I am amazed by the way modern developers are utilizing the different libraries available to them, with their project development. These days, project owners are trying their best to make their projects respond to clicks as fast as possible, look neat, and run without hindering users from using other apps.

A few months ago, I introduced a project that displays the steps needed to use it, while I was still installing/setting up the app. I made it clear in the post that, the project has the ability to multitask without hindering me from completing what I was doing. I expressed how happy I was using such an app.

In today's blog post, I will be introducing to you a note-taking application, that has the ability to allow its users to take notes without having to launch it, or fully open its main activity. This simply means you can take notes without fully opening the app.

A developer with the Github name "nproth" developed a simple, and the smart note-taking app called p!n. Should I guess what's your mind? Are you thinking I mistyped pin as p!n?, Oh no!! I didn't. That is the name given to the project. I actually thought it was a typo from the project owner, but, I later understood the reason behind the name. I will talk more on it while I fully introduce the project in my next paragraph.

Introduction

P!n is simply an android application for taking notes on the go. I used the sentence On The Go because, you can seamlessly take notes, pin them, and edit them without having to fully open any application.
It functions the same way as other note-taking applications in the sense that, you take notes with it, and save them.

P!n is unique with its functionalities, which is the reason why the developer decided to name it as P!n instead of the regular English word Pin.

What Makes It A Unique Note Taking App?

I will start by saying that, Its uniqueness starts with its name. The name isn't spelled as a pin. But, you will actually read it as Pin.
Secondly, unlike other Note apps, or any other android application I have ever used, while launching them, they take the entire screen. P!n is so unique in the sense that, it only requires a single portion of the entire screen. Check the picture below to see how a note taking application occupied my device's screen after I launched it. This page is where I type my notes. While I'm typing on this page, I can't do anything else except I minimize it.

P!n solved the issue where users need to fully open an app before using it. P!n will only take a small portion of the screen to launch. With this feature, I was able to multitask ( type notes, while using other apps).

Additionally, I also see, and use P!n as a different app other than taking not58. The developer defined it as;

A minimalistic note-taking app for Android utilizing your phone's notification area.

This simply means that, it displays every note saved on the notification bar.
P!n has a snooze timer beside the text editor which can be used to set snoozing time. Because of this feature, I have been able to find another use case for P!n.

How did perceive P!n?

I created a short note including a line of a task, which I view anytime I swipe my notification tray down. Doing this constantly reminds me to perform the task in the note. As time goes by, I started seeing this app as a reminder, and at the same time as a flawless note taking app.

There are other Interesting features available in P!n. For example, the ability to mark a note as done, snooze(30min), edit, pin, and unpin notes.
Also, Long pressing on the snooze timer while editing, or taking a note, will automatically display all saved notes on the notification bar.

Currently, the snooze time is set to increment by 30mins. Also, the initial time to snooze a note is 30mins. The snooze values are set by default. This needs to be changed. Because, different users have their different desired time to start, or snooze a note.

Project Update

The latest version was released 18 days ago as of when I was making this post. The updated version includes these updates;

• Make notifications persistent by long pressing 'pin'-button
• Show hidden pins by long pressing 'timer'-button
• Alert when notes wake up.

What is to be expected in the next update ?

The last code update was 12days ago. And, In the last project commit, I was able to see that, the project owner is implanting a RotaryControlView. This feature will allow users to change the snooze time depending on their choices, by sliding either left or right. ^{(He's finally working on what I don't like about the project)}

I was able to Fork project, and compiled it to generate an app for debugging. Here's a screenshot showing how the next version will look;

As you can see for yourself that, the upcoming version will have a different RotaryControlView.

Don't be surprised when you see my name among the list of contributors. I might suggest a feature by implementing, and creating a PR to the master branch.

Conclusion

P!n is the simplest application I have ever used. Imagine an app that doesn't require the whole screen to function. I have used it, and it's great. You should give it try.