Database Users

Digital Scale Application?

I work at a nextel service center, and the other day a customer asked about the touch and told me his buddy had a digital scale application on the phone. Apparently turning the screen into a scale, dont really know if this is possible but thought I would ask here.
Thx,
Corey

dont believe so the touchscreen reg preasure or no preasure
so i dont believe it would be able to tell just how much preasure

lol what would you be measuring with said scale its weight tolerance would be very small

An app like this would rule. Especially added with clinical xpert...

MattOktaNZ said:
lol what would you be measuring with said scale its weight tolerance would be very small
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I assume something you only need a gram or two of...

there had been rumors also going around tht this was out for the treo 650 back in the day yet i was never able to find it

Ruler?
Not sure if you guys are kidding but the buddy probably meant a ruler.

I just loaded up the new android os. It has a tool that shows a graphical representaion of presure. The harder you push the number changes. I dont know how to make that into something but hey it's a great start.

DWiddowmaker said:
I work at a nextel service center, and the other day a customer asked about the touch and told me his buddy had a digital scale application on the phone. Apparently turning the screen into a scale, dont really know if this is possible but thought I would ask here.
Thx,
Corey
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you mean a scale as in a weight-measuring tool... it's possible to do so with a pressure-sensitive screen (not all touch screens are). I don't know of any commercial or freeware programs to do this, but it is technically possible.
Even if someone took the time to write the program, it might be for a single kind of phone, and it'll be totally inaccurate. A scale should always be a scientifically calibrated tool, especially for small weights.
If the customer meant a scale as in a ruler, yeah, there's a freeware app or two that does that. Some people do say 'scale' instead of 'ruler'. Here's three to choose from:
http://freewareppc.com/misc/pocketruler.shtml
http://freewareppc.com/misc/ruler.shtml
http://freewareppc.com/misc/pruler.shtml
Finally, I suspect that your customer witnessed some sort of weird technical demonstration software for a pressure-sensitive screen OR they witnessed a hoax similar to this http://freewareppc.com/misc/xray.shtml .

We obviously have pressure-sensitive touch screens in our Vogues... if you push with your fingernail, (making a smaller touch footprint,) you can select text... if you use your fingertip, it moves the whole screen... try it in PIE

ScrapMaker said:
We obviously have pressure-sensitive touch screens in our Vogues... if you push with your fingernail, (making a smaller touch footprint,) you can select text... if you use your fingertip, it moves the whole screen... try it in PIE
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thats because the actual digitizer grid that enables the touch can sense whether the area being pressed is small or large - this is not based on how much pressure is applied.

bomb_one said:
thats because the actual digitizer grid that enables the touch can sense whether the area being pressed is small or large - this is not based on how much pressure is applied.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, you beat me to that one.

Pressure touch screen
However all you'd need to do is have a device that will translate pressure into surface area, something like a rubber thumb may be effective, the more weight the larger circle it "creates" on the touch screen, then scan the touch screen to see the current number of pixels being touched and translate that back to weight.
I imagine McGyver could do this with a paper clip ;-)

sundance.65 said:
However all you'd need to do is have a device that will translate pressure into surface area, something like a rubber thumb may be effective, the more weight the larger circle it "creates" on the touch screen, then scan the touch screen to see the current number of pixels being touched and translate that back to weight.
I imagine McGyver could do this with a paper clip ;-)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Clever. I've seen that concept used before, but I'm not exactly sure where. It'd work, but accuracy would be an issue.

If someone can make this app, that would be awesome! Then I could do away with the scale in my bathroom, and weigh myself on my Touch, WTF?!

TheChampJT said:
If someone can make this app, that would be awesome! Then I could do away with the scale in my bathroom, and weigh myself on my Touch, WTF?!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WOW! Thanks for the pointless post. If you dont understand the conversation then dont waste our time with your obviously simple narrow minded thoughts. You need to get out more.
It's to weigh things that only weigh a gram or so.

bryceschutte said:
WOW! Thanks for the pointless post. If you dont understand the conversation then dont waste our time with your obviously simple narrow minded thoughts. You need to get out more.
It's to weigh things that only weigh a gram or so.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry if I'm one of the many people that see using a PPC to weigh your drugs is the goofiest thing ever heard of !

By design the touch screen is a digital device, it measures on or off. It doesn't measure pressure.
If you want something precise there are many scales that use a serial port, all you'd need to do is interface the scale with bluetooth, there are probably some lab scales available that use bluetooth, haven't found from a quick search though.

it sounds like it would be near imposible to make it work
as the expanding rubber would have to be heavy enough
to activate the screen without any extra weight on and still expand
enough for preasure size to be measured without adding
more weight then the screen could handle without breaking

The thread is quite old but I think the original request is for scale rulers. i.e. for engineer to read an engineering drawings. Most plans are print out at an exact scale and it is a hassle to find the correct ruler for a particular scale. To have an app that can display a ruler at the edge of the screen at a particular scale saves a lot of time for an engineer to estimate a distance based on the drawing he's refering to.

A43 touch screen

I got an A43 in part because it's got a resistive touchscreen so I can use it with an ordinary stylus (for instance, I am developing an astronomy app and want to be able to select individual objects on screen from a crowded field without any zooming, just as I can on my Palm). However, I've found that the A43 has the same problem with its resistive touchscreen that my Palm TX does: sometimes, when a touch is released, it registers a largish (0.25 to 0.5 inch) movement. This causes problems--it makes button presses in on-screen keyboards get registered in the wrong location.
Anybody else notice this?
On the Palm TX, the user community eventually figured out what the problem was and a third-party vendors manufactured a hardware solution. The problem was that Palm skimped and made a substandard plastic digitizer, which made it distort on release. The solution was that someone manufactured replacement glass digitizers you could install (you can still buy them for about $25) and those who got them were quite happy with them.
My A43 has a plastic screen, and not a very hard one at that. (My Clie stylus would scratch it lightly, so I had to switch to a softer-tip HTC stylus.)
With a good quality resistive touchscreen, it would be worth my while to put some effort into modifying AnySoftKeyboard to support sweeping a stylus through hexagonal keys in an an ATOMIK layout, with all the ASCII symbols available together, like in my PalmOS myKbd app, even if I end up being the only user (I get the feeling a lot of people don't like using a stylus).

not sure what to say about this, besides the fact that my current screen (Archos 43) is annoying because it doesn't allow me play emulators that require multitouch, pewpew, etc. (not that pewpew is a good game anyway). I kind of like the stylus because it feels more ergonomic than rubbing my fingers all over the screen, but I do have the same issues. I typically use Swype or Smart Keyboard Pro because Swype is _the best_ at predicting even if you swyping half-asleep texting your friend for no reason. Smart keyboard pro lets you configure swipe gestures to switch between regular keyboard w/ suggestions, arrow keypad+space (for time-wasting flash games), compact (two letters in one key), and T9, like an older phone's crap keyboard but with really nice prediction. Overall, I can't complain because my Archos has twice the features (camera, android, external speaker) of my older media device, for about the same cost ($230), even though it doesn't have a sexy AMOLED screen and days of battery life (still pretty nice though, and it doesn't feel so flimsy).
brb need to rewrite the past 10 minutes of this post, not sure why i'm talking about this
also, I use my nintendo ds lite stylus just because it works and I made a scotch-tape holster on the back of my Archos so I wouldn't use the black piece of cheap plastic. ಠ_ಠ

I sent my A43 back for RMA, and the one I got back is amazingly better. I can actually type with my thumbs on the on-screen keyboard. On the old one, even if I used a stylus, I'd get spurious keystrokes, sometimes even on keys that aren't next to the one I was pressing. I still get that on the new one, but less often.
Maybe it's because I'm keeping the screen protector on?
I also wonder if the issue isn't that a stylus is actually bad for these screens?

This is completely off topic but it's great to see you here Pruss. You greatly enhanced the Palm experience. I'm sure you will be a great asset to the Android community.

Neo Cortex said:
This is completely off topic but it's great to see you here Pruss. You greatly enhanced the Palm experience. I'm sure you will be a great asset to the Android community.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have much less time than I did when I was involved PalmOS. But I've made a few simple apps (you can search the market for "Omega Centauri"), and am planning an astronomy app.

explaining how the sPen tech works (and is very diff than other styluses)

Many folks I communicate with keep assuming the Note's sPen is just another phone stylus ( or maybe a slightly tweeked one). In trying to explain the huge difference, and finding that none of the major reviews do it reasonably, I did some fact finding to help explain it (and why it is special) compared to a capacitive stylus. Thought other folks would like the details. Please reply with a more concise explanation if you have it. -steveblue
Briefly:
The Note has a Wacom dual digitizer, a first in a mainstream smartphone. That means is supports both capacitive multi-touch and active pen input from a precise EMR digital pen and a digitizer layer under the screen. Wacom is the world leader in pen based computer technologies and first developed this technology for Tablet PCs for very accurate handwriting level pen use that works with touch displays.
Details:
Almost all other phone styluses are just capacitive and therefore no more accurate than your finger. The Galaxy Note's active pen uses Wacom's EMR patented technology. EMR which stands for Electo-Magnetic Resonance, which requires no internal power to generate a signal on the pen-side that enables the pen coordinates on or above the screen to be detected (the display provides the power rather than the pen). The Note's screen surface incorporates a sensor board that detects the pen's movement. Weak energy is induced in the pen's resonant circuit by a magnetic field generated by the sensor board surface. The pen's resonant circuit then makes use of this energy to return a magnetic signal to the sensor board surface. The digitizer board under the screen detects information on the pen's coordinate position and angle, as well as on its general operating condition including speed and writing pressure, etc.
With EMR Technology, the sensor unit is installed behind the display screen. Because the sensor does not cover the front of the display, the quality and brightness of the displayed image are not compromised.
Wacom's sensors are high precision and high resolution, which together make it possible to detect even small hand-written letters. The sensor traces the movement of the human hand and reproduces such "human" elements as the feel, force and ambivalence of the pen tip.
The dual capacitive multi-touch and EMR active pen technology is called Wacom Feel It and was developed and honed over 2 years on major ( HP, ...) Tablet PCs. The Galaxy Note is the first use in a smart phone.
References ( and more info):
As a somewhat new user I can't put links in - message me for a full set of refs or google 'wacom emr' and 'wacom Feel It'. Note you'll get a llot of PR page but their will be technology details too.
-steveblue
dipaola.org

Your effort here deserves appreciation

Thanks for providing this useful information.

Thanks for very useful information,
Does display shield (Protect Cover) reduces the accuracy of S Pen...??

steveblue said:
Briefly:
The Note has a Wacom dual digitizer, a first in a mainstream smartphone. That means is supports both capacitive multi-touch and active pen input from a precise EMR digital pen and a digitizer layer under the screen. Wacom is the world leader in pen based computer technologies and first developed this technology for Tablet PCs for very accurate handwriting level pen use that works with touch displays.
-steveblue
dipaola.org
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are u sure S pen can be use on other capacitive screen? I try this S pen on my htc sensation & it did not function at all
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA App

The original statement does not mean you can use the sPen with other phones, it means on the Note there is a dual technology employed : 1) capacitive and 2) digital EMR. Sorry for the confusion.
-steveblue

Thanks steveblue. Nicely explained.

ranjan.alva said:
Does display shield (Protect Cover) reduces the accuracy of S Pen...??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also wanting to know this, from the OP description...seems material between the S-Pen and the screen would cause issues...? I've been noticing some accuracy problems since putting on the SGP screen protector...

The lots of wacom pens came in handy after all....
Even my good ol'Gateway pen is working on the Note...actually better than on the Win8...
Also, here you can read about Note's grandparents, 20 years ago ( take that Apple)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compaq_Concerto

So from what i understand the digitizer layer or some other circuit has to be powered all the time to allow the spen to be powered at any time we decide to use it, but, won't that waste away battery during the time the spen is not in use?
If it does waste away battery while the pen is not used then it would be awesome if some dev could check if that circuit could be powered off when we dun need it and only activate it when we intend to use the spen.

Elusivo said:
So from what i understand the digitizer layer or some other circuit has to be powered all the time to allow the spen to be powered at any time we decide to use it, but, won't that waste away battery during the time the spen is not in use?
If it does waste away battery while the pen is not used then it would be awesome if some dev could check if that circuit could be powered off when we dun need it and only activate it when we intend to use the spen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
either way i do believe that the power for this field is very weak, otherwise (or it may be the case as well) samsungs engineers would have built some switch (soft- or hardware (sensor if pen is out)).
but generally high resonance surface fields (as it would be the one here) wont use much power anyway, so don't worry! it's more like a sensor array which detects EM "disturbances" created by the coil of the pen. pressing the buttons on the pen (eraser also possible and working on the note, but not with stock stylus) just alters this disturbance by shortening some wires of the coil and therefore generate a characteristic "fingerprint".

Thanks for this post.
This may sound really simple, but is there some method employed to stop ones hand from activating the screen when you write?
I really want this technology, particularly for the note-taking feature, but I am concerned that if I write 'normally' my hand will continuously activate the screen which will ultimately mean that I will have to hold the s-pen in a really uncomfortable fashion sort of like I was holding a chopstick to use it?

Thats friggin amazing, seriously I was really curious to find out how the spen actually worked, and its something out of a sci fi movie. for this tech the device should be way more expensive. spen rocks

NotSellingHats said:
Thanks for this post.
This may sound really simple, but is there some method employed to stop ones hand from activating the screen when you write?
I really want this technology, particularly for the note-taking feature, but I am concerned that if I write 'normally' my hand will continuously activate the screen which will ultimately mean that I will have to hold the s-pen in a really uncomfortable fashion sort of like I was holding a chopstick to use it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In S-memo settings there is an option to tell the screen only to recognise edits made with the s-pen.
Hope that helps.

NotSellingHats said:
Thanks for this post.
This may sound really simple, but is there some method employed to stop ones hand from activating the screen when you write?
I really want this technology, particularly for the note-taking feature, but I am concerned that if I write 'normally' my hand will continuously activate the screen which will ultimately mean that I will have to hold the s-pen in a really uncomfortable fashion sort of like I was holding a chopstick to use it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most apps for writing on the Note employ what's called "palm rejection", so writing with the S pen is surprisingly natural. No awkward hand position

In rain?
Would the EMR pen work in the rain? Capacitive screens generally don't work well in rain so this would be an advantage in the field.
Great article.

Thanks for the post! I have a few questions I would like to ask the experts on this subject:
1) How does the screen calibration work? Some people say there's an auto-calibration mechanism, but in my experience, even doing some "tricks" to calibrate it, I noticed the pen is centered only in a certain angle (not necessarily what people are used to when writing).
2) If we use a capacitive stylus on a regular tablet (say, the Galaxy Tab 2), even if it has a small head, is it correct to assume it will never be as precise as the S-Pen on the Galaxy Note series (including the tab)?

> 2) If we use a capacitive stylus on a regular tablet, even if it has a small head, is it correct to assume it will never be as precise as the S-Pen on the Galaxy Note series (including the tab)?<
I can help w/ Q2: A capacitive system has low resolution - which means it only picks up a circular area of say the size of the ball of your finger tip - no after market pen will allow it to be more precise in size just in placement ( center of circle). They are working on different "plus" pen solutions ( some to get the pressure sensitive going) but again none will give you precise hit and high pressure sensitivity - not able to make more precise the circular area under the pen. The Galaxy note has that too for fast, casual and gesture based touch, but it also has this secondary WAcom created input explained in my original post in this thread, where there is a FULL DIGITZER under the surface of the display - thats what give this spen its real edge (not just the pen but the surface). So yes you are correct to say an after market capacitive based pen will NEVER give you the precise control as the spen and Wacom made digitizer tech.
I like to say that the Note has 3 input modes, touch for casual, gestural and fast, spen for precise, creative and note taking, and then also dead accurate voice recognition for voice based commands and dictation. It is this last one that is under discussed ( in the hyped up SIRI world) - it is amazingly good - best on any phone. I use it constantly especially in my car with a card doc. I never type my emails and texts on my Note - I always speak them. Using Google Now/Google voice input and vlingo.
----------------
Here how I explain it on more Apple based sites like cNet:
If you are a power User - here is what I said about by Note 1 - same holds and more for the Note 2. An game changing phone.
There is something perfect about this phone for power users. Spend a few hours or a day with it and you will be hooked. If Apple came out with it, the world would be going crazy - so for now it is simply the users (without much press) who buy it and love it - hence > 20 million fans of it.
WHY?
It does fit in your pocket, you can do allot with one hand ( but it is a new paradigm so you want to be able to use two and the pen too at times). It is mainly a phone for power users (those who use all the of computer/web/app functionality). For them the display ( would fit under the definition as a Retina Display - but of course the only Retina Display with a simple Wacom tablet under is surface), the real estate, the pen and dead on voice recognition (better than Siri) - takes the frustration out of serious mobile device use - no more missing a link, having to constantly zoom up/down, unable to use a web app because it is too small to see - all this just works.
The wacom pen/digitizer is pixel accurate and pressure sensitive, again basically having a simple wacom tablet under the 5.3" display, so anything I do over a minute (touch is there and great for fast and casual,) I pull out the pen and kick butt - can hit at button/link with full accuracy (even a tiny tiny one), take notes, annotate anything ( maps, web pages, screen shots, pdfs, ...) make charts and drawings and paintings ( artists love it! -- wacom and photoshop on your phone) but I switch to dead accurate voice (due to the one of the fastest processor out and google / vlingo voice tools) - which means in one voice command I can open up any app, play any song, call , ... and dictation - I always use voice dictation on emails and messaging now (often while walking! on campus)- I did this whole cnet comment with my voice.
So argue about numbers and apple versus samsung all you want - buy any phone you want. By I am a 20 yr veteran of UI research ( Apple offered me leadership jobs twice, ran a mac based division of EA, and I have created UI systems for web companies - now as grad chair I run a major research university with 60 PhDs in interface design) and I am telling you this phone is a game changer - just try it with an open mind. It is not for everyone but if you are a power user especially who wants to get the web ( web apps, gmail, gcal, todo web apps) back on your mobile device with zero frustration - this is the phone. I personally have the international version with the faster processor, unlocked, ICS JB and device choices now and a dev community that rivals any out there ( I have better than stock Android JB). So I can find/get access to any pro tool I want. I run my servers from my phone now, read 100 page thesis pdfs where I fully annotate them now, using special gesture commands to automate things and in the middle of doing so , I say 'hey galaxy" play "shock the monkey"' and change the music while using my pixel accurate pen - it is heaven. Sorry for the long post but remember I am purposely walking on campus now ( it is raining here in Vancouver), voice inputting this all with only minor corrections made on the fly with my wacom pen - do that with your phone. OR try this one. ( Or save money and buy a used international Note 1)

Great explanation and well written. Excellent read thank you.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA Premium HD app

This does make me wonder why other manufacturers of digitizers (like the one in the Flyer, Vaio Duo 11 and LG Vu) don't use this kind of tech? I've seen a Vu and a Note N7003 (The one with the LCD screen) under direct light and boy, did the Vu have HORRIBLE glare.

[Update] I'm a little frustrated with my stylus pressure levels

I am reposting this from here in this thread.
If any other artists could comment from their own observations regarding the pressure levels, that would be very appreciated!
....
I'm a little frustrated with my stylus. Some people are saying they can get theirs so sensitive it writes without actually touching the screen, but no matter what, I have to put some amount of pressure to get light touches... then it jumps in pressure too quickly for my liking. It's hard to be precise in Sketchbook Pro and I'm used to Wacom technology... I've owned Graphires (old school Bamboos), Intuoses, you name it. I'm used to being able to lay down light strokes, low pressure with low opacity and then using dropper tool to blend... for the Note 10., this is really difficult.
I adjusted the nobs, but it's not doing any good. Does the range or effect change per person? I'm thinking of actually calling Samsung and seeing if I can get another stylus out of them to try. This is driving me bonkers. Besides that, everything is perfect. For sketching it is fine, but that's just for sketching... painting or rendering is a pain because of this pressure issue.
It would be so helpful if there was a diagnostic tool that reported back the numbers that the pen was sending. There is on the actual Wacom tablets themselves, you can see how much pressure is applied and diagnose accordingly. I've had faulty pens before that I've had exchanged and it's fixed the issue.
I changed the nib too and that seemed to help, but I think the nib settled and it's still difficult to get steady light pressure without wrist strain.
I don't expect Intuos quality, but I expect something relatively close to a Bamboo level. Maybe not the same responsiveness,... But if it boasts 1024 pressure levels, it'd be nice to actually use those levels. I've used multiple apps... S-note, LayerPaint, LectureNotes, Sketchbook Pro... you name it. Still happy with the tablet, it just significantly lowers what I can realistically achieve art wise on it.... maybe it's just my pen. I am hoping it's my pen.
EDIT: BTW, when you guys mention "offset", are you talking about pressure threshold? Meaning, the amount of pressure needed to actually get a line for example?
UPDATE:
Well after my original post (pasted below), I went ahead and called Samsung CS... the first guy got my hopes up when he told me they would replace it. However, he then sent me to the 'executive customer dept' who took an half an hour on hold to finally tell me I would have to send in the whole unit. I'm not going to do that, because I'm happy with the tablet and it's stupid to send it back just for the pen. Really annoying.
So now I'm going to go actually buy a replacement...
Actually while I was sitting on the phone, I pulled off the switch to check my settings real quick and noticed the second nob had come loose!! I was like holy crap... but the pen works the same way as before so far. So I guess maybe that nob doesn't do anything after all!
I will probably go by Best Buy to get a replacement since they claim they have it in store. I'm a little irritated it has come to this, but if I get it replaced and it works like a charm, I'll be a happy camper.
Anyway, Wacom is releasing another stylus for the tab called "Bamboo Stylus Feel" sometime in a week, but I get the feeling from the vague and upbeat descriptions that it doesn't change the functionality or fluidity or pressure level situation at all.
We really need a diagnostic tool
On another not necessarily related note, I had gotten an email from Samsung when I registered my Note 10 for 50% off accessories... I was going to order straight through them but come to find out it for "mobile" accessories only. Now why would they send me a coupon for mobile accessories to my Wifi tablet???? This is the second time I've registered a wifi tablet with them in past few months and I didn't receive an email then. Odd. So getting it through BBY...

I'm not an artist and don't know much about how the pen works but the tablet is considered mobile. That coupon code works for the tablet accessories.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda app-developers app

Mr. bird said:
I'm not an artist and don't know much about how the pen works but the tablet is considered mobile. That coupon code works for the tablet accessories.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You would think, but it doesn't take the code in the promotional code box and I have until January 19th.
When I clicked the link within the email to the 'store', it took me to the cell phone accessories store. The pen listed there only fits Note I and Note II not the 10.1.

Art
SayaX said:
I am reposting this from here in this thread.
If any other artists could comment from their own observations regarding the pressure levels, that would be very appreciated!
....
I'm a little frustrated with my stylus. Some people are saying they can get theirs so sensitive it writes without actually touching the screen, but no matter what, I have to put some amount of pressure to get light touches... then it jumps in pressure too quickly for my liking. It's hard to be precise in Sketchbook Pro and I'm used to Wacom technology... I've owned Graphires (old school Bamboos), Intuoses, you name it. I'm used to being able to lay down light strokes, low pressure with low opacity and then using dropper tool to blend... for the Note 10., this is really difficult.
I adjusted the nobs, but it's not doing any good. Does the range or effect change per person? I'm thinking of actually calling Samsung and seeing if I can get another stylus out of them to try. This is driving me bonkers. Besides that, everything is perfect. For sketching it is fine, but that's just for sketching... painting or rendering is a pain because of this pressure issue.
It would be so helpful if there was a diagnostic tool that reported back the numbers that the pen was sending. There is on the actual Wacom tablets themselves, you can see how much pressure is applied and diagnose accordingly. I've had faulty pens before that I've had exchanged and it's fixed the issue.
I changed the nib too and that seemed to help, but I think the nib settled and it's still difficult to get steady light pressure without wrist strain.
I don't expect Intuos quality, but I expect something relatively close to a Bamboo level. Maybe not the same responsiveness,... But if it boasts 1024 pressure levels, it'd be nice to actually use those levels. I've used multiple apps... S-note, LayerPaint, LectureNotes, Sketchbook Pro... you name it. Still happy with the tablet, it just significantly lowers what I can realistically achieve art wise on it.... maybe it's just my pen. I am hoping it's my pen.
EDIT: BTW, when you guys mention "offset", are you talking about pressure threshold? Meaning, the amount of pressure needed to actually get a line for example?
UPDATE:
Well after my original post (pasted below), I went ahead and called Samsung CS... the first guy got my hopes up when he told me they would replace it. However, he then sent me to the 'executive customer dept' who took an half an hour on hold to finally tell me I would have to send in the whole unit. I'm not going to do that, because I'm happy with the tablet and it's stupid to send it back just for the pen. Really annoying.
So now I'm going to go actually buy a replacement...
Actually while I was sitting on the phone, I pulled off the switch to check my settings real quick and noticed the second nob had come loose!! I was like holy crap... but the pen works the same way as before so far. So I guess maybe that nob doesn't do anything after all!
I will probably go by Best Buy to get a replacement since they claim they have it in store. I'm a little irritated it has come to this, but if I get it replaced and it works like a charm, I'll be a happy camper.
Anyway, Wacom is releasing another stylus for the tab called "Bamboo Stylus Feel" sometime in a week, but I get the feeling from the vague and upbeat descriptions that it doesn't change the functionality or fluidity or pressure level situation at all.
We really need a diagnostic tool
On another not necessarily related note, I had gotten an email from Samsung when I registered my Note 10 for 50% off accessories... I was going to order straight through them but come to find out it for "mobile" accessories only. Now why would they send me a coupon for mobile accessories to my Wifi tablet???? This is the second time I've registered a wifi tablet with them in past few months and I didn't receive an email then. Odd. So getting it through BBY...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would like to see some art screen shots that you have done with the note 10.1, if you dont mind. at first i didnt like the sensitivity, untill i found that i could switch writing utensils, and the size of the the point and now i am pretty happy. I used to draw all the time, but havnt done it in a long time, but i thought it had done pretty well and with the different pressures and colors i dont think their should be any problem in creating a masterpiece.

mattkortej said:
I would like to see some art screen shots that you have done with the note 10.1, if you dont mind. at first i didnt like the sensitivity, untill i found that i could switch writing utensils, and the size of the the point and now i am pretty happy. I used to draw all the time, but havnt done it in a long time, but i thought it had done pretty well and with the different pressures and colors i dont think their should be any problem in creating a masterpiece.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
It's a 20-25 minute sketch from life. My problem is 'blending'. I'm used to Photoshop method where you can spam dropper tool to get 'midtones' and blend by going over areas with very light strokes. The problem is, you really need to apply low pressure consistently... This was done in Layerpaint with pencil brush, but it doesn't go full opacity (probably more like 70%), but I have the issue in Sketchbook Pro too. Keeping that in mind, I don't generally work 'vector style' with clean lines, fills, gradients and such... I work very painterly.
I don't expect it to be perfect, but I kinda figured it should at least be doable if the pressure works the way it should. This is the level of work I can achieve in Photoshop for example... but again, I don't really expect it to compare. I just expect the pressure sensitivity to actually be useful for something but sketches. For example, in PS, I don't adjust opacity at all because I can reliably rely on pressure... and use dropper tool to get the midtones to continue 'rendering'
Obviously as you can see in the first image, I am having problems getting steady light pressure because all the strokes are so contrasted.
Basically with the pen I have now, I have to push a bit to even get pressure (even after infinitely adjusting both nobs to no avail), and then it jumps relatively quickly to full pressure... there's not much room to adjust.

I'm seeing the same thing. When I put pressure down and then let up to make a thinner line it will just stop writing completely until I place quite a bit more pressure. I too felt this was a problem. Could it be the tablet because I would hate to have to return mine. Everything else works perfectly. There are no scratches, dead pixels, etc. I've had to return Samsung products before because of Quality Control issues and it's hard to get a "perfect" device from them so I hope it's just the pen I'd have to replace.

SkizzMcNizz said:
I'm seeing the same thing. When I put pressure down and then let up to make a thinner line it will just stop writing completely until I place quite a bit more pressure. I too felt this was a problem. Could it be the tablet because I would hate to have to return mine. Everything else works perfectly. There are no scratches, dead pixels, etc. I've had to return Samsung products before because of Quality Control issues and it's hard to get a "perfect" device from them so I hope it's just the pen I'd have to replace.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even after trying the nob job (haha!) from this thread?
Yeah, that's part of why I didn't want to send in my tablet. It works PERFECT! Why send in a perfectly working tablet that is barely a month old??? I've had a faulty pen from Wacom before, but it was with Intuos and it was a $100 pen... I used it for 8 months to some wrist strain before I finally figured out it was defective. It had the same issue as this s-pen, jumping levels too quickly. However, you could adjust the threshold/pressure curve on that, but it still felt 'faulty'...
It really would've helped to have a serious tool which tells you what pressure levels you are achieving when you are trying to diagnose a pen problem like this....

SayaX said:
Even after trying the nob job (haha!) from this thread?
Yeah, that's part of why I didn't want to send in my tablet. It works PERFECT! Why send in a perfectly working tablet that is barely a month old??? I've had a faulty pen from Wacom before, but it was with Intuos and it was a $100 pen... I used it for 8 months to some wrist strain before I finally figured out it was defective. It had the same issue as this s-pen, jumping levels too quickly. However, you could adjust the threshold/pressure curve on that, but it still felt 'faulty'...
It really would've helped to have a serious tool which tells you what pressure levels you are achieving when you are trying to diagnose a pen problem like this....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't tried that yet but I will give it a try and let you know how it worked. If you get a replacement pen could you post here if it works any different?
I thought I remember seeing a thread in the Themes and Apps section about someone who made an app to reset the sensitivity or something like that on the s-pen.
EDIT: I took the button off and tried to turn the left nob and now my pen doesn't work at all. The hover works. It sees the air view but the pen doesn't write or move the screens or anything.
EDIT 2: It seems that I had the sensitivity extremely low so that I had to press very hard to get it to work. At the best sensitivity setting, it's still about the same as it was before. It looks like there are only a couple different pressure settings. It doesn't matter which way you turn the knob as someone said in the other thread. It's where you position it. I really can't decide if I should return the tablet. I would HATE to get one with a dead pixel or any other problems like overheating etc. I've returned so many things to Best Buy for QC issues that they flagged me lol. So if I return this one and get one with more problems than just the s-pen then I don't think I'd be able to exchange anymore. My choices are take the chance and return it hoping that it's the tablet causing the pressure problems, hope they can just replace the s-pen, or stick with what I have. I'm not really an artist so its not THAT important technically but I like to know that my stuff I buy is working perfectly with no problems. Just knowing something is wrong with it can drive me nuts. I have OCD, seriously lol.
I have noticed on my tablet that the left side of the screen has a faint greenish tint to it where as the other side doesn't. It's barely noticeable but being that I have OCD the way I do, I notice everything. Not sure if that is enough to help me decide to return it or not. I have until Jan. 24. What would you do?? lol

SkizzMcNizz said:
I haven't tried that yet but I will give it a try and let you know how it worked. If you get a replacement pen could you post here if it works any different?
I thought I remember seeing a thread in the Themes and Apps section about someone who made an app to reset the sensitivity or something like that on the s-pen.
EDIT: I took the button off and tried to turn the left nob and now my pen doesn't work at all. The hover works. It sees the air view but the pen doesn't write or move the screens or anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See, I can't get mine to do that lol... Try turning the nob back the other direction, it is based off screw position. (it also helps to take photos of the actual nob placements).
And yes, I will post an update. I'm going to BBY in the morning since it claims several nearby have it in stock... I find it surprising they carry it on hand.

SayaX said:
See, I can't get mine to do that lol... Try turning the nob back the other direction, it is based off screw position. (it also helps to take photos of the actual nob placements).
And yes, I will post an update. I'm going to BBY in the morning since it claims several nearby have it in stock... I find it surprising they carry it on hand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They carry just the s-pen?
I'm trying to think whether it could be the pen or the tablet that has the problem. I would think it's the pen right?

SkizzMcNizz said:
They carry just the s-pen?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.. this one.
Samsung has it for $40
I'm trying to think whether it could be the pen or the tablet that has the problem. I would think it's the pen right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is likely the pen because the numbers come out from the springy part attached to a sensor. The numbers are sent from the pen to the tab wirelessly and that's how it the pressure is deduced. There is usually a threshold that it reaches before it determines that the pen will start "writing". This is normally in the software with the PC tablets, but in this case I think it's based off the nob underneath the switch people have been saying adjusts the "sensitivity". That's just an educated guess though.

Just an example of how Wacom pens work: http://www.tablet4u.co.uk/techinfo.html

SayaX said:
Yes.. this one.
Samsung has it for $40
It is likely the pen because the numbers come out from the springy part attached to a sensor. The numbers are sent from the pen to the tab wirelessly and that's how it the pressure is deduced. There is usually a threshold that it reaches before it determines that the pen will start "writing". This is normally in the software with the PC tablets, but in this case I think it's based off the nob underneath the switch people have been saying adjusts the "sensitivity". That's just an educated guess though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So it actually could be the tablet then? Maybe it's not processing the correct reading from the pen.

I know for me the sensitvity was reduced when I put a screen protector on. I couldn't stand it, so I took it off. If you're using a screen protector I would suggest trying it without and see if it improves the pen's sensitivity. It did for me.
Another thing was I went in and adjusted the pen settings in the tablet. If memory serves me right, you need to have the keyboard set for handwriting and then go into settings and make the adjustments there. It's been some months since I did this, but I know there is a thread somewhere that shows the setting adjustments.
Also, in SketchBook Pro, go in to settings and check to see if pressure sensitivity is on. I think it was turned off by default when I installed it and I had to turn it on.
Lastly, check to make sure you're not accidentally pushing the button on the pen when you're using it. I know I was doing that and making the pen act up. Now that I know that, I turn my pen so I don't accidentally push the button with my finger.

SayaX said:
You would think, but it doesn't take the code in the promotional code box and I have until January 19th.
When I clicked the link within the email to the 'store', it took me to the cell phone accessories store. The pen listed there only fits Note I and Note II not the 10.1.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Heres the code I got. rE157750d it worked for me.
sent from my jelly bean infused note 10.1

in the UK tesco have the s-pen for note 10.1 with eraser in store now :good:

Picked up the pen this morning from BBY Called them this morning to put it on hold. They took the SKU and said they had 2 in stock and then put one on hold for me at the store-pick-up desk. I tested it in the car. So far so good!
I haven't adjusted it or anything. I am just taking the time to get used to it being different for now. I played with the floor model too to check for a difference and it was so sensitive it would started writing/putting pressure at exactly the moment you touch the glass with the nib... which is what I expected you could adjust it to be able to basically do. The one I had previously, you had to push nib down a bit to start getting pressure. This was after adjusting the screws underneath the switch.
The one I was fortunate to find at BBY is a little less sensitive than that one, but it's still better than the one that came with my tablet. It's the exact same pen, fits in the slot fine and everything and you can't tell the difference otherwise....
Link: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung+-+S+Pen+for+Samsung+Galaxy+Note+10.1+-+Black/6329995.p;jsessionid=921A72775B727C463544377A5933EB99.bbolsp-app05-51?id=1218734648372&skuId=6329995&st=s-pen&cp=1&lp=2
So, $30 spent, but at least I have a pen that as far as I can tell works the way it should! Will need to spend some time with it and perhaps later I adjust it... right now I'm just glad it's working!
I will write here later if anything changes.

SayaX said:
Picked up the pen this morning from BBY Called them this morning to put it on hold. They took the SKU and said they had 2 in stock and then put one on hold for me at the store-pick-up desk. I tested it in the car. So far so good!
I haven't adjusted it or anything. I am just taking the time to get used to it being different for now. I played with the floor model too to check for a difference and it was so sensitive it would started writing/putting pressure at exactly the moment you touch the glass with the nib... which is what I expected you could adjust it to be able to basically do. The one I had previously, you had to push nib down a bit to start getting pressure. This was after adjusting the screws underneath the switch.
The one I was fortunate to find at BBY is a little less sensitive than that one, but it's still better than the one that came with my tablet. It's the exact same pen, fits in the slot fine and everything and you can't tell the difference otherwise....
Link: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung...218734648372&skuId=6329995&st=s-pen&cp=1&lp=2
So, $30 spent, but at least I have a pen that as far as I can tell works the way it should! Will need to spend some time with it and perhaps later I adjust it... right now I'm just glad it's working!
I will write here later if anything changes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the update. I'm glad to hear it was just the pen and not the tablet. I'm an idiot. I didn't even think that it could be the screen protector causing this issue but I'm afraid to take it off and use the s pen on the glass for fear of scratches.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using XDA Premium HD app

Dude, I don't see nothing wrong with your art
Sent from my GT-N8013 using xda app-developers app
---------- Post added at 02:31 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:26 AM ----------
If you search 50 percent off Samsung on this site, there will be a promotion code to get half off the pen on their site. I have a stand coming and I am waiting for the hdmi adapter to come back in stock
Sent from my GT-N8013 using xda app-developers app

I had this problem with sketch book pro a reset of the tablet fixed the problem pressure levels work great now
Sent from my GT-N8000 using xda app-developers app

Ara Flip Concept Design challenge

The smallest Ara endo is shockingly small, supposedly 100mm tall x 40mm wide. It's actually smaller than my Blackberry Pearl Flip at 101mm x 50mm. It could make a killer flip phone. Some advantages of a smart flip phone are 1) rugged, extra pocketable clamshell protection for the screen 2) better speaker and mic positioning during calls 3) if you carry a second phone for work, you may not want two 6" behemoths 4) though not well suited for games or info dense apps, the phone would still run google voice and a variety of other necessary and popular communication apps.
The concept I have in mind would model itself off of the Motorola Ming, attached below. That is, rather than having two screens, it would have one screen and the cover flip would be either entirely transparent (like the ming) or partially transparent (like various flagship quick covers that give you a small window to display info like time and caller ID--if the screen is AMOLED, this would save power). The transparent lid/speaker could hinge off the screen module itself, taking advantage of the additional stability posts on the front of the endos for strength and producing a relatively svelte device.
I'd love to convince someone to make a screen that turned the small Ara into a flip phone. I think having an actual concept drawing might help this module get made. Anything from pencil sketches to full on 3d renders would be amazing. This challenge is for someone fascinated by Ara, interested in a challenge, and willing to accept payment in gratitude and artistic credit. The completed render/drawing would be tweeted at various Ara people and any companies identified as working on modules and to blogs that have covered Ara and tweets would ID you as the artist. You could also sign the image itself and I and perhaps other crazy flip phone fans would be promoting your skills for free.
I know convincing someone to do some sketches is itself unlikely, and getting the module even more so, but android flip phones actually are popular overseas and I think there is a niche market here as well, perhaps especially for people who carry multiple phones. So I decided it is worth asking. Thank you kindly

I would note for the record, that at today's ATAP presentation at Google IO, the Ara lead showed off, among other things, the concept drawing of the flippy pad Samuel Herb did. There is some potential for recognition for interesting concepts.
You also get to see Ara make to the boot animation, although not quite to the homescreen as they'd hoped. It's an exciting geek moment.