S Pen : Actual uses

[Kevin OQuinn]

I haven't signed any PDFs with mine yet. Soooo many PDFs are sent read only, so you can't actually sign them without resaving them first as a PDF that isn't read only, and frankly, if I'm going through that much trouble I can have someone at my office add a picture of my signature to the document.

BUT - right now I use the pen all the time. First its great for navigating big webpages with lots of little links on them instead of my sausage fingers. Second, I take notes in evernote, or in S-Note (synced to evernote) and convert them. I downloaded an extension from the samsung app store (yes, it does exist) that allows S note to recognize my handwriting and convert it to text. So, when I do a screen off memo, if I write legibly enough, It can be converted into text and then it syncs into my evernote account automatically. This is great for writing down phone numbers, email addresses, etc.

I also use the stylus to type a lot faster on a swype keyboard than I could with my fingers...

Its great for drawing on screenshots - I really like taking a selected portion of the screen, writing on it, and texting my message to people. Very cool functionality, though definitely not essential. At this point I feel like the note taking functions of the S Pen are pretty essential to how I organize my business.

One big advantage of the S Pen is if you are in a job where you are in meetings, people with their phones out look like disrespectful jerks, even if they are actually typing notes. With the S Pen, it looks like you are taking notes even if you are actually not.

Holy crap, I'm going to have to look in to doing that.
____________________

Right now my biggest use of the Pen is writing on screenshots or images I take to point things out to people.

 

[Kelly Kearns]

I still use the 3 (I wouldn't buy a 5), and have an extra pen on my desk, so I don't have to keep pulling it out to use. I haven't worn a tip out yer on either the one on the desk or the one in the phone, but I wonder why - I use it for everything. (Even typing - with my fat fingers, a pen is easier than a finger.)

My wife is a stroke survivor and can control the pen better than she can control her hand, so she uses her pen about 15 hours a day.

I don't think I'd ever go back to a phone without pen, unless they came out with styli with points as thin as the pen.

The 5 is great and I didn't think I would like it. The pen is easier to control also. You can test your hand on the screen without closing something or accidently writing, etc.

 

[tanson1011]

How is everyone signing pdfs? I know their are 3rd party apps but I thought it would be built in. If it is indeed a 3rd party app I need, which one is best?

Posted via the Android Central App

Download a pdf. Your phone will automatically let you annotate it... Unless it's a read only pdf.

 

[tanson1011]

This is my first note. I'm sure I will discover so many uses for the S-pen. Earlier I decided to make a list of the movies I'd like to see. So I used smart select and made a category in scrapbook for movies.
Hovering over the movie will give me a full view of the image I captured. This S-pen is a really cool tool.

 

[Almeuit]

This is my first note. I'm sure I will discover so many uses for the S-pen. Earlier I decided to make a list of the movies I'd like to see. So I used smart select and made a category in scrapbook for movies.

I must admit .. that is a very cool feature .

 

[Kelly Kearns]

This is my first note. I'm sure I will discover so many uses for the S-pen. Earlier I decided to make a list of the movies I'd like to see. So I used smart select and made a category in scrapbook for movies.
Hovering over the movie will give me a full view of the image I captured. This S-pen is a really cool tool.

Is that the scroll select? That is a new feature.

 

[tanson1011]

Is that the scroll select? That is a new feature.

Yes the long screen shot was scroll select. Another cool tool. This app reduces the resolution of image uploads terribly. If I were to email or text it to someone it would be really clear.

 

[ccpopham]

What app is it that you have from the Samsung app store to convert handwriting to text?

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Kelly Kearns]

What app is it that you have from the Samsung app store to convert handwriting to text?

Posted via the Android Central App

The keyboard while handle that. Most all keyboards have handwriting modes.

 

[Kelly Kearns]

You can tell it to recognize the pen is out.

 

[bsod6]

Download a pdf. Your phone will automatically let you annotate it... Unless it's a read only pdf.

Gotcha, thanks!

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[debdroid1a]

What app is it that you have from the Samsung app store to convert handwriting to text?

Posted via the Android Central App

There's an extension pack
http://forums.androidcentral.com/showthread.php?t=570829

You can find it by opening up the S Note App, choosing More, then choosing More Features. It apparently has in the extension pack that includes advanced tricks like a heartier toolbar and shape recognition, handwriting "transformation" and the ability to record sketches.

Posted via the *Note 5*

 

[TheDonJ77]

I had a Note 4 and didn't take advantage of the S-pen before I sold it last year. I promised myself, i would use the S-Pen every single day with the Note 5 and so far I have kept my word. i'm trying to discover new features and all the cool things this magical pen can do. Really separates itself from all of the "BIG" phones out there.

 

[lorsban]

I used mine for quick note taking and photo editing.

Not that often tho. But very helpful when the occasion arises.

 

[anon(5630457)]

I started graduate school this week and I've found many uses for the S Pen while at school, such as writing down contact information, writing down homework assignments, and marking up PDFs.

 

[Katrina White1]

I think if we all just took the time to really learn how to use all the features correctly, we'd use them all the time.

my 1st Note was the 3. I was so excited by it that I watched videos for weeks. I'd watch on my tablet and perform the actions on the Note.

I got lazy with the 4, but I'm determined to get the full use out of the 5. I just can't let all the functionality go to waste. It really Can make things easier.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[jrisch]

Not a Note 5 user as Samsung has not released it in Europe :-( but I use my Note 3's s-pen every day. Set to automatically launch action memo.

 

[Laserbutt]

I haven't signed any PDFs with mine yet. Soooo many PDFs are sent read only, so you can't actually sign them without resaving them first as a PDF that isn't read only, and frankly, if I'm going through that much trouble I can have someone at my office add a picture of my signature to the document.

BUT - right now I use the pen all the time. First its great for navigating big webpages with lots of little links on them instead of my sausage fingers. Second, I take notes in evernote, or in S-Note (synced to evernote) and convert them. I downloaded an extension from the samsung app store (yes, it does exist) that allows S note to recognize my handwriting and convert it to text. So, when I do a screen off memo, if I write legibly enough, It can be converted into text and then it syncs into my evernote account automatically. This is great for writing down phone numbers, email addresses, etc.

I also use the stylus to type a lot faster on a swype keyboard than I could with my fingers...

Its great for drawing on screenshots - I really like taking a selected portion of the screen, writing on it, and texting my message to people. Very cool functionality, though definitely not essential. At this point I feel like the note taking functions of the S Pen are pretty essential to how I organize my business.

One big advantage of the S Pen is if you are in a job where you are in meetings, people with their phones out look like disrespectful jerks, even if they are actually typing notes. With the S Pen, it looks like you are taking notes even if you are actually not.

Is actually really easy to sign a PDF, if the PDF is read only use screenshot/ screen write. You can share straight from Adobe via email. It's the same concept as using Adobe as your printer on a computer..

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[boufa]

For me, the screen write without having to turn on and unlock the phone is the note 5 killer feature. I go through a ton of sticky notes, most for quick, temporary things (I also sometimes write on my hand) the phone needs to be a faster, easier option, and it is now.

The only thing I wish it would do is have a double tap or something to start up the feature when the pen is out and the screen is off.

 

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

I don't have a Note 5, but from my time using a Note 3 and Note 4, my favorite feature has to be the screen write.

I can take a screenshot and write on it. So if I want to show my friends a meetup point, I can take a screenshot of the location in Google Maps and write whatever I need.

On the Note 4, I really love using it like a mouse to select multiple items the same way I would on my PC. I also love how you can copy multiple lines of text separately instead of it having to be one long selection.