iphone Notes

In its default state, the iPhone is missing some key applications, such as a spreadsheet, simple database and word processor. This is not entirely surprising - it is a phone, not a computer, after all - and you can plug the gaps by using online applications, such as Zoho's web-based office suite at mini.%oho.com. This should be always available over the iPhone's wifi or 3G connection, but when you just want to make a quick note it can be overkill.

That is where the iPhone's own Notes application comes in. It is a simple jotter with the appearance of a regular notepad, the only limitation being that you have to enter text using the on-screen keyboard, as there is obviously no way to use the iPhone with a stylus. This also means you can't draw sketches or scribble random thoughts in the margin.

New notes are added by tapping the + icon on the toolbar, and you can flick back and forwards between them using the arrow keys. As you do, you will notice that the buff pages turn over, as they would in a regular notebook. When you delete a note by tapping the dustbin button at the bottom of the page it is sucked down into the icon for disposal.

Like Mail, the Notes application is a good place to draft information you need to send to colleagues, as it connects directory with the iPhone's email client. If you have already set up your iPhone for email usage, clicking on the envelope icon on the toolbar will dispatch the current note using your default account. Rather confusingly, this is set through the Home screen's Settings application, in the Mail subsection.