Evernote Buys Notebook App Penultimate - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Evernote Buys Notebook App Penultimate

by

penultimatelogoEvernote, the notetaking and archiving service, has acquired notebook app Penultimate for an undisclosed sum, reports The Next Web. Evernote has been on something of a buying spree -- in August of last year, Evernote bought image editing and sharing app Skitch.

More that simply bringing the app into the Evernote stable, the deal will see Penultimate (blessed with the accolade of 4th most downloaded iPad app of all time back in March this year) developed for a wider range of platforms and devices. Evernote also plans to use the acquisition of the app, developed by San Francisco-based Cocoa Box, to bring improved handwriting recognition to the Evernote service itself.

Evernote can already recognize handwritten text in scanned documents, while the company also licenses this technology to third parties via its Ritescript division. Today’s acquisition opens up the possibility of allowing you to write with your finger or a stylus directly into Evernote apps in the future. Penultimate already supports the saving of notes into your Evernote account.


Penultimate will continue on as a standalone app, with creator Ben Zotto continuing work on it at Evernote. Penultimate is the fourth most downloaded iPad app ever according to Apple. Evernote recently raised a $70 million funding round and is nearing 30 million users.

Penultimate for iPad is available on the App Store for $0.99. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

Patriks7 Avatar
184 months ago
Potentially dream come true.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nuckinfutz Avatar
184 months ago
SOLID

I use both. Better integration wins the internets.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iSee Avatar
183 months ago
...The iPad does not have a pen...

No. The iPad does not come with a pen.
That's not the same thing.

Personally, I bought two three-packs of styluses off Amazon for < $1/pen. Somewhat surprisingly, they work great. I use the pens for writing and tend to use my finger or pen for diagramming and drawing, depending on exactly what I'm doing.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
slu Avatar
184 months ago
I want to like Evernote, but I just think it needs improved usability. For me, it just takes too long and too many "clicks" to edit an existing note. I find I barely use it.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
669532 Avatar
184 months ago
although 'penultimate' is the perfect name for this app it does mean: 'all but the best'

I find I get very little out of these 'productivity tools'.
Score: 0 Votes (Like | Disagree)
184 months ago
I sincerely tried to use Penultimate as my notebook for school on multiple occasions with multiple styluses. It just doesn't do the trick for me -- I'm doing lots of math equations and formulas. I want it to work and hope that a future version of the iPad will better support handwriting. Evernote is so-so. I gave up on it because the interface and syncing were kind of a pain. Honestly with Evernote you might as well just create an email address and send yourself anything you want to save because it's basically the same thing. I've ended up going with Workflowy for online organization and stuck to pen and paper for real notes. iPad is still fantastic for reading but the handwriting recognition just isn't there.
Score: 0 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Four iPhone 18 Pro Colors Mock Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Tuesday May 26, 2026 6:32 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not launching until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. It was initially reported that the iPhone 18 Pro models would have fully under-screen Face ID, with only a front camera visible in the top-left corner of the screen. However, the latest rumors indicate that only one Face ID component will be moved under the...
Apple Watch Blood Glucose Monitoring Feature 2

Apple Watch for Diabetes: The Latest on Apple's Plans for Non-Invasive Blood Sugar Monitoring

Tuesday May 26, 2026 9:30 am PDT by
For many years now, it has been rumored that the Apple Watch will eventually gain non-invasive blood sugar monitoring capabilities, which would enable millions of people with diabetes to track their blood glucose levels without needing to prick their skin with a needle or wear a dedicated continuous glucose monitor. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple recently shifted oversight of...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Just Expanded iPhone Driver's License Feature to 14th U.S. State

Wednesday May 27, 2026 9:41 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Starting today, the feature is available in Arkansas, which is the 14th state to offer it. However, it may take some time to roll out to all users. To...