Supplement 20240914
You can still appeal if you missed the earlier event, but the official free upgrade won’t last long, so join quickly
Recently, this issue has sparked quite a controversy. Related event timeline
Personal Introduction
I have been using MarginNote 3 since my freshman year. I stopped for a while due to iPad performance issues and switched to Obsidian (too many cards causing lag; the M series chips in MN4 should solve this problem).
MN3 helped me write a lot of coursework and theses. When writing reviews, I downloaded dozens of articles, extracted the content, and then pieced them together into mind maps like playing puzzles—from big ideas to small ideas to arguments—which was very intuitive and concise. Finally, I would export it all at once, tweak the format, fix small bugs, and finish a good review. MN4 officially supports Zotero and Obsidian integration, so I will start using it again for my thesis.
Recently, you can still upgrade from MN3 to MN4 for free. If you have already purchased, don’t miss it—you can save 100 RMB.
Official Introduction
Ten years of integrity, dedicated to every extraordinary and unique learner～
MarginNote 4 is an app full of the development team’s latest understanding of the learning cognition process. Its rich features support different learning stages including preview, classroom learning, comprehension after class, practice, and memory, using educational technology to reduce the difficulty for ordinary learners to replicate successful learning experiences and cutting-edge theoretical methods.
Discover how MarginNote 4’s latest features will support your learning process now:
Critical Thinking, Creating a Vivid Space for Reading and Learning
• Book Margins — A revolutionary experience for light and quick note-taking
Transform static PDFs into vivid, interactive learning materials. Next to paragraphs that require deep understanding, instantly expand the writing space to add personal insights, related materials, or further questions. It integrates seamlessly within the original book layout and can be updated and expanded anytime as the learning progresses.
• Handwriting Layer — Revisiting good books repeatedly
Control the visibility of handwriting; hide handwritten marks without affecting existing cards and margin notes on the book to relearn and practice.
Learning Like Advancing a Project, Technology-Supported Active Learning (Learning by Doing)
• Study Sets — Manage course books, handwritten notes, videos, and retain and restore learning progress
Materials include PDF, MP4, EPUB, MP3, etc. During import, potential connections between materials are considered. During reading and note-taking, continuously think about how cards can be reorganized, connected, and reused, fully integrating all functions of study and review.
Break the traditional limitation of book learning tied to a single knowledge source. Documentation notes from the same knowledge source can serve different learning goals, be referenced in multiple study sets, and easily enable interdisciplinary knowledge transfer.
• Bibliography Folding and Reorganization — Take control of reading, merge materials
Quickly create a catalog to control your books. Virtually modify books in real time, embed explanation segments from other books into pages, merge multiple books, or reorder chapters. Fold unimportant pages on a large scale—everything is reversible at will.
• Enhanced bilingual text comparison and focused reading, binding closely related books into one view
• Exclusive OCR book layout and text recognition engine, easy and accurate clipping and neat highlighting
• Connect external document libraries — Zotero/USB drives, low cost without copying/migration/import sandbox; normal reading, note-making, and card creation supported
• High-performance full-text search engine, search notes and databases
Building Associations for Deep Understanding, Visual Learning Helps Meaning Construction (Visual Learner)
• Mind Maps — Grow naturally in tree form, build knowledge frameworks
• Concept Link Maps — Connect lines or gestures to create cross-structure summaries and links; supports freely placed learning cue card walls
• Infinite mind map handwriting canvas, opens multiple nested sub-mind maps
• Mind map handwriting layout motion technology, toggle visibility on click, supports layers
• 10 kinds of mind map visual styles with lossless conversion
• Outline tool form — Node text editing, selection, and control
• Card box classified Kanban
Card box supports dynamic classification of all source cards, pre-define card colors and tags, brand new Kanban view will categorize and display, especially suitable for creating private question banks, art albums, etc.
Optimize Attention and Cognitive Load from Note-taking Strategy (Germane Cognitive Load) — Reduce transcription cost, focus on core learning
• Custom toolbar — Use highlighting and annotations purposefully
Enhanced support for configuring learning goals and logic behind different note-taking methods, such as different colors, tags, frame types, emphasis, fill-in-the-blanks representing corresponding knowledge points. Consider annotation meaning beforehand instead of mass copying, so every tool operation embeds a knowledge encoding process, greatly saving later organizing work and enhancing understanding.
• Content recognition extraction model — AI-assisted automatic extraction of formulas, charts, and other cards (trained on academic papers, more discipline models will be updated later)
• Card box tools (Luhmann card note method), cards now support native Markdown and formulas
Every note creates a corresponding card. Card box enables smoother knowledge flow among study sets, documents, mind maps, reviews, etc., encouraging learners to actively build relationships among fragmented knowledge, with new support for cross-document referencing of cards.
• Conditional mind map automated building — Combine up to 10 note properties like tags and colors to automatically build mind maps
Contextual and Situational Learning, Learning New Knowledge Based on Old
• Multiple context view combinations, support instant web engine searches
• Keyword title links — Call accumulated note databases by keywords and colors, automatically match currently studied content, and remind of learned materials
• Scenario memory source recall, recall mode hides memory cues
MarginNote faithfully records note moments including book pages, mind map reference positions, title keywords, and added handwriting timestamps. Via unique card ID, globally clicking note links returns to the scene at that moment.
Understand How Your Brain Remembers, Spaced Repetition Algorithm
• Built-in flashcard editor: start making flashcards from clippings, one step to open an editable front-and-back flashcard editor
• FSRS forgetting and repetition playback: Keep up with the latest brain algorithm research (FSRS) to plan study schedules, quantitatively achieve long-term memory
Presentation, Sharing, and Cross-App Collaboration
• Full-platform iCloud note synchronization
• Cross-app URL scheme linking back, community plugin support including Obsidian, AI, etc.
• External multi-monitor/multi-window view positioning, drag and drop
• Presentation mode shows traces of operation; freeze UI for URL sharing
• Note sharing keys, multi-database sharing isolation & switching
Share your carefully made notes online confidently. Public/private key encryption ensures that every copy of study sets circulates only with your consent. Support independently stored and distributed study sets databases to ensure privacy and security.
MarginNote 4 now consists of three basic licenses
Basic:
Read notes, quick and light recording! Brand-new document reading and margin note features are free to all learners;
Readers can browse study sets, mind maps, and document content on all device platforms after receiving shared teacher-student notes without payment.
Pro:
Study like a Pro! Enjoy MarginNote 4 on the iPad where pen and paper meet, tapping hardware potential to support learning. Keep up with the latest iPad & Pencil hardware features, leverage chip computing power for real-time book layout recognition, device-based machine learning models recognizing academic content, enhanced external monitor multi-window and foreground scheduling, shortcut combo systems, and all-around features—all available now with a one-time purchase.
Max:
No need to buy iPad, Mac, and future other device platform versions separately. MarginNote 4 offers a single Max package across all Apple devices! Welcome the paperless learning future, replacing the previous Mac-only purchase, for a similar price buying out all device platforms.
Max offers additional professional and academic features for advanced users. Pro users who want to use these can choose to subscribe per semester for temporary Max upgrade or pay the difference for a one-time buyout.
MarginNote 4 offers a 14-day free trial on all devices. All learners can download and experience it immediately!
Before the current trial or subscription ends, the fee will be charged via your iTunes account 24 hours in advance. You may turn off auto-renewal in the iTunes Store settings after subscribing.
Please read the official documentation and service terms for details. For other suggestions or feedback, contact service@marginnote.com
Acknowledgments
Finally, the MarginNote Explore program has been running for four years. Thanks to 899 alpha and beta testers who accompanied us through three years of homebound periods, facing important exams and helping us polish many features carefully designed for smooth learning. Thanks to your support and encouragement, the team has persisted through 232 TestFlight versions until the official launch of 4.0. As gratitude:
For all MarginNote 3 users
- MarginNote 3 for iPad/iPhone paying Pro users can redeem for free for a limited time to get MarginNote 4 Pro
- MarginNote 3 for Mac paying Pro users can pay a small limited-time difference to get the full platform version MarginNote 4 Max, which includes iPad, Mac, and future devices