Download Byword for Mac - Minimalist typing interface. MacUpdate.com

Byword 1.5.1

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(13) 3.730769230769231

Minimalist typing interface. Commercial ($9.99)

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Byword is your minimalist typing interface.

Byword starts with a clean full-screen interface that lets you start typing right away-no templates to choose, no type settings to tune, no spacing to adjust. Everything is already prepared for you.

Features include:

Full-screen interface;
Focus mode to highlight only the few lines nearby the cursor-you will love this;
5 beautiful typography presets optimized for legibility and readability;
Plain text (TXT) and rich text (RTF) editing;
Special selection functions to facilitate text

What's New

Version 1.5.1:

Improved iCloud performance during launch
Fixed blank document windows that affected certain users
Fixed Markdown preview errors on case-sensitive file systems
iCloud browser can now open any type of file
Moving rich text documents to iCloud will now alert that those documents will not appear on Byword for iOS

Requirements
Intel, Mac OS X 10.6 or later

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Byword User Discussion (Write a Review)

ver. 1.x:

(13)

Your rating: Now say why...

Overall:

(13)

sort: smiles | time

-1

+21

THEE:LEE reviewed on 19 Mar 2012

It's beautiful and distract free, but not sure if it's worth $9.99 for a glorified look of TextEdit

[Version 1.5]

+127

Mikebenda commented on 15 Mar 2012

Remember when word processors like WordPerfect (and all other software) came in boxes that you had to drive to the store to purchase, cost $400, had no refund policy, and people didn't constantly complain about it?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WordPerfect

[Version 1.5]

1 Reply

Valrus replied on 14 Apr 2012

Guess what? It's 2012 now.

+37

Stoneman commented on 14 Sep 2011

Looks interesting, but I won't buy a writing app if I can't see how well I work with it first. I don't blame developers for wanting to sell through the Apple Store, but they should still offer trial versions for 30 days to give potential users a chance to like them.

[Version 1.3.1]

2 Replies

+13

Tipp-Flo replied on 27 Oct 2011

I agree, it looks interesting.
On the developers side it says: Download Byword today for only $9.99 - I'd like to download it before paying. Pay and then try out - should be the other way round!

Chester W replied on 25 Feb 2012

Agreed.
Don't understand why they don't have a demo version. Also don't understand why Apple Store doesn't have the 15-min refund policy like Android market.

Cpoetter reviewed on 27 Aug 2011

For a long time I was looking for a simple text editor that supports my writing flow. Byword seems to be that app.

It highlights just a few lines of text around the cursor so that I can focus on that part of the text. Also it works great in a regular window as well as fullscreen. Furthermore it fully supports Lion's autosave and resume functions which feel a bit strange at the beginning but when I got used to them they're perfect for writing. Last but not least Byword supports Markdown including HTML preview.

Byword is actually the first text editor I use regularly. It just feels right.

[Version 1.3.1]

-4

+37

accountclosed reviewed on 14 Mar 2011

Beta software at best. Almost no preference options, and the one that's offered (for "font family") doesn't apply or stick. Also, despite the advertised "full-screen interface," this thing won't launch in full screen by default! Don't let the incentive to purchase over the next few days before the price increases (and again a few days after that) sucker you. Not worth a nickel in its present form, and App Store-only availability, which neatly allows developers to shirk the long established try-before-you-buy practice adds insult to injury IMO. Check out FocusWrite instead. Development is virtually stopped there, but at least the app is fully realized with a reasonable set of preferences, giving the user control over the GUI. Writeroom is another option, but it's seriously overpriced, and developer Jesse Grossjean has blithely and arrogantly abandoned his customer base of users of the iPhone version (check out the reviews in the iTunes Store if you're interested), making FocusWrite by far the lesser of the two evils, and the only real minimalist, full-screen writing environment app out there at a fair price. In any case, at this point, Byword isnt' even a contender.

[Version 1.0]

3 Replies

+107

Walruscp replied on 15 Mar 2011

I wouldn't say Jesse has abandoned iOS WriteRoom users. He has repeatedly stated in his Google Groups page that he is perfecting the SimpleText platform, which he will use to base a complete rewrite WriteRoom for iOS.

But yeah, it does stink that WriteRoom for iOS has languished, but he is a one man show for all intents and purposes. I also agree WriteRoom for Mac is a bit overpriced, especially now that there's new competition in this genre of app.

+37

accountclosed replied on 16 Mar 2011

Thanks for your thoughts on this. Jesse also stated in his review (posted in the iTunes Store back in September after keeping users waiting four months) that he knew it "had been a long wait," and that the seriously past-due update (read "bug fixes") for WriteRoom iOS would be based on his new PlainText, which seems to have entirely upstaged WriteRoom users. That was SIX months ago, with no word since. If this doesn’t count as abandoning users, it's hard to imagine what would. At this point, and based on the many and growing number of iTunes Store reviews advising against buying WriteRoom, I think users generally would be disinclined, as I am, to put little stock in any further promises made by Jesse re: WriteRoom for iOS. You know, there are ways to do things with some modicum of consideration for those who trust you enough to spend $5 on a notepad app. One can post status updates, respond promptly to concerns about bugs, and of course, make the project a higher priority, given how many people have been adversely affected by careless coding, inadequate debugging, and early release. It’s a shame that one actually has to make a case for acting responsibly. Jesse's handling of the situation, "one man show" or not, remains the most blithely inconsiderate and irresponsible showing I've run into from any developer to date. I’ve even stopped using WriteRoom OS X in favor of FocusWrite in response to being treated so shabbily by this developer, and my sense is that many others, motivated by self-respect, have done or will do the same.

Nomad11 replied on 29 Mar 2011

No problems with Byword so far. Works perfectly for me. I like the layout and typography and it launches full screen by default on my machine. By the way have you tried the fullscreen app FountainPen, it's free http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/36293/fountainpen

-6

Gmax reviewed on 14 Mar 2011

If you already have Pages installed, just go to Full Screen View to get the same thing. Full screen typing is not worth $2.99 imho.

[Version 1.0]

2 Replies

+940

Misha replied on 14 Mar 2011

And if you don't have Pages?

EduDeLaPlata replied on 04 May 2011

Misha: Just try Bean in Fullscreen (Cmd Shift F) and you’ll be surprised. The first time I did it, I was stunned with the amazing view.
From a plain black on white text, Bean presented me a beautiful Blue background and my font turned white, scaling up automatically perfectly. A real full screen beauty, with only a tiny bar at the bottom with words an chars count, and the useful Zoom Slider, in case you need to make the font bigger or smaller. And whilst not visible, you can always point to top of the screen to make the Menu bar appear, giving you full features without leaving your full screen at all (even when you switch to another application and return to your Bean document) :)

+12

KeesBakker had trouble on 13 Jun 2011

Byword displays the name of the document in fullscreen mode witch totally kills the focus element for me.

[Version 1.2]

Asotvguy rated on 13 Apr 2012

[Version 1.5.1]

-2

Khmz rated on 31 Oct 2011

[Version 1.4]

+107

Walruscp rated on 01 Aug 2011

[Version 1.3.1]

Nomad11 rated on 20 Jul 2011

[Version 1.3]

+107

Walruscp rated on 20 Jul 2011

[Version 1.3]

Nomad11 rated on 24 May 2011

[Version 1.2]

Nomad11 rated on 29 Mar 2011

[Version 1.1]

Asotvguy rated on 29 Mar 2011

[Version 1.1]

+40

Myka rated on 26 Mar 2011

[Version 1.0]

Downloads:2,065

Version Downloads:153

Type:Business : Word Processing

License:Commercial

Date:13 Apr 2012

Platform:Intel

Price: $9.99

Overall (Version 1.x):

Features:

Ease of Use:

Value:

Stability:

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Full-screen interface;
Focus mode to highlight only the few lines nearby the cursor-you will love this;
5 beautiful typography presets optimized for legibility and readability;
Plain text (TXT) and rich text (RTF) editing;
Special selection functions to facilitate text manipulation;
Convenient keyboard shortcuts to quickly make changes;
In-place formatting options presented in a contextual popover;
User-interface accessory views fade away when typing;
Integrated Find and Replace;
Printing and exporting to PDF.

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