Why are the iPhone's native iCal and Notes useless?

[kas23]

I know there is not a simple answer to this, or maybe no answer at all, but I think we may be able to have a reasonable discussion about this.

Now, I think majority of the native apps (Safari, phone, SMS, phone, Google Maps, etc.) are great. Of course they could use some tweaking and polishing, but the Calendar and Notes apps are just horrid and take up too much space. What was Apple thinking when they placed these apps on the phone?

I have been looking into other apps like RTM, OmniFocus, and Todo and these apps are excellent. They are very well thought out and it appears like their developers actually put time into them. These apps embarrass the regular calendar app. Why didn't Apple put the same effort in? It seems like they just threw it on for the sake of it.

The same can be said for the native Notes app. It does absolutely nothing and just takes up space. Then you look at other notes apps like Evernote and Younote and you wonder why Apple didn't give the effort. It's not like Apple isn't creative and couldn't think of good useful features.

Do you really think Apple just passed the buck to the developers to give them a chance? Is it a money thing? Let the developers come up with something so we can get a 30% cut instead of nothing?

 

[Project]

I completely disagree.

Something like Omnifocus is complete overkill for 95% of users. But it serves a niche. Calendar is a very good app IMO and Notes does what it does so that anybody can pick it up. If you require a more complex note taking app then there are plenty available. Apple shouldnt try to be all things for all people.

 

[Eraserhead]

Calander just needs Week view, and Notes is nice and simple and fine IMO.

 

[stiphone]

I think the iPhone calendar is alright. Could use some improvements (which app doesn't). Like allowing more features like ical. As for notes. The only complain i have for it is syncing. If it can do a mobileme sync, that would be excellent.

 

[Slowstick]

I think the iPhone calendar is alright. Could use some improvements (which app doesn't). Like allowing more features like ical. As for notes. The only complain i have for it is syncing. If it can do a mobileme sync, that would be excellent.

Ya....notes should have more functionality.

 

[TheBearman]

I picked up notepad because it provided some basic functions I think should be part of the base notes app. It allows syncing and note creation on the desktop (mac anyway). It as allows grouping notes into folders as well as simple security. Not overly fancy or complex for a new user, just pricey for something that should be part of the basic app set.

 

[kas23]

I completely disagree.

Something like Omnifocus is complete overkill for 95% of users. But it serves a niche. Calendar is a very good app IMO and Notes does what it does so that anybody can pick it up. If you require a more complex note taking app then there are plenty available. Apple shouldnt try to be all things for all people.

So, I assume you have not used, downloaded, or have any GTD or note taking apps on you iPhone, right? If you have, then you obviously have seen a deficiency in these native apps. If not, you really should try them out. You'll see a world of difference. I never ever thought these kind of apps would be useful for my personal needs until I tried using them.

Apple does not have to be all things for all people, but they should at least let us delete their apps - they're taking up too much real estate.

 

[Gokunama]

The Calendar app needs some back-up/restore feature. Before the 2.1 iPhone update, my iPhone was constantly crashing, and sometimes restoring as a new iPhone was the only thing that worked in getting it running smoothly again. I got tired of re-entering all my appointments, and was quite thrilled when SaiSuke came out (back-up at and restore from Gcal).

I agree that Apple should allow us to delete the native apps. I never use the calendar, the notes, and the stock apps.

 

[ChrisN]

I really do like iCal but Notes is useless IMO because you can't sync/share them. All the other apps are simple and efficient!

ChrisN

 

[Project]

So, I assume you have not used, downloaded, or have any GTD or note taking apps on you iPhone, right? If you have, then you obviously have seen a deficiency in these native apps. If not, you really should try them out. You'll see a world of difference. I never ever thought these kind of apps would be useful for my personal needs until I tried using them.

Apple does not have to be all things for all people, but they should at least let us delete their apps - they're taking up too much real estate.

Actually, I have about 8 apps, including OmniFocus, Evernote, Things, Zenbe, RTM and ToDo. I'm something of a GTD nerd and sadly have more apps to GTD than things on my actual GTD list. However, for a lot of people Notes is just fine as a note taking app.

I agree that we should be able to delete default apps.

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

Calander just needs Week view, and Notes is nice and simple and fine IMO.

Yeah, week view would work great in landscape mode. It'd be nice if you could just rotate your phone and have it switch to week view.

 

[swindmill]

iCal is excellent if you use iCal for OS X and/or Outlook. It's even better if you use MobileMe. For me, iCal is the most important app on my phone, because I have multiple, sometimes many, events scheduled on a daily basis and I am constantly adding new events every day. So, I think it depends on what you are trying to use it for. It is useless as a 'to do' app, but then again, it isn't designed to be one.

 

[NT1440]

Personally I think notes is perfect for me. Scribble a little note for myself to remind me something. I can't think what other functionality I would use it for...

 

[Schtumple]

Week view would be lovely, I use Calendar as it is though, find it very handy as my memory is diminishing quickly.

Notes is good for simple shopping lists, DVDs to watch, little tidbits of info etc etc.

I don't think either of the apps are bad, let alone useless, they serve a purpose, and they do it quite well.

 

[dccorona]

I know there is not a simple answer to this, or maybe no answer at all, but I think we may be able to have a reasonable discussion about this.

Now, I think majority of the native apps (Safari, phone, SMS, phone, Google Maps, etc.) are great. Of course they could use some tweaking and polishing, but the Calendar and Notes apps are just horrid and take up too much space. What was Apple thinking when they placed these apps on the phone?

I have been looking into other apps like RTM, OmniFocus, and Todo and these apps are excellent. They are very well thought out and it appears like their developers actually put time into them. These apps embarrass the regular calendar app. Why didn't Apple put the same effort in? It seems like they just threw it on for the sake of it.

The same can be said for the native Notes app. It does absolutely nothing and just takes up space. Then you look at other notes apps like Evernote and Younote and you wonder why Apple didn't give the effort. It's not like Apple isn't creative and couldn't think of good useful features.

Do you really think Apple just passed the buck to the developers to give them a chance? Is it a money thing? Let the developers come up with something so we can get a 30% cut instead of nothing?

they don't need to spend time on them because they serve the basic purpose and are offered to all users
there are plenty of app store apps to replace them if a person needs them
what apple does need to do is allow you to delete/hide them