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Navigating with the stylus

dylane

Well-Known Member
Oct 22, 2010
221
13
The main reason I'm considering a GN2 is for the stylus support. I really like the idea of using it for hand written notes and the like, but my main reason is I want to use it as the primary way I interact with the device rather than having to use my finger (which never seems to get picked up reliably on capacitive screens).

So I wanted to get your feedback on how well this works. Is it comfortable to use the stylus for navigating the UI? Does it work well to use the vkb with the stylus? Can I still use Swype?
 
Hi

I find it works with everything fine, including the sliding on the samsung keyboard (don't have swype). You can't select menu or back with it but there are onscreen stylus shortcuts for those specific actions. The home button needs a physical press from a finger. I tend to use it for everything if its already out (for writing etc) and my finger if its not. It is good to use for the 'hover preview' and image cut/selection which works in all sorts of apps.

Roger
 
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Thanks! That's very good to know. I've read some things (like Note application automatically opening when you remove the stylus) that led me to think it wasn't intended to be used for navigating the UI, and was afraid to find out that some things wouldn't work, or wouldn't work well. I don't mind using fingers for physical/capacitive buttons, but prefer to use the stylus for most everything else (unless I'm in a situation where I really need to use one handed).
 
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Thanks! That's very good to know. I've read some things (like Note application automatically opening when you remove the stylus) that led me to think it wasn't intended to be used for navigating the UI, and was afraid to find out that some things wouldn't work, or wouldn't work well. I don't mind using fingers for physical/capacitive buttons, but prefer to use the stylus for most everything else (unless I'm in a situation where I really need to use one handed).
You can enable or disable this feature in the page buddy settings in the menu
 
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With my GN1 I'd say I used the S-Pen about 30% of the time, with this, it's more like 80%. The only time I use my fingers now is when I'm using my phone briefly and usually while on the move. If I'm note-taking or planning on using the phone for more than a minute, the S-Pen almost always comes out.

I find it perfectly comfortable for all operations. It navigates perfectly well and is superior to a finger in almost every way. It has the button for extra functionality, has air view for additional information and using it keeps my screen squeaky clean, fingerprint and smudge free. Also I find that when navigating menu's etc, the S-Pen glides across the screen far better than a finger.

To summarise with the G-Note 1, fingers were the norm and the S-Pen was optional... with this, your fingers are optional, the S-Pen is the norm.
 
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You can enable or disable this feature in the page buddy settings in the menu

I figured it could probably be disabled, but I just was wondering if it was an indication of a larger design case, that the s-pen was designed with writing in mind, and so other uses suffered.

But, based on the posts here it seems that it works just fine using the s-pen for most things.


With my GN1 I'd say I used the S-Pen about 30% of the time, with this, it's more like 80%. The only time I use my fingers now is when I'm using my phone briefly and usually while on the move. If I'm note-taking or planning on using the phone for more than a minute, the S-Pen almost always comes out.

I find it perfectly comfortable for all operations. It navigates perfectly well and is superior to a finger in almost every way. It has the button for extra functionality, has air view for additional information and using it keeps my screen squeaky clean, fingerprint and smudge free. Also I find that when navigating menu's etc, the S-Pen glides across the screen far better than a finger.

To summarise with the G-Note 1, fingers were the norm and the S-Pen was optional... with this, your fingers are optional, the S-Pen is the norm

This is pretty much how I imagine I'd use the GN2. Fingers if I'm just picking it up to check something quickly or when I only have one hand on the train, s-pen the rest of the time.
 
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It is possible to get the Google Nexus style soft touch buttons in Note 2 by modifying a file after rooting. However because of the extra space taken by the black bar having these soft touch buttons at the bottom, there will be some UI issues like the top row in a list getting cut off etc.

If anyone is still interested, I can post a link about this.

Just throwing this out there.....why would someone rather loose screen real estate just for some on screen buttons?
Doesn't that defeat the purpose of having a 5.5" screen?

I'm just one of those people if I wanted the Nexus look I would've gotten a Nexus.
 
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Navigation with the stylus works - like everyone else confirms - great! And I don't really see the issue with not beeing able to press the capacitive buttons with the pen - i just press them with my finger while holding the pen. The home-button can also be pressed with the pen.

The only downside with the pen is that it doesn't work that good when you have a sharp angle. Having the pen in your left hand, and trying to press something on the right side of the screen can prove difficult, as you have to either press harder than usual (to get the tip to push down) or move your hand to further to the right (you hand will be on top of the device - although this is not a problem, because you cant press the screen with your hand/fingers if the pen is detected on the screen).

I've actually used my pen so much that the tip fell off! I can still use the pen, but i have to align the pen 90 degrees over the screen pressing directly down to get it to work. I've already bought a new pen which is on the way!

EDIT: Can someone explain to me what "swyping" is? I know it's an app for easier writing, but do you actually swipe while writing? Also, I haven't found this Samsung-swype...
 
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Does anyone have the s-pen with eraser and is it worth getting? thanks.

Don't have it and don't really see the point. I don't think it fits in the S-Pen slot for one, and when using S-Note, if you want to erase, simply bring the pen a millimetre off the screen and press the button. This will switch between pen and eraser modes quickly and easily.
 
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