A penny S-Pen stylus for Galaxy note. The difference between stylus for Galaxy Note, Surface Pro and iPad Pro
The luxurious Galaxy Note 4 phablet with the S Pen was able to bypass its “brothers” from the Note line in popularity. Frankly, this device has exactly the functionality that we expected from Note series devices, plus a few new features. The settings and tips below will help you get the most out of the S Pen on your Galaxy Note 4.
Basically, the S Pen can do everything your finger can do when navigating this phablet's display, including working with apps and composing messages and emails. However, the stylus is not limited to the shortcomings of our frail human bodies. When you pull it out of its slot, you may notice not only its sensitive rubber tip, but also its clickable button. We certainly don't see such things on our fingers.
The functional stylus tip and button are central to the highly advanced features of this device, but let's not forget about induction technology. The weak magnetic field emitted by the Note 4 fuels the S Pen with power, and this field makes this stylus more precise and more advanced than a conventional passive capacitive stylus.
S Pen settings
The first step to getting the most out of your stylus is setting it right. Finding them is easy enough: you just need to go to the Settings menu and find the S Pen subsection there. We'll discuss some of the basic settings later in this article, but for now, here's a quick list of how certain options affect the use of your pen.
- Pointer - serves to display or not display a visible pointer on the display when using the stylus;
- Direct Pen Input - when enabled, allows the stylus to make handwriting input;
- Disable stylus detection - to disable stylus detection during storage and removal to save battery power;
- S Pen sounds - turn on or off beeps when you insert or remove the stylus from the slot.
- S Pen Vibration Response - enable / disable the haptic (vibration) response when using the stylus;
- Split Options - choose whether to launch the Action Memo, Air Command (or none of them) when removing the pen from the nest;
- Add / remove sound - select a sound signal when inserting / removing the S Pen (the "S Pen Sounds" option must be enabled);
- Add / remove vibration - toggle the tactile response when removing or replacing the stylus in the phablet socket;
Again, the above settings do not cover all the options in the S Pen settings submenu. So it's time to talk about a few key features of an electronic pen.
Never lose your stylus
The S Pen can be conveniently stored right in the Galaxy Note 4's body, but the stylus itself is quite compact and easy to lose. To avoid such a situation, you need to check the "S Pen alert" item in the stylus settings.
When you turn on the alert, your phablet will notify you in case you left the stylus somewhere and began to leave without it. In our opinion, this function must be enabled - it will save you a headache if you have to look for a replacement for a stylus you lost somewhere on the road.
Air View
Air View can be called the main function of the S Pen. If Air View isn't available, you won't be able to take advantage of what makes the Note 4 and its electronic pen virtually unique. You can enable this feature in the S Pen settings.
Air View takes advantage of magnetic induction technology, which acts as a battery for the stylus and allows the phablet to track the cursor and stylus actions without touching the display. If you have Air View and S Pen enabled, you can quickly demonstrate this by holding the pen a few millimeters above the display and making a circular motion. The pointer on the screen will follow the tip of the stylus, even if it is not touching the screen.
One of the areas of application of the Air View function is the category of SMS messages: if you hover the tip of the stylus over an open message, you can see its full text. Other features will be discussed later in our article.
Air command
Air Command provides quick access to common functions that are available with the stylus. You can also enable Air Command through the S Pen settings. This option can be accessed from any window by bringing the stylus to the display and pressing the button on its body.
4 options included with Air Command:
Action Memo
This option allows you to open a Memo Pad to enter small notes and information such as phone numbers, email addresses, and web addresses. Pressing an active button (dotted circle with an arrow) allows the written text to activate certain actions, for example, a phone call or a transition to a website. You can also easily pin this memo pad to your home screen by clicking on the corresponding icon.
Smart Select
This option allows you to quickly select any fragment of the screen and save it as a picture in the clipboard for sharing or saving to a digital photo album. To do this, circle the desired area of \u200b\u200bthe screen with a stylus in the form of a square. You can collect multiple images by clicking the Collect button and using Smart Select again to select and capture another image.
Image Clip
Image Clip is somewhat similar to the previous option. With it, you can select a more detailed area of \u200b\u200bthe screen using the S Pen. You can also choose a specific shape of the plot outline, for example, a circle or a square. The cut images can be stored in your digital photo album, where relevant information can be added to them.
Screen Write
This option allows you to take a screenshot of the entire screen and immediately add the appropriate annotations. You have several options for changing the style and color of stylus input, which gives you the ability to write various labels on images copied from the Internet, as well as perform other actions.
Using the S Pen to surf the web
The stylus in question works quite functionally with many applications from Samsung, for example, with a browser. Using the pen to surf the web makes it easy to scroll through web pages or copy and paste text for sharing.
Scrolling website pages
To scroll a web page with the stylus, bring it up to the screen and move it to the top or bottom edge to scroll the page up or down, respectively. A small arrow will appear to show the direction of scrolling. You will probably need to hold the tip of the stylus at the edge of the screen for one to two seconds for the device to accept the scroll request.
Selecting text on a web page
Managing saved photos
The S Pen also has some features to easily manage your Note 4's image gallery. With them, you can preview, select and share photos.
Aiming the stylus at shortcuts
You can quickly preview images in your gallery by hovering over them with your stylus. When the preview appears, you have access to quick shortcuts for sharing and editing. You can even call the Screen Writer function to open an image and quickly write on it.
Multi-selection in the "Gallery" section
To select multiple images in the gallery at the same time, press and hold the button on the stylus and move the tip of the stylus across the screen to draw a rectangle around the selected images. You can also add more images by repeating the above steps. You will be able to quickly share selected images, delete them, or apply other functions to them.
S Note
The S Pen stylus can show its professionalism in all its glory in an application like the S Note. This app includes many options for customizing the appearance of your pen's input, and takes full advantage of the sensitive pressure of the stylus to give your scribbles beautiful curls. If you make your own stylus settings, you can keep them preset for quick recall.
Editing text from photos
Using the S Note application, you can take a photo of a page with text, and then use the stylus to convert such a photo into an editable one. Note that the pen is good at recognizing texts, but if you need to edit several of these photos, it will not be an easy job. It might be more useful to use S Pen settings, such as a highlighter to highlight important information and write notes.
Handwritten keyboard
In many text fields throughout the Note 4's interface, users can use the stylus to enter handwritten characters. When you turn on the Direct Input option in the menu settings, when you hover the stylus over the text field, look for the 'T' icon with a pen. Tap on it to activate the handwritten keyboard, which will help you convert your handwriting to digital for use in email, SMS, and even to go online.
Copy text to memo
When you have entered text in the form field, find the above icon again. When you click on it, the printed text will be converted into fake handwritten text, and such text will be saved as an editable memo.
I have 2 Galaxy N8000 tablets for work and p605 for home. At work, I constantly use a stylus and am afraid to lose it. So I decided to buy a spare, and at the same time be more comfortable.
What's wrong with the stylus on the N8000? It is rectangular in cross-section, it is not convenient to hold it, and no matter how I take it, I constantly touch the function button. But I really liked the stylus of the 600 series models. stylus 600x and N8000 are compatible, I decided to buy a cheap replica.
I'll make a reservation right away, I bought it for a long time (more than a year ago, maybe something has changed for the better).
My long-awaited stylus arrived and immediately upset me. It worked, wrote, responded to pressing and pressing a button, but the stylus tip was shamelessly recessed into the body, almost flush. It was impossible to write that way.
First of all, I tried to get the tip to change it to a branded one from the spare. But he did not get into any. Then I tried to cut the case to see what was inside and change the tip in a more radical way, but the case turned out to be made of very durable plastic. As a result, I just broke it.
Because there was no way back, I decided to break the stylus and figure out what's what.
The Chinese clone turned out to be arranged differently. The tip rested on a kind of button that has a small stroke. The harder you press - the more the degree of pressure.
(the original does not have this). In principle, the approach has some advantages in the form of tactile feedback, so you should not scold the Chinese for this.
I looked at the fragments of the stylus and then it dawned on me. I glue a piece of the original dowel from my own stylus to the button (thanks to the Samsung for the spare). I take my old pen, insert it inside ... (I had to slightly expand the hole for the rod). With a piece of wire I fix this whole liver inside the handle body and VOIL! 
Ergonomic, round stylus with tactile feedback. It completely replaces the native one. 
But there are also disadvantages. I am using a non-original case. And in places where there are magnets in the lid, the new stylus does not work well. The original stylus does not suffer from this.
Well, I had to sacrifice a function button. It is long and dreary to bring it to the pen body.
The bottom line. I do not advise anyone to save on original styluses. All this crap isn't worth the time. But the homemade stylus turned out to be convenient. It's a pleasure to write.
I plan to buy +2 Add to favourites Review liked +12 +20Last update:
2 months ago
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All modern smartphones today are so similar to each other that often the choice of a new gadget is based solely on which brand the buyer prefers.
At the same time, Samsung has managed to create a Galaxy Note smartphone that offers truly unique functionality in the form of pen S Pen.
There remains only one question - is it really necessary for someone today? After all, the era of styluses has sunk into oblivion along with the PDA and handhelds, leaving the modern Galaxy Note 9 () in splendid isolation. What's so interesting about this little pen? Let's figure it out.
Pocket notebook with pen
Pocket notebooks with a pen have long gone out of fashion, although some are still used because of their convenience. When you need to quickly write down something or draw schematically, using a smartphone for this is not as convenient as we would like. After unlocking the device, launch the application (if the application is functional, then it will take some time to launch), then add a new note and only after that we type the text. And if you need to quickly sketch something else, then everything becomes even more inconvenient and time-consuming.
With Galaxy Note 9 ( almost everything that will be said later can be done on previous Note series smartphones) you just need to get the pen out of your smartphone and write / draw anything on the screen. You don't even need to unlock your device or turn on the screen:
For example, I often use this mode when a child comes up with a request to explain something, say, in math. You don't always have a piece of paper and a pen at hand, but getting a pen and drawing a rectangle right on the switched off phone - what could be easier?
Many people also use this feature to quickly jot down a shopping list before going to the store. Or write something down during a call (you just need to transfer the call to the speakerphone, take out the pen and instantly create a note).
The convenience is that you don't need to open, load or save anything. They took the smartphone in hand, pulled out the pen, wrote something on the off screen, put the pen back into the smartphone. The drawn note automatically disappeared from the screen and was saved. You can then open the Samsung Notes app and view any notes you have taken previously.
Reading text in foreign languages
What does a pen have to do with reading, you ask? It doesn't matter if you are reading a book or an article on the Internet in a foreign language, it will be much more convenient to do it with the S-Pen (this is what the pen / stylus is called in the Galaxy Note 9 smartphone). All you need to do is, without touching the screen, hover the stylus pointer over an unfamiliar word (or even a paragraph of text) and the translation will be displayed in a pop-up window:
Moreover, you can translate any text that is displayed on the screen, even if it is an interface element (an inscription on a button, a menu item) or text on picture... For people learning a foreign language, you can hardly think of a more convenient way of translation.
Copy text
This is such a useful feature that it is worth mentioning as a separate item. Yes, you can copy text on any smartphone, but there are many cases when everything is not so simple. For example, you received a message in which you need to select and save only a certain part (say, the number of the contract, or the card for payment). But, the application allows you to copy only the entire message in its entirety, and not its individual parts. With the S-Pen, it is enough to hold down the side button on the pen and drag it over the desired part of the text - and it has already been copied:
As in the case of translation, you can copy any text, even if Android does not allow it (for example, by holding the button, you can drag the pen over the name of the menu item in the phone settings and this text will be copied).
Working with the image on the screen
Thanks to the S Pen, you can very easily take a screenshot by adding your annotations (for example, highlight a page with products in an online store and circle specific products with a pen):
A whole world for creative people
The S Pen and PenUp app included with your Galaxy Note give you incredible creative possibilities. PenUp is not just a "drawing", it is a whole social network in which hundreds of thousands of registered members share their work and evaluate the work of others.
The application allows you to draw pictures of any level of complexity, there are many tools for the artist (all sorts of brushes, paints, markers, pencils):
It’s so addictive that you don’t notice the hours fly by. And also, every 15 days in this application there are contests for the best drawing on a given topic, after which the results are summed up and the winners are determined (10 people). So if you love drawing, you will definitely not be bored with Note!
Pen as an anti-stress
Have you ever heard of antistress coloring pages? This product appeared in 2010 and very quickly became popular all over the world. A distinctive feature of such coloring pages for adults is the presence of small details and intricate patterns. Their main purpose is relieve stress and fatigue, reduce anxiety.
The principle of action of anti-stress coloring pages is very simple: while painting small details, a person concentrates on monotonous work, completely immersing himself in the process, enters a state comparable to meditation, during which thoughts are turned off and a feeling of calmness and tranquility appears.
Despite its simplicity, this process is creative and therefore very fun. But what does the S Pen have to do with this? The most direct! The PenUp application contains a whole section of coloring pages, which is also regularly updated. And the result of your creativity can be appreciated by other users around the world. And all this is available completely free of charge, which is a very nice bonus.
Here is an example of such coloring:
By the way, the S-Pen can replace another anti-stress tool - a regular fountain pen with a button. According to psychologists, the vast majority of people enjoy flicking the pen button, as it also relieves tension and stress. The S Pen has exactly the same mechanism!
Filling in and signing documents
If you have to fill out PDF documents for work, the Galaxy Note 9 no longer has to print, fill out by hand, and then scan again to email or save to your computer. You can fill out documents with the S-Pen on your smartphone screen and instantly save the result as PDF!
Additional non-useful pen functions
We've talked about the main scenarios for using the S Pen. If everything that was said earlier is not interesting or necessary for you, then there is no point in overpaying for all this functionality and buying Note 9. If you liked what the S-Pen has to offer, then here are a few other features that you are unlikely to use regularly:
- Pen wireless functions... The S-Pen in the Galaxy Note 9 is equipped with a bluetooth module, which means it can be used as a remote control (switching music tracks, stopping and playing movies or videos on Youtube). You can also use the pen to control the camera (take a photo by pressing the button on the S Pen). Naturally, bluetooth functions require power, which means the pen needs to be charged. This is very easy to do - just insert the stylus into your smartphone. From 0% to 100%, the pen is charged in 40 seconds and this charge is enough for half an hour of battery life.
- Magnifying glass mode... Yes, the pen can be used as a magnifying glass - point at any part of the screen (without touching it) and this part is displayed enlarged several times.
- Producing a presentation... If you set up the broadcast of the screen from the Note 9 to the projector, then the slides in the Powerpoint presentation can be switched using the stylus.
- Colorful messages... Quite a fun function that you can play enough in one go and then never use it again. Its essence is to create short animations (when each stroke of the pen is accompanied by some kind of effect) and send these short videos in messages.
- Bixby Vision... Point the S-Pen at the picture and the smartphone tries to find similar pictures, or determine what is shown here. If you hover over a QR code, your smartphone will decrypt it.
You can also use the stylus to enter handwritten text and the Galaxy Note will instantly recognize it. But, in everyday life, it is much more convenient and faster to type on the keyboard.
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For months, there have been rumors that the new S Pen will be awesome. It was rumored that it will receive its own battery and will connect to Samsung Note 9 using Bluetooth. A natural question arises: "Why?" After all, the branded stylus for many years did well without all these things and remained one of the best on the market.
Apparently, all this is needed to implement new functions. But which ones?
Today Samsung has created a bombshell effect by showcasing its high-tech innovation. And finally, users have information regarding what the new S Pen can do.
Play multimedia
Now the S Pen will become something like a smartphone's multimedia control panel. For example, pressing the button once will start the player or pause the playing track. Double - will jump to the next song in your playlist.
Remote camera control
You can now use the button on the S Pen to take a photo. Just position the Note 9 in a convenient place, grab the stylus and take a selfie. Note that the latter works at a distance of up to 10 m from the smartphone.
Swiping images
The S Pen can now serve as a high-tech pointer. With it, you can flip through photos in the gallery or slides on a large screen, for example, during a presentation. Pressing once means forward, twice - backward.
Built-in battery
Since the S Pen is now a Bluetooth device, it requires a power source. But instead of using a regular battery, Samsung has equipped the stylus with a battery known as a supercapacitor.
This solution has many advantages. Firstly, unlike conventional Li-Ion batteries, which lose their properties over time and become unusable after a few years, a supercapacitor is capable of working properly for 10 years.
Second, supercapacitors charge much faster than traditional batteries.
And it's not over yet
While these were all the features Samsung demonstrated, the company is known to be working with a development team. This will improve the usability of the S Pen when working with third-party applications.
Samsung will also release an SDK soon, making it possible for any developer to use the S Pen in their own programs.
Yesterday Apple introduced its first tablet with a stylus, before that Microsoft did the same, and even earlier, Samsung began to produce devices with stylus. Let's see how some styluses differ from others.
Galaxy Note
S-Pen styluses for Samsung smartphones and tablets are manufactured by Wacom. They have a rather complex electronic filling, but, despite this, they are passive, that is, they do not require power from electricity. How is this possible?
In the design of the S-Pen stylus, you can find an inductor and an oscillating circuit with a variable resonant frequency. A receiver is built into the screen of Galaxy Note tablets and smartphones, which reacts to changes in the inductance in the stylus coil, depending on the force of pressing the tip to the surface.
The "fourth generation" S-Pen stylus used in the Galaxy Note 5 is the most advanced. It can emulate gestures, and you can draw with it even on the screen off, and when you push the stylus back into the smartphone, the note is saved automatically. The stylus from the original Galaxy Note perceived pressing with 256 gradations of force, in the Galaxy Note 2 and 3 the number of gradations was increased to 1024, and in the Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note 5 it doubled - to 2048.
Samsung does not sell stylus separately; they are included as standard on Galaxy Note devices.
Surface Pro
The Surface Pro stylus is active - powered by an AAAA battery and communicates with the tablet via Bluetooth.
Designed specifically for Surface Pro tablets, this stylus has three additional buttons - to erase what you've written or drawn, to simulate a right-click, and to launch OneNote or save a screenshot. The stylus sensitivity is adjusted via a special application.
The stylus for the Surface Pro is manufactured by N-trig, which was acquired by Microsoft last winter. The first two generations of Surface pens supported 1,024 gradations, but the Surface Pro 3 uses a 256-step pen. Even that is more than enough for professional artists and designers, according to Microsoft.
The stylus is included as standard on Surface Pro tablets, but it's also sold separately on Microsoft's site for $ 50.
iPad Pro
The Apple Pencil for iPad Pro is battery powered and charges via the Lightning port. One charge lasts for 12 hours with it.
Apple does not disclose either the manufacturer of this stylus, nor its technical parameters (such as the number of pressure gradations), apparently believing that ordinary consumers do not need to go into such subtleties. It is enough to watch the video, which shows what masterpieces can be created with this stylus, and look at its tip in section.
It looks really nice, much better than any capacitors, coils and AAAA batteries. It looks a bit like an expensive fountain pen.
The Apple Pencil is not included with the iPad Pro and is available for purchase separately for $ 99.
As you can see, companies have a completely different approach. Samsung pens are provided free of charge to Galaxy Note users and are compatible with all devices that work with Wacom products. Microsoft has created a proprietary stylus and is giving it to customers of its tablets, and Apple is back in its repertoire - its stylus must be purchased separately and is not compatible with anything other than the iPad Pro.
