Typing on the iPad is somewhat of a mixed blessing. Sure, you can hammer out a quick email or two, or maybe edit a quick document, but can you really use it to write a full article?
Well, I’m about to find out. That’s because right now, I’m writing this article in Essay, a word processing program for the iPad. But what makes this app different from the others is that it doesn’t focus on using Microsoft Word or Pages format, it uses HTML instead.
See how the experiment works by hitting that more link.
The Basics
Chances are pretty good that you’ve used a word processor before, and if so, then you’ve got the basics of Essay down already.
Well, let me clarify that a little bit: If you’ve written in WordPress before, then Essay should seem familiar. That’s because Essay is based in HTML, so the options work the same way. There’s your regular underline, italics and strikeout, but instead of changing font sizes, you assign a sentence or paragraph a type, such as a Section or a Subsection.
t also supports Markdown, a plain text markup language that many web writers love, making the app ideal for those who frequently publish their work online. And since it is so web friendly, when I’m done with this article I’m just going to email it to myself, and all of the web copy will be pre-formatted for me.
Sharing Options
Email isn’t the only way to get your files shared between different locations. Essay also has Dropbox sync, one of my favorite ways to move files between machines. You can also print out the doc if need be, and there’s an iTunes sync option as well. Or simply open up files sent to you in Mail or stored on your Dropbox folder using Essay, which allows you to edit them on the go, then send them back if need be.
What Sets It Apart From the Rest?
Well, this is where things get a bit more complicated. Other than the HTML thing, Essay functions just like any other word processor. Of course, that “HTML thing” is exactly what sets it apart.
Take the linking...