Skip to main content

Hands on: Webnote is an iPad Web browser and social network in one

IMG_0333
Image used with permission by copyright holder

You probably spend a lot of time browsing the Web, don’t you? I mean, you’re reading this, after all. Every time you come across something you think a friend would find interesting, you do you best to share it via your social network of choice. It’s a process that we’re all used to at this point, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best way to go about your browsing and sharing ways. The folks at HopIn, Inc. believe they’ve streamlined the process with their app Webnote. It’s an iPad app that turns browsing and sharing into a one step – or a two tap and one swipe – process.

IMG_0331Built for the iPad, Webnote functions in the same way you’d expect a browser to act. It lets you to navigate the Web in the familiar fashion of any web browser you’ve ever used. It’s a very simple browser just in terms of Web exploration; Firing up the app doesn’t automatically provide you with frequently visited sites a la Chrome or Dolphin, and there isn’t a history tab or anything like that. You just have a blank screen that awaits your deep dive into the series of tubes that is the World Wide Web.

Recommended Videos

Designwise, Webnote leaves a little to be desired. The New Tab button is on the opposite end of the screen as the actual tabs, which was somewhat bothersome in comparison to other browsers. The navigation buttons are all bunched in the same corner, which is convenient though a little crowded. It just doesn’t make for as smooth of a browsing experience as one would expect given the current bar for tablet browsers, which is pretty high (unless you’re on a crazy website). Admittedly, Webnote’s goals are a little different.

Webnote, unlike those standard browsers that you’ve become so accustomed to, doesn’t want you frequenting the same sites over and over. It’s about discovery and allowing the Internet to be curated for you by friends and people who interest you. So while the buttons and tools you’re used to using are housed in a tight corner on the right side of the screen, the left side is where your new navigation tools are. Instead of “Forward,” “Back,” and “Refresh,” you’ll be using “Following,” “Explore,” and “People” while also interacting with friends.

IMG_0332Say you’re on your favorite website of all time – Let’s call it DigitalTrends.com – and you come across an article or image or video that you just have to share. With Webnote, all you have to do is double tap the content you were enamored with and a menu will pop up to confirm that you want to share it. Choose the social networks you want to share it on – currently just Facebook and Twitter, but do you really need other ones? – and slide to send it off. Sharing is surprisingly intuitive and simple. It’s much nicer than leaving open tabs and switching between them all the time, and it makes the process of sending out information that you’d like to share infinitely easier. That is this app’s killer feature.

The rest of Webnote’s appeal will really be what you and your circle of Web-addicted friends make of it. Webnote lets you and your connections curate the Web experience for one another. This, of course, requires friends who are as active on the Web as you are. There are some users that you can follow to get yourself started, but you’ll have to build your following on your own, for the most part. Things you share will go into your feed for all followers to see (unless you mark it as private), and comments can be added to them. You can explore the content your friends have shared as well. All of this browsing takes place in a sidebar that acts as a scrolling feed of activity. If you’re a Tumblr user, the functionality of the feed will feel familiar. You can like or repost things from others that interest you. It just takes the Tumblr experience to whole Web.

You have to think of Webnote as an entirely different browser than what you’re used to if you want to understand it. It’s great for social sharers, but it’s also a social network of it’s own, encouraging you to share with friends and like-minded people who have similar interests. Sharing can seem a little overwhelming, but Webnote does a decent job of making it effortless.

The real problem this browser faces is that it’s built from the ground up as it’s own unique tool. If you’re a user of other people browsers that allow you to take your frequently accessed sites and information between devices … you wont’ be finding any of that functionality here. You have to start fresh when it comes to bookmarks and browsing history. You could use Webnote specifically when you’re looking to browse for entertainment, but it’s hard to imagine a lot of people doing that.

If the social sharing gestures were an add-on for other browsers, we’d use it in a heartbeat. But to take on a whole new browser/social network? That’s a bigger commitment. If you decide to make that dive, though, Webnote is a good partner to share your time with.

AJ Dellinger
AJ Dellinger is a freelance reporter from Madison, Wisconsin with an affinity for all things tech. He has been published by…
Best Buy just slashed the price of the Apple iPad Pro M4 by $200
Home Screen of the M4 iPad Pro.

Whenever you see a discount for the latest model of an Apple device, you have to take advantage of the offer right away as it likely won't last long. That's the case with the 13-inch Apple iPad Pro M4, which is on sale from Best Buy. Its 256GB model, usually sold for $1,299, is down to $1,099 for savings of $200, but stocks are probably already flying off the shelves. If you've been looking for tablet deals featuring Apple's premium iPad, you won't want to miss this bargain, so hurry!

https://bestbuy.7tiv.net/nXA05a

Read more
How a $30 accessory made my iPad Air perfect for travel and streaming
Rolling Square Edge Pro Core attached to iPad Air 2025.

I have an iPad Mini and a 13-inch iPad Air (2025), which reside in a folio case and a Magic Keyboard, respectively. While the iPad Mini is my favorite, most portable tablet, the Magic Keyboard + iPad Air combo makes the bigger device too heavy for tasks like video consumption and using it as a second screen, which covers more than 50% of my use case. I could swap the Magic Keyboard for a folio case to save weight, but that limits me to a single viewing angle and I lose a physical keyboard.

That’s why I added the $30 Rolling Square Edge Pro Core to my iPad Air. It has made my big tablet more portable and user-friendly without forcing me to sacrifice flexibility. My use case differs from the one advertised, but here’s how I use two of these simple accessories to get more out of my 13-inch iPad Air.

Read more
My main computer is an M4 iPad Pro, but a 2021 iPad still surprises me
Rear shell of 2021 iPad Pro.

This might sound controversially ridiculous, but for the past few years, my primary computer has been an iPad Pro. I first got interested in pushing tablets this way when the M1 version came out, and I’ve kept using them all the way up to the newest M4-powered model. 

A few weeks ago, I went back to my M1 iPad Pro to see how well it handles next-gen apps that are pushing the boundaries of graphics and AI on a mobile device. So, the big question is whether the four-year-old slate can still serve as a reliable workhorse in 2025?

Read more