Iphone App Development… there is a notebook for that

Recently I have been toying with the idea of trying to learn how to build an iphone app. Coding aside one of the things that you need to consider is the User Interface. I started with a large notebook and some quick sketching – this works well. Very well for getting a few rough ideas out of my head and onto paper. However, when it comes to presenting this information as part of a business plan it looks messy.

There are plenty of electronic solutions for this, but I was of course intrigued about what I could find that was paper-based. I could remember the novelty iphone/ipad notebooks that were released, but I was looking for something more aimed at the designer, rather than simply for the novelty factor.

Examples I found include the Iphone App Sketchbook, iphone Sketch Pad, and Pocket Sketches (and for all you Moleskine fans check out the iphone template available at moleskine.com). All very nice looking notebooks and the first 2 are professional looking, with the pocket sketches option more for jotting down ideas. Think I will stick to the doodling for now, but may look into something a bit more professional when I come to presenting the business plan.

Open to suggestions….

Black n Red – Keynotes

This one has been sitting on the review pile for a while. Keynotes is one of Oxford’s latest additions to their Black n’ Red range. Keynotes is not really a good notebook (although it has the capability of functioning as a repositional notebook should you wish to use it in this way). Its key function is as inserts for your existing Black n’ Red wirebound notebooks.

The pages are repositional/detachable (as seen in the picture below):

The pages come off and can be slotted in again (to the keynotes notebook or a black n’ red wirebound notebook of the same size – unfortunately they are not universal since the size and spacing varies for each wirebound notebook).

The edge of the pages are re-enforced and this seems to work when inserting a page into a notebook. The pages stand out well in an existing notebook, perfect for noting important information and/or lists etc which you need to find easily. If you are a student they also make a good summary page (equivalent of the index card) for revision purposes.

They are available as both a notebook (above) and loose insert pages. If you are a fan of using Black n’ Red notebooks – this should be added to your collection – very useful and boost organisation. However, if you don’t like or use Black n’ Red,  walk on by.

Paperchase Passport Notebook

In my last post I briefly mentioned my latest monthly notebook: the paperchase passport notebook.

The notebook itself is a beautiful sunny yellow – a ray of sunshine in these wintery months. It is available in a range of colours and is A6 in size and very slimline (passport sized). Even though it is such a small notebook is durable and doesn’t get bent knocking around in my rucksack or bag even though it a simple paper cover.

The pages however a quite thin and the writing from the page below will be slightly visible when using biro and more so when using, for example, a stabilo Point 88 Fineliner (pictured below).

However, it is still a handy little notebook for writing down quick notes, shopping lists etc. The pages are easy to tear out and I often use them to write down things for others / pass out etc.

In summary – cute, small, durable.  At £1.50 per notebook… an immediate purchase.