iA Writer 6
iA Writer 6 review. It used to be the best writing app, but now it’s become a somewhat ordinary app.
Out of the blue, the iA Writer, which I’ve been using for quite some time, got updated to version 6! However, the update is only available for iOS, iPadOS, and MacOS… When will they update the Android and Windows versions? For reference, the Android version is currently in version 3… I tweeted about that update as soon as I heard about it, but based on the response, they don’t seem to have any big plans for it yet. It seems reasonable, given its popularity on the Apple side, but despite its excellent support for multiple platforms, it’s quite disappointing to see it behaving in this way. I will write an iA Writer 6 review.
- iA Writer 7 is now available. It’s a bit of an older post, but I’ve left it here as it represents a substantial update for the app, introducing important features.
Table of Contents
- iA Writer 6 review. It used to be the best writing app, but now it’s become a somewhat ordinary app.
The iA Writer 6 version doesn’t add many features, but it is solid!
But many writing apps have this feature itself…
iA Writer 6’s main additional feature is the function they call “laser”, which is commonly referred to as “wiki links“. This feature allows users to create links by inserting [[]] between words and then configuring the link. This can connect text, phrases, or other content.
The wiki link feature is undoubtedly a useful addition. However, to be honest, the feature itself is nothing special. UpNote, which I’m using right now, also has this link feature. The original of this feature was Roam Research, which was popular in Silicon Valley last year. Many apps, such as Obsidian, which were heavily influenced by Roam, support this feature.
This seems to be a trend among writing apps. At one point, it was a trend to incorporate such link functionality as a default, key feature. However, this trend has passed, as writing apps these days do not seem to promote this feature. Anyway, iA Writer has enough features to be a good writing app, so it has enough features to be included.
The functionality like ‘Second Brain’ is unfamiliar to me.
But I’m sure many people like this Wiki approach.
In truth, I’m not adept at using this wiki link feature. I usually work by collecting documents in a sidebar, one by one, and writing them down like most writing apps do. This link function allows you to link a part or all of a text to another text like a wiki by using a hyperlink. If used properly, this feature allows you to link a part or all of a text to another text like a wiki by using a hyperlink. It is much more efficient than the methods of collecting notes in the existing sidebar, so to speak, and is called a ‘Second Brain’.
Apps like Roam Research or Obsidian, focusing on this Second Brain concept, also have a feature that displays these notes bundled together like a spiderweb. Honestly, the feature aims to provide an overview by showcasing these entangled connections, revealing, for instance, that some documents heavily interconnect with others. However, iA Writer 6 doesn’t go to that extent; it merely enhances the interconnectivity between documents in a typical note-taking app. Of course, even with just this level of functionality, it’s sufficient, so it’s not a major drawback.
In iA Writer 6, there are also many additional features.
There are many added features aside from this wiki link. But it is mostly a common thing. They’ve added features such as a navigation history function to track recent files, a quick menu or shortcut feature called Lightning Menu, split preview for iPad, improved hashtags, automatic link detection, enhanced content blocks, metadata (um…), and improvements in design and the editor, among other things. Um… Since I don’t generally use these features, it seems like a positive change for those who do utilize them.
iA Writer 6 was an undisputed top-notch writing app, but now it’s just one of the average writing apps.
iA Writer pioneered the introduction of the focus mode, setting a milestone in writing apps. It used to be an undisputed top-tier writing app, rivaling Evernote or Scrivener in its time. I used this app for quite an extended period. However, with the emergence of excellent writing apps like UpNote, there’s now a plethora of options. Unfortunately, because of delayed feature additions, iA Writer 6 has become a relatively ordinary writing app.
Of course, it’s still a great app thanks to its distinctive charm and features accumulated over the years. However, while many apps have made tremendous advancements, this app has relatively lagged in development, making it somewhat dated. Certainly, the development team hasn’t been idling away; they’ve been actively working as well.
Especially recently, with the introduction of the new product, iA Presenter, they’ve been busy trying to establish a new revenue structure. It’s understandable, considering there are reasons behind it. For your information, the app is currently available only in the Mac version. They should probably create iOS or Windows versions soon… Honestly, how many people would even use it?
Even though there are occasional updates to the app, it still seems somewhat sluggish. Even though it occasionally appears on the App Store main page, it might generate some sales, but honestly, how long will its current position be sustained? I’m not familiar with the details of App Store reviews, but it seems that recent reviews aren’t prominently visible. Looking at the reviews, many seem quite old judging by the dates…
I hope iA Writer 7 or at least 6.5 comes out soon with added features that would attract users back to the app. Moreover, the Android version, and especially the Windows version, seems to have infrequent updates, possibly due to low sales. I sincerely hope for smooth and timely updates. Honestly, the 6th version alone falls a bit short of winning me over.
