Day One and Journal: A Tale of Two Apps
As I’ve been using the Journal app for a few days now, I feel confident in saying that Day One is not staring down an existential threat ā at least not yet. It’s essential to remember that we’re discussing Apple’s history of Sherlocking new apps with feature updates (it was, after all, the company that gave rise to the term). However, in its current form, the Journal app still has a long way to go to catch up with Day One’s head start.
After all, Automattic-owned Day One has been kicking for more than a decade at this point. It’s worth mentioning here that Apple has long been a fan of their work, naming it ‘Mac App of the Year’ in 2014 and giving it an Apple Design Award two years later. Paul Mayne, head of Day One, told us that Apple’s interest in journaling apps is driven by its desire to create a more seamless experience for users.
Day One’s Advantages
While Journal has some innovative features, such as content-driven prompts and nice security touches, it still lags behind Day One in terms of functionality. Depending on your preference, this can either be a negative or positive. Some will appreciate the simplicity, while others will lament its lack of customization options, folders, and tags.
Voice recordings don’t save as transcriptions, which is an interesting omission given the rise of voice-enabled apps. However, there’s still a lot of room for growth here, and journalers tend to be a passionate variety, so Apple will almost certainly be getting a lot of feedback, including from me, as I shout from the rooftops for a Mac version.
Journal’s Unique Selling Point
One of the most innovative features of Journal is its use of algorithmically curated moments that span the company’s ecosystem. The app uses writing prompts based on these curated moments to help users fill up their virtual notebook every day. This feature is particularly useful for those who struggle with journaling or need a little extra motivation.
However, I suspect that Apple came up with the idea of content-driven prompts and then built a journaling app around it. In fact, the company has already opened up an API that lets competitors access this secret sauce. It’s an interesting and novel play for Apple, but perhaps it will further slow future Sherlocking in the category.
Competition is Key
I’m generally of the opinion that more competition = good. Journal may be a bit barebones compared to Day One, but its simplicity has the potential to appeal to users who are new to journaling or prefer a more streamlined experience. With Apple’s focus on creating a seamless experience for users, it will be interesting to see how Journal evolves and differentiates itself from other apps in the category.
A Glimpse into the Future
As I’ve mentioned earlier, we’re still early in this journey. Heck, it’s still only available as part of iOS 17.2’s public beta. There are a lot of opportunities for deeper integration with the existing ecosystem, and tying the new mood logging feature tied to Apple’s new mental health offerings seems like a no-brainer.
As I continue to use Journal and provide feedback to Apple, I’m excited to see how this app will grow and evolve over time. Will it become the go-to journaling app for iOS users? Only time will tell.
In Conclusion
Day One and Journal may seem like two vastly different apps on the surface, but they share a common goal: to help users express themselves and process their thoughts and emotions in a more meaningful way. While Day One has its advantages, such as customization options and transcription capabilities for voice recordings, Journal’s innovative features have the potential to appeal to a wider audience.
As we move forward, it will be essential to see how Apple continues to develop and refine its journaling app. Will Journal become a game-changer in the world of journaling apps? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: Apple has taken a significant step into the world of digital journaling with this innovative new app.
About the Author
Brian Heater is the Hardware Editor at TechCrunch. He worked for a number of leading tech publications, including Engadget, PCMag, Laptop, and Tech Times, where he served as the Managing Editor. His writing has appeared in Spin, Wired, Playboy, Entertainment Weekly, The Onion, Boing Boing, Publishers Weekly, The Daily Beast and various other publications. He hosts the weekly Boing Boing interview podcast RiYL, has appeared as a regular NPR contributor and shares his Queens apartment with a rabbit named Juniper.
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