The Notes app on iOS and iPadOS 18 could get some big new features, according to a report from AppleInsider. iOS 18 is expected to be revealed at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, which will hold its keynote on June 10.
Sources told AppleInsider that Apple plans to introduce the ability to record, save and play voice memos in Notes, and that the recordings are integrated into the Notes entry. Users can make other notes, written or accompanied by images, in the entry. This could be convenient, for example, for students attending a lecture or participating in a work presentation or meeting.
The Voice Memos UI will look similar to the iOS Voice Memos app. Voice Memos will also be included in iCloud syncs on all devices, so they will be accessible in macOS 15 – macOS 15 is specifically called out, which probably means you’ll need to upgrade to get Voice Memos to sync properly. However, the report does not indicate how many of these new features will be introduced alongside iOS 18; Apple sometimes introduces new iOS features first and then brings them to macOS later.
The other new feature is called “Math Notes,” which AppleInsider says is “support for displaying proper math notation.” It could integrate with the iOS Calculator app, but the feature is still under development.
The two new features are the result of Apple’s efforts to better compete with Microsoft OneNote, a popular notes app that is part of the Office365 suite. One of the distinctive advantages of OneNote is its ability to sync between Windows, Mac and iPhone/iPad via OneDrive. Apple Notes does not have a Windows app, although Notes is accessible on the web through iCloud.com.
The report, however, does not indicate to what extent the new features will be available in Notes on iCloud.com. It looks like voice recording isn’t available, but playback might be. With Math Notes, it is unclear if the link to the calculator would be accessible.
Learn more about the upcoming iOS 18, as well as WWDC24.
