On landscape mode

• Move the toolbar elements to the side. Colors, pens, markers, undo, redo, bookmark, share... Allow the user to move all those elements to the sides (left+ right, all right, all left, classic mode). It allows more vertical space for writing and reading
• Change some UI elements: for example, “take a pic” and “gallery” can be combined into one single ui element, leaving more space for new ui elements (such us more colours, sizes, pentypes). Also, as seen in GoodNotes recent update, “shape” tool is no longer needed and can be replaced by “hold to shape”. Could be replaced with “ruler & compass”, for example

On vertical UI

• Keep the toolbar on the top/bottom as it is now, but with those changes I mentioned about “shape” and “picture” tools

other ui changes

• Allow UI rearrange
• Allow UI size changes: GoodNotes is used mostly with apple pencil, there is no need for those big buttons. A couple of sizes would be great (compact and large)
• “Nipple” controls : As seen in Autodesk Sketchbook, a small nipple that allows quick access by swiping to some tasks, such as share, bookmarks, fulscreen view, etc. Highly customizable
• more toolbar customization. Use “nipple” to hide some ui elements instead of being always visible. For example, nobody needs the share button most of the time. Hiding it on the “nipple” will allow more space, keeping buttons a swipe away while not using much valuable screen space. Some elements to hide would be share, bookmarks, search, reader mode, new page, undo, redo...

Other needed changes (ive seen lots of these on feedback page, the toolbar changes i suggest allows more space for them)

• new Ruler and compass tool
• 4th size and colour
• if “shape” tool is being removed, I highly suggest more shapes and accuracy for “hold to shape” (it already is pretty great, just some tuning)

macOS Catalyst app

important note: if “nipple” is implemented on Goodnotes 5, I highly recommend disabling it from the macOS app. Swiping a ui element on the desktop its not a great option. Macs have larger displays and the Goodnotes app is mainly used for typing or reading, so moving the ui elements to the sides as the iPad ladscape mode is encouraged. I wouldn’t combine ui elements on macos due to the screen size

As always, thanks to the GoodNotes team for their incredible job on GoodNotes. I hope all these ideas help the team to improve the ui and make it more powerful for the Apple Pencil and the iPad. Keep going!