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Showing posts from April, 2026

Apple Journal Isn’t Just A Diary App

Photographer: Jan Kahánek | Source: Unsplash Apple Journal: The Features You’re Probably Ignoring By Greg Doig I’ll be honest with you: when Apple Journal launched with iOS 17.2, I dismissed it. It looked like a polished notes app with a nicer icon. I opened it once, saw the empty journal prompts, and went back to my regular routine. That was a mistake. After spending several weeks actually using it — and digging into how it works under the hood — I’ve changed my mind. This isn’t just a diary app. It’s one of the most privacy-respecting personal data tools Apple has ever built, and most people are using maybe 20% of what it can do. Here’s what I think you’re missing. The Core Experience: Simpler Than You Think Getting Started Open the Journal app. Tap the “+” button. Start typing. That’s genuinely it. Apple’s design philosophy here is low friction above all else. The assumption is that if opening your journal takes more than three seconds, you won’t do it consistently. They’re right. ...