Microsoft launches its AI-powered notetaking app Journal as an official Windows app – TechCrunch

A little over a year after its initial release, a digital note-taking app called Journal is making the leap from being an experimental project housed with Microsoft's internal incubator, Microsoft Garage, to becoming a full-fledged Microsoft Windows application. The company this week announced the new note-taking app will now be available as "Microsoft Journal," allowing users to capture their thoughts and create drawings using their digital pen on Windows tablets, 2-in-1s and other pen-capable devices. The original idea behind Journal was to offer users an alternative to grabbing a pen and paper when inspiration strikes, while still allowing them to express themselves through writing. The concept was familiar to the company, which had first launched an ink-focused application called Journal back on its Tablet PC in 2002 and continued to release "ink" capabilities across apps like Whiteboard, OneNote, PowerPoint and more, the company explained at the time. Journal, however, wanted to push the concept forward by combining the digital ink input with AI technologies.