Jot! – A Real Time Collaboration App – iPad App Review
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The makers of the popular whiteboard app Jot!, Tabula Rasa Labs, recently made a significant update which will allow users to collaborate in real time. Unlike other whiteboard apps, you do not need to be in the same room using Bluetooth, nor do you need to be connected on the same WiFi network. Jot! works over the internet so that users can be anywhere and still share the whiteboard.
This simple to use note-taking/doodling/ productivity app is multi-functional, flows nicely and looks great on the iPad. You can free-hand draw with your finger or stylus or you can add text with just a tap. You can copy and past lines, change their color, or delete them altogether. You can save your Jot! to your photo library, email it or print it. Of course, this is in addition to the amazing ability to share the whiteboard live with others.
When you open a blank sheet, you have a side panel with a few options. Pick a color and start drawing If you mess up, you can either use the eraser, or just delete the line you don’t like. You can grab a line by touching and holding for a second. An edit panel will show up that allows you to move the line, drag it to the garbage, copy it or change the color.
Once you are finished with your doodle, or what every you are creating, you can start a new one and the old one will be automatically saved within the app. If you are ready to send your work of art to someone, you have the option of sending it as a “jot” file (when I tried this, I was unable to open it on my computer. Apparently there is a .jot application you can get), a PDF or an image.
You can join a Live Sharing session in read-only mode for free, but to host a session, or to collaborate during a session you must subscribe to the service at a cost of either $4.99 per month or $39.99 per year. There is a free two-week trial version so you can give it a test drive before making the plunge.
The app is available for the iPad for $4.99 or the iPhone at $2.99. There is also a free iPad version that you can participate in Live Sharing with, too.
What I liked: This app is easy to use and is not bogged down by a lot of unnecessary features. Too much clutter can stifle creativity and this app avoids that, without seeming like a waste of money.
What I didn’t like: Adding AirPlay capability would be a cool feature. There are only four color options, and while that is what you get in a pack of whiteboard pens, it would be nice to have a couple of extras, like yellow and orange.
To buy or not to buy: The app is priced at $4.99 and I might have called it too expensive. But with the Live Sharing feature, this is a definite buy for collaborative types.
