Get Inspired To Write With OmmWriter On iPad
OmmWriter for iPad ($4.99) by Herraiz Soto & Co. is a full-screen text editor for your iPad that aims to provide a distraction-free environment for your writing.
When you're writing, it's best to have an entire environment for your writing, so that you won't be distracted. The developers of OmmWriter Dana for Mac had this in their mind as they developed their Mac app, but what about those that write on-the-go with their iPad? Now you can get OmmWriter on your iPad with the same groovy backgrounds and calming music choices.
OmmWriter launches into full-screen mode on your iPad immediately. All other distractions are pushed out, including the status bar. It's time to focus on your writing.
The keyboard used in OmmWriter is not the standard iPad keyboard, but rather a custom one that the developers created to compliment the entire experience of using the app. It also only appears in landscape mode, which is the preferred way to type on the iPad anyway. It's transparent and adds to the calming experience of writing in OmmWriter. The keyboard can also be adjusted to wherever you'd like it to be by dragging it from the top.
Now, we're all probably used to the QWERTY layout, but OmmWriter supports two different layouts as well. You'll notice that there is a button on the keyboard with a wrench. This is how you access the settings of OmmWriter. Underneath the various buttons, you'll see "QWERTY" and some arrows left and right. Tapping these will allow you to navigate between QWERTY, QWERTZ, and AZERTY keyboard formats.
From this settings panel, you can adjust things like font, font size, background image/colors, music, keyboard sounds, and keyboard transparency. If sounds bother you, they can be turned completely off. There is also another button that will give you the option to create a new document or to go to a file manager.
The file manager is where you can keep track of all the documents that you've created and edited in OmmWriter. You can easily switch between documents, rename a document, duplicate, get information, and email a file. Need to trash something? There's that good old fashioned trash can button.
Bringing up the information view of a document will give you Character and Word count. Emailing a document will give you the option to send it as a plain text file or as a PDF.
If you need to go back to your document that you're working on, just hit that button at the top left corner of the file manager. Back to concentrating!
I have used OmmWriter on my Mac, and I must say that the transition from Mac to iPad is great. Though I do admit, the keyboard does take some time getting used to since we've all probably grown accustomed to the standard iPad keyboard.
My biggest gripe though, is that it seems that Auto-Correct is not enabled while in OmmWriter, and I cannot find a way to enable it. This means that while I'm trying to get used to the keyboard, I am also being slowed down with typos. I would like to see Auto-Correct as an option in OmmWriter. Hopefully in a future update.
There also isn't a real "auto-save" feature, so you'll have to save it manually yourself if you want to keep your progress. Perhaps this can be implemented in the future as well. Dropbox or some kind of syncing method would also be welcome for a writing app.
The backgrounds and sounds are what really make this app great. I find them soothing and help me concentrate by blocking out the outside world. This may not be the method for everyone, but it works for those that like it.
OmmWriter currently only supports English, French, German, and Spanish. They are working on support for more languages in the future, but for now, if you need other languages, do not get the app until it is supported.
The app itself is still worth $4.99 if you are looking for a beautiful and distraction-free writing environment.
