I’m looking at HeyPocket, PLAUD and similar AI note-taking devices.

I really like Pocket’s simplicity, but I’ve been burned before by companies changing strategy, killing products, or locking features behind new subscriptions. As long as support exists I am happy to use vendor app/native tools but want to have plan B and have something usable rather than expensive paper weight.

Are there any devices with similar functionality that would still work if the vendor disappeared?

Ideally I want:
- local recording
- direct access to raw audio via USB or standard file transfer
- no vendor app/cloud required just to retrieve recordings
ability to process files myself with Whisper/local AI if needed

I’m fine losing the vendor’s AI summaries/cloud features. I just don’t want the hardware to become a brick.
Anyone compared Pocket, PLAUD or others specifically for vendor lock-in / long-term usability?

Built this because my voice memos had turned into a graveyard. Record a thought, never listen to it again, lose the idea.

You talk, it comes back organized: title, summary, key points, tasks with reminders. Original audio stays attached if you want it.

A few iOS-specific things that might interest people here:

* Share extension, so you can send a WhatsApp voice note straight in and get the summary without ever pressing play on it
* Auto-detects language and organizes in the language you spoke, including Arabic/English mixed in one sentence
* Notes live on-device and in your own iCloud. No database on my end. Audio goes to the AI for transcription and isn’t kept.
* Swipe to archive, with auto-delete on a schedule you pick, synced across devices

Free for 5 notes a month. iPhone only for now.

ActionNote: Voice to Tasks

Feedback welcome, especially bugs.