At a GlanceExpert's Rating
Pros
- Fully featured set of tools
- excellent integration with native Apple and Microsoft apps
- attractive interface
- new built-in tutorials
- EverNote integration
- Retina display compatible.
Cons
- Learning curve requires effort despite new tutorials
- potentially plenty of data to enter
- Top In-App Purchases required for additional features
- no iPhone version yet.
Our Verdict
Beesy isn’t the cheapest or simplest note taking app for the iPad currently available, but it offers value for money with a comprehensive set of business focused tools, which become more valuable over time, if you are prepared to put in the effort. If you are, then Beesy with its automated features, will likely become your first choice iPad app for organising your business, both for daily tasks and long term projects.
Currently available for iPad only, Beesy – Take meeting notes with automated To-Do list and Task / Project management, to give the app its full name, is a business focused productivity app. Developed by Paris based BeesApps, it shows great potential, especially for those who doubt the iPad can ever be a serious business tool. Beesy is designed to help users manage time better and have a clearer overview of tasks at hand. It does this by combining a range of useful tools – day planner calendar, note taking, to-do task management, people management and project management – all within the same app. Each is closely integrated, which for instance means users can generate automated to-do lists from data already entered and share synchronised data easily with colleagues.
Initially, that data requires effort to enter although you can automatically import data from Apple’s own built-in apps such as Mail and Calendars, as well as taking advantage of a real iPad compatible keyboard. Beesy also offers the ability to add audio, notes, photos, drawings, maps and web pages, while the popular EverNote is also supported. Built-in templates further automate the task of creating new projects or refining and expanding ones. For meetings and presentations this all makes sense, with all your important information at your fingertips and conveniently within one app.
Christopher Mesquita, co-founder of BeesApps, has promised great things for Beesy in future versions, some of which are implemented with this latest update. Reminders, full synchronisation and the ability to import a variety of document formats are both new, but require ‘Top In-App Purchases’ to activate. A welcome new integrated guide makes the learning curve a little easier, although we still think there is room for improvement. While attractive, the Beesy interface is fairly busy, which we feel could be simplified and streamlined with further refinements. Usefully, a native iPhone version is also in the works, who’s smaller size will be a challenge for both developers and users. That said, it should make Beesy a more attractive proposition for iPhone only business users.