OneNote for Android gets Office Lens integration, phone number sign-in.

Hey OneNote users, Microsoft has a treat of an update for you today- kind of. The changelog lists four new features, so let’s take a look at each of them. Well, actually, let’s get item #4, which is the usual bug fixes and performance improvements, out of the way. Let’s dive in the new features.

OneNote for Android now integrates with Microsoft Office Lens, a scanning app that lets users scan, crop and rotate photos, documents, whiteboards, and business-cards. I use Office Lens on all my devices and this feature is very welcome on Android. However, I could not get it to work after installing the update. OneNote’s camera does not give me any option to switch between documents scanning or whiteboards. Maybe I’m missing something here, but I’ll keep searching this and update this post later after I’ve figured it all out.

The second feature lets users create notes with a press and hold on the OneNote icon. This feature has been baked into Android Nougat and higher. The press and hold actually lets users record an audio, insert a photo, create a to-do list and, obviously, create a simple note. This feature is actually working, unlike the Office Lens integration.

The third item allows users to sign in to OneNote with a phone number. Again, I could not find anything in the app settings or anywhere else within the app to get this working.

 All these new features sound nice, but, where are they? I’ll try to reach out to the OneNote team to figure it all out. The update is available for download in Google Play Store already.

OneNote for Android now supports password to sections, fingerprint unlocking. Read this how-to.

Today Microsoft has updated OneNote for Android to support password-protected sections with the goal to secure your notes, sensitive or not, “from prying eyes”. Securing notes is a feature that is already available in the Windows version of the app and it’s great to see Microsoft porting it to Android as part of its mobile strategy. Let’s see how to use the new feature on Android after installing the update.

After starting OneNote on your device, open a Notebook that has the sections you want to lock with a password. Tap and hold on one of your section and tap “Protect Section” in the menu to bring up the screen below where you’ll type your password twice and tap OK. After entering your password, OneNote will take you back to the Sections screen where you’ll see an unlock padlock next to your section name. Yes, OneNote does not lock the section right away. You’ll have to close and re-open the app for the password to come into effect. But wait, there’s more.

The update also includes support for fingerprints on devices with fingerprint scanners built-in. This feature does not appear right away. You must first setup a password as explained above and the next time you unlock a section, OneNote will have a toggle to enable “Unlock with fingerprint next time” you access your section. Users will still be given the option to unlock their sections with a password.

OneNote does not let you have more than one section unlocked. It will automatically lock a section after you navigate away to open another section. Which makes sense from a security perspective. However, I don’t get it why Microsoft added a “Lock All” feature in the context menu of a section. Tap and hold on an unlocked section and you will see “Lock All” there. Again, not sure why it’s there, but I may be missing a point.

This context menu also lets you change or remove the password. The former requires you enter the old password before entering your new one. To remove a password, type your password and you’re done. Note, you can do all this only after unlocking a section. These options won’t appear if you tap and hold on a locked section, obviously.

One very important detail: At the bottom of the unlock screen - see screenshot above -, there’s this very important note that says: “Important: If you lose or forget the password. OneNote can’t recover your data.” There does not seem to be a limit on the number of logon attempts. During my test, I typed a wrong password 10 times without any consequences. So, if you forget or lose your password, your notes will remain, you just won’t be able to access them anymore. Unless you remember your password. You’ve been warned.

The ability to lock sections in OneNote is a nice update for users who are security-minded. Check it out in Google Play Store.

Microsoft updates OneNote on Android with Web Clipper and simplified navigational controls.

OneNote is my go-to app for note-taking on my devices. Thanks to cloud sync, my notes are available to me no matter which device I use and that and the fact that the app is free and full-featured, does not need any second thoughts.  Besides note-taking, I use OneNote mainly for recording my family health records, which proves handy when visiting our doctor. But Microsoft wants OneNote to be more than just a note-taking app. Today’s update is just another proof of that.

Microsoft updated the app today “to simplify navigation controls and enhance usability for users who use assistive technology.” I cannot comment more on this as I’ve not downloaded and installed the update as I’m writing this. But there’s more.

The web version of OneNote lets users save an entire website with OneNote Web Clipper. Microsoft is bringing this feature to Android for users to easily save websites on their Android devices just like on the desktop.

Android users can get the update free in Google Play Store. 

OneNote for Android now lets users open, insert and edit links in their notes.

Popular note-taking app OneNote from Microsoft got a small but useful update today. The app will now let users open links in their notes and also insert and edit these links, making it easier to work with them. This update also has the usual bug fixes and performance improvements.

Not much in terms of new features, but an update that Microsoft says will "take your productivity up a notch." Update OneNote in Google Play Store.

Microsoft adds Undo and Redo to OneNote for Android.

Microsoft has updated OneNote for Android with some new features that will make your note-taking habits a lot easier. The most noteworthy addition is the ability to Undo and Redo things in OneNote and, as Microsoft puts it, "rewrite history". Additionally, this update lets users rename sections, re-enables support for auto-correct on the Google keyboard and the usual bug fixes and performance improvements.

Grab OneNote for Android for free in Google Play Store.

Scanning and annotation of documents comes to Evernote for Android.

Popular note-taking app Evernote just got better on Android in that users will now be able to easily scan any documents you throw at the apps camera. The latter will automatically determine the documents size, type and calibrates to take the best pic possible. Obviously Evernote will process the image so as to keep the part that is of interest to you and that includes cropping, adjusting contrast "for a clear and crisp digital rendering." Those scanned images are then stored temporarily in the phones gallery. Evernote does not say how long the scanned images remain there, but the app will let you upload the scans you want to Evernote with a simple upward swipe and in the format you choose. And there is more.

Evernote will let you annotate your images. Users will be able to draw on the document and even add text. A feature available for some time already on competing note-taking apps, but its great to see Evernote catch up. These features are available to every users of Evernote, but if you're premium user, there's more in store for you, like the ability to scan business cards and Evernote will pull the information into a business card note and save to the app. Premium subscribers will also be able to annotate PDF files attached to notes.

It's a whole lot of features that Evernote has made available in Google Play store. Check out the full change log below:

- Many enhancements to the editing experience

- Support for strikethrough, subscript, and superscript text styles

- Camera now automatically detects and captures business cards, documents, whiteboards, Post-it ® Notes and receipts

- Ability to mark up images and PDFs

- Select multiple notes at once

- ‘Trash’ can now be emptied

Fixed:

- Fixed many note display and note editing bugs

- Various bug fixes and stability improvements

Source: Evernote

Google Keep is now Android wearables friendly.

No doubt Google wearables are more than just watches. They have become powerful wrist-worn computers with all these capabilities that the search giant is adding continuously to Android Wear. Whether you like or want your watch to be loaded with so many software is up for debate. Google wants your phone to stay in your pocket by adding the most software possible to it; Microsoft has its band barded with sensors to capture the most possible data about your health. When it comes to wearables, you have choices. But I do not want a watch to be my phone substitute. Plus it can get quite overwhelming to manage your tech life on such a tiny screen.

Google has made its note-taking app, Google Keep, wearable friendly. The update published today, finally lets Android wearables owners take note, see reminders, view and check off lists right on their wrist. Google is a bit late to this as other note-taking app, Microsoft OneNote notably, offered support for Android Wear back in September.

The update also includes the usual bug fixes and performance improvements.

Source: Google