec-ish description:
the database records or the base data elements of the app should be pages, not dates.
two modes (but same filetype) sketchbook or calendared journal:
SKETCHBOOK
- blank pages upon which you can attach text, drawing, or a recording.
- a way to flip forward and backward between pages to browse the sketchbook.
- no dates are displayed, but a page-creation date is stored for each.
- only one color ink and one pen thickness is necessary.
- one sketchbook is one file which can be opened, saved, or saved-as.
- there must be some way to export each booklet so that (1) it can be shared with people that dont have this app (2) and it can be printed.
- im sure you have to limit the sketchbook filesize, i hope it would be possible to have at least 30 sketches in one book/file.
- an option exists to display the page's creation date in tiny grey text
(- someday: allow the pasting of a picture. then you can call it a scrapbook as well.)
- not necessary to make urls/emails hot. (but nice.) it's better to be fast.
CALENDARED JOURNAL
- same as above, but
- each page always displays its creation date.
- an option exists to display only pages (dates) that have entries, or to display a blank (null) page for each date with no entry.
- it IS legal to "go to" a future date to add an entry.
- not necessary but nice to have an iconic "week view" that lets you browse 7 days at time, but instead of the actual data, you see 1, 2, or 3 icons per date (or colors) which indicate the presense of a text, drawing, or audio annotation.
on startup, you see the last page viewed in the last format viewed (sketchbook or journal).
screen buttons:
- next page
- prev page
- goto today
- insert page after this one ("new page")
- attach audio recording to this pg
- toggle writing/drawing mode
- clear drawing (not text)
- forward 7 days or pages
- back 7 days or pages
options to:
- search the text entries
- delete current page
- popup calendar to go to date
- overwrite next page with current page (simple duplicate) (if select-all, copy, & paste works, then that's fine instead.)
- move current page to end (simple rearrange)
- go to last page
- go to first page
(- someday: slideshow the following pages for N seconds)
(- someday: change the creation date for this page)
i would make the pages all screensize instead of larger scrolling things. id rather turn a page than scroll around.
all data should be encrypted.
it might be tempting to tie it into the pdas appointment database, but i wouldnt add this until lots of people say they want it. i dont.