Installing the PWA
Talk App is a Progressive Web App (PWA). This means it runs entirely on your device, offering a fast, native app experience without needing an app store.
How to Install
- iOS (iPhone/iPad): Open the app in Safari. Tap the Share icon at the bottom, scroll down, and tap "Add to Home Screen".
- Android: Open the app in Chrome. Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right, and select "Install App" or "Add to Home screen".
- Desktop: Open the app in Chrome or Edge. Look for the install icon (a screen with a down arrow) in the right side of the address bar.
Why Install to Home Screen?
Running Talk App from a standard web browser (like just leaving it open in a Safari tab) puts your data at risk. Mobile browsers routinely clear their cache and temporary website storage to free up space. If you run the app from a browser tab, your saved talks may randomly disappear.
Benefits of Home Screen Installation:
- Persistent Storage: Installing the app signals to your device that this is a permanent application, preventing the automatic deletion of your database.
- Offline Use: The app functions completely without an internet connection.
- Full Screen: Removes the browser URL bar for a distraction-free writing environment.
Managing Talks & Formatting
Managing Your Talks
- Adding Talks: Use the "+" button in the directory to create a new, blank talk.
- Editing Talks: Tap on any talk to view it. Tap the edit icon to enter Edit Mode. Your changes are automatically saved as you type.
- Deleting Talks: Long-press (tap and hold) on a talk in your list to open the options menu, where you can select Delete or Pin.
Markdown Formatting
Talk App uses custom Markdown to quickly format your outlines and insert interactive elements. Use the following syntax in Edit Mode:
- Headers: Use # for large headers, ## for medium, and ### for small headers.
- Bold & Italic: Use **bold text** and *italic text*.
- Lists: Use a dash - Item or a number 1. Item at the start of a line.
- Color Formatting: Highlight text by using the format ==color: Your Text==. Supported colors include red, green, blue, and purple. For a standard yellow highlight, just use ==Your Text==.
- Interactive Buttons: Create tap-able popups (perfect for scriptures or reference quotes) using the syntax: {Button Title}(The hidden text that pops up).
Advanced Features: Sharing & AI
Share Talk Feature
You can securely transfer a talk to another Talk App user. When you tap "Share Talk", the app generates a unique 6-digit code.
Security of Transfer: The talk data is temporarily encrypted and pushed to the Talk App server. The receiving user types in the 6-digit code in the "Restore/Transfer" menu to download it. For your security, this temporary file is automatically and permanently deleted from the server after 1 hour.
Gemini AI Integration
Talk App features a built-in AI assistant powered by Google Gemini to help you summarize, rewrite, or expand on selected text. Talk App uses a "Bring Your Own Key" (BYOK) architecture to keep the app free and secure.
Setup Instructions:
- Go to Google AI Studio and log in with your Google Account.
- Click Create API Key.
- Copy the generated API Key.
- Open the Settings panel in your Talk App and paste the key into the API Key input field.
Once set up, highlight any text while in Edit Mode. The AI Assistant button will appear, allowing you to enter custom prompts to modify the selected text.
Privacy, Security, and Backups
100% Device-Local Privacy
Your talks are entirely private. Talk App stores your database securely in your device's local browser storage. We do not have a cloud server, and we do not have access to your data. Aside from the temporary 1-hour storage used specifically during a "Share Talk" transfer, your writings never leave your device.
Crucial: Manual Backups are Required!
Because there is no cloud synchronization, if you delete the app from your Home Screen, your device will instantly and permanently erase all of your talks.
If you break your phone, lose it, or upgrade to a new device, your talks will not transfer automatically.
How to Backup Your Data
To protect your hard work, you must manually export your data:
- Export Single Talk: In the talk options menu, select "Export". It will download a .json file of that specific talk to your device's Downloads folder.
- Export All (Recommended): Go to the Settings panel and use the "Export All" feature to download a zipped backup file containing your entire library.
- Restoring: Use the "Add Talk" -> "Restore from Backup" option to import your saved .json files back into the app at any time, or on a new device.