Description: PhatPad is essentially a brainstorming tool and notepad for Android smartphone and tablets. Not all of us can afford to buy a Galaxy Note, and not everyone wants one. With PhatPad, you can enjoy the same sort of capabilities without having to use a Samsung device and there are even more features. Thanks to precise handwriting recognition, the ability to insert pictures, export notes as PDF and more, PhatPad is a great app for those in need of taking notes, without the pen and paper. The interface fits in no matter what device you’re using and is compatible with versions of Android from 2.3 up. Making this one of the most universal note-taking apps that allows users to get creative and productive all at the same time.
How it Works: To get started with PhatPad, head on over to the Play Store to download the app. Once you’ve done that, you should take the time to read through the tutorial.
Once you’ve done that, you go ahead and enter the file manager to start creating your own notes.
Writing inside of the app is much like you’d imagine, just either draw a stylus or finger across the screen to create words or notes.
You can change the color and type of your pen by hitting the wheel in the top-right corner.
There are drop-down menus with numerous settings, like the ability to export your notes as a PDF file.
The settings menu is where you’ll find lots of options like the ability to set-up cloud sync.
Granular options line paper sizes are abundant, too.
Don’t forget though, PhatPad is much more than just a handwriting tool as you can insert images into notes, too.
Also, handwriting can be recognized as text, keeping your notes nice and tidy.
Opinion: I’m pretty oldschool in that I much prefer to handwrite my notes. I have a nice notebook that I take with me on the go and it stays on my desk when I’m working. For me, the allure of the Galaxy Note is strong as the S-Pen is a great piece of technology but, I just don’t want a Samsung device. With PhatPad I can come somewhere close to getting that same sort of experience and I have granular control over my own notes. One thing that’s clear however, is that PhatPad is better suited to 10-inch tablets, simply because the extra space makes it more worthwhile. However, it will work brilliant on smartphones and tablets alike.
Ratings
- Speed (4/5) – While it’s nothing out of the ordinary, performance here is very good with PhatPad.
- Features (4.5/5) – With some tweaks to how it interprets strokes, PhatPad would be an almost fully-featured Android app for note takers.
- Theme (4/5) – Taking a cue out of the Android Guidelines, PhatPad will fit in with most Android smartphones and tablets. With the UI taking up minimal space.
- Overall (4.5/5) – PhatPad is something well-worth considering if you like the idea of a Galaxy Note and it’s definitely got all the right boxes ticked.
Pros
- PhatPad’s design will fit in with most Android smartphones or tablets and should suit a Nexus 10 brilliantly.
- Lots of options regarding page size, pen type, grid lining and more.
- You can insert images, text and more into your documents.
- Sharing or exporting is made easy with cloud sync and PDF exports.
Cons
- Isn’t the best app for 7-inch tablets.
- Sensitivity could do with some adjustments.
Conclusion: PhatPad is easily one of the best apps in its class however, it’s not without its problems. For instance, while using the app on my Nexus 7 I couldn’t help but thinking something was missing. Whether or not that’s down to the fact that I don’t have a very good capacitive stylus or not I’m not sure. What you can’t say about PhatPad is that it’s light on features. With an absolute abundance of features like being able to insert pictures, change the paper size, the line spacing and more. PhatPad is a great tool for those that work with more than just text, inserting images is only a couple of taps away and everything runs smoothly. With some added polish and perhaps a little speed boost, PhatPad could become a must-have for students and business users.