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S-Pen Uses

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Is anyone regularly using the S-Pen, and if so how? This is my first Note and I love the phone, but I haven't found any practical uses for the S-Pen yet.


Thank you in advance.
 
Big_Moose said:
Is anyone regularly using the S-Pen, and if so how? This is my first Note and I love the phone, but I haven't found any practical uses for the S-Pen yet.


Thank you in advance.
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I use it for lots of things, far more than I expected to. It's fantastic.

Here are sites with tips and more.


Pen Tips

Galaxy Note 3 S Pen tips, One Handed Mode explainer, and Pen Window multitasking | Android | Geek.com
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GALAXY Note S Pen User Guide | AppBrain Android Market
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How to use the S Pen on the Galaxy Note 3: Feature Focus
 
I am new to this phone as well so I have not been using the S-pen nearly as much as I've been just getting the phone set up the way I want it. That said, I am trying to learn how to use it best. I have written some notes with it, make to-do task lists (there are some limitations to this - see thread on it).

I have started to work with using it to 'cut' out things I see online and either save them to a note or better yet email it or text it to someone. I can see that being a useful thing. So I'm surfing Amazon for gifts and I see something I like I can use the pen to copy the relevant photo and text and send to my wife for confirmation, etc.

Probably the best thing is to write down someone's name and phone number and then send it to contacts. That works slick. Also, writing down the name of a place and then using it to search in Maps also works pretty slick. That's all I've really had time to check out right now. But I'm looking forward to what the S-pen pros have to say.

I started a thread here before I purchased asking who used their pens a lot on their N2's. The feedback was all over the place with some using a little, some a lot and some not at all.
 
A few of my uses follows, but this isn't only for the GN3: I'm also including how I use my Note 8.

- Meeting notes. All of them. Everything is written into S-Note, then immediately shared to Evernote, where everything is stored.
- In those meeting notes, I'll usually have some materials (presentation, PDF, whatever) open, and then I'll copy & paste info from that into the S-Note meeting notes. I use the "hold the button and lasso the screen area" method of C&P.
- Signing any document that needs it. No need for scanners.
- Playful things with my gf (goofy picture annotations, etc)
- Annotating screen shots for explanations: (Google map: this is where the resto is)
- All my research. I use another app for this (other than S-Note). I import PDFs into the app, annotate them, C&P as described above, etc.
- Misc rapid notes (phone numbers in action memo, etc)
- lists in S-Note (todo, projects, groceries)
- I've even started using it for texting, instead of a normal keyboard. The recognition is better than I expected.

That's all I can think of now, it's late. Hope it helps.
 
I use it for just about everything I do on the phone except hitting the Home, volume and off/on physical buttons. It was THE major factor in my buying decision last June. I'm a touch-screen phobic.

I loathe mucky screens.

I have yet to work out how to imitate the "zoom"/pinch gesture on the screen without fingers on the few occasions I have to use it but I probably haven't looked hard enough.
 
I need to check out those sites listed above but the main thing I use the S-pen for on my Note 3 and used it for on my Note 2... writing stuff down because my memory sucks anymore. Seriously, that right there is worth it all to me.
 
Simon_Gardner said:
...I have yet to work out how to imitate the "zoom"/pinch gesture on the screen without fingers on the few occasions I have to use it but I probably haven't looked hard enough.
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Double-tap to toggle zoom in/out. ;) The only downfall is that the zoom amount is preset. Both Chrome and Samsung's default browser allow the zoom amount to be changed, though (other apps may have their own settings as well, but browsers are where I find myself using zoom the most). In Chrome, go to Settings, Accessibility and for the stock browser, go to Settings, Screen and Text. Both will have a sample paragraph of text and a slider bar underneath. As per the sample text's instructions, move the slider until the text can be read comfortably, and you're done. :)

As for keeping on-topic, I find myself using the S pen more and more as I get accustomed to the Note 3. Like Simon said, it's a great way to keep the screen clean and protected. I also have had issues in the past because of my large fingers. While the big screen certainly helps, I've come to rely on the S pen to help me be even more accurate.
 
Big_Moose said:
Is anyone regularly using the S-Pen, and if so how? This is my first Note and I love the phone, but I haven't found any practical uses for the S-Pen yet.


Thank you in advance.
Click to expand...

Thanks for asking this question. I'm in the same boat with you...my first Note and really haven't even tried the pen for anything yet...haven't seen the need.
 
darkcyber said:
Thanks for asking this question. I'm in the same boat with you...my first Note and really haven't even tried the pen for anything yet...haven't seen the need.
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My curiosity begs the question, why did you buy the Note 3 if you have zero use for the pen?

I'm not being rude, just genuinely interested in what appeals to you.
 
dontpanicbobby said:
It sucks at removing earwax. The nib is too pointy. :(
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It sucks at ANY body gunk removal, at that. :p But then it was never meant to be used as a personal grooming tool, so the S pen can't be faulted for that short-coming.

zipred said:
My curiosity begs the question, why did you buy the Note 3 if you have zero use for the pen?

I'm not being rude, just genuinely interested in what appeals to you.
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S pen features aside, my reasons for getting the Note 3 are the larger size, the full HD screen, and the performance specs (CPU, RAM, on-board storage, etc.).
 
Hi new to android devices since I used apple products since. Just want to ask that when im writing using S pen in messages, it is not converted into a text message. Hope to hear some answers badly wanted to use that feature! :)
 
jsamdp said:
Hi new to android devices since I used apple products since. Just want to ask that when im writing using S pen in messages, it is not converted into a text message. Hope to hear some answers badly wanted to use that feature! :)
Click to expand...

In most text boxes, if you hover the S pen in the upper left corner, a small square with a picture of a pen will appear. Click that, and it will allow you to switch to handwriting mode. Is this the feature you were looking for?
 
thanks for the reply :) i'm able to find the handwriting mode what im trying to say is when I start writing with the s pen it is not being converted into text message. my writings just stays there and the message field has no texts
 
xaelith said:
In most text boxes, if you hover the S pen in the upper left corner, a small square with a picture of a pen will appear. Click that, and it will allow you to switch to handwriting mode. Is this the feature you were looking for?
Click to expand...



thanks for the reply :) i'm able to find the handwriting mode what im trying to say is when I start writing with the s pen it is not being converted into text message. my writings just stays there and the message field has no texts
 
Ahhhh yes you need the update.
Go to play store, search "samsung keyboard note 3/10.1" (I think that's what it is) and hit update.
Once the update is done you MUST restart your phone - then it'll work
(",)
 
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