Bear is a versatile and user-friendly note-taking and writing app designed to help users capture, write, and organize various aspects of their lives. Here’s a comprehensive overview of what Bear offers:
Core Purpose
Bear is a Markdown-based app that allows users to take notes, plan their day, journal thoughts, organize tables, create lists and tasks, sketch ideas, and even write books. It is designed to be simple, powerful, and private, making it a favorite among writers, professionals, and individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Key Features
Writing and Formatting
- Bear supports plain text writing with the option to use Markdown formatting for bold, italics, strikethrough, links, tables, and more. The app hides Markdown syntax for a clean reading experience, allowing users to focus on their content.
Organization
- Notes are organized using `#tags`, which can be single words or multi-word phrases. Users can add multiple tags to a note, and these tags appear in the Sidebar for quick access. Important tags can be pinned to the top of the Sidebar, and TagCons can be used to make them stand out.
Linking and Connecting Notes
- Bear allows users to link notes together using WikiLinks, enabling the creation of a personal wiki or knowledge management tool.
Search and Navigation
- The app features a robust search function that includes Spotlight integration, allowing users to search their notes from anywhere. Special searches like `@todo`, `@images`, and `@yesterday` help focus on specific types of notes. For Bear Pro users, there is also the ability to search for text inside images and PDFs.
Media and Attachments
- Users can attach photos, PDFs, and other files to their notes. On iOS, the camera button in the Style Keyboard allows for taking new photos or scanning documents.
Sketching and Drawing
- On iPad, Bear supports sketching ideas with an extendable canvas and compatibility with Apple Pencil and other styli.
Privacy and Security
- Bear emphasizes privacy, ensuring that the app developers cannot access users’ notes, tags, or any other content. For Bear Pro subscribers, individual notes can be encrypted with a password, and the app can be locked using Face/Touch ID. The app uses strong cryptography, including AES-GCM-256, and integrates with Apple’s security features like SecureEnclave and iCloudKeychain.
Sharing and Exporting
- Notes can be exported in various formats, including plain text, Markdown, TextBundle, Bear note, rich text, HTML, DocX, PDF, JPG, and ePub (with Bear Pro). The app also supports easy sharing to any third-party app via the Share Sheet.
Syncing and Accessibility
- Bear Pro subscribers can sync their notes across all devices using iCloud, ensuring seamless access to their content regardless of the device they are using. The app also supports dictation and appending to recent notes via Apple Watch.
Customization
- Bear Pro offers over 30 beautiful app themes and multiple app icons, allowing users to personalize their writing environment.
Bear Pro Subscription
For additional features, users can subscribe to Bear Pro, which includes:
- iCloud sync for all notes and TagCons
- Encryption and locking of individual notes
- Advanced export options
- OCR search for text inside PDFs and images
- Access to multiple themes and app icons
The subscription is available for $2.99 monthly or $29.99 yearly, with a 14-day free trial.