Program for editing iOS applications. The coolest text editors for macOS and iOS

Many users use iPad not only for games, but also for work. Theoretically, the iPad can replace a computer or laptop when traveling: it is compact and lightweight, but at the same time has a large screen.

In this article, I am making a selection of the best text editors for iPad. These are programs in which it is most convenient to write and edit texts. The article will not detailed descriptions apps - consider this a tour of text editors on the App Store.

Pages

Part office suite from Apple: originally appeared in OS X. Unfortunately, it is inferior in Microsoft capabilities Office. In Pages it is convenient to create some beautiful reports with photographs, graphs, lists, etc. But for everyday use by a blogger or writer, I think it is not suitable. No, many articles for this site were typed in Pages, but I was never able to accept the program as the main one.

I will highlight the main advantages and disadvantages of Pages.

Advantages:

Anyone who has an iPad Air or newer app comes for free.
Lots of templates.
Since it is part of the office suite, it supports tables, diagrams, etc.
Native iCloud support. There is a Web version of the program on the iCloud.com website.

Flaws:

The program sometimes does not work as fast as we would like. There are so-called “friezes”.
Apple updates the program on major holidays (and it's surprising!)
There is no program for Windows, which eliminates some conveniences for most users.

Microsoft Word

This is the same Word. If you are heavily addicted to Microsoft products, you work with doc files, you don’t want hemorrhoids with conversion to other formats and compatibility, then it’s better not to look for good from good.

The program is well implemented for iOS and useful updates happen much more often than with Pages. With all my love for Apple products, I admit honestly, the best office suite, as it was in the 90s of the last century, Microsoft Office, remains so. And even on mobile devices.

The biggest drawback is the subscription distribution model. You will need to pay a fee each year (or month) to use the Office suite. The cost is quite high - from $40 per year and above. In addition, you will also receive Excel, Power Point, One Note and other programs (must be downloaded from the App Store or on a PC). Different tariff plans and “extra” paid programs - this is all a little annoying.

I also really like the function that is shown in the screenshot below. Good manners for similar programs is the bar above the keyboard that has the most commonly used additional symbols. iA Writer was almost the first among its competitors to have such a solution.

In addition to the version for Mac OS and iOS, iA Writer is also available for Android. But iA Writer has a sin: I bought it at the time, and the developers pulled off a cunning move. That application was called iA Writer Classic (Legacy Support Edition) and released new version application that had to be purchased again. There is less trust in such developers.

Ulysses

Based on numerous reviews, I realized that Ulysess is the best text editor for writers and bloggers. However, the cost of the application at $25 for iOS and $45 for Mac will scare off many, if not everyone. However, shortcomings still appear in different versions and are promptly eliminated. I tried the Mac version and was impressed by the variety of features - this and dark theme design, and advanced statistics, and paragraph counting, and preview V different modes etc etc...

In the program, all texts are organized according to the mail principle. Visually the program is attractive. After finishing working with the text, you can save it as a web page, beautiful PDF document, epub book etc. It is possible to publish to a blog on WordPress. The application supports full synchronization with iCloud and work with Dropbox. Markdown supported.

One of the obvious disadvantages is the lack of Russian localization, although it was promised by the developers. Apparently, this expensive product is not bought enough in Russia.

Byword

Another minimalistic text editor that is similar to iA Writer (the same price category, functional). Likewise, it does not have Russian localization. The program, as befits a modern text editor, supports Markdown.

The price of Byword is higher than that of iA Writer, so it is not clear by what criteria you would want to choose this solution. Somehow the program looks super minimalistic.

Scrivener

Scrivener- professional solution for writers, screenwriters, journalists, etc. The program is compatible not only with iOS and Mac OS, but also with Windows and even Linux... The cost of the applications is high - $20 for the iOS version and $45 for the Mac version. Although, if you need an application for working with text, then between a subscription Microsoft Word and for the one-time price of Scrivener, I'd prefer the latter. The program looks very sophisticated...

Scrivener includes not only word processor, but also a board for notes (goodbye Evernote?), a planner, a composite screen mode and much more.

You can watch a good and relatively recent video about Scrivener for the computer if you are interested:

In my opinion, these six programs limit the choice of text editor. If you know more worthy alternatives- write!

For now I have settled on the opinion that best editor For me, iA Writer is value for money. But now I started looking at Ulysess, and I simply don’t need the rich capabilities of Scrivener.

Also share in the comments which editor do you use and why? What advantages and disadvantages have you identified? To be honest, this time I will be waiting for comments with particular interest, because the topic of typing is interesting, but I would like to listen to the opinions of other people.

After a long wait, Microsoft finally released a package of applications. However, excellent alternatives to Office have been around for quite some time, and Microsoft's product may now have to compete with its lesser-known competitors for space on the iPad.

With that in mind, here's an overview of the most popular iPad office suites currently available, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses, as well as the key features of each of them.

Which one is better? Doesn't exist perfect solution to work with office documents on iPad, but there are options that will meet, and in some cases exceed, the needs of a wide range of users. It is up to the user to decide which offer is most suitable for solving the problems facing him. So…

Analogues of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel) for iPad and iPhone

hopTo

Application hopTo is one of newest alternatives Microsoft Office for iPad, which supports working with Word, Excel and Powerpoint files. To access documents hopTo provides support cloud storage Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive and direct connections to personal computers.

hopTo provides a unique interface specifically designed with touch requirements in mind iPad control, and not an adapted PC interface.

One of key features package are - the ability to cut and paste parts from one Office document in another, the ability to search across all connected cloud services, compatibility with Microsoft Office 2010, the function of protecting access to a document with a password, the function of exchanging documents with one click and tracking changes in the document.

With all its bells and whistles beautiful interface, can hopTo used to edit documents on desktop computer or laptop? Yes, but unfortunately hopTo not suitable for working with documents in offline mode, as it requires an Internet connection to access documents and save edits.

This may be a problem for those who plan to edit documents without a Wi-Fi connection or while traveling by air. However, once connected to the Internet, hopTo is an excellent alternative office suite for iPad.

Pros:
1 . For free.
2 . Supports all major services cloud storage data excluding iCloud.
3 . Full support Office 2010 and earlier.
4 . Support for tracking changes and comments.
5 . File protection features.

Cons:
1 . Internet connection required.
2 . Change tracking is disabled by default.

Quickoffice

Application Quickoffice is one of the oldest Office alternatives and has been developed since the early days of the iPad. This application has gained popularity and has collected many positive reviews calling it best package for working with documents on Apple mobile devices.

However, a lot has changed since Google acquired the company in 2012.

After purchase, all features are compatible with cloud services Quickoffice were limited to supporting only Google Drive. Before that Quickoffice provided access to documents in all major storage services, including Dropbox, Box, Google Drive and Evernote.

Quickoffice previously also provided access to Evernote as a folder to store, save and edit documents without having to add an attachment, which was very useful function. In addition to the loss of support for cloud services, the development of Quickoffice, so Google released one small update, released in January 2014.

Quickoffice still has enough functionality to create and edit documents on the iPad and allows you to do most things with Word documents. Also Quickoffice provides support for most of the tools you need to work with spreadsheets.

However, the function insertion process requires manual insertion data into a cell instead of selecting the required value from a range of functions and adding the desired formula to the required cell. Powerpoint support provides the ability to upload pictures and shapes.

Pros:
1 . Having a majority necessary functions to work with text documents, spreadsheets and presentations.
2 . Google Drive support.
3 . Support for tracking changes to documents, including the ability to approve or reject edits.
4 . For free.

Cons:
1 . Lack of support for other cloud services.
2 . Lack of support for files with security features enabled.

Documents to Go

Like QuickOffice, Documents to Go has been around for many years.

The application provides support for most cloud services, including iCloud and , but unfortunately does not work with Microsoft OneDrive.

Documents to Go has no problems opening and editing large Microsoft documents Word with complex formatting and images. The program provides most of the usual formatting tools found in Word, Excel and Powerpoint, and also allows you to open and view PDF files.

Documents to Go is a great application for quickly making changes to existing files, although it lacks some features such as inserting hyperlinks, tables of contents, and working with figures and tables in Word.

There is also no way to track changes and comments.

Table support offers the basic functionality of adding and editing formulas, but lacks the ability to multi-select columns for more effective creation formulas and calculations.

Pros:
1 . Supports most of the most popular cloud services.
2 . Confident support for working with Office files 2010, no problems opening large and complex documents and tables.
3 . Fast work even on iPad 2.
4 . Great design with updated interface.

Cons:
1 . There is no ability to add or manage hyperlinks.
2 . Basic capabilities for working with spreadsheets.
3 . Lack of tracking changes and comments.
4 . High price.

Office2 HD (Citrix ShareFile QuickEdit)

Office2 HD(new name Citrix ShareFile QuickEdit) is another application that has been on the market since the very beginning - it appeared in June 2010, just a few months after the iPad tablets went on sale.

Office2 HD has the same features as Docs to Go, plus support for change tracking and document security features. The application also offers automatic correction, document search, support for sections, footnotes and endnotes. When working with tables, Office2 Supports cell formatting, cell merging, and auto range selection.

Like all the programs listed above, Office2 HD offers most of the features you need to edit documents. The application works with large and complex documents without any problems.

However, the application is unable to open password-protected files that have been modified or commented on. Aside from this issue, the app works quite well on the iPad 2, allowing you to make changes as needed and seamlessly save the document to Dropbox without any additional steps.

Overall it's very functional application, which should satisfy the needs of the average user.

Pros:
1 . Reasonable price for required set functions.
2 . Supports most cloud services.
3 . Change tracking support.
4 . Availability of spreadsheet functions such as merge and automatic selection measuring range.
5 . File-level security support.

Cons:
1 . Problems opening protected documents with corrections and comments.

CloudOn

CloudOn is one of the latest options office suites in this list. The application is more similar to appearance and features on hopTo than on Docs to Go and Office2. CloudOn uses excellent application architecture based on a full "streaming" version Microsoft package on iPad.

This means that the application provides access to an extended set of functionality V Office, but, allows you to edit documents in the cloud, and not directly on the iPad.

When working on new iPad models and fast communication this does not cause problems, but on iPad 2 and slow connection The editing lag is noticeable.

Advantage CloudOn is that it can be tested for free to determine how well the application works on specific device under certain conditions. If the service works fast enough, the user can purchase a license for the full version for 99 rubles per month. The full version includes access to additional functions, including tracking changes, checking spelling and grammar, inserting tables, filtering data in Excel, and even working with pivot tables.

Application CloudOn became the winner of the Tabby Awards in 2013 (full version of the application, costing 979 rubles per year). For new ones iPad versions with enough fast connection CloudOn is excellent choice, given its access to a much more comprehensive feature set.

Pros:
1 . Access to basic functions Office on iPad, including pivot tables and diagrams.
2 . Unique interface designed exclusively for touch interface.

Cons:
1 . High price for full set functions.
2 . Editing lags on slow connections and on early iPads.
3 . Requirement of Internet access.

iWork (Pages, Numbers and Keynote) from Apple

This great solution for those who are not a user of the Microsoft office suite at work or at home.

It can be argued that iWork is the easiest to use and best-looking of all the iPad document management alternatives. And this is obvious considering that it was developed by Apple for their device.

However, can iWork completely replace Microsoft Office on iPad?

It all depends on how big the need is to exchange documents between PC and iPad, since this process is quite complex and requires several additional steps from the user.

To access files you need to open icloud.com, drag and drop iCloud files, wait for them to synchronize with the iPad, and only then, finally, open the document on the tablet.

After completing work with the document, in order to save the changes, you must send the document via email to the user's address to re-import the file into the production environment. Quite difficult, isn't it?

However, having gotten used to these inconveniences, users get access to three applications iWork- Pages, Numbers and Keynote, which have enviable functionality, especially Numbers.

One of interesting features Numbers is the presence of 30 templates per various topics, including business and personal finance. These templates can be useful and well thought out.
Generally, iWork this is an excellent set for those who prefer to work on an iPad rather than on computers running Windows control. Besides, iWork is a “killer” office applications for Mac users who prefer to use iCloud.

Pros:
1 . Great interface.
2 . Easy to use.
3 . A fully functional application that contains most of the features including change and comment tracking, support for file security features, etc.
4 . Compatible with all tablets, from iPad 2 and up.
5 . Great templates in all three apps.

Cons:
1 . Exclusively iCloud support.
2 . Complex procedure for exchanging documents with iCloud.

Conclusion

There are many options for accessing and, more importantly, editing documents on the iPad. The average office worker should have no problem finding the right application that will allow him to be productive without having to carry a laptop with him everywhere.

However, choosing the right application is a trade-off. As mentioned above, each application has its strengths and weaknesses, some differ in their support for working with various cloud storage services, such as Office2 HD, while others, e.g. CloudOn provide wide functionality of the office suite, but for a fee.

Did you know that you can write COBOL programs on the iPad and run them right away? And about the fact that for iOS there is a development environment for coding in Coffee Script? What application can you use to work with text using vim commands? Here are 10 programs for working with code for every taste.

Textastic Code Editor

Supports integration with major cloud services and protocols for transferring data to the server. Easy to use and difficult to find a programming language that Textastic cannot work with. To be considered an ideal code editor, it lacks the ability to publish files to Github.

Advantages:

Syntax highlighting for 80 programming languages. Even for such exotic things as BibTex, Clojure, Dylan, Fountain, LilyPond, OCaml, Stata and Prolog;
can be added own rules code highlighting;
TextMate compatible;
FFT and SSH support;
integration with iCloud and Dropbox;
code completion for Java Script, HTML and PHP;
keyboard with additional characters for dialing code;
shortcut support;
support for most modern encodings;
ability to change font type and size;
character counter;
preview for HTML and Markdown files;
TextEspander support;
sending files by email;
there are “Undo” and “Redo” buttons;
there is a display of a list of recently opened files;
iTunes FileSharing support (you can share files with your computer via USB);
WebDav support;
Great design that makes the code easy to read.

Flaws:

no SVN support;
no Git support.

Price: 479 rubles

Koder

In terms of convenience and number of supported languages, it is almost as good as its previous competitor. But it costs less and is a little more suitable for web developers. For example, you can debug web applications using FireBug.

Advantages:

support for almost hundreds of programming languages. Koder even has different highlighting for ActionScript and ActionScript 3;
code autocomplete;
function references for the most popular languages;
built-in SSH client;
indent management system;
you can enable a keyboard with additional symbols;
Document Picker support in iOS 8;
search and replace functions;
preview HTML files in the browser;
FireBug support;
can be created own themes registration;
locking the application with a password;
iTunes File Sharing support;
FTP support;
opening and saving files in all popular encodings;
support for Zip archives;
improved file manager.

Flaws:

no Golang support;
no SVN support;
no Git support.

Price: 349 rubles.

This text editor can be called universal rather than intended for coding. In addition to HTML files, bash scripts, sources in C or Java, you can edit Word files, Excel tables and presentations.

Advantages:

possibility of export text files in PDF and JPEG;
sending files for printing;
sending files by email;
the ability to add photographs to the text;
support Microsoft files Office;
convenient file manager;
working with Zip archives.

Flaws:

can work with a fairly narrow range of programming languages;

Price: 169 rubles.

Another great code editor, on par with Textastic and Koder. There are all the conveniences for writing code, support for less popular languages and features for working in the cloud.

Advantages:

FTP and SFTP support;
Dropbox support;
working with SSH;
there is a version for iPod Touch;
automatic synchronization with the server;
support for 4 dozen programming languages. Including Ada, Go, INI and Lua;
extended keyboard;
shortcut support;
there are “Undo” and “Redo” buttons;
search and replace functions;
preview for HTML files;
large selection of design themes;
sending files by email;
support for vim commands.

Flaws:

no support for version control systems.

Price: 179 rubles.

Gusto

This editor is designed specifically for web development. Sources along with pictures are grouped into projects. Each project corresponds to a separate site, for which you can individually configure synchronization with the FTP server.

Advantages:

all files (sources, graphics, videos) are divided into project sites;
line numbering;
syntax highlighting for major web programming languages;
you can create custom syntax highlighting schemes;
a toolbar with the most frequently used commands;
FTP and SFTP support;
FTPS support;
integration with Dropbox;
There is a version for iPod Touch.

Flaws:

no integration with version control systems;
There are glitches when transferring files.

Price: 599 rubles.

Code Master

Ergonomics are worse than those of the above editors. Few languages are supported. But some may enjoy the opportunity to share newly written code on social networks.

Advantages:

Flaws:

a lot of programming languages are not supported;
no integration with version control systems.

Price: for free

One of the oldest development environments for iOS. Designed for creating web applications in JavaScript.

Advantages:

CSS, HTML and JavaScript support;
built-in browser for previewing files;
all files are organized into projects;
you can save pictures to the project directly from the Internet;
flexible theme customization;
password protection of the application;
integration with Dropbox.

Flaws: not found.

Price: for free.

For i

What sets this app apart from others is its ability to export code to Github or Xcode. It is not as beautiful and convenient as Textastic, but it does not cause negative emotions while working.

Advantages:

syntax highlighting for major programming languages;
setting up personal themes;
extended keyboard;
shortcut support;
autosave files;
text search with regular expression support;
integration with Github;
integration with XCode;
TextMate bundle support.

Flaws: not found.

Price: 599 rubles.

This application cannot be called a full-fledged development environment. It's more of a toy for fans of unpopular programming languages. For those who have long dreamed of writing “ Hello World» on Pike and make sure it works.

Advantages:

it is possible not only to edit source files, but also to run them on a remote server;
iTunes Files Sharing support;
integration with Dropbox;
extended keyboard;
line numbering and the “Goto Line” function;
built-in browser for viewing HTML documents;
sending files by email;
support for several dozen programming languages. Including Factor, COBOL, Unlambd and Smalltalk.

Flaws:

Executing sources on a remote server does not always work.

Price: 169 rubles.

CoffeeScript At Once

Another application for web developers. For those for whom native Java Script is not suitable for some reason and uses CoffeeScript.

Advantages:

A year and a half ago, when a satisfied Jobs presented the first iPad, and a sour Gates called it “a good e-reader,” fierce discussions took place among specialized journalists about whether new device replacement for a netbook. There was especially heated debate about the convenience of the tablet's on-screen keyboard for creating texts. Time has passed, and the question seems to have settled itself: some people still struggle with netbooks, others enjoy writing on iPads.

The fact that you can type quickly and without errors on an iPad was proven by the son of Georgian President Saakashvili, who recently set a new record for the Guinness Book. However, judging by the video, Edward’s task was somewhat different than typing coherent text.

The iPad form factor allows you to do almost everything that low-power netbooks are capable of in terms of content consumption, but due to the absence mechanical keyboard(the keyboard is only available on the screen) and the presence of a multi-touch iPad display created new class interactive applications - games, etc. For iPad users Almost all applications from the online store are available Apple App Store, designed for iPhone smartphones and iPod touch media players.

Yet typing speed on a tablet's on-screen keyboard is noticeably faster than on any traditional device. Some difficulties are caused only by selecting the necessary fragments of text for editing or copying, but even this point with constant practice ceases to be a problem.

At the same time, the iPad is a little more beautiful than a netbook for a lot of reasons. Firstly, it is always on, which eliminates the tedious wait for loading operating system. Secondly, it really works for 10-11 hours, and no other device can compare with it. Finally, thirdly, weight matters - during daily forced marches, even in provincial cities, it is much more pleasant to have 500-700 grams less in your bag.

Having finished with the campaigning, let's move on to the topic. The App Store has a dozen more or less working text editors for iPad. However, most of them do not allow you to do absolutely anything other than read and edit DOC files of the 2003 format. What about formatting text, DOCX files, statistics, lists? Sorry, guys - we love bucks for downloads, but working on developing applications is not very good.

You can and should only download and use three editors - Documents to go, Pages and Office2 HD. Of course, this is not Word, and the applications have a number of limitations, but they are optimal for on-the-go content creation. Let's look at their pros and cons.

Documents to go

The application has been present in the App Store since some very ancient times, and the developers not only regularly release updates, but also proudly call themselves pioneers of the trend in a couple of interviews.

In general, Documents to go has all the necessary functionality for writing a journalistic text, a letter asking for dismissal at will or requests to increase the project budget. Arial, Times New Roman and Helvetica - for the usual perception of the text. Statistics on the number of characters - so as not to anger the editor by having to cut the article to the required size. Cancellation of actions - for convulsive movements to save what seems to be an already completed three-hour work. Bulleted lists- for those who need bulleted lists.

Documents to go also has some quirks that allow you to change the font color, the way the text is aligned, and search for a word or phrase in a file. Actually, you can save the file in the usual DOC format, and the application also allows you to open and edit DOCX. Things are not so happy with RTF and TXT, but these formats are used less and less.

The editor's communication capabilities are simply advanced by Apple standards: the file can be saved in a local folder on the iPad, sent, say, to yourself by email, or synchronized with your computer via iTunes. Text that arrived on the tablet by mail and opened in MailApp or Safari can also be moved to local folder applications. Sync with Google Docs available, but for this you need to purchase the premium version of the editor for an additional 6 dollars, which is certainly infuriating. The application's seemingly easily removable, but for some reason present from version to version disadvantages include the lack of the ability to create multiple folders and the control interface, which is located on the bottom edge of the editor and is hidden behind the keyboard (to change something, you need to hide it). Well, one cannot help but note the ignorance of the great and mighty - the creators of Documents to go decided not to waste time translating the editor into Russian.

By by and large Pages, a proprietary development of Apple itself, is part of the large iWork office suite, which also includes Numbers and Keynote, but, firstly, the topic we have given is narrower, and secondly, it is unlikely to have Russian segment iTunes has at least a thousand users who spent $30 to purchase the entire package. Considering the app's origins, it's safe to say that Pages is the cutest analogue of Word for iPad.

Here it’s worth remembering Jobs’ old saying: “Our buttons are so beautiful, you want to lick them.”

However - remember the Hollywood maxim - size matters! Several dozen programs are already ready for the iPad, developed specifically for it. Including Apple itself: for iPad and touch screen the company has redesigned its iWorks suite with the Pages word processor, Numbers spreadsheet and Keynote presentation program. So, if desired, the “Apple tablet” can be used not only for entertainment, but also partly for work. Jobs' favorite newspaper, The New York Times, has updated its app especially for the iPad: NYT for iPad is more like a newspaper than a web page. It is possible that, relying on such programs, the media’s hopes for the return of subscribers will be realized. After all, the iPad is simply lighter than the Sunday New York Times.

The first and perhaps the key advantage of Pages compared to the other two editors under consideration is its templates. Clicking on the button to create a new document brings up a dozen of the most used text formatting options, from resumes to several report forms. Another useful exclusive, present only in the Apple application, is the ability to change the width of document margins. Otherwise, the editor has functionality similar to its competitors with a slightly more attractive visual implementation.

The main disadvantage of Pages is the lack of statistics on the number of characters! What are they thinking about in Cupertino? Here is a typical dialogue between an editor and a novice journalist:

So, son, by tomorrow morning you must pass four thousand marks.

Oh, and I have Pages on my iPad.

-...What a fool you are, son!

Office 2 HD

The Office 2 HD application is the third in a row, but the first in terms of capabilities. Moreover, its developers did not have to do anything special - they simply took the best from their colleagues and eliminated the shortcomings. There are statistics, and translation of options and buttons into Russian, and correct location toolbars, and creating additional folders.

The only thing that can somehow be blamed for the creators of the editor is the common problem everyone similar applications- inability to edit files RTF format. Also, for some reason, the application does not support Russian file names when sending mail through its own interface.

However, these problems pale in comparison to the main bonus built into Office 2 HD. The application allows you to set up a Wi-Fi connection with your computer via own address and thus exchange files with the device, bypassing iTunes. How Apple missed this is beyond my comprehension.