Napkin State of the App - May '23

Napkin
5 May 202303:56

TLDRThe 'Napkin State of the App - May '23' update introduces several enhancements to the iOS app, focusing on ease of idea collection and organization. Users can now utilize an improved OCR scan function to insert text into cards, view and edit tags more conveniently, and experience a smoother stack management with the ability to rearrange, rename, and create new stacks. The update also includes a 'Daily Mix' feature for curated idea inspiration. The team is actively working on further iOS app improvements with new versions expected soon.

Takeaways

  • 📝 Napkin has seen improvements in its iOS app for easier idea collection on the go.
  • 🔍 The OCR scan function has been made more accessible, allowing users to scan and select text from books or other sources to add to their cards.
  • 📑 Enhanced tagging features include the ability to view, edit, and manage tags across the account for better organization.
  • 🗂 Stacks have been updated for easier rearrangement, renaming, and creating new ones, improving the workflow for grouping cards.
  • 🔍 A full-screen view of stacks is now available, making it simpler to add cards and perform actions within a stack.
  • 📚 Users can now group cards for articles or discussions, and then easily transfer selected content to other writing tools.
  • 🌞 The 'Daily Mix' feature offers a curated selection of ideas, including recent and less-visited ones, to help users focus on important topics.
  • 🛠️ The development team is currently focusing on further enhancing the iOS app, with new versions expected soon.
  • 🎯 Napkin aims to inspire creativity and spark new associations, rather than being a full-fledged writing tool.
  • 📈 The app continues to evolve based on user feedback, with updates made to improve the user experience and interface functionality.

Q & A

  • What is the core idea behind the app 'Napkin'?

    -The core idea of 'Napkin' is to collect ideas that resonate with the user on cards. The app automatically detects topics in the cards and facilitates easy navigation between them or viewing all cards around a certain topic.

  • What improvements were made to the OCR scan function in the iOS app?

    -The OCR scan function in the iOS app has been made more accessible, allowing users to scan a book or select specific text and insert sentences into their cards directly from the OCR interface.

  • How can users manage tags in their 'Napkin' account?

    -Users can now view all tags in their account, edit tag names, delete certain tags, and change the sequence of tags, providing more control over how ideas are categorized.

  • What updates were made to the 'Stacks' feature in the app?

    -The 'Stacks' feature has been significantly updated to allow for easier rearrangement, renaming, and immediate creation of new stacks. Users can also search and drag items into stacks and open stacks in full screen for a smoother experience.

  • How does the 'Daily Mix' feature work in 'Napkin'?

    -The 'Daily Mix' feature curates a selection of ideas for the user each morning, including recently collected ideas and some that the user hasn't seen in a while, helping to focus on what's important.

  • What is the primary focus of the current development phase for 'Napkin'?

    -The primary focus of the current development phase is the iOS app, with the aim to present the first versions of the updated app soon.

  • How does 'Napkin' assist users in their creative process?

    -'Napkin' aids the creative process by providing a tool for inspiration and idea collection, and by allowing users to discover new associations between ideas.

  • Why might a user choose to hide tags while browsing 'Napkin'?

    -A user might choose to hide tags to focus on discovering new associations between ideas rather than being influenced by pre-existing categorizations.

  • How can users transfer ideas from 'Napkin' to their writing tool of choice?

    -Users can copy ideas or sections from 'Napkin' to their clipboard and then paste them into their preferred writing tool, as 'Napkin' is designed for creativity and inspiration, not as a writing tool.

  • What does the speaker suggest about the use of 'Napkin' for writing?

    -The speaker suggests that while 'Napkin' is a tool for creativity and inspiration, it is not intended to be a primary writing tool, and users should use it in conjunction with their preferred writing software.

  • What does the speaker imply about the future updates of the iOS app?

    -The speaker implies that there are significant updates coming to the iOS app, which are currently the main focus of development, and they are excited to present these updates in the near future.

Outlines

00:00

📝 Napkin App Update Overview

The video script introduces updates to the Napkin app, focusing on enhancing user experience. The core functionality remains the same, allowing users to collect and organize ideas on cards that are automatically categorized by topic. The iOS app has seen improvements, making it easier to collect thoughts on the go with the addition of an OCR scan function to insert text from books or other sources directly into the app. The user interface has been updated with a new feature to show and manage tags, providing a more organized way to view and edit tags for better navigation through the collected ideas. The script also highlights the updated 'stacks' feature, which now allows for more intuitive rearrangement, renaming, and creation of new stacks to group cards. The app's 'Daily Mix' feature is mentioned as a tool for daily inspiration, curating a selection of ideas for the user to consider. The video concludes with a note that the development team is currently focusing on further improving the iOS app, with new versions expected soon.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Napkin

Napkin, in the context of this video, refers to a digital tool designed for collecting and organizing ideas. It is used to resonate with users' thoughts and make it easy to navigate between different topics. The script mentions that the core idea of Napkin remains the same, emphasizing its role in idea collection and organization.

💡OCR Scan Function

The OCR (Optical Character Recognition) scan function is a feature that allows users to scan text from physical sources, such as books, and convert it into digital text that can be inserted into their Napkin cards. The script highlights this as an improved feature, making it easier for users to incorporate text from their surroundings into their digital collection.

💡Tags

Tags are used within Napkin to categorize and organize ideas. The script explains that users can now see all tags in their account, edit their names, delete certain tags, and change their sequence. This feature enhances the organization and discoverability of ideas within the app.

💡Stacks

Stacks in the video script represent a way to group related cards within the Napkin app. The speaker mentions that they have updated the stacks feature to allow for easier rearrangement, renaming, and creation of new stacks. This update is part of the effort to make the app more user-friendly and efficient for organizing thoughts.

💡Inbox

The Inbox is a section within the Napkin app where newly scanned or entered ideas are initially placed. The script mentions that ideas end up in the Inbox and are immediately detected for topics, connecting them to existing cards in the user's account.

💡Daily Mix

The Daily Mix is a feature of the Napkin app that curates a selection of ideas for the user at the start of each day. It includes recently collected ideas and some that the user may not have seen for a while. This feature is designed to help users focus on what's important and keep certain ideas at the forefront of their minds.

💡Creativity

Creativity is a central theme in the video, as the speaker discusses how the Napkin app serves as a tool for inspiring and fostering creative thought. The app is designed to help users discover new associations and ideas, rather than being a writing tool itself.

💡Inspiration

Inspiration is closely linked to creativity in the context of the video. The speaker mentions that the app aims to inspire users by providing an easy way to move from one idea to another and by offering a Daily Mix to spark thought and focus.

💡iOS App

The iOS App refers to the version of Napkin designed for Apple's mobile operating system. The script indicates that the team has been working on improving this version of the app, making it the main focus at the moment.

💡Onboarding

Although not explicitly mentioned in the script, the concept of onboarding can be inferred from the description of the app's features and improvements. Onboarding in this context would refer to the process of introducing new users to the app's functionalities, such as the OCR scan and tagging features.

💡Co-founder

The term co-founder is used in the script when the speaker discusses using Napkin to collect material for discussions with their co-founder, David. This indicates that the app is also used for collaborative purposes, helping to organize and share ideas within a team.

Highlights

Napkin has introduced improvements to its app in the last weeks.

The core idea of collecting resonating ideas on cards remains the same.

Napkin automatically detects topics in cards, facilitating easy navigation.

OCR scan function has been made more accessible in the iOS app.

Users can now scan text and insert specific sentences into their cards.

New tags and tag management features have been added for better organization.

A new feature allows users to view and edit all tags in their account.

Stacks have been updated for easier rearrangement and renaming.

Users can now create new stacks immediately when needed.

Full screen view of stacks and smoother actions within them have been implemented.

Napkin is a tool for creativity and inspiration, not a writing tool.

The Daily Mix feature curates ideas to keep on top of the user's mind.

The iOS app is the main focus of current development efforts.

The first versions of the updated iOS app are expected to be presented soon.

Napkin aims to inspire and facilitate the collection of thoughts and ideas.