Microsoft reimagines Journal, an inking app that’s 20 years in the making
A new ink-centered app just rolled out of Microsoft Garage.
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What you need to know
Microsoft announced a new app today that’s built around inking. The app is simply called “Journal,” and it’s a Microsoft Garage project. The app supports several features to make navigation easy with touch and a pen, including Ink Gestures, touch scrolling, and making selections with a pen. You can get the app for free through the Microsoft Store.
Journal is built by Microsoft’sApplied Sciences Group, which works on “creating the next generation of computer interaction technologies,” according to its page on Microsoft’s website.
TheMicrosoft postbreaks down the many features of the new Journal app:
Microsoft has a long history with inking across devices. The announcement post highlights another Microsoft app called Journal that was on the Tablet PC in 2002. Microsoft also has OneNote and Whiteboard, as well as inking support on several major applications like the Office suite. Microsoft Garage even had another inking-focused app calledPlumbago, though it is a completed project and won’t receive any more updates.
📢 Meet our newest@MSFTGarageproject! 📢Journal is a@Windows10 app helping people who love to journal to evolve their ideas and express themselves quickly with the power of their digital penTry it outhttps://t.co/1zSAw6wbz4Learn morehttps://t.co/FmvCemsTv0pic.twitter.com/xsAFPJnbSa📢 Meet our newest@MSFTGarageproject! 📢Journal is a@Windows10 app helping people who love to journal to evolve their ideas and express themselves quickly with the power of their digital penTry it outhttps://t.co/1zSAw6wbz4Learn morehttps://t.co/FmvCemsTv0pic.twitter.com/xsAFPJnbSa— The Microsoft Garage (@MSFTGarage)February 17, 2021February 17, 2021
The new Journal app is an ink-first app that features a page-based canvas. It supports gestures, dragging and dropping contents, and selecting contents with a pen.
A unique aspect of the Journal app is that it doesn’t have modes. You don’t need to flip things around or jump between inking and erasing modes. Gestures within the app use AI, which eliminates the need to switch between entry modes. For example, the app can tell the difference between scratching out a word and shading in a diagram even though they use similar gestures.
Journal is an ink-first app built for taking notes. It uses AI to improve input through Ink Gestures.
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Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.
