Does the Galaxy Note S-Pen work with all apps?

[nibunnoichi]

Got a basic question regarding the Galaxy Note phones. I might consider a Note 5 whenever Samsung releases. I'd like to know if the usefulness of the S-pen is limited only to apps that specifically are coded for it, or will it work in general for all apps (if nothing else, as a more precise finger?)

For example, does the AirView features only work with the default Samsung Browser app? Or will it also work in Dolphin, Boat, Firefox, Chrome, etc?

Or does Google Keep recognize S-pen writing?

If the S-pen only works with Samsung apps ( + a limited set of other apps specifically coded for it), then it is far less useful than I had hoped.

 

[ControlD]

Got a basic question regarding the Galaxy Note phones. I might consider a Note 5 whenever Samsung releases. I'd like to know if the usefulness of the S-pen is limited only to apps that specifically are coded for it, or will it work in general for all apps (if nothing else, as a more precise finger?)

For example, does the AirView features only work with the default Samsung Browser app? Or will it also work in Dolphin, Boat, Firefox, Chrome, etc?

Or does Google Keep recognize S-pen writing?

If the S-pen only works with Samsung apps ( + a limited set of other apps specifically coded for it), then it is far less useful than I had hoped.

I can't address all of your questions as I have a Note 2 which doesn't support most of the newer Air features, but the S-Pen will work as a stylus for anything.

In general I have found that apps need to specifically support the S-Pen to allow / recognize handwriting. Obviously the Samsung Note specific apps do this, but there are also quite a few third party apps like Papyrus that support S-Pen input as well.

I just tried Google Keep and it does not support the S-Pen aside from the pen acting like a stylus for tap inputs.

 

[nibunnoichi]

I can't address all of your questions as I have a Note 2 which doesn't support most of the newer Air features, but the S-Pen will work as a stylus for anything.

In general I have found that apps need to specifically support the S-Pen to allow / recognize handwriting. Obviously the Samsung Note specific apps do this, but there are also quite a few third party apps like Papyrus that support S-Pen input as well.

I just tried Google Keep and it does not support the S-Pen aside from the pen acting like a stylus for tap inputs.

That's half good news and half bad news I guess.

Really wish stylus functionality was a core part of Android so it's natively supported. Sigh...

 

[zerogear]

While I liked the Note line -- the stylus doesn't do as much as Samsung would like to pretend it does. If you really want stylus support and serious note taking, Microsoft Surface line would be your best bet.

 

[ControlD]

While I liked the Note line -- the stylus doesn't do as much as Samsung would like to pretend it does. If you really want stylus support and serious note taking, Microsoft Surface line would be your best bet.

Yeah, I think I have used my stylus less than a dozen times in the two years I have had my Note. Taking notes on this small of a device is just awkward. Now the Note 10.1 tablet on the other hand I find the stylus to be pretty handy, but that device is close to a piece of paper in size.

 

[MSCoder610]

I have the Galaxy Note 4 (with Android 4.4), and I don't use the stylus much, but:

- In the S-Pen options, if you turn on "Direct pen input", a lot of text fields in Android apps can accept handwriting input (you hover over the text field with the S-Pen, you see an icon pop up over the text field, then when you tap on that, you can use handwriting)

- Direct Pen Input doesn't actually seem to work with all input fields. Using Google Chrome as an example, I can use handwriting to enter text in the URL field. But if I load a web page (like AnandTech or Reddit), I can't seem to use handwriting as an input to any text fields on those web pages.

- Handwriting in Google Keep seems to work fine for me. If "Direct Pen Input" is on, I can launch the app, create a new note (with the regular text note option), hover the note's text field, I do get the option to switch to handwriting and it works fine.

 

[Red Storm]

I seem to recall the stylus did not work at all in the game Shadowrun. That's the first time I remember having that problem.

A lot of apps won't work with the s-pen features, but as long as it works like a fine tip finger that's all I need.

For the life of me I do not understand why the Surface Pro 3's pen does not act like a regular finger touch. It would have made Windows desktop much easier to use.

 

[s44]

OneNote works with the pen, FYI

 

[gorcorps]

I don't know about the devices before the Note 4, but the stylus allows you to copy any text on the screen by holding down the button and highlighting the text. I know what you're thinking... you just hold down your finger to start highlighting and then can copy like that. True, but there were some fields that didn't allow this for some reason (like if some text was on top of a button or something, it would assume you're trying to hit the button and not copy the text). Plus, it's much easier to highlight exactly what you want to copy w/ a stylus compared to your finger. IMO I find it almost worth it enough just for this reason alone.

 

[Red Storm]

OneNote works with the pen, FYI

Yep, and it works well. But outside of OneNote the pen would be more useful if it acted like a fine point finger, especially while using a browser or really any traditional desktop app.

 

[nibunnoichi]

I have the Galaxy Note 4 (with Android 4.4), and I don't use the stylus much, but:

- In the S-Pen options, if you turn on "Direct pen input", a lot of text fields in Android apps can accept handwriting input (you hover over the text field with the S-Pen, you see an icon pop up over the text field, then when you tap on that, you can use handwriting)

- Handwriting in Google Keep seems to work fine for me. If "Direct Pen Input" is on, I can launch the app, create a new note (with the regular text note option), hover the note's text field, I do get the option to switch to handwriting and it works fine.

Good to know, thanks. I suppose the follow-up question would be is handwriting using the pen any faster/better than the normal keyboard, especially with swipe? I get the feeling that it would be slower and more cumbersome in most situations for text input.

 

[nibunnoichi]

I don't know about the devices before the Note 4, but the stylus allows you to copy any text on the screen by holding down the button and highlighting the text. I know what you're thinking... you just hold down your finger to start highlighting and then can copy like that. True, but there were some fields that didn't allow this for some reason (like if some text was on top of a button or something, it would assume you're trying to hit the button and not copy the text). Plus, it's much easier to highlight exactly what you want to copy w/ a stylus compared to your finger. IMO I find it almost worth it enough just for this reason alone.

Good to know. That does seem very handy.