Podcast Summary: iOS Today 754: Document Editors

Released on May 29, 2025 | Hosts: Micah Sargent & Rosemary Orchard

Introduction

In episode 754 of "iOS Today," hosts Micah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard delve into the world of document editors available on iOS devices. The discussion spans from native tools integrated within Apple's ecosystem to advanced third-party applications, providing listeners with a comprehensive guide to managing and editing documents on their iPhones and iPads.

1. Native Document Editing in iOS Notes

Micah Sargent begins by exploring the built-in capabilities of the iOS Notes app for handling documents, particularly PDFs.

• Attaching and Annotating PDFs: Users can attach PDF files directly to notes, enabling basic interactions such as quick look, sharing, saving, printing, and adjusting view sizes (04:15). Micah demonstrates annotating a PDF by highlighting text, adding text boxes, stickers, signatures, and shapes. Despite minor imperfections in handwriting recognition, the functionality remains user-friendly.

  "I can add stickers, I can add text, I can add a signature, I can add a shape. So we are able to do all of those things as we need to, which is quite delightful." — Micah Sargent (05:30)

• Form-Fillable PDFs: The Notes app also supports interacting with form-filled PDFs, allowing users to add signatures and text form boxes, facilitating collaborative document editing.

• Collaboration and Searchability: A significant advantage highlighted is the ability to collaborate with others on the same PDF, enabling multiple users to annotate and make adjustments simultaneously. Additionally, embedded PDFs within Notes are searchable, enhancing document management efficiency.

2. Advanced PDF Editing with PDF Expert

Rosemary Orchard introduces PDF Expert as a powerful alternative for users seeking more robust PDF editing features beyond the native capabilities.

• Comprehensive Editing Tools: PDF Expert offers extensive editing options, including text modification, image replacement, and hyperlink insertion. Rosemary demonstrates correcting typos and enhancing the document's interactivity by linking table of contents entries to their respective pages.

  "PDF Expert lets me fix that. So I can say, hey, you know this, I want to link and I'm going to select the page and that's it done." — Rosemary Orchard (07:00)

• Redaction and Security: The app allows users to redact sensitive information securely, covering text in black while providing an undo option for reversals.

• Measuring and Annotation: Unique features like measuring tools and customizable annotation options (e.g., pens, highlighters) make PDF Expert versatile for various professional needs.

• Printing Flexibility: PDF Expert provides advanced printing options, such as scaling, which helps in adjusting document layouts before physical printing.

Rosemary emphasizes the app's value despite its subscription model, noting its efficiency in handling complex PDF tasks seamlessly on iOS devices.

3. Document Management with Documents by Readdle

Micah transitions to discussing "Documents by Readdle," an app that combines document editing with comprehensive file management.

• Toolset Overview: The app offers a suite of tools, including photo editing, file scanning, multimedia handling, and document conversion. Micah points out that while some features like the built-in VPN and browser may be excessive for certain users, the core document tools are highly beneficial.

  "It's feature-packed and will let you do document editing of all sorts." — Micah Sargent (16:30)

• PDF Manipulation: Similar to PDF Expert, Documents by Readdle allows users to manage PDF pages, edit text, add links, and perform redactions. Additionally, it supports merging multiple PDFs and converting various file formats into PDFs or extracting content from PDFs.

• File Integration: The app seamlessly integrates with popular cloud services like Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and others, facilitating smooth file transfers and management across different platforms.

Rosemary adds that the user interface of Documents by Readdle resembles PDF Expert, underscoring the developer's consistent design philosophy.

4. Specialized Text Editing with Textastic

Rosemary takes the spotlight to discuss "Textastic," a specialized text editor tailored for developers and users who work extensively with plain text files.

• Syntax Highlighting and Language Support: Textastic supports a wide range of programming languages and file types, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Ruby, PHP, and LaTeX. Syntax highlighting enhances readability and editing efficiency.

  "These are the things that make editing text files significantly easier." — Rosemary Orchard (23:45)

• Advanced Editing Features: The app includes features like tab indentation, automatic bracket insertion, and customizable syntax definitions. It also offers terminal access for SSH connections, allowing users to edit files directly on remote servers.

• Integration with Other Tools: Textastic integrates smoothly with applications like Working Copy and Secure ShellFish, enabling seamless connections to Git repositories and other development environments.

• Live Preview: Users can preview HTML files directly within the app, providing immediate visual feedback during the editing process.

Rosemary praises Textastic for its robust functionality, making it an indispensable tool for developers on the go.

5. App Recommendations and Community Engagement

Towards the end of the episode, Micah and Rosemary share their favorite apps and encourage listeners to engage with the community by submitting their own recommendations.

• Content Filtering with Wiper 2: Micah introduces "Wiper 2," a lightweight content blocker alternative to One Blocker. Priced at $4.99, Wiper 2 offers efficient ad-blocking without the bloat, appealing to users seeking simplicity.

  "Wiper 2 is a very simple app that works as a content filter on your Safari browser." — Micah Sargent (29:00)

• Gaming with Tatami: Rosemary discusses "Tatami," a puzzle game available for free with an optional in-app purchase. The game challenges players to connect numbers within blocks, enhancing cognitive skills while providing enjoyable downtime.

  "Tatami is a great app to while away the time. It's certainly better for you than doom scrolling social media." — Rosemary Orchard (37:15)

The hosts emphasize the importance of community feedback and invite listeners to share their favorite document editors and apps for future discussions.

Conclusion

Episode 754 of "iOS Today" offers an in-depth exploration of document editing tools on iOS, catering to a wide range of user needs from casual annotations in Notes to advanced text editing for developers. Micah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard provide valuable insights into each application's strengths, helping listeners make informed decisions about the best tools for their workflows. The episode concludes with engaging app recommendations, fostering a sense of community and continuous learning among tech enthusiasts.

For more information and detailed discussions, visit iOS Today on TWiT.tv.