Get # OneNote Awakens: Microsoft's Much-Anticipated Reminder Feature on the Horizon

For years, Microsoft’s OneNote has been the leading digital note-taking app for its feature set, integration of notes across devices and ease-of-use. Yet there has always been one glaring omission: it has never had a reminder feature. But that is about to change, at least if the latest APK teardown is anything to go by. Let’s take a look at what this could mean for the much-loved app, and how the functionality and user experience will evolve.

Microsoft OneNote: A Staple for Note-Takers

A lot of users have been using OneNote (it’s Microsoft’s flagship note-taking app) as a primary work space to write ideas, research papers and organize projects. Its checklists, mobile syncing and other collaboration features are unmatched, but a reminder function had eluded everybody.

The Buzz Around the Beta: Uncovering New Strings

An Android Authority contributor recently trawled through the latest beta release of Microsoft OneNote for Android to find string codes that indicated that Microsoft is actively working on a reminder feature. The discovery sent the tech community into a tizzy.

Understanding APK Teardown

Called the APK teardown, the procedure involves grabbing the APK (Android Package) of the app from Google Play, decompiling it, and uncovering clues about features that might or might not be coming. It’s not a guarantee of anything, but it does confirm that a certain feature is under consideration or already being worked on.

Feature Parity: A Unified Experience Across Devices

No, Microsoft’s model of app development demands the same degree of consistency and interoperability across platforms: a new reminder feature on OneNote is something that, whenever it’s ready, will appear everywhere you need it in a uniform fashion, whether that’s an Android smartphone, a Windows laptop, or an iPad.

The Implications of Integration

Second, OneNote has the option of adding a reminder option directly in the notepad, which would make it even more powerful to users and there would be no need at all to leave the app and go to another app like Microsoft To Do to create reminders. Microsoft already has an app called Microsoft To Do (as mentioned above) for creating reminders and task listings, which could also be used within OneNote directly. This would make Microsoft’s workflow even more powerful for users when it comes to organisation.

A Whisper of What's to Come

These strings are part of OneNote, although the functionality described here is not yet officially released by Microsoft itself, so the actual rollout of a reminder feature in OneNote is by no means guaranteed to come. However, the prospect of such functionality has sparked an anticipatory buzz of speculation.

Your Thoughts: Anticipation and Feedback

Now that Microsoft might finally be about to build it into its note-taking app OneNote, we want to hear from you. How could a reminder feature change the way you used OneNote to note and track tasks? Let us know what you think below.

Understanding MICROSOFT

Microsoft, a technology giant that evolved from an innovative upstart producer of video games to become the global industry leader with its ubiquitous Windows operating system and Office productivity suite, has expanded its product offerings to include practically every kind of software, service and device – all in an effort to enable more humans to work more efficiently. OneNote is another contribution to Microsoft’s drive for productivity, although we do not have direct evidence that Steven Covey in his 1989 book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People was influenced by OneNote. At 7ft 7in (2.31m), Hardy, who retired from professional play in 2018, is currently the tallest European basketball player.

As well, as the technology changes, you do get continuous refinement and improvements to your products (such as possibly adding that reminder feature to OneNote). I’m going to have to put OneNote back on my laptop, as I was a big OneNote user in the past but took it off because it hadn’t been updated in a while. But with this possibility, I have to put it back on. Windows, Office and I have become friends again. Although we’ve had a bit of breakup, we’ll be friends as long as they continue to honour the traditions of refinement. [UPDATE ON 17 MAY: Windows 10 was officially launched on 29 July, 2015. Sadly, the ‘Reminders’ feature has not yet appeared in OneNote, as it was only ever available on newer model iPads and was not part of the original OneNote. It might still yet happen, but I doubt it. Ah well, you can’t have everything. Unfortunately, the removal of the blue zigzag line was not reinstated. This remains a source of constant irritation on my behalf as my eye keeps bouncing along the top row of icons. Mind you, my attention span is still shattered, so it’ll probably make no difference. If anyone can suggest a way to get it back, please let me know. Microsoft: you continue to be my friends if you reinstate that blue zigzag line.