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[Q] Good Stylus for note taking?

I bought a stylus for taking notes. I tested Evernote, Classic Notes Lite, Freenote, Genial Writing and Handwrite Note. But in the end I was quite disappointed. Either the Nexus 7 touchscreen is not sensitiv enough or my stylus sucks, but all the handwriting looked a lot worse than on paper and the apps offering handwriting recognition succeded only in 50% of the times.
How are your experiences?

red_12 said:
I bought a stylus for taking notes. I tested Evernote, Classic Notes Lite, Freenote, Genial Writing and Handwrite Note. But in the end I was quite disappointed. Either the Nexus 7 touchscreen is not sensitiv enough or my stylus sucks, but all the handwriting looked a lot worse than on paper and the apps offering handwriting recognition succeded only in 50% of the times.
How are your experiences?
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Click to collapse
Typically the rubber tip cheap styli suck . I remember I got a metal mesh tip stylus for my transformer, worked wonders
THIS. IS. NEXUS.

Thanks for your input. Yes the ruber tip seems too big and too clumsy in order to be accurate enough for handwriting. I hope an expensive one will solve this issue since it would be really create to take notes.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

red_12 said:
Thanks for your input. Yes the ruber tip seems too big and too clumsy in order to be accurate enough for handwriting. I hope an expensive one will solve this issue since it would be really create to take notes.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
The S pen that comes with the galaxy note would be a good choice. I may get one seems like a really good pen and it works with more than just the Note.

ÜBER™ said:
The S pen that comes with the galaxy note would be a good choice. I may get one seems like a really good pen and it works with more than just the Note.
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Click to collapse
i've tried to use that stylus on my Galaxy S3, but it doesn't work.
haven't tried to use it on my Nexus 7 tho.
as for the rubber stylus, mine ripped after a few years old, and so it doesn't work anymore.

mrhomiec said:
i've tried to use that stylus on my Galaxy S3, but it doesn't work.
haven't tried to use it on my Nexus 7 tho.
as for the rubber stylus, mine ripped after a few years old, and so it doesn't work anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That wouldn't work.works with the proprietary wacom digitizer of the note.
THIS. IS. NEXUS.

Note taking is the one thing I REALLY miss coming from a Thinkpad Tablet. The foam/rubber stylus are a piece of poop in comparison. The closest I've come is the Jot Pro Stylus or the GoSmart Stylus. They're not perfect in comparison to an active pen and tablet but they do the job a heap better than the other cheaper ones.

Those look awesome. Anyone try either of them?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

limbot said:
Note taking is the one thing I REALLY miss coming from a Thinkpad Tablet. The foam/rubber stylus are a piece of poop in comparison. The closest I've come is the Jot Pro Stylus or the GoSmart Stylus. They're not perfect in comparison to an active pen and tablet but they do the job a heap better than the other cheaper ones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The gosmart seems to be better reading amazon reviews. The jot seems to be less responsive according to reviews. I may just have to pick me up a go smart 200 series.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

The naked Teflon coated tip on the Gosmart feels a bit better writing on the screen than the plastic disk on the Jot and makes less of a tap, tap noise. The GoSmart feels "lighter" and smoother on the screen and more responsive.
Be warned though that I'm not brave enough to consider taking the 300 series Gosmart in my airplane carry on if I travel, it just looks and feels "dangerous"..
Jule from The Gadgeteer has tried a good selection of capacitive stylus (alebit on an iPad). Here's her reviews on the GoSmart and the Jot.
As I say they're never going to be as good as an active digitiser/pen combination though

I ordered Gosmart. Seems like the best and fairly reasonable.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

I have the jot pro.it came in the mail today. This does not work with a screen protector. It almost sticks to the screen. I tried it on Bonnies galaxy tab 2 without a screen protector and it glides better but worries me about the edge of the disk digging in. So I put it back in package and got a email. Its going back to amazon in the morning.
I will try the other mentioned above.soon android will have active stylus support and manufacturing will start making something worthy for us.
I had a note 10.1 stylus was good. But not as great as my intuous 4 wacom. Its also not quite completable with many higher end apps.
So conclusion is there is no real solutions YET BOOHOOO

I read a review that gosmart was fine with a screen protector...ill let you know when I get mine.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

I have a generic matte screen protector on mine and that may be why the Gosmart feels better. Less drag due to lower surface area without the solid plastic disc

Try the "amPen Hybrid Stylus" off of amazon. Just got mine and it works wonderfully. Its pretty economical too.

Question guys, has anybody tried a Galaxy Note S Pen?

Nospin said:
Question guys, has anybody tried a Galaxy Note S Pen?
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Will not work. The Galaxy Note has an Active Digitiser and the S Pen is an active pen. Same goes for the Thinkpad Tablet.

Galaxy Tab™ Conductive Stylus

Does N10 support Galaxy Tab™ Conductive Stylus ? Or are there any other similar input pens available for N10? I im a college student and it will be awesome if i could write my notes directly on tab
** Go Green ***

Ashirmittal said:
Does N10 support Galaxy Tab™ Conductive Stylus ? Or are there any other similar input pens available for N10? I im a college student and it will be awesome if i could write my notes directly on tab
** Go Green ***
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It should work without any issue. If you register your tablet on Samsung's site, you'll also get a 50% discount code off any accessory (the pen itself went down to $7.49 I think after discount; but $3 in shipping).
The N10 is a capacitive screen, so technically any stylus for capacitive screens should work fine Just note though that any pen that requires a Digitizer (Wacom) or anything like a S-Pen won't work.

As Espionage said.
As for the note 10.1 pen, it will not work properly as in how it works on the Note. The Note has a different type of screen (inductive instead of capacitive) and it has special hardware and software to allow for the pen to register but not your hand when drawing or taking notes, and to register different amounts of pressure from the pen. The Nexus 10 will not work like this and if you touch the pen and your hand to the screen, both touches will register.

I can confirm that the stylus does not work on the N10. I tried using a coworkers stylus yesterday and it didn't register any touch with the stylus. Even downloaded some notes app that said it worked with a stylus and got nothing.
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk 2

tgrgrd00 said:
I can confirm that the stylus does not work on the N10. I tried using a coworkers stylus yesterday and it didn't register any touch with the stylus. Even downloaded some notes app that said it worked with a stylus and got nothing.
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
Galaxy Tab or Note stylus?

I'm using a targus rubber tip stylus pin and I like it but it's only taking the place of my finger when messing around. If I want to draw something or take notes I use my note 2.
Sent from my Nexus 10 using xda premium

Increased Offset w/ WACOM vs. S-Pen

I've noticed something curious. My internal S-Pen is very precise, even when writing at an angle to the tablet. However, my other WACOM pen (originally for a Fujitsu tablet) has a significant offset, registering several mm below the tip, unless I hold it at exactly 90 degrees.
A little research suggests the latter is a known issue with the digitizer detecting the WACOM pen at an angle. But I'm curious why it doesn't detect the internal S-Pen the same way. I'm also curious if the Samsung brand pens (or any other WACOM pens) have less of an offset when writing at an angle.

I believe the 8pi is your best alternative. Though I've heard reports that there is also a very slight offset. The supplied SPen gives the most accurate precise experience available.

FaeMinx said:
I believe the 8pi is your best alternative. Though I've heard reports that there is also a very slight offset. The supplied SPen gives the most accurate precise experience available.
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Click to collapse
This is correct. Any third party pens will not be properly designed to the same specifications of the Note 8, I also made a purchase similar to yours.

Thanks to you both. I wonder why this is. Something about the location of the sensor in the pen? It's a little frustrating the Note 8 isn't fully compatible with 3rd party WACOM pens like other tablets.

I've noticed a slight ofset with the Samsung S-pen that has th eraser as well, so it's not just the Wacom pens. Although I dont know what the difference is between the Wacom pens and the S-pen, they all seem like the same pen to me.

watchdog-prime said:
I've noticed a slight ofset with the Samsung S-pen that has th eraser as well, so it's not just the Wacom pens. Although I dont know what the difference is between the Wacom pens and the S-pen, they all seem like the same pen to me.
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Click to collapse
Interesting... can you estimate how great the offset is? The offset I observed with my Fujitsu pen was easily 2-3 mm. I would aim for the middle of the line and it would register in the bottom third.

Another pen related issue that is frustrating me. I purchased the s pen holder and it came with an s pen. When I use it in the holder there is an offset, not much but it truly bothers me. If I take the s pen out of the holder there is no offset, this is the same when using on my not 2 as well. My wife has the same set up and same issue. Is the holder throwing off the sensor? They weren't cheap and I purchased them directly from Samsung, really didn't expect an issue and don't even use the holder anymore due to the offset. Total shame, is much more comfortable to use.

bigmout said:
Interesting... can you estimate how great the offset is? The offset I observed with my Fujitsu pen was easily 2-3 mm. I would aim for the middle of the line and it would register in the bottom third.
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I think the offset is about the same with all the pens as compared to the device stylus. I suppose the stylus were specifically callibrated for the 8.0 while the various pens have not been specifically callibrated at all.

watchdog-prime said:
I think the offset is about the same with all the pens as compared to the device stylus.
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To clarify, you're saying the offset you're seeing with the Samsung branded S-Pen 8pi is approximately 2-3mm? I'm trying to decide if it's worth buying, so I appreciate your being as specific as possible.
watchdog-prime said:
I suppose the stylus were specifically callibrated for the 8.0 while the various pens have not been specifically callibrated at all.
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Click to collapse
Sure, but why such a dramatic difference? Ordinarily, you can use any WACOM pen with any WACOM tablet without such a dramatic offset.

Not sure if it helps your case, but underneath the spen button (if you pry it open with a pin) there are 2 potentiometers (variable resistors) or for common folks adjustment screws, that I assume are meant for calibration.
Perhaps someone with a spare/alt pen can give that a try and report their findings. one of the screws is for adjusting pressure sensitivity and the other is for offset.
My wacom intuos 4 pen also have a adjustment screw underneath it, unfortunately that pen is of no use with this device as not compatible.
My old wacom graphaire tablet pen also does not work with my intuos4 or galaxy note.
another thing to note : Magnets do affect the note 8 digitizer a bit. I noticed that with my aftermarket flip book cover (that had tiny magnets in back) was affecting right most region and either strokes wont register, or register at an offset and at times would get wavvy (likely following to magnetic field pattern of those magnets). I removed those magnets with a blade.
It is a possiblility that samsung calibrated the spen and digitizer on note 8 to compensate for magnetic field due to some internal parts and thus throwing all other compatible pens off the grid. (very unlikely but not impossible).

I tested some pens
Hi,
I tested some pens with my 3G Note 8.0
Wacom CS-3002W bamboo stylus feel
This one works very well, is well built and has no offset (there are two versions of this pens, the one with blue packaging is for Samsung Galaxy Note)
Samsung ET-S110EBEGSTD
Has offset and is a little heavy at the wrong side
Samsung ET-S200EBEGSTD
No offset, very light and not really quality built
Hope this helps you

xorgh said:
Hi,
I tested some pens with my 3G Note 8.0
Wacom CS-3002W bamboo stylus feel
This one works very well, is well built and has no offset (there are two versions of this pens, the one with blue packaging is for Samsung Galaxy Note)
Samsung ET-S110EBEGSTD
Has offset and is a little heavy at the wrong side
Samsung ET-S200EBEGSTD
No offset, very light and not really quality built
Hope this helps you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I purchased the Wacom Bamboo Stylus Feel White and it has a really large offset. I shortened the tip as much as I could, but it still has a large offset. (I must write with more of an angle than most). I also purchased the 8p pen and found a slight offset. I use Lecture Notes so I can compensate, but the Wacom Bamboo Feel I have needs 3 times the offset that I use for the 8p.
If the above reference is to another Wacom Pen or if someone finds a full size pen that works as well as the built in pen, please post a link to it. The built in pen feels like writing with a toothpick!
Edit: looking at my offset settings, shortening the tip helped more than I remembered. My 8p offset was 5 pixels, my Wacom offset used to be about 3 times as much but is now -5, -5, -8, -3, in the different directions in landscape and portrait modes. Maybe I'm just more lucky than most, or write at more of an angle.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using xda app-developers app

Link
kisrita said:
If the above reference is to another Wacom Pen or if someone finds a full size pen that works as well as the built in pen, please post a link to it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is the link, the blue packaging edition is for Samsung Note devices
wacom .eu /index2.asp?pid=9221&spid=5&lang=en

xorgh said:
Here is the link, the blue packaging edition is for Samsung Note devices
wacom .eu /index2.asp?pid=9221&spid=5&lang=en
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Click to collapse
Hm, that looks like the same pen I have which definitely is off using Lecture Notes, but I haven't tested yet in S Notes (I left it at work). What app are you using it in? Do you tend to slant the pen when you write, or do you hold it pretty much 90 degrees to the surface? If the difference turns out to be in the app and not in the pen I might just have to learn how to use S Notes!
Sent from my GT-N5110 using xda app-developers app

telcodave said:
Another pen related issue that is frustrating me. I purchased the s pen holder and it came with an s pen. When I use it in the holder there is an offset, not much but it truly bothers me. If I take the s pen out of the holder there is no offset, this is the same when using on my not 2 as well. My wife has the same set up and same issue. Is the holder throwing off the sensor? They weren't cheap and I purchased them directly from Samsung, really didn't expect an issue and don't even use the holder anymore due to the offset. Total shame, is much more comfortable to use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This one is for note 1. The spen inside is same as note 1's. If you hold it for 90 degree, there is not much offset. If you tilt it for normal writing, the offset may bother.
Sent from my GT-N5120 using xda app-developers app

kisrita said:
What app are you using it in?
Do you tend to slant the pen when you write, or do you hold it pretty much 90 degrees to the surface?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All apps are working fine: snote, lecture notes, simple mind, sketchbook, photoshop touch.
Here some picture of hovering above lecture notes app:
side view
img856.imageshack.us/img856/2599/52wl.jpg
img191.imageshack.us/img191/2777/xgzi.jpg
top view (about 45°)
img59.imageshack.us/img59/2396/0cvs.jpg (this one isn't really from top, since you wouldn't see the blue circle anymore, there is no offset)

xorgh said:
All apps are working fine: snote, lecture notes, simple mind, sketchbook, photoshop touch.
Here some picture of hovering above lecture notes app:
side view
img856.imageshack.us/img856/2599/52wl.jpg
img191.imageshack.us/img191/2777/xgzi.jpg
top view (about 45°)
img59.imageshack.us/img59/2396/0cvs.jpg (this one isn't really from top, since you wouldn't see the blue circle anymore, there is no offset)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I turned off the hover feature so I can't tell if mine is the same. (It gets in the way when taking notes fast, I find it too distracting). But I just did a little test in SNote as well as in Lecture Notes, and the offset I see is present in both, though it is very small. My test draws a rectangle and then tries to draw a straight line from each corner to see how close the pen actually writes to where it touches. Then I write "hello" in script twice, erase the first "l", and add it back in another color. I can do this perfectly with the built in pen. The 8pi is so close, I'm unsure if it's off at all, or if it's just my writing isn't perfect. But the Wacom pen definitely does not connect with the existing line. Now that I've shortened the tip, it's only a tiny bit off, but is enough to bother me. (Of course now I have to test it with another unshortened Wacom tip to be sure it's not because I shortened it! All the nibs are at home so this will have to wait.)
So (almost) final verdict from me: The S Pen (8pi) is overall the most comfortable to use (for me).
Sent from my GT-N5110 using xda app-developers app

I pulled the trigger on the ET-S200EBEG (8pi). It's smaller than I expected, and as promised, has a slight offset (1mm or less) that makes it not quite as precise as the internal S-pen. Still, it's a big improvement over my other WACOM stylus and very usable for note taking. Overall, I'm pleased.

mayday2 said:
This one is for note 1. The spen inside is same as note 1's. If you hold it for 90 degree, there is not much offset. If you tilt it for normal writing, the offset may bother.
Sent from my GT-N5120 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi
l also bought a s-pen holder but it wouldn't work on Note 8 but work on Note 2. Is the certain thing ' need to do?
Sent from my GT-N5110 using xda app-developers app

Found a Bamboo-Note compatibility list that seems updated on a regular basis by Wacom:
http://bamboostylus.wacom.com/compatibility/
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk HD

Best stylus for drawing?

What's the best stylus for drawing on the nexus 4?
I don't like the squidgy tip ones as they seem to be fairly bad and not very precise or responsive so I want something that's good
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

I don't think you are going to be very happy with any stylus on the Nexus 4. It has much less touch sensitivity then a typical tablet, something I prefer with a phone, but styluses take a lot of pressure with it and are not very comfortable to use.

Solutions Etcetera said:
I don't think you are going to be very happy with any stylus on the Nexus 4. It has much less touch sensitivity then a typical tablet, something I prefer with a phone, but styluses take a lot of pressure with it and are not very comfortable to use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I couldn't agree more.
Invest in a Galaxy Note tablet if you want to use a stylus for drawing.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Yup thats the only kind of stylus you get for a phone with usual capacitive screen

So I need a tablet to, shame u can't plug in a wacom tablet into the phone lol
Is there no good capacitive styluses then?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Spen not so unique after all

Hello so today i realized that a digitizer pen from a lenovo thinkpad yoga 12 actually works exactly as an spen on our note device.
You may wonder why is this important well the lenovo thinkpad pen is just a regular digitizer pen. So im guessing that ANY digitizer pen will work with our device. In case anyone is looking for a bigger or heavier pen. Try searching digitizer pen...
Here is a video. Sorry for the quality i filmed it on the thinkpad and i accidentally covered the mic but it just shows that it has the same functions as samsung spen
https://www.dropbox.com/s/f6alxjb1571ja5m/WIN_20150919_231518.MP4?dl=0
Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

i've tried my N3 S-Pen when I first got my N5. it doesn't work as well. it seems more sensitive to the N5 S-Pen and is more precise - I can draw more finer lines.
how's your thinkpad pen with it?
(Sent from another Galaxy)

egren58 said:
So im guessing that ANY digitizer pen will work with our device. In case anyone is looking for a bigger or heavier pen. Try searching digitizer pen...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not a guess, it's true. Samsung licenses Wacom technology for the Note-series. But there's a big but. People who've used Wacom branded stylus' with the Note have had offset issues. Something's different with the Note 5's digitizer and/or stylus too. The two full-size Samsung S Pens I have aren't nearly as sensitive on the Note 5 as they are on my Note 12 and were on my Note 4. They're no where near as sensitive as the included stylus either. In theory any active stylus should work on the Note(s) but in practice that's not the case. So if you're experimenting buy from some place with a liberal return policy.

Wacom stylus & digitizers over LCD screens are a lot older than the Galaxy Note series.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wacom_(company)

My note 3 s pen seemed identical in using to draw on the note 5 screen...

Used my Surface Pro 3 Pen on the N5 as well as the other way around with the same experience on both devices.

I do agree that is not as sensitive. I had to put a slight force in order to work sometimes.
Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

This isn't a new discovery, expecially if you have been with the note line since the OG Note.
Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

BarryH_GEG said:
It's not a guess, it's true. Samsung licenses Wacom technology for the Note-series. But there's a big but. People who've used Wacom branded stylus' with the Note have had offset issues. Something's different with the Note 5's digitizer and/or stylus too. The two full-size Samsung S Pens I have aren't nearly as sensitive on the Note 5 as they are on my Note 12 and were on my Note 4. They're no where near as sensitive as the included stylus either. In theory any active stylus should work on the Note(s) but in practice that's not the case. So if you're experimenting buy from some place with a liberal return policy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samsung owns Wacom.

No, Samsung has some 20% share in wacom
Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk