The one thing that interferes with my enjoyment of adventure games is the need to make notes, especially since I feel the need to make particularly copious notes. In short, the joy of search, reason and discovery is limited by the need to stop and record. But now, thanks to the new iPad (iPad 3 or The iPad as Apple wants it known), making notes is not nearly so tedious. In fact, what I will be describing could just as easily be used to record a walkthrough though requiring a mere fraction of the time that it would have taken previously.

This new method is possible due to 4 features of the new iPad 3, none of which are available on the original iPad and only 2 of which are available on the iPad 2:

1.The Retina Display (2048x1536 pixels) which refers to the fact that the resolution is so great that the eye cannot see individual pixels or pixelation. (Not present on iPad2 though the latter’s resolution is greater than iPad 1.)

2.On-board Microphone.

3.Dictation. This is a surprisingly unheralded feature of the iPad 3: By simply clicking on a microphone icon on the virtual keyboard, you can dictate using normal speech which will be printed out by any app that accepts dictation. Note that the actual dictation to text capability is a feature of the iPad 3, not the app. You need to be connected to the internet to use dictation because your speech is actually sent to special Apple servers where it is translated to text and sent back. The translation is particulary accurate because of the processor & software power available using those servers. (Not present on iPad 2.)

4.On-board Camera.

The final piece of the puzzle is provided by the iPad app called Notability which uses all of the above features to allow me to make quick and remarkably intricate notes with graphics. Here’s how it works in practice:

I play through the game using my small 9 inch screen tablet/notebook (Fujitsu p1610) to the point where I would ordinarily take some notes. I now open a new page in the Notability app on my iPad 3. There are 3 ways I can make notes: 1) Actually write on the screen using my finger or a special capacitive-screen stylus, or 2) Dictate whatever I want and watch the text be created before my eyes using whatever font/size I have previously selected, or 3) Dictate a sound recording (associated with any text I have already entered or a picture I might add) by simply selecting a microphone icon provided by the Notability app (this is separate from the iPad 3 microphone icon used for dication-to-text translation that is on the virtual keyboard as described earlier).

Adding graphics couldn’t be easier and is actually astounding to experience when you do it for the first time. From within the Notability app you simply select to import a graphic using the iPad on-board camera, aim your iPad at the screen of the computer on which you’re playing the game and press the virtual shutter on the Notability screen. The graphic immediately appears on the screen beside your text and the app allows you to do a quick and dirty crop and very basic editing to fit the picture with the text. You can move the graphic around, quickly change the size or whatever. This all takes only a minute or two.

Below, I’ve proviided a simple example using the game Corrosion, Cold Winter Waiting. The graphics are from the actual beginning of the game, but the notes are all nonsense so no spoiler alert is necessary. I have made the presentation rather simple purposely so that it shows up well on the screen. You can actually use smaller graphics because the iPad resolution is so great and of course, use much smaller text and all sorts of various fonts. Note that the font (previously selected) as shown appeared automatically entirely from dictation- I didn’t have to lift a finger for any of it (except perhaps 2 dictation-to-text errors). Finally, note the handwriting on the second graphic which points to the fan. You can easily do this using your finger or as mentioned earlier, a special stylus for capacitive screens.

Of particular interest is the fact that in addition to keeping your notes in the Notability app on your iPad, you can export them in RTF or PDF format by email or a cloud service (eg. Dropbox etc.) to your computer.

Disclaimer: I have no connection with or business interest in the Notability app (which, by the way, is presently selling for only 99 cents in the Apple App store- I believe the usual price is usually over $5).

What a great toy!   Maybe I'll get one for xmas - must get a mobile phone first though. 

At least with taking notes I have graduated from scaps of paper to putting all my game notes into a notebook.  It tends to get a bit jumbled when I start playing another game and have to remember to put the game name at the top of each page and if I'm eating chocolate - it can get messy....  

That looks really neat, Sir Dave. I like the dictation part of it, though I'd miss my multicolor diagrams and drawings. It's the only excuse I have to buy oodles of prismacolors and bright ink pens.

That is a freaking fantastic toy. I have an iPad so I will definitely be getting this app!

That looks like a great tool, Sir Dave, but I admit I like drawing maps and making my notes on paper.  Besides, my dictation would sound something like: "Damn!  That's not it!  Where's the rabbafratzen lever?  Aw come ON!" (et cetera).  Not very helpful in the long run. 

Scribbling notes while gaming already causes people to look at me weirdly, so if i'd start dictating clues to a phone, i'll probably end up in a straight-jacket 

Originally Posted By Lady Kestrel (28 MAR 2012 1:50pm)

That looks like a great tool, Sir Dave, but I admit I like drawing maps and making my notes on paper.  Besides, my dictation would sound something like: "Damn!  That's not it!  Where's the rabbafratzen lever?  Aw come ON!" (et cetera).  Not very helpful in the long run. 

I only showed a small part of what this app can do. You can write notes and draw maps or whatever with your finger or capacitive stylus using all sorts of widths, colors, highlights and so on. I only emphasized the dictation and audo-recording parts because they were such a dramatically helpful addition to what we've been used to.

I was fascinated by the possibilities   but then I remembered - books don't get flat batteries and are always available.  I'm really bad at recharging my gadgets.

I obviously will join the modern era of computer whiz bang toys very soon - by which time, the price will have halved and the specifications doubled and I'll need to attend a one week training session to be brought upto speed on how to operate it.  

In the meantime SirDave, please feel free to continue your research into the ipad's many uses and report back to us here.  Your input is truly appreciated (and it will keep you out of mischief).