Markdown Archives

AppWizard

August 17, 2025

5 reasons I swapped Google Keep for this open-source app

The author has extensively explored various note-taking applications, including Google Keep, OneNote, and SimpleNote, ultimately transitioning to Outline, an open-source application that combines note-taking with personal knowledge management. Google Keep is appreciated for its simplicity but lacks depth, while OneNote's interface is seen as cluttered. Outline offers a clean, intuitive interface, supports markdown for rich formatting, and allows for interconnected note systems similar to a wiki. It integrates well with external tools and provides self-hosting options for data ownership. The author now uses Outline primarily for research, long-form writing, and journaling, finding it superior for serious note-taking compared to Google Keep and OneNote.

Winsage

August 17, 2025

Windows 11 cluttered Notepad’s right-click menu, but it’s now getting File Explorer-like UI as a fix

Microsoft is testing a new, streamlined user interface for Notepad's right-click context menu to address overcrowding caused by recent enhancements, including Copilot features. The existing menu has become unwieldy, featuring numerous options that can overwhelm users, particularly on smaller screens. The new design prioritizes common actions like cut, copy, paste, select all, undo, and delete in a single row with large icons, while retaining some less frequently used options. Additionally, Notepad now supports markdown formatting, allowing users to apply lightweight formatting such as bold and italics easily, with the option to toggle the formatting toolbar off for a simpler interface.

Winsage

August 15, 2025

Newest version of Windows 11 Notepad gets improved context menus

Microsoft is retiring WordPad in 2024, prompting Notepad to evolve with new features such as spell check, AI-generated text, and Markdown formatting. The upcoming Notepad version 11.2507.26.0, available to Windows Insiders, includes a redesigned context menu with quick actions like copy, cut, paste, select all, and delete, as well as new functionalities like Write, Rewrite, Summarize, and Define with Bing. A broader rollout of the enhanced Notepad experience is expected by September or October.

Winsage

August 5, 2025

Ollama’s new app makes using local AI LLMs on your Windows 11 PC a breeze — no more need to chat in the terminal

Ollama allows users to engage with AI language models directly on personal computers, with an improved installation process that simplifies access through a system tray or Start Menu. The application features a user-friendly interface for typing queries and includes the ability to adjust context window size and support for multimodal inputs, such as images and code files. Some advanced functionalities still require command-line interface (CLI) usage. Recommended system specifications include an 11th Gen Intel CPU or Zen 4-based AMD CPU with AVX-512 support and a minimum of 16GB of RAM, while offline functionality is a key advantage.

Winsage

August 4, 2025

How to get started with Markdown in the Notepad app for Windows 11

The Notepad application in Windows 11 now supports the Markdown (.md) file format, allowing users to create and edit Markdown documents without needing additional software. To enable Markdown, users must open Notepad, access the Settings, and toggle the "Formatting" switch to on. To create a Markdown document, users save their file with a ".md" extension and can utilize a toolbar for formatting options such as headings, lists, and links. Markdown syntax supported includes titles, bold and italic text, and lists. Users can switch between formatted and raw views and can disable Markdown support by toggling the "Formatting" switch to off in the Settings. While Markdown support is a useful addition, it is limited compared to dedicated text editors, and users may encounter formatting warnings for unsupported syntax.

AppWizard

July 19, 2025

Top 6 Privacy Note Apps for Linux and Android That Actually Sync

Your messages are monitored, your location is tracked, and certain note-taking applications are focusing on privacy. The guide reviews note-taking applications for Linux and Android that prioritize confidentiality, with no trackers or unsettling sync processes. Standard Notes: - Data export: Encrypted, plain text format - 2FA: Supported - Offline Access: Fully offline capable - Unlimited Device Sync: Available on official servers or self-hosted - Markdown & Writing Forms: Free (plain text), Paid (Markdown, rich text, etc.) - Organizing Style: Free (basic tags), Paid (folders and tags) - Themes & Creativity: Paid (multiple themes) - Support: Active community support Notesnook: - Data export: Free (plain text), Paid (Markdown, PDF, HTML) - 2FA: Supported - Offline Access: Fully offline capable - Unlimited Device Sync: Yes, with granular controls - Markdown & Writing Forms: Free (Markdown, lists, etc.), Paid (images and reminders) - Organizing Style: Free (20 Notebooks, 5 Tags), Paid (unlimited) - Themes & Creativity: Free (customizable sidebar), Paid (color options) - Support: Active community on Discord, email, Twitter, and Reddit Joplin: - Data export: ENEX files - 2FA: Single-use codes - Offline Access: Offline-first - Unlimited Device Sync: Requires Joplin Cloud - Markdown & Writing Forms: Supports Markdown, code, etc. - Organizing Style: Notebooks, sub-Notebooks, Tags, To-dos - Themes & Creativity: Customizable via CSS - Support: Community support through forums and Discord Cryptee: - Data export: Encrypted folder download, formats include PDF, DOCX, HTML, Markdown - 2FA: Supported - Offline Access: Functions offline as a PWA - Unlimited Device Sync: Local data for quick syncing - Markdown & Writing Forms: Supports plain text, Markdown, etc. - Organizing Style: Folders, Tags, pinning - Themes & Creativity: Customizable themes - Support: Community-driven support Obsidian: - Data export: Plain text and markdown files - 2FA: Not available - Offline Access: Fully offline - Unlimited Device Sync: Paid (Obsidian Sync), Free (third-party services) - Markdown & Writing Forms: Supports Markdown, code, links, etc. - Organizing Style: Folders, Tags, graph view - Themes & Creativity: Complete UI customization - Support: Community support available Turtl: - Data export: Plain text format with encryption - 2FA: Not available - Offline Access: Operates offline - Unlimited Device Sync: Possible with official servers or self-hosted - Markdown & Writing Forms: Supports plain text, Markdown, etc. - Organizing Style: Spaces, Tags, boards - Themes & Creativity: No customization options - Support: Community-driven support Recommendations include Joplin for structure, Notesnook for minimalism, Turtl for privacy, and Obsidian for creativity. The best tool integrates seamlessly into your workflow while ensuring privacy.

AppWizard

July 15, 2025

I was wrong about Obsidian: Here’s why it’s actually a powerful app

Obsidian has evolved from a frustrating app to a vital organizational tool for the user. Initially, the app's complexity and unstructured layout were overwhelming compared to alternatives like Google Keep and Notion. The user struggled with its numerous plugins and customization options, which made note-taking chaotic. However, after adopting a minimalist approach by simplifying the setup and using Obsidian's official sync service, the user discovered its potential. Obsidian's strengths include local storage of notes, a straightforward folder and tagging system, and a web clipper extension for capturing information. Despite its steep learning curve, Obsidian has become an effective tool for organizing thoughts and capturing notes.

Winsage

July 7, 2025

Notepad for Windows 11 now supports Markdown formatting

Notepad for Windows 11 has been updated to include support for Markdown, allowing users to utilize features such as subheadings, italics, bold text, strikethrough options, and link insertion. Users can disable these formatting capabilities to revert to the classic Notepad experience. Microsoft assures that the new features will not affect the program's performance or increase resource consumption. The updated Notepad is available for free download from the Microsoft Store.

Winsage

July 7, 2025

You can now make text bold or italic in Notepad — hell has frozen over

Notepad, a text editor in Windows since 1983, has received an update that introduces lightweight formatting features, including a formatting toolbar for applying text styles like bold and italic. The update also adds Markdown support and syntax views. These changes aim to enhance user experience while maintaining the app's simplicity. Microsoft announced these features in May, initially rolling them out to Windows Insiders before making them available to all users.

Winsage

July 7, 2025

Hands on with Windows 11 Notepad’s new markdown support

Notepad in Windows 11 has introduced markdown capabilities, allowing users to format text with features such as headings, subheadings, body text, bullet points, and numbered lists. The markdown formatting is enabled by default and can be accessed through a new formatting toolbar or by using syntax like "###" for headings. Additionally, users can apply bold and italic styles and include hyperlinks. Notepad remains lightweight, with minimal CPU and memory usage, and users can disable formatting in the Settings menu if desired.