Database Users

Stylus Qwik Fix--make your own pen type stylus

Ok, so I love my MDA, but the silo sucks. I have lost SO many styli it isn't funny. And I am not mechanically savvy enough to do the silo fix using a paperclip, so instead of paying $20 for replacements, or even $5-10, I made my own that works fabulously.
NEEDED:::
Dead ballpoint pen
Plastic embroidery needle (at Walmart in crafts section packaged as childrens needle, less than $1 for 2)
Tissue paper
HOW TO:::
Take the dead pen and remove the ink cartridge, but keep the spring.
Snip of the "eye" (the hole the thread goes into) of the needle.
Stuff the pen with tissue paper until almost full, leaving about a half inch.
Put the spring onto the needle, put the needle into the pen, recap.
Voila, a new stylus for about a buck.
Now obviously it won't fit into the MDA silo anymore, but the silo is crap anyway. I used a dead pen that had a clip so I could clip it to my shirt pocket or jeans. Also it is now big enough that I can find it easily in my purse, or on the floor should I drop it. The needle is made of a hard plastic just like the stylus is, so it won't scratch your screen, and the tip is thin enough to easily use the on-screen keyboard without error, or to fit in the reset hole.
This is an easy and inexpensive quick fix for a missing stylus.
If I get a chance, I'll try to post some pics.

yea we need some pics of this....lol

Here are the pics
The first is the 4 part...the needle (with the eye snipped off), the spring, the dead pen, and the srew on part. The second is what it looks like put together. Sorry for the crappyness of the pics, but my MDA needs some major cleaning. I assure you though, this works, and is a cheap and easy stylus fix...unless of course you just have a hard time listening to a womans input
**Hey I got 6 year old twins, I need to be creative AND frugal!!!**

Capdase + Seidio = $$ = Ultimate Case??

Like the look & feel of a "simple" black leather case, but do NOT like the idea of covering the keyboard with a sheath of plastic (poor feel & seems bound to age poorly) - and so ended up with a Capdase BiFold Leather Case for my Fuze.
Posted pictures & problems with this case earlier, including some Surgery we performed to alleviate Case/Screen interaction. But while the surgery did Help, it did NOT eliminate the problem.
ALSO got concerned about reports of the top LAMINATE lifting off from the lower (button) area of TouchPros. As my screen protector has fallen prey to a similar lifting, having the laminate come up seems at least Possible.
Decided that what was needed was a cover for the TOP of the Fuze - one that would add as little bulk as possible, while both protecting the edges of the unit and providing a bit of separation between the screen and the top flap of the Capdase case (which would sometimes (RE)DIAL the phone at the end of a call! Nice trick if you could control it... )
Ended up buying a Seidio Innocase, which others have reviewed: it does indeed "fit like a glove" - wonderful precision, a nice feel, & leaves plenty of room around the actual Touch portion of the screen. (Carried the Fuze for several days in just the Seidio, but did not like the Exposed Screen.)
The combo of the Capdase BiFold Leather + the TOP HALF of the Innnocase seems to work perfectly: the edges are protected, the screen is protected, the Capdase fits nice & tight against the Seidio (which also provides a bit more protection for the top corners of the Fuze), and there has been no more Accidental Dialing (or Disconnects!).
Combination is obviously Not Cheap (think total came to around $55, incl Shipping Costs), but it IS flexible: can always remove Fuze from the Capdase & snap the Innocase back cover on if a SLIM profile is required.
The Combination fits nicely into an inner jacket / coat pocket (where a tri-fold wallet might fit), and also does well in the top pocket of an Over Shirt (Safari, jean, or wool - as long as pocket has a Closure of some kind!)
A few pictures are attached (hopefully...)

Can never pay too much for protection on our phones. Looking good!

might as well put the phone back in the box it came with and seal it tight so it'll never be scratched. jk

might as well put the phone back in the box it came with and seal it tight so it'll never be scratched
Indeed, the "naked" approach has some arguments in its favor - particularly if ALL you are carrying is just "a phone."
A Phone is relatively inexpensive & readily replaceable: My Razr never saw the inside of a case - but it certainly looked Well Used by the time it was replaced with the Fuze. (At only 16 months or so of usage.)
My Axim (PDA) has never been WITHOUT a case: it has served for over three times as long as the Razr did (and is now approaching 5 years in service), and only in past 6-months or so has it exhibited any outward signs of wear ("chrome" plating on D-pad & "DELL" logo are wearing off). OTOH, have been through numerous screen protectors, and the Daily Carry case (a RhinoSkin) looks like it has been through a war zone: in essence, the screen protectors and the case have 'sacrificed' themselves for the safety of the Axim - and the invaluable data stored within.
My Fuze is PDA FIRST, and Phone second. Like the Axim, I hope to keep the Fuze running for at least 4 years (hopefully longer!), and do not look upon it as Readily Disposable - like A Phone would be. Therefore a good case seems a very worthwhile investment, albeit one that is made more difficult by a) the dual purpose nature of the Fuze (it may be Phone Second, but it DOES still function as a phone), and b) the Sliding Keyboard.
For those who view the Fuze as simply a Fancy Phone - AND have the wherewithal to replace it every couple of years - a case is undoubtedly either a Nuisance or merely a Fashion Statement.
But for others, choosing a good case seems to be a reasonably important decision - otherwise there would not be nearly as many posts on the subject as there are...

well to each their own I guess, I generally change phones every 12 months or so. I guess I cant justify using a case to cover the phone

Kursell Case
This case is ok I own but I like my Kursell orbit Flex Case a lot better the flip leather lid Comes off thats so great plus I love the tight plastic over the keyboard the best case I ever seen
http://www.sfplanet.com/product/753...ex_with_Ratchet_Swivel_Clip_Black__Beige.html

This case is ok ... but I like my Kursell orbit Flex Case a lot better the flip leather lid Comes off thats so great plus I love the tight plastic over the keyboard....
There are several nice looking cases available - the Kursell is one & Pdair makes a couple, although recall looking at others as well - that utilize the Plastic Sheath Over The Keyboard approach. Looked long & hard at several of these, as (like the Kursell) some have a very elegant look!
Unfortunately could not get past the plastic sheath. This strays into "personal preference" territory, but
1) Dislike the "feel" of the plastic on top of the keyboard;
2) A plastic sheath seems to force the two layers of the Fuze apart. That should vary with the type of plastic used: if I hold the Fuze up to a bright background it APPEARS that the gap between the halves should be adequate for a precisely THIN sheet... Overall fit of the Lower part of the case might have an impact here as well, but that's hard to gauge without buying Every Case on the market...
3) Was concerned that the plastic would not WEAR well, given sufficient usage. Yellowing, becoming ratty at the edges, & stretching all seem likely.
Case selection is like PIM choice: Personal Preferences play a major role in product selection, and there are multiple Solutions that are equally viable according to the preference of the end user.
Slip case, or Attached case?
Belt Clip, or Not? (Detachable, or Not? Rotating or Fixed?...)
Leather, Metal, Silicone, Hard Rubber, Or ??
Removable Top Cover (Kursell) or Permanently Attached?
Holders for data cards, styli, Other Things?
Have LOVED the RhinoSkin that has served as the Daily Carry Case for my Axim. But it is an Industrial looking piece of hardware - rather clunky & now somewhat beat up in appearance. So also have a nice (Belkin) Leather case that I use for "need a suit jacket" events.
Frankly - along similar lines - can imagine times where I might forego the extra protection of the Capdase and simply carry the Fuze in the Innocase, as it certainly presents less bulk when in the Seidio...
Options are Nice, but trying TOO many gets expensive!

Looking to also purchase the seidio innocase, but before I do can ppl confirm if it gives problems on pushing on the screen. Have had such cases that seem okay for a few weeks, but then the screen becomes unresponsive due to the case pushing on the touch portion of the screen.
Thanks

Dagi P504 / Wacom Bamboo Stylus

There are threads about this in order forums, but I could not find one specifically for the a500. So I wanted to share with everyone.
I recently purchased the dagi p504 from amazon, and promptly returned it. The plastic circle tip was not smooth and flat, the spring held the plastic tip on slightly crooked, and the metal that was inserted into the plastic circle at the tip was done so in a way that seemed like they had to melt the plastic and then resolidify it. The casing seemed ok, but just about as good or bad as any other styli I have used. I do not know if I had a defective one, but i can't find out with returning it and rebuying it (no exchange offered when I emailed them). So I went into best buy and bought the Bamboo stylus.
I recommend against it. Im not going to go into a bunch of tech info about who what when where why or how, but will just give you my impression of it.
I like the build quality. Thick enough and enough of a texture on the paint job and metal casing to make it feel comfortable. Probably one of the best build qualities I have felt in a stylus. However, one of the stylus's selling points if that the tip is 6mm, vs "Competition's 8mm", but the casing made it feel more like a high quality marker than a pen which made it feel bigger all over than competitors.
The main issue, though, is the tip. I have used a few different stylus options and the 'spongy' tips always were a bit of a pain. I could deal with a big slightly inaccurate tip if the tip only held somewhat firm. The Bamboo stylus is rather spongy, and you have to put pressure to push in the spongy tip before it will respond with any real effect. Meaning you can't simply touch the stylus to the tablet and move it around without having to actually drag the tip around, meaning this detracts from the smoothness and ability to transition directions. It also causes me great concern in the it seems like the tip will rip or tear very easily, meaning the 30 dollar stylus becomes nothing more than a 30.00 metal casing.
The whole point of a stylus is that it will be more accurate and responsive than a finger. At least thats my whole point. I want to be able to draw in the sketchbook pro application and need to do rather details things. However, my finger is significantly more beneficial to this task than the bamboo stylus or the dagi stylus.
and I really wanted to love this stylus. I used the bamboo pen and touch tablet for many things, and I wanted this to be its tablet accessory.
I have an AYL Stylus coming for my wife here in a week, and going to test it out and see if it will work for me too and maybe get myself one.
Im still on the quest for a decent stylus.
I just wanted to share my experience with the stylus devices so that others can be informed a little more.
Dagi P504
Build Quality 6/10
Expected longevity 5/10
Accuracy 5/10
Comfort of using 4/10
Responsiveness 4/10
http://www.amazon.com/DAGI-Capacitive-Stylus-iPhone-P504/dp/B005HYBGKW/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1316657816&sr=1-1
Bamboo Stylus:
Build Quality 9/10
Expected longevity 4/10
Accuracy 6/10
Comfort of using 9/10
Responsiveness 7/10
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004VM0SE6/ref=s9_simh_gw_p23_d0_g23_i2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=058WTHB3CE2KW30MQ5EE&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846
AYL Stylus (got it pink for the wife):
No review yet since still waiting to receive.
http://www.amazon.com/Newest-Generation-Capacitive-Stylus-Warranty/dp/B004WBA79W/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1316657832&sr=1-4

I tried the Pogo Sketch, hated it. The tip felt cheap, spongy, and didn´t take long to start falling; the body s too thin (to my hands, anyway).
Then I bought a Griffin Stylus, it´s heavier than Pogo, but it feels right. They use a rubber tip, and it´s way a better product.
But I´m still hoping for a fine tip stylus, like the Bamboo pen.

The AYL is supposed to be fine tipped like the bamboo (although bamboo is smaller I believe), and the AYL has the same reviews as being spongy.
I dont mind a big tip, but I dont like it caving in just to put enough pressure on the screen to write, like the bamboo did.
I used to use a boxwave and it was ok, and had two of them, until my kids ripped the tips off both of tthem.

I also owns the DAGI P504 & P601 ... they works OK... not great but OK... maybe due to the fact that I have the Skinomi protector on... ( those scratch proof protector that takes water application....rubbery feels...etc
I also have this on pre-order and it's on its way... seem to be the same concept but less stress on the tip because it's ballpoint instead of spring
http://www.adonit.net/
They are also looking into sending out a different tip that works for those of us that have the rubbery protector ( Skinomi, Zagg, StealthGuard...etc )
get yourself a pre-order

Looks like what I want in a stylus. Really just more about the precision than anything else, and this looks good. Just wish it wasnt 'preorder' lol.

Could check out the Ostylus www.ostylus.com I don't have any personal experience with it, but have been tempted to order it. It *looks* fairly precise, and appears to have the line appear in the center circle which is very nice. But not 100% of the time it seems with the review. Definitely more expensive than most as well, but may be worth it.
Here's a review from Engadget on it.
http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/01/ostylus-capacitive-pen-review/

Just picked up the Wacom Bamboo stylus today for my A500. Not disappointed, but not as happy as I planned on being. Everything the OP stated is true regarding the amount of pressure needed for it to register on the screen.
Also, with no palm recognition on the tablet, it makes stylus writing/drawing rather useless.
I'm still going to keep it just in case. For .pdf annotations and signatures. Got it half off anyway.

So here is an update. The AYL stylus came last week, I believe. I wanted to give the wife and myself time to test it out before commenting on it.
The tip seems smaller than the bamboo, but I dont have the bamboo anymore so cannot do a side by side comparison, and the AYL doesnt exactly give specific steps. I could whip out a ruler....if I had one.
Overall though, it seems to be one of the finest tipped and bodies styli that I have used.
The drawback is that it still requires pressure to make it responsive. I know most people might be thinking "Of course it does", but I have used styli that were responsive just from the touch on the screen. The AYL, just like the bamboo, seems to have the tip formed in such a way that it not only required a little more push to be sensitive, but the tip seems to be more willing to cave in. I am thinking it may just be because they are smaller tips that most other styli and therefore it is more of a significant impact to using them to feel them cave in then other stylus.
My wife has used every other styli with me, bamboo and dagi, and she had the same opinion of them I did. However, the AYL seems to have grabbed her liking. She has been using it quite a bit for drawing and a variety of other things. Even my kids (2 1/2 and 1 1/2) seem to enjoy it. Mainly my older son. Havent quite caught my younger boy messing around with it yet lol.
Overall build quality is about average, tip is probably one of the better ones.
Build Quality 6/10
Expected longevity 6/10
Accuracy 7/10
Comfort of using 7/10
Responsiveness 7/10

Stylus Replacement

Hi Guys
Looking for a Stylus replacement for my tegra note after my little girl bit off the rubber on the end. Any suggestions??

If you find one let me know. I wanted to buy the pro stylus as I miss the thin end for writing but its kind of unicorn everybody talk about it but no stock available.

Have you tried contacting the store where you bought it from? They might be able to buy it for you directly from the manufacturer as a spare part.
Or you might have luck contacting the manufacturer directly, perhaps they have the possibility to sell spare parts directly to customers.

In Uk I have asked in PC World (as Advent is their sub-company) if they have them/will have/can order and the answer was "no". Also I have contacted EVGA EU (as their US store had them for a while but will not ship outside US) if they are going to have them the answer " no".

someone was selling them on ebay for about 15 quid IIRC
the homecare branded covers and styluses are available.
I don't think the rubber is that important but the funny core piece is so it might me feasible to make a replacement.
PC world must have spare stock instore to deal with people nicking the styluses off the display models I would have thought
doing a quick search and newegg have them but wont ship to the UK so you need a postal buddly

I am looking for one too. I have the pro stylus and while it is fine, the rubber tips wear out very quickly. And either I can not find them in stock anywhere, or they are like $35 (Insane) So I have been looking at the more main stream ones, like for the surface tablets, or similar to see if any work and have not had any luck so far.
So I am hoping someone out there can find a suitable replacement for our styluses?

Okay, I ordered this one from Ebay. It works okay, not perfect, but certainly good enough for what I need it for. It is a hard plastic tip, not a rubber one, so it does have a different feel. Since it is hard, occasionally the tablet will skip a beat sensing it. But again, for the price it does work to write notes on this tablet with. Be prepared for a 30 day wait on delivery though.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-in-1-New-...462?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35e2f55486

Hey there
How about other styluses like adonit jot or anything else
Anybody ever tried? I find the supplied tip very soft
Used to use wacom hard tip
Does it response with those batteried active stylus (not asking about pressure sensitivity)
And.....a tip
You can get "pressure sensitivity" effect by those cheap blunt rubbery head styluses.

Just a reminder that any standard pencil (mechanical pencils usually won't work) will also work as a stylus, though without pressure sensitivity. They work beautifully, and they won't hurt or mark the screen at all. I never use the included stylus any more. If you want the best option, check the drafting section at your local office supply store for some solid graphite pencils; they work the best, plus they're just really cool.

This is where I got mine in the UK
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/331508450585?nav=SEARCH
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rchrdcrg said:
Just a reminder that any standard pencil (mechanical pencils usually won't work) will also work as a stylus, though without pressure sensitivity. They work beautifully, and they won't hurt or mark the screen at all. I never use the included stylus any more. If you want the best option, check the drafting section at your local office supply store for some solid graphite pencils; they work the best, plus they're just really cool.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using a graphite pencil now it works really well. Easier to hold than the stylus that came with my tegra. I've also put a screen protector on it so I'm not worried about marks on it.

gbsa850 said:
I'm using a graphite pencil now it works really well. Easier to hold than the stylus that came with my tegra. I've also put a screen protector on it so I'm not worried about marks on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just purchased a set of standard wooden pencils and a set of 3 solid graphite pencils (HB),
both sets work but is somewhat hit and miss whether they work or not. I also found that the tip of a screwdriver
works fine (but not suggesting that you use that permanently). Best item that I've found is the back-end of the
standard wooden pencils, works like a charm without any skipping. What I want now is one of those little diary
pencils that I can jam into the stylus slot.
EDIT: Painted rounded solid wooden pencil end, not eraser

StainlessS said:
I just purchased a set of standard wooden pencils and a set of 3 solid graphite pencils (HB),
both sets work but is somewhat hit and miss whether they work or not. I also found that the tip of a screwdriver
works fine (but not suggesting that you use that permanently). Best item that I've found is the back-end of the
standard wooden pencils, works like a charm without any skipping. What I want now is one of those little diary
pencils that I can jam into the stylus slot.
EDIT: Painted rounded solid wooden pencil end, not eraser
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You've probably already tried this, but make sure your screen is clean if you're using pencils. The tip is so small (that's what she said) that any oil or dirt on the screen can interfere with the touch sensor. You also have to dull the point a bit; I sharpen a pencil and then scribble all over a piece of paper to round the edge down, and then it works like a charm!

I had originally not taken the point down enough (too sharp) and that was the cause of skipping, with a rounded tip
the solid graphite pencil works just fine. I also chopped off about 1/3 of the back end and ground a fat chisel edge
somewhat similar to the back end of the Nvidia stylus. (I take it that some have yet to find that both ends of the stylus
work, and the fat end is great for use in the Tegra Draw app, took me about 3 months to find out the thick end also works).
I still kinda like the fat end of a rounded painted pencil, smoother than the solid graphite pencil and not as hard (less of a ding as you stab at the screen). Strangely, a straight cut pencil end does not seem to work at all, the only ones that did have been
rounded end and painted, think the paint must be relevant for some reason.

Is there a cheap stylus pen that can be found on ebay or dx.com that would work as the original pen? In case one needs a replacement other than the original pen.
Anyone ever tried this one?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834951002
At $35, it looks rather expensive.

You can buy them direct from Nvidia as "Shield Direct Stylus 2" and on Amazon as "NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet Stylus".

One way to prevent getting the S-pen stuck

Hello! This is one of my first posts on XDA. I decided to post instead of lurking all day because I wanted to share something that I think many would find helpful. Namely, how to prevent sticking the S-Pen backward.
Of course, I think putting an S-Pen backward sounds like a dumb thing to do in the first place. But accidents happen all the time, and I had this feeling that it might happen to me one day. I tried hard to think of a way that will fix the issue without making the phone look ugly. This is what I settled with:
Materials: Double-sided tape, transparent plastic "cardboard" (e.g. the plastic used in merchandise packaging), scissors.
Step 1: Place double-sided tape, as cleanly as possible, on the plastic board.
Step 2: Press the back of the S Pen on to the double sided tape so you can see a faint outline.
Step 3: Cut a perfect rectangle with the same dimensions as that outline. Don't round the corners.
Step 4: Firmly place the cut-out on the back of the S-Pen.
The S-Pen should not even fit backward anymore, thanks to the extra plastic sticking out of the rounded corners of the S-Pen. The plastic appendage sticks out a little bit from the phone when the pen is stowed but it won't cause a problem if you have a case and/or don't care too much about design. Not that it makes the pen particularly ugly either. You can think of the plastic as a crystalline decoration for the pen or something. You can even use colored plastic instead of transparent plastic to add some style if you want.
Pictures:
ht tp://postimg.org/image/bmqw4ze39/
ht tp://postimg.org/image/4eudjp2pj/

I think the concept is good. Would need more refined because I think it is ugly haha. I feel the hole is the culprit. They could have made it smaller and the end of the pen could be flared out. Assuming people won't put it in backwards is bad because people are dumb lol.
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