The first week of November is always a special time for us—it’s our Bear-thday! This year, Bear turns 8, marking a significant milestone for us. As we celebrate, we take a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come, the challenges we’ve overcome, and the exciting journey ahead. Be sure to stick around until the end to see what’s coming next!
Looking back
Bear started as a side project by three developer-designers, with the idea of making a note taking app that provides a comfortable, private space to create beautiful notes. After 3 years of development, in November 2016, we launched the very first version of Bear. We received unexpected success and appreciation from both our users and the industry, winning App of the Year in 2016 and the Apple Design Award in 2017. We spent countless hours reviewing feedback, improving the app, and polishing every detail to make Bear the best it could be.
In February 2018, we made the bold decision to rewrite Bear from the ground up. It wasn’t easy, but we knew it was the only way to future-proof the app and build the features our users deserved.
In 2020, we began beta testing Panda, the new editor for Bear 2. We added tons of new feature we had been waiting for, such as tables, folding, Table of Contents and backlinks. After 3 years of dedicated crafting, the editor was finalized and implemented into Bear 2. In July 2023, we officially launched Bear 2.
The Journey Continues
We know Bear 2 is not the finish line; it’s just the beginning. Since the launch of Bear 2, we’ve kept busy over the last year—continuing to polish the app, fix bugs, and listen to feedback. We’ve added features like Quick Open and MultiColor highlighter to enhance the writing experience, all while staying true to our core belief in making Bear a place where you can write naturally. We are also working on a major upgrade to the note encryption feature, which will allow you to lock notes with attachments.
The foundation of Bear 2 also opens up tremendous opportunities for even better things to come—we’ve been keeping our heads down on Bear Web and we will soon start alpha testing. While we can’t reveal any details just yet, rest assured and keep an eye on our forum for updates—you won’t want to miss what’s coming next!
A Heartfelt Thank You
None of this would be possible without our incredible team. We may be small, but we’re a mighty, close-knit bunch where everyone’s voice counts (and sometimes debates get lively!). It’s that mix of collaboration and creativity that makes Bear what it is today.
And of course, a huge thank-you to you, our amazing users. Your support, feedback, and belief in us have kept us going through every high and low over the past 8 years. The best way we can express our gratitude is by continuing to make Bear a reliable place where you can freely write and capture your life—a true happy place for your thoughts.
Happy Birthday, Bear!
Happy birthday, our little Bear! The past eight years have been an incredible journey, but we’re far from done. Thank you for being part of Bear’s story—here’s to many more years of happily writing, creating, and growing together!
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