LibGuides: Disability Support HLS: Making Notes and Getting Organised

Select your operating system / device

Microsoft OneNote

Create notebooks with sections. You can colour code and annotate notes, add photos and drawings and also add audio recordings. The software also has a web clipper which works in most browsers. This allows you to clip and send useful information from the web direct to a OneNote notebook. Download from Microsoft

Evernote

Aside from the usual note making tasks you can also record audio notes, collect web clippings, attach documents and create tags. You can also collaborate on notes. You have to pay for the premium version in order to annotate and search for text in PDFs. FInd out more.

Google Keep

Uses a noticeboard layout. You can add text, photos or audio and colour code each one. Also allows archiving of notes to prevent main screen from clutter and pinning of notes to the top of the board. Requires a Google account. Find it here

Simplenote

A clean and simply presented method of making notes. Allows you to sync across all your devices. You can collaborate on notes and publish them on the web. Allows you to quickly connect to your WordPress site. Dark mode available. Find out more.

The following are built into your Apple device.

Notes

Notes can include photos as well as audio notes. This voice recognition function is available if there is an internet connection. The iPhone / iPad version uses Apple's online servers to convert your speech to text. The Mac version can use offline enhanced dictation to create text to speech in a note.

Voice Memos
Apple's own voice recording app is included on your iPhone or iPod touch. It is not installed on iPads.The app can be used on its own or with an external microphone for better recordings. The length of recording is only limited by your device storage.

Bear App

Selected as an 'editor's choice' this app was developed for the Apple platform and is a simple notemaking app which is available in dark mode and also supports Apple's Voice Over screen reader or uses the normal text to speech facility on Macs. For dyslexic users it has an open dyslexic font, and high contrast theme. Pay for the pro version and your notes are encrypted and synced across all your devices. Discover more.

ColorNote

Choose from a lined paper option or sticky notes, make checklists and share your notes. Sync across your devices. The app interacts with your calendar. Editor's choice recommendation on Google Play.

Find out more