Source: Microsoft
What you need to know
- Journal, a Microsoft Garage project, is now called Microsoft Journal.
- Microsoft Journal has graduated from the Microsoft Garage and is now a supported Microsoft application.
- The app focuses on delivering a freeform experience for notetaking and annotation.
The Journal app has left the Microsoft Garage and is officially a supported Microsoft app. Along with its status change, the app has a new name and a refreshed look. Now known as Microsoft Journal, the notetaking application has a clear roadmap and will continue to be developed. Microsoft's Renee Malone announced the news.
Microsoft Journal has a page-based canvas for notetaking. It uses artificial intelligence to identify gestures and other inputs, such as underlining content to turn text into a heading. Notably, the AI runs on-device rather than having to go through the cloud.
In addition to its new name, Microsoft Journal has a revamped look that aligns with Windows 11. The new version of the app will roll out gradually between April 5 and April 8, 2022.
The Microsoft Garage allows developers to work out concepts for applications. Projects can be refined and workshopped based on user feedback, often providing insight about users. Some projects are retired. Others, such as Journal, graduate into full-fledged Microsoft apps.
Malone notes some of the lessons learned during the incubation period of Journal in the Microsoft Garage. The app allows users to swap between inking and selecting content, but the developers of Journal weren't sure which form of interaction people would prefer to switch between modes. The team found that using a tap, lasso, smart ink cue, and barrel button on a pen all proved popular. This insight helped shape Microsoft Journal.
It was also discovered that many people liked using the app to mark documents. Over half of all pages created in Journal were imported from PDFs.
Microsoft Journal is available for free through the Microsoft Store and works on both Windows 11 and Windows 10.

Microsoft Journal
Microsoft Journal is a notetaking application that focuses on the inking experience. It uses artificial intelligence and connects to Microsoft 365.
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.

Everything we know about the rebooted Forza Motorsport
Forza Motorsport is restarting the legendary franchise from Turn 10 Studios, and it's coming to Xbox and PC. Here's everything we know right now.

Review: The Lumina 4K webcam is powered by AI and rivals a DSLR
What if you took excellent camera hardware and mixed it with the same AI software in modern smartphones? You’d get the $199 Lumina AI Webcam, which looks great and is likely to get even better. Can it rival a DSLR? Maybe.

Join us LIVE for the Windows Central Video Podcast today at 1:30PM ET
We're LIVE with the Windows Central Video Podcast today at 1:30pm ET, make sure you're there!

The best photo editing apps for Windows 10
Whether you need to remove red eyes or do heavy duty editing, these are the best photo editing apps for Windows 10.