Customer Reviews (100)

Jaxon Pontious • 2025-03-22T10:06:39.427Z

Turns my tablet into a notebook

Ajith pandiyan • 2025-03-18T06:23:07.736Z

Need to improve allot learn from goodnotes

José Luis P. • 2025-03-14T00:45:34.398Z

Really good app.

Summary of Key Insights

Noteshelf 2 is a note-taking app with a generally positive sentiment, although users express significant frustrations. The app is praised for its natural handwriting experience, PDF annotation capabilities, and organizational features. However, users frequently report issues with syncing, updates, and the existence of a separate "Noteshelf 3" app requiring a separate purchase. The introduction of Noteshelf AI is a positive, but many users request more features and improvements to existing functionalities. The app's strengths lie in its core note-taking experience, but technical issues and perceived unfair pricing practices detract from its overall appeal.

Quantitative Metrics:

  • Overall Rating (Implied): Approximately 4.0 stars (based on review distribution)
  • 5-Star Reviews: 52%
  • 4-Star Reviews: 10%
  • 3-Star Reviews: 5%
  • 2-Star Reviews: 11%
  • 1-Star Reviews: 22%

Key Strengths:

  • Natural handwriting feel
  • PDF annotation capabilities
  • Organization features (notebooks, categories)
  • Variety of templates
  • AI features

Key Weaknesses:

  • Syncing issues and data loss
  • Update problems
  • Confusion and frustration regarding "Noteshelf 3" and the need for a separate purchase
  • Lack of cross-device compatibility (Android and Microsoft)
  • Limited customer support

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 100 reviews
  • Time Frame: Not explicitly stated, but likely recent given the mentions of "Noteshelf 3" and 2024 planners.
  • Analysis Methods:
    • Sentiment analysis (categorizing reviews as positive, negative, or neutral based on language used).
    • Keyword extraction (identifying frequently used words and phrases to pinpoint common themes and issues).
    • Categorical analysis (grouping reviews based on the features or aspects of the app they address).

Key User Pain Points

  • Syncing Issues (High Severity): Many users report problems with syncing notes between devices, leading to data loss or duplicated versions. This is a critical issue that severely impacts usability and trust.
  • Update Problems (High Severity): Several users are unable to update the app, potentially missing out on bug fixes and new features. This leads to frustration and a feeling of abandonment.
  • "Noteshelf 3" Confusion (High Severity): The existence of "Noteshelf 3" and the need to purchase it separately after already paying for "Noteshelf 2" is a major source of anger and perceived unfairness.
  • Lack of Cross-Device Compatibility (Medium Severity): Users want to be able to use the app seamlessly across Android and Microsoft devices. The absence of this feature is a significant limitation for some.
  • Limited Customer Support (Medium Severity): Several users complain about the lack of response from customer support when they encounter issues.
  • Bugs and Glitches (Medium Severity): Some users report bugs such as curves turning into straight lines, freezing, and other glitches that disrupt the note-taking experience.
  • PDF Annotation limitations (Low Severity): Users mention the inability to copy text from PDF, limitations with bookmarks, and other missing features.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Cross-Device Compatibility (Android & Microsoft)
  • Improved Syncing Reliability
  • More Handwriting Fonts
  • Ability to Copy and Paste Text from PDFs
  • Widgets for Homescreen Access
  • Dashed and Dotted Lines in Shapes Tool
  • Ability to Fill Shapes
  • Hyperlinking within Notebooks
  • OneDrive Sync Support

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Natural Handwriting Experience: Users appreciate the realistic pen and highlighter tools.
  • PDF Annotation: The ability to annotate PDFs is a valuable feature for many users.
  • Organization Features: Notebooks, categories, and bookmarking help users stay organized.
  • Templates: The library of templates is a useful resource for various note-taking needs.
  • AI Features: The introduction of Noteshelf AI is seen as a positive addition.
  • Customization: Users like the ability to personalize their note-taking experience with different paper types, colors, and covers.
  • Ease of Use: Many users find the app easy to use and navigate, especially compared to alternatives.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Address Syncing Issues: Investigate and fix the syncing problems that are causing data loss and frustration. Implement robust error handling and provide clear feedback to users on the sync status.
  • Resolve Update Problems: Identify the cause of the update failures and implement a solution. Ensure that users can easily update the app to receive bug fixes and new features.
  • Clarify "Noteshelf 3" Situation: Offer a clear explanation for the existence of "Noteshelf 3" and consider offering a migration path or discount for existing "Noteshelf 2" users. This is critical for restoring trust and goodwill.
  • Improve Customer Support: Respond promptly to user inquiries and provide helpful solutions to their problems. Consider expanding the support team or implementing a knowledge base.

Medium Priority:

  • Implement Cross-Device Compatibility: Develop support for syncing notes across Android and Microsoft devices.
  • Add More Handwriting Fonts: Expand the selection of handwriting fonts to cater to different user preferences.
  • Enhance PDF Annotation Features: Add the ability to copy and paste text from PDFs, improve bookmarking functionality, and address other limitations.
  • Improve Vertical Scrolling Performance: Address the laggy vertical scrolling reported by some users.

Low Priority:

  • Add Widgets for Homescreen Access
  • Implement Dashed and Dotted Lines in Shapes Tool
  • Add Ability to Fill Shapes
  • Implement Hyperlinking within Notebooks
  • OneDrive Sync Support

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • A Cross-Platform Note-Taking App with Seamless Syncing: Develop a note-taking app that works flawlessly across all major platforms (Android, iOS, Windows, macOS) with reliable, real-time syncing.
  • AI-Powered Note Summarization and Organization Tool: Create an app that automatically summarizes long notes, identifies key concepts, and organizes them into a structured format.
  • Handwriting-to-Text Conversion API: Offer an API that allows developers to integrate high-accuracy handwriting-to-text conversion into their own apps.
  • Subscription Service for Premium Note-Taking Templates and Resources: Provide a subscription service that offers access to a constantly growing library of professionally designed note-taking templates, stickers, and other resources.

Trends and Observations

  • Negative Sentiment Related to "Noteshelf 3": A significant portion of negative reviews are directly related to the introduction of "Noteshelf 3" and the perceived need to repurchase the app.
  • Focus on Core Functionality: Users primarily value the app for its core note-taking features, such as handwriting, PDF annotation, and organization.
  • Importance of Syncing: Reliable syncing is a critical requirement for many users, and issues in this area lead to significant dissatisfaction.
  • Feature Requests Focused on PDF Handling: Many users want improved PDF annotation capabilities, indicating a strong use case for this feature.
  • Desire for Cross-Platform Support: The lack of cross-device compatibility is a recurring pain point, suggesting a growing need for this functionality.

Conclusion

Noteshelf 2 has the potential to be a top-tier note-taking app, but it is currently being held back by technical issues, customer communication problems, and the confusing situation with "Noteshelf 3". Addressing the syncing and update problems, clarifying the future of "Noteshelf 2," and improving customer support are essential for restoring user trust and improving the app's reputation. By focusing on core functionality, addressing user pain points, and implementing frequently requested features, the developers can create a more compelling and satisfying note-taking experience. Overall, it is recommended to address the critical issues immediately and then focus on feature enhancements based on user feedback.

Original App Link

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fluidtouch.noteshelf2