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Day One 2 upgrades the journaling experience for both Mac and iOS [Giveaway]

Day One 2 (Featured Image)

The team at Bloom Built has today released the latest version of its journaling app Day One. Five since its original debut, with 40 free releases since then, Day One 2 sets the precedent for the direction of the new app. Albeit awkwardly titled, version 2 of Day One includes new overall features for both the iOS and Mac versions. Having been built from the ground up with data reliabilty and security in mind, Day One 2 lays the foundation for exciting new features to come in later versions.

General

Day One 2 comes with two major features for both the iOS and Mac: the ability to have multiple journals (up to ten with unique colors and names) and multiple photos (up to ten per journal entry). Allowing users to create multiple journals sets the stage for better journal organization. Each journal can be configured with a unique color, from a multitude of colors to select from. Multiple photos per journal entry ensures that each person can further capture their day or adventures all in one entry.

DayOne2-iPhone-02.jpg

Organization

Users can navigate through past journal entires in Day One 2 using the List, Photo, Map, and Calendar views. The Map view, new on iOS, shows users all their past entries nearby to their current location. This feature alone is something I’ll be excited to use whenever I travel. Being able to return to a location within a few years, and then read back on my previous thoughts will be quite interesting. On both platforms, but new to the Mac, the Photo view allows users to scroll through a visual layout of all their journal entries.

Adding on to that, Day One 2 provides a multitude of filters that gives users further methods to quickly find previous journal entries. All of these entries can be easily tagged, deleted, and reorganized in bulk.

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Day One Sync

Noting that it was “not the majority of user experience” but that they had “too many cases of data loss and duplication”, Day One 2 puts a heavy focus on syncing and data reliability. For users currently using the original Day One (now renamed to Day One Classic) their data is compatible with Day One 2 when used in conjunction with Day One Sync. Day One Sync is the only supported sync service in Day One 2. For users who still want other methods, they are able to back up and export data locally or to other shared cloud services like Dropbox. Bloom states that Day One Sync is fast, free, and security-wise is comparable to iCloud and Dropbox. Bloom’s most important security point here is that private-key encryption is to be expected in the next point release of Day One 2. For more info on Day One Sync, be sure to check out the official page available from Bloom.

With a roadmap laying out multiple other features (Audio Recording, an Activity Feed, and Night Mode amongst them), Day One 2 raises the bar for improving upon the journal writing experience.

Day One 2 is on sale at 50% off for the first week of its debut. For iOS it is currently on sale for $4.99 and is compatible with iPhones, iPads, and the Apple Watch. Day One 2 is also available for the Mac at the sale price of $19.99 and is compatible with El Capitan and higher.

The team at Bloom has also provided us with promo codes for 9to5Mac readers:

iOS

Mac

Update: All codes have been redeemed! Congratulations if you were lucky (and quick) enough to get one. For future reference, if the token page says the code has already been redeemed, try to manually redeem it anyways.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

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Comments

  1. Dane-Brandon Sookram - 8 years ago

    It says that the code has already been redeemed, however it is not available in the app store

    • Greg Barbosa - 8 years ago

      Could be a bug because it’s still waiting to propagate. I would way until it’s live in the store and try it out again.

  2. Like seeing new versions but as usual pricing is a disappointment for those who bought it last year. Of course version 1.0 still works fine so I shouldn’t complain.

    • Seika - 8 years ago

      Version 1 is pulled from the iOS and Mac App Store.

      I think the article should be updated with this info

  3. cameroncovington - 8 years ago

    I’m getting the error saying the code has been redeemed as well.

  4. cameroncovington - 8 years ago

    Using the links, it’s saying the app isn’t available in the US store. It must take some more time.

  5. Jarrod Call - 8 years ago

    I want this app so badly. I love the first one. I guess I will just be checking back often to see if I win the lottery to grab one when it finally appears haha

  6. crutchcameslinking - 8 years ago

    “…with 40 free releases since then…”

    Those “free releases” are usually called updates, which are most frequently bug fixes and sometimes new features.
    Good sales pitch for a good app.

  7. Devon Kelly - 8 years ago

    $20 for the mac? Are you flipping kidding me?!

    • ctpide - 8 years ago

      You know that’s half price of what they actually want to charge, right ?
      Quote: “It will remain a paid app and be priced at $9.99 for iOS and $39.99 for Mac. We will provide a 50% discount to both apps during the first week of its debut.” http://dayoneapp.com/2016/01/introducing-day-one-2/

    • crichton007 - 8 years ago

      I know, imagine the nerve to charge for hard work and value!

    • 311sie - 8 years ago

      I know right?? A developer, asking more than $4.99 for an app that will be installed in a $1,500 computer. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS!!!

  8. I think it only is going to be released tomorrow, Thursday.

    • Greg Barbosa - 8 years ago

      The app is available in the App Store now.

  9. DI Lopez - 8 years ago

    The app is live in the mac app store but it still says the code has been redeemed.

    • Greg Barbosa - 8 years ago

      It looks like they were all redeemed quickly after the app hit the App Store a little while back.

      • DI Lopez - 8 years ago

        Huh. I had been refreshing for the better part of an hour and used it just as it went live.

      • cameroncovington - 8 years ago

        Were the codes only available for one-use?

      • DI Lopez - 8 years ago

        Is there any way you guys can confirm whether they’ve all been used and update the article? I’ll keep trying in case they’re just not working properly, yet. Thanks in advance.

    • Greg Barbosa - 8 years ago

      Hey DI, the codes have all been redeemed. I even manually double-checked just to be sure.

  10. cameroncovington - 8 years ago

    The app is live in the iOS App Store, but the tokens still don’t work.

    • Greg Barbosa - 8 years ago

      Each token only works for a single use, and if the tokens no longer work, than it’s because someone else had redeemed them.

  11. It says that the code has already been redeemed. I Would really like to have this app iOS and MAC. Thanks!!!

  12. Matt (@MR1586) - 8 years ago

    I’m not happy. I just bought day one. Now I have to buy it again?

    • cameroncovington - 8 years ago

      You don’t have to buy it again. They will continue to maintain Day One Classic. If you want the new features, then yes, you need to buy it again.

      • Seika - 8 years ago

        They pulled version 1 from the store though. Can’t reinstall the apps and is forced to buy the new version when I’m content with the old version.

  13. ctpide - 8 years ago

    I do understand everyone wants to make money and apps on the App Store simply can’t be maintained forever after a single purchase. So, I do understand that Day One is releasing this as a new app and expect people to upgrade – fair enough – even though their price tag is definitely on the higher end, I may have considered it, since we do use it regularly.

    However, I do not agree with Day one reducing the functionality of their app. Dropbox and iCloud sync has been removed and now their own Day One Sync service is the only option. I particularly do not want them to have access to all my content, nor to I want to rely on their company to stay afloat for the foreseeable future (I’m sorry, but you probably won’t be around forever). I can also see that sooner than later they will turn this into another cloud based service that they expect to be payed for every month. I really hope this won’t happen, but I can’t see them not going down this path if everyone now has to jump onto their sync servers.

    I mean, this is just stupid, first, you take away the part of your app that allows it to run at minimal costs and maximum flexibility for your customers, who very well might want to be independent of you (a reason many people will appreciate and gladly pay for). Next, you realise that you can’t offer the cloud syncing service for free with so many people now using it. And lastly, you start asking people to pay for something they never wanted in the first place.

    I am sorry to say, but if you keep this up, this will be the end of Day One. There are plenty of journaling alternatives out there – Apple’s recent improvement in Notes may be just sufficient to make the switch or I just pick any of the other free journaling apps.

    Seriously, everybody has to have their own cloud service these days and then thinks: “Alright, people can spend $10 / month on this, sure, why not”. But if you think about it, that’s not what people want. With this attitude, I have to spend $10 for data storage, $10 for music, $10 for photo sharing, $10 for my journal, $10 for backups, $10 for the security camera, … so $60 / month, even though 90% of these services all sell you the same thing – storage in the cloud (ok and syncing functionality), but in the end it would be a much better sales argument in my opinion, if you could allow me to store MY data wherever I wanted. Especially, if you expect me to write my personal journal there. Time is up. Good bye Day One.

    • I concur. I bought a version of the app some years ago and refused to use it because I will not have my private thoughts on someone else’s server. I question your intelligence if you think this is acceptable. You’d have to be quite a boring person, or very dumb, to use this software.

    • Kia Kamgar (@KiaKamgar) - 8 years ago

      I too agree with this wholeheartedly!

      It’s a shame where a nice piece of software has gone this route and also fed-up with subscription based software where I can see this app going in the near future.

      I was truly thinking that you left the sync as it was but to take out that functionality with the excuse: “well, our sync service can do more” is just telling me that your developers are either too lazy to understand sync or just don’t understand it at all. Or the obvious: want to make more money in the future with a subscription based product.

      Nope, will not be upgrading.

    • Flapjack Snafflington - 8 years ago

      That didn’t take long.

      Their servers have been down for the last 4 hours or so. Think I will find an alternative, or stick to v1.

    • Peter So - 8 years ago

      I have wrote to Day One long ago about about syncing private journals up to the cloud. I explained to them that there is no point of setting up password or passcode on your device since your private journals are being saved as text file. Yes, you can put a password when you open the Day One app. But once it is saved, you can or anyone can open each journal file with any text editor. Look, I’m not Hillary Clinton or someone famous, but I would like to keep my journal private specially when I upload them to the cloud. Who knows who is reading them. I suggest to them to look at what 1Password does, how they store file in the cloud encrypted. I stop using this app long ago.

    • Ah yes, the “Dear John” letter from the demonstrative. They’ve pretty much documented what they were planning on doing. None of what this update does is a surprise. But then again, based on what you wrote, perhaps we should all just ask you since your soothsaying powers are well documented.

  14. jerd11 - 8 years ago

    They have been promising us support for multiple photos for YEARS, with excuse after excuse regarding the endless delay. So wow they finally introduce support for it — in a NEW version for which version 1 (which is no longer even listed in the App Store) customers will have to pay full price. That’s really shady.

  15. eswinson - 8 years ago

    I use the original version rather religiously. Removing iCloud sync effectively makes buying this version a no-go for me. I’m not paying for yet another cloud service, nor am I going to share my data with a company that has no ability (technical or financial) to protect my privacy. Sorry, looks like a great app but you poisoned the well for no good reason. Add iCloud sync back and I may consider it.

  16. burtba - 8 years ago

    That’s it for me. I will be removing Day One original version and looking for an alternative. No upgrade process for existing users. Day One please remember, existing users are THE ONLY reason you are here today. Subscription? WTF. Deliberate action by DO.

    • Seika - 8 years ago

      They have yet to make that subscription model. But there are many users with years of their life journaled there and can’t move away easily.

    • You go ahead and do that and be sure to let us all know about our poor life choices when we could have followed your lead which will have a damning effect on the company.

  17. Based on the amount of foot stamping from the comments, it all seems to come back to one salient point: people want something for nothing. They claim they’re willing to pay a fair price for something, but that’s generally not true because then people bib-dribble about having to pay for something in the first place.

    I know it may hurt, but if the list of grievances grows too much to handle, you should break off the relationship instead of threatening to do so. Especially accompanied by the “there’s other fish in the sea!” claims that might seem a bit hollow because you probably looked at those before deciding that an app like Day One was what you wanted. So, either pack up your principles and get out, or, simply out, shut up. But don’t waste your time spying to see if they’re really, really sorry you left. Just take your business elsewhere and be happy with it.

    And no, I don’t work for these people.

    • jerd11 - 8 years ago

      Actually, I would just like honesty. Bloom Built has been promising multi-photo support since 2013 (when version 2 wasn’t even yet a concept). I have contacted them 2 or 3 times over the years inquiring when this update might be expected and got nothing but vague replies. I find it to be incredibly shady to suddenly have the capability after 3 years of empty promises—provided their customers buy the app again. That’s the only “new” feature that even interests me.

  18. Mart Välja - 8 years ago

    Am I correct in assuming that if I would reinstall OS X or iOS for any reason, I would not be able to reinstall Day One “Classic” apps??? They are not available in either of the app stores.

    If that is the case, I will be asking for refund, have been using the app for only a month, plus I will not trust this developer ever again.

  19. Mihail - 8 years ago

    Wow this is messed up. I have both the iOS and Mac OS versions of Day One. I’ve been convincing people to use this beautiful app for many years now. My only wish was multiple photo support for one entry. I like to only have one entry per day. And they PROMISED this feature on their blog! And now it finally comes – but it’s a NEW app. And I have to purchase both the iOS and Mac OS app again. And even more – they don’t have iCloud or Dropbox support anymore. I have to use their sync service. No thank you! I’m done! I’m going to delete Day One and I urge everyone to do the same. They are a shady company, they lied and tricked their customers once, they are going to do it again! Beware!

  20. Mihail - 8 years ago

    And their CEO’s message is hilarious: “Day One has had over 40 free releases, including many new features, thanks in part to Apple’s continued hardware and software innovations.”
    Ummm yeah… we call those updates. Most of which were bug fixes. Free releases. :))))

  21. Yann Rocq - 8 years ago

    Version 1 has been removed from iTunes store and deleted from my iPhone. I have to pay the upgrade to continue using a software I have already bought. Really bad commercial practice. I won’t use this software anymore.

    • Greg Barbosa - 8 years ago

      Are you saying that Day One Classic is no longer listed under your ‘Purchased’ section?

      • Yann Rocq - 8 years ago

        No, it isn’t. I have been able to reinstall the app from my iTunes downloaded app on my Mac, but since the last sync, it has been deleted from my iPhone AND my Mac.

      • Greg Barbosa - 8 years ago

        Interesting. It’s still very much available for me.

  22. Greg Barbosa - 8 years ago

    To those who can no longer find Day One Classic in the App Store, but HAVE already bought the application, make sure to check your Purchased section under updates as it may still be shown there.

  23. Wow I just bought this app last year and now have to pay again for it? There was a “road-map” when I bought (multiple photos in an entry, how hard can that be!?) it and I was happy to hop on while the software got better. Didn’t think I was really signing up for a $30 yearly subscription service. Their cloud thing is a shame too, as Dropbox sync was another reason I liked their software. I’ll take my money elsewhere. A $5 upgrade or add-on would have been fine, a full “new” $50 piece of software (OSX/ios) which is really just a small upgrade is overreach. They’ll find out soon enough when they lose all their old customers.

    Of course all the review blogs are happy to jump on the new-and-improved bandwagon as they get affiliate fees for people that buy things off the app store. Money talks….9to5Mac, you’re just as guilty for putting cash ahead of your readers best interest. I’ll go elsewhere now for impartial reviews.

    • Greg Barbosa - 8 years ago

      This was not a review, it was a reporting on the release of an application. Our reviews are titled cleared as such.

      Feel free to go elsewhere for “impartial reviews”, and we’ll continue to report on new software and services that effect our readers.