JotNot

When you use JotNot to scan a multipage document, you should...

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:26:11 -0500

When you use JotNot to scan a multipage document, you should consider setting a default paper size for the entire document. This is especially useful when all pages in the document are the same size. Setting a default paper size will ensure that you get the results you expect every time. The video above gives a demonstration on how to do this.

Best,

Alec

JotNot provides an easy way for you to set the strength of its...

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 18:26:18 -0500

JotNot provides an easy way for you to set the strength of its image enhancement algorithm. By default, JotNot uses the strongest enhancement setting available. In its strongest setting, the algorithm will try to identify the background of the scanned page and set it to white. With a good source image, this algorithm can produce some amazing results especially on the 3GS. If you are using an older iPhone (1st Gen or 3G) or are scanning documents with very faint text, the algorithm can sometimes be too aggressive in removing detail from the original image. If this happens, you can try dialing back the strength of the algorithm to get quality results every time regardless of the source image. The only expense with dialing back on the enhancement is that the results tend to be a little bit noisier. Take a look at the video to see a demonstration of how to set this control.

Best,

Alec

JotNot provides many different ways to save and share your...

Sun, 27 Dec 2009 13:03:35 -0500

JotNot provides many different ways to save and share your scanned documents. One method that is often overlooked by users is JotNot’s ability to save scanned images down to the iPhone’s camera roll. This can be an easy way to get your data off the iPhone every time you sync with your Mac or PC. This video walks you through how to use this handy feature.

Best,

Alec

Did you know that you can use JotNot to convert an image into an...

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:55:00 -0500

Did you know that you can use JotNot to convert an image into an editable text document? This video will show you how to do it by taking advantage of the Google Docs integration available in JotNot 2.1.

Best,

Alec

Recently, we have received a few user emails on the subject of...

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:53:07 -0500

Recently, we have received a few user emails on the subject of how to upload scanned images to Evernote using JotNot 2.1. We decided to create this video to demonstrate how to do that. This video also shows you how to workaround a bug in the UI that causes the “send” button to get disabled. We hope that you find this video demonstration useful and that it clears up any confusion you may have.

Best,

Alec

Uploading to Evernote with JotNot 2.0.1

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 09:57:00 -0500

We are aware of an issue with 2.0.1 that affects the ability of some users to upload their scanned images to Evernote. We have fixed this issue in our code base and have submitted an update to Apple. Hopefully, they will be able to turn this around shortly. We are very sorry for this mistake and for any inconvenience we have caused.

2.0.1 fixes a bug in the import of PDF files from version 1.3 of the app. Existing users of JotNot 2.0 who do not need this bug fix should not upgrade to 2.0.1 if they need a complete Evernote upload capability.

Fortunately, for those who have already upgraded, there is a workaround. Evernote provides a unique email address you can use to send notes into your default notebook. You can find this email address at the bottom of the Account Settings page (see screen shot below) on the Evernote website.

To upload to Evernote, simply send an email to this address using JotNot’s built-in email functionality.

Again, we are very sorry for making this mistake. We will resolve it in the next update, which is currently in Apple’s review pipeline.

Best,

Alec

JotNot adds multi-page and much more

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:39:00 -0500

We’ve just released an update for JotNot that includes multi-page support and a ton of other features that you have requested above (we check your feature requests almost everyday). Here’s some of what you’ll get in version 2.0:

Multipage support
Automatic edge detection
WebDAV/iDisk support
Camera stabilization (requires the latest OS: 3.1)
Automated backup of scans
Reordering pages
An extensive web-based help
In app support
and more …

We hope that you like these features and we are looking forward to hearing from you. We unfortunately have also found a couple of issues that we’d like to address.

If JotNot crashes while importing your PDFs from version 1.3 you have two options. If you need the PDFs, the current workaround is to keep hitting “Cancel” each time JotNot starts; the PDFs will be saved on your phone. We have already submitted an update to Apple to fix this issue—hopefully we will hear back from them shortly. If you do not need the PDFs you can just delete the app and reinstall it, which will delete the PDFs and remove the prompt.

If JotNot crashes when you click the camera icon , then try turning off Image Stabilization under the Settings. This is due to the fact that image stabilization requires the newest iPhone OS (3.1) so upgrading the OS on your iPhone will also fix the problem.

As always send us an email at support@jotnot.com to get in touch with us.

-Abe

JotNot now with Evernote!

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:20:00 -0400

We just pushed another update (v1.3) and added even more features to JotNot. The biggest addition was in app integration with Evernote (www.evernote.com) which is an amazing free web service that can read printed text and even handwriting in pictures!

We think that JotNot and Evernote make a perfect notetaking combination because Evernote indexes and stores all the images you send to it making them searchable (we also suspect that JotNot improves the searchability of notes within Evernote). As always JotNot still makes the note easier to read, print, and share. Using the two services gives you easily printable, searchable documents from your pictures. I’ve already started using JotNot with Evernote to store and organize my business cards.

There’s a ton of other stuff in the update too. Here’s some of the other features:

Automatic paper size detection
More intuitive UI
Smaller PDF file sizes
Ability to turn off zoom when selecting
Long and short timestamp formats

We are already busy working on the next release, and we think it is going be huge, so stay tuned!

We just updated JotNot!

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:38:05 -0400

We just released v1.2 of JotNot for the iPhone which has the following new features:

PDF creation
In-app email (JPEG, PDF, or PNG attachments)
Ability to reprocess the same image
Access to processing options from “Select Area” screen
WiFi support (to download PDFs)
Color invert option (for light text on dark backgrounds e.g. blackboards)
Selection corner labels (for rotating)
Brand new user interface
Slightly faster processing
Larger click area for settings button

We hope like the new version. Alec and I apologize for the long delay between v1.1 and v1.2—but a lot has happened since the last version. Alec has moved back to Texas, Nick has left MobiTech for a pretty exciting opportunity back in Philly, and I’ve double-downed on Cambridge, MA by by buying a house!

New York Times mention!

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:18:00 -0400

New York Times mention!:

JotNot was written up in today’s New York Times in the Personal Technology section. They mention a trend that Alec and I have also noticed: “Even though smartphones can be tricked out with thousands of add-on applications, only a few prove truly useful when it comes to organization.” Fortunately for JotNot, it was one of the few that made the cut! The article points that JotNot can be used in place of a fax machine. I’ve been doing exactly that for the past week or so as we are finalizing the purchase of our house—sending signed documents has never been easier. Check out the article (linked to above).

- Abe

Tips for the best quality scans

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 08:00:00 -0400

The iPhone has a fixed lens camera so if you get closer than about 8 inches to the document, the image gets blurry. Here are a couple of tips to get the best quality scans:

Make sure the document is flat
Hold the iPhone at least 8 inches away
Ensure that the document is well lit
Use black and white mode when you can
If the text is still too faint, try maxing out the contrast

Usually these steps will produce a scan of good enough quality for most people (for example the quality in our screen shots on the iTunes Store which are not retouched). If you need extremely high quality scans of smaller documents (like receipts and business cards) you can get a macro lens attachment for your iPhone (see the below for information on the Griffin Clarifi).

-Abe

The new version of JotNot for the iPhone is out! Version 1.1...

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:04:00 -0400

The new version of JotNot for the iPhone is out! Version 1.1 adds a lot of features, improves perfornace, and reduces the memory footprint. More specifically here’s what’s new:

Settings (click the info button)
Black and white mode
Contrast control
Faster processing
Timestamp option
Save original option
Disable enhancement option
Improved UI (new selector and scroll-view)

These features allow you to use JotNot as a photography application. Take a look the picture above—Alec took this in NYC by turning off enhancement, boosting the contrast, turning on the timestamp, and cropping the image.

-Abe

Here’s a great little contraption called an iPhone...

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 12:20:00 -0400

Here’s a great little contraption called an iPhone Scandock that works well with JotNot. It works by holding your phone the optimal distance from the document and it reduces jitter so that you get a sharp scan everytime.

It is being sold by Kyle A. Koch through Ponoko which is an online fab company. You can buy a packaged version (made from corregated cardboard) or you can fab your own from any available material of your choosing. We think it is a neat idea!

-Abe

I just recently got a Griffin Clarifi case for my iPhone 3G...

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:03:00 -0400

I just recently got a Griffin Clarifi case for my iPhone 3G which has a macro lens attachment built in to try it out. I have found that it can dramtically improve the sharpness of iPhone’s built in camera in close range. The picture of the business card above was taken on my iPhone 3G with the Clarifi and then processed with JotNot for the iPhone.

Clarifi improves images of business cards, reciepts, and other documents where trying to capture the maximum number of pixels requires holding the iPhone very close to the document. The reason for this is that the iPhone camera has a fixed-focus lens that Apple most likely set to focus at infinity. When used on close subjects the image normally comes out very fuzzy. The Clarifi is not helpful for all documents, however. In particular, full page letter-sized documents are so large that you have to hold your iPhone far from them to fit them in. At this range the normal iPhone lens works well enough.

You don’t have to take my word for it, though. There is a great in depth review of the Clarifi case at http://www.theiphoneblog.com. They give it ★★★★★. They also provide lots of close-ups of the case as well a few before/after pictures showing the performance of the macro lens.

-Abe

JotNot Photo Effects! A couple of our friends at Plum Ventures,...

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 10:19:46 -0400

JotNot Photo Effects!

A couple of our friends at Plum Ventures, Inc have found a novel use for JotNot—as a digital photographic effect! Take a look at some of their other work here.

Do you hit “Main” or “Process”...

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 06:31:00 -0400

Do you hit “Main” or “Process” accidently (iPhone client)?

Here’s a tip that might help you avoid accidently hitting the “Main” or “Process” buttons while selecting the region of interest on the iPhone client. You do not have to touch the corners of the blue rectangle to drag them! Touching anywhere on the screen automatically selects the nearest corner. So in particular, you can drag the top-left and top-right corners without clicking near the buttons. This can also help you position the corners more precisely, because you finger isn’t covering the corner you are dragging. Hope this tips helps!

-Abe

Great JotNot demo at “The Seattle Specialist” A big...

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 19:46:00 -0400

Great JotNot demo at “The Seattle Specialist”

A big thanks to Jim Reppond, one of our users, for making this excellent video on how to use JotNot! Jim demonstrates each step in using JotNot and also gives some great uses for real estate professionals and others.

-Nick

JotNot iPhone "resetting"

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 07:41:00 -0400

We have been getting some reports of the JotNot iPhone app “resetting” by going to back the welcome screen mid-processing. We suspect this is happening because the phone is low on memory (image processing takes up a lot of memory).

For now, a good workaround is to reboot your phone (i.e. completely shut it down and then restart it), and retry using JotNot (you can just import the image you already took). To do that please do the following:

hold down the power button until the red slider appears, and
slide it to shut off your phone; then
wait a few seconds, and press the power button again to restart your phone

This frees up any memory that other apps or the iPhone OS may have allocated. This is especially useful if you have not rebooted your phone in a long time (FYI, you shouldn’t have to do this every time, just once). We are working on a update that will address this shortly so stay tuned. In the mean time please do not hesitate to email us at support@jotnot.com if you are having any problems.

-Abe

JotNot at TechCrunch!

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:54:27 -0400

JotNot at TechCrunch!:

Jason Kincaid over at TechCrunch just wrote a great article about us. Check it out here!

iPhone and Android updates

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:07:00 -0400

We’ve been working really hard on the iPhone and Android JotNot applications. We’ve just released a standalone iPhone version! You can learn more about it at http://jotnot.com/iphone/. If you just want to skip all of that and get straight to downloading it you can get it from iTunes here.

The iPhone application is slightly different from the current Android application. All of the processing is done on the phone itself. None of your data is sent to the web, which means you can now process images of whiteboards or documents containing confidential or sensitive information that you wouldn’t want to share.

Look for an update in the very near future for the Android app which will make it standalone as well. In the mean time we have extended the beta until April 10th.

-Nick