This is the first entry into Going Mobile my series of reviews on mobile productivity software – I am defining productivity software as any software I use to get work done. For this first entry we have Byword for iPad, a great markdown editor for iPad (and actually iPhone too). It’s fitting that the first pick be a markdown editor, since the majority of this website has been written in markdown for some time; in fact, this post post has been drafted in the app on my iPad Mini.
Byword doesn’t strain itself to be the best looking iOS app on the market; in fact, it focuses more on function than form, however, it is still a pretty good looking app and leans very heavily toward the iOS 7 design paradigm.
What puts Byword ahead of the pack of mobile markdown editors is its integrated posting to Word Press and a number of other blogging platforms. This might seems like an unnecessary convenience but the fact is that effective blogging from a mobile device requires that the process be as frictionless as possible. A close second for my favorite feature in the app, is dark mode. Given iOS 7’s relative hostility toward nighttime use around a sleeping partner or spouse, it is refreshing to see third party developers taking the time to add dark modes and other quality of life features.
The app costs $4.99 currently and to unlock some of the advanced publishing capabilities, you have to purchase a $4.99 “premium” in app purchase. This is my only issue with the app – the app feels pretty incomplete without the in app purchase. That’s not to suggest that the app isn’t well worth it’s true cost of $10, but rather that this pricing scheme feels a little deceptive and in my mind brings down the (for lack of a better term) “class” of what is otherwise a very high-end experience. I’d gladly pay $10 for the app outright but understand that I’m in a fast shrinking minority; the reality is that thine pricing scheme probably was decided upon due to the unfortunate economics of the app economy.
If you’re in the market for a mobile markdown editor and are an iOS user, then I strongly recommend that you check Byword out. If you have any comments or app suggestions, please share them with me on Twitter.
