Recently, the Mozilla Foundation made a major announcement: Pocket, one of the most popular web bookmarking tools, is shutting down. This service was particularly favored by journalists and researchers, and its absence leaves a considerable void in the market.
For users within the Apple ecosystem, the situation is even more troubling, as viable alternatives are scarce. The primary option available is Safari’s save later and bookmarking feature, which falls short of providing an all-in-one solution.
Why is Safari a Lagging Option?
Safari’s reading lists and bookmarks simply don’t cut it. They feel like outdated tools compared to the innovative solutions offered by both well-known and obscure developers. In fact, many users have turned to other browsers like Edge and Opera for features like Collections and Pinboards which not only offer organization but also the option to share content easily.
One major issue is the lack of a solution allowing users to annotate, highlight, or make personal notes directly on a webpage. While various sticky note applications exist, they are primarily limited to your desktop instead of being integrated into the web experience.
This is where Sticky Notes for Safari enters the scene. It’s a Mac app functioning as an extension within Safari, costing less than a cup of coffee. Its simplicity captures the essence of sticky notes on a digital canvas while remaining user-friendly.
How Does Sticky Notes for Safari Work?
Getting started with Sticky Notes for Safari is straightforward. You download the app from the Mac App Store, pay the small fee of €3 (approximately $3.22), and grant it permission to run in Safari. Upon reopening the browser, a small sticky notes icon appears next to the URL bar.
When you’re reading a webpage and want to create a sticky note, just click the extension icon to open a resizable, colorful box for your notes. You can also right-click anywhere on the page and select “Add Sticky Notes” from the menu.
Initial sticky notes come with default text sizes and paper colors that can be easily customized. There are six color options available, providing flexibility. Using a simple interface rather than complex settings makes it easy to focus on what matters most—your notes.
Why Choose Sticky Notes for Safari?
This app effectively addresses a real-world problem by allowing you to pin notes in specific spots on a webpage. Next time you revisit the tab, your note is right where you left it. Closing the browser? Not an issue! The notes remain tied to the webpage, even surviving cache clears.
What impresses me most about the app is its minimalist approach, offering a well-organized catalog where you can search through your entire note history using keywords. Just remember: don’t save your passwords in Safari sticky notes!
I find color coding crucial. For urgent notes, I use red. Green indicates my personal opinions, while blue is reserved for journalistic tasks that connect to the Moyens I/O brand.
What Features Should You Expect?
The app includes features such as:
- A searchable catalog for all your sticky notes.
- Chronologically arranged notes that you can easily access.
- One-click access to the original webpage where a note resides.
- Export options for your notes.
In essence, Sticky Notes for Safari combines the functionality of bookmarks and reading lists effortlessly. Personally, I no longer rely on any other third-party tool for my Safari-based tasks.
Are There Any Drawbacks?
While Sticky Notes for Safari excels in many areas, it is not without flaws. For example, when using Reader Mode in Safari, sticky notes become invisible. They reappear once you switch back to standard viewing. Additionally, I wish it had more text formatting options, but overall, these are minor issues.
Also, the app does not yet support system-wide font styles or spell check tools like you’d find in Apple Notes. While it saves everything in plaintext, copying from formatted apps leads to stripped formatting.
Another small inconvenience is the overlap with keyboard shortcuts. For instance, Command+T in Apple Notes opens the formatting options, but in Safari, it opens a new tab.
Despite these weaknesses, Sticky Notes for Safari provides more than its intended function. Its minimalist design enhances productivity by ending your dependence on traditional bookmarking tools.
Download Sticky Notes for Safari today and streamline your digital note-taking experience.
For more insights and tips related to naturally enhancing your browsing experience, explore more at Moyens I/O.