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Hi Folks,
One of my primary reasons for buying the Note2 (arrived yesterday, so not had much time to experiment) was the Stylus^D^D^D^D^D^D S-Pen. I'm hoping that the phone can replace my Moleskine notebook, in which I make short notes, jot down my action items, etc in meetings where I'm not chair / taking full minutes (for those, I expect I'll need to stick to an A4 pad).
Given what the device is, and who the contributors here are, I thought I'd post, to see if anyone else had the same requirements, and come up with a good working solution? If not, I'll post updates as I go along, and whether or not I find a solution which works well for me.
Ideally, then, my workflow would look something like:
Attend a meeting
Write relevant notes on the Note2 using the S-Pen
Have those notes sync <somewhere> (ideally automatically, but I can live with pressing a button or two)
Have my notes subsequently available on a desktop computer (Windows PC in the office, Mac when working from home)
Ideally have the notes auto-handwriting-recognised at a reasonable level of quality into machine manipulatable text
Other initial thoughts/comments:
I'm happy to use S-Note for this if it works well, but just as happy to use a 3rd party app, and to pay for said app if the value proposition is there.
I've had an evernote account for years, always though the concept was great, but never really made use of it. This will probably be my first port-of-call.
I'm a heavy Dropbox user, so Dropbox integration would work for me (especially since gaining the additional 48gig through purchase of the Note2!).
It would be great if the single app divided out action items and notes "auto-magically" somehow, and populated a cloud-syncing task management tool with the action items. But on this assumption this is asking too much, I think I'd be adverse to switching between two tools, one for notes, one for actions (though perhaps Multi-View would be an interesting solution here?).
Cheers!
Gav.
I'm very interested to see what your thoughts are after using it a while. I'm an engineering student, and was looking to buy a Note2 and take advantage of the SPen functionality. I like the idea of 'Formula Match' although I haven't experimented with it since I don't know anyone with a Note/2/10.1 etc.
I had the Note, and just got the Note 2 last weekend. The problem with S Note is that it only seems to sync to the PC as an image. So, you can't edit them on the PC.
The best solution I've found is using OneNote on the phone and PC. And, syncing them via skydrive.
Evernote seems pretty good, but I figured since I already had OneNote installed on the pc I'd try and make that work first, and never got around to Evrenote. It's a bit clunky though. I use the MS app most of the time, bit it doesnt do everything, so I bought MobileNoterSE and that does some things the MS apps doesn't. But neither is a complete solution.
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Best options will be to use something like Google Drive, to use google docs support, or Polaris Office (free with this phone) or QuickOffice to create word documents and sync with somewhere like Dropbox.
This way you will have easily editable files, you lose the ability to do things like the formula thing and easily insert images etc, but it works perfectly for handwriting.
Experience thus far
So, my story thus far.
Firstly, I had a play using S-Note and Evernote together:
To get your handwritten notes into evernote, you export via JPEG to Evernote (note, not a problem in the short term, but I've found the Note2 keeps a copy of the exported docs on the internal storage, so if you use it a lot, it could conceivably munch a lot of your space).
Evernote doesn't (so far as I can find) do OCR on the text to make it machine readable, but it does do an amazing job at OCRing for the purpose of making your handwritten notes searchable. Because it can be a little more "relaxed" in doing this (i.e. if it's not sure if you've written "pound" or "sound", it'll index the word as both for searching purposes) it does a truly wonderful job. It almost makes me wish I'd bought a page-whiz type scanner and fired in my hand written notes over the past few years.
My initial perception of the possible value of this search facility might be enough to make me forego the machine manipulatable part of my requirement.
However...
The handwriting recognition option, replacing the keyboard, built into the phone is very good. It does, I would guesstimate, about an 80% accurate job in recognising my (awful) handwriting in tests yesterday/today (how it fares when used "in anger" vs at my desk tests, I've yet to determine). The advantage here, ofcourse, is that it can deliver machine manipulatable text directly into Evernote, or any other tool you so wish (e.g. Polaris Office as mentioned above).
And, of-course, machine manipulatable text is searchable via any one of a hundred methods or varying complexity and sophistication, as suits your needs.
Ideally...
Of-course, ideally, both would be great. Being able to write, without worrying whether or not the machine "gets it right" is a godsend. I (most of the time) can recognise my handwriting, so if offered both, I could correct where necessary.
My experiments continue!
I'm a teacher and have used the Note II for a couple of weeks. Here are my thoughts:
-I previously used a 7" tablet, a swype-style keyboard and Evernote for making notes
-I bought the Note II after playing with it in the phone shop and seeing how accurate the handwriting recognition was. I have used a Palm PDA in the past and the Samsung system is lightyears ahead of the gesture-style recognition of the Palm.
-I input text now either using handwriting recognition and the S-Pen or voice recognition (when I'm at home and on my own!). It's very possible that using the swype-style keyboard is quicker, but I find in terms of vision, seeing my own handwritten, rather large words on the screen easier to see than the smaller keys of the keyboard, so it works out quicker and is more restful for me.
-I use Evernote for all of my notes. It's amazing. An example is of me helping another teacher assess some speaking and listening tasks in the classroom - I made my comments on my Note & Evernote, then emailed them to her. I now have a copy on Evernote for future reference. I travelled on the train over the weekend and planned all of my lessons on the Note. I'll be able to share these with support assistants easily, can access them from the desktops at school, and they are all automatically tagged with the date.
-I use several Evernote widgets. I use tags and notebooks to keep all the quick-reference notes a touch away, like this week's lesson plans and my timetable. I can find other notes very quickly using the search option.
-I've toyed with writing notes in cursive using the stylus - but in the end think - why would I want to do that, since the handwriting recognition is so good on the Note and I can then edit the text later very easily? My handwriting is not THAT beautiful! If you were really attached to cursive handwriting, S-Note can save notes with both drawing on and written text, although this would be converted to an image file were it then uploaded to Evernote.
-When I have time and energy, I mean to look into Tasker to make note-making more automated, for example opening a new note when I draw out the S-Pen. I'm sure Tasker can save and open notes according to location or calender appointments (you mentioned meetings)
My only wish was that attachments like spreadsheets could be edited and saved while still being attached to the Evernote note. Instead, I used Dropbox for files such as PPT and spreadsheets.
Hope this helps!
emeffeff said:
-When I have time and energy, I mean to look into Tasker to make note-making more automated, for example opening a new note when I draw out the S-Pen. I'm sure Tasker can save and open notes according to location or calender appointments (you mentioned meetings)
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Ooh, now, here's something I've not yet considered. If my notes could be auto-labelled based on the meeting I'm (supposed to be) in. That would be interesting.
Evernote can actually do this already. There is a setting which labels the title of your note with the current appointment from your calendar.
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I have started using Papyrus...
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...m5vdmF0aW9uLmFuZHJvaWQucHJvamVjdHBhcHlydXMiXQ..
And Dropbox on my Note 2.
Handwrite notes whilst out at meetings, conferences, etc. Then share to Dropbox in pdf format and thus available on my Desktop when I get back to the office.
Papyrus is still under develeopment and doesn't do OCR afaik. I use my notes for my own recollection, so no need to produce keyboard text or send to colleagues.
Quite simple, but works for me.
Lennyuk said:
Best options will be to use something like Google Drive, to use google docs support, or Polaris Office (free with this phone) or QuickOffice to create word documents and sync with somewhere like Dropbox.
This way you will have easily editable files, you lose the ability to do things like the formula thing and easily insert images etc, but it works perfectly for handwriting.
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Must admit, this is the way I am leaning at present. The coolness of Evernotes indexed handwriting though continues to appeal
I recently eliminated TouchWiz / Samsung features and apps such as S-Note. I used the S-Note application to jot down something quick. What's the next best application on Android 4.2.2 ROMs that are similar to S-Note? Any suggestions or recommendations? Thanks for time and efforts!
Papyrus is very good.
I was recently at a lecture and used SketchBookMobile to take notes, draw pictures and diagrams. It's really an advanced sketching program along the lines of Illustrator but I find it really useful for jotting down notes. Other very useful features that many note taking apps do not allow is zooming in really close and writing very small. You'd be surprised how much fits on a page
Another advantage is that you can add photographs as a layer, resize them, fade them and write on top of them.
Good luck
For quick note
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...51bGwsMSwyLDEsImNvbS5zdHlsdXNsYWJzLndyaXRlIl0.
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I use Evernote and swipe with my finger. Easier for me.
Sent By An Idiot With A Phablet!
I am looking for a tablet that I can use for some note taking. I want something I can sync with my PC, and have notes always available to view.
My notes are typically 1/2 page to 1 full page, nothing more. Some small rough sketches.
Can anyone give me some real life examples of how the galaxy note 8 is helping them with note taking?
Thanks in advance
John
I use lecture notes. I timestamp my notebooks and sort them into relevant folders and tag them with keywords so that I can find the relevant notes instantly. Works pretty well so long as I keep some sort of consistency with the tagging indexes.
I use drop sync to upload all my notes to drop box so that I can view them in png format from any computer. Can't search by the index tags that way though so it isn't ideal. If I'm not accessing them from the Note 8 it's usually the Note 2 though.
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JOHNGAETANO said:
I am looking for a tablet that I can use for some note taking. I want something I can sync with my PC, and have notes always available to view.
My notes are typically 1/2 page to 1 full page, nothing more. Some small rough sketches.
Can anyone give me some real life examples of how the galaxy note 8 is helping them with note taking?
Thanks in advance
John
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Click to collapse
Thats the reason why I bought the note this week. Will get back here in a few weeks time and share my findings.
Evernote seems at least a good solution to sync between PC and other devices.
Stylus Labs "Write" is another possible solution.
I use Stylus Labs Write on my Note 8, Note 10.1, ATIV 500T (Win 8 Convertible). It's a basic "word processor for handwritten text", that is quick and keeps up with my stylus - no lag.
Pros: Free, fast, saves files in .xml format (so if you save the file your're using in your cloud-sync app of choice, I use Dropbox), then you'll be synced across devices, and can open, and for me, most importantly, edit, any file you've created in the app on any device.
Con: Doesn't allow typed input - handwritten only.
I also use OneNote 2013 for longer documents (it automatically syncs itself to Skydrive), although the Android app doesn't allow you to write directly "on" the page -- you input into an input box and the Note 8 converts your handrwriting into typed text.
And I also will use the native S-Note app for when I need to quickly jot something down, say notes from an incoming phone call.
I'm not affiliated with the creators of any of these apps, just a user.
HTH,
crp
My work requires that I often take notes on the fly, and it's great never having to worry about keeping a pen and paper handy. My Note 8 is about the size of a steno pad, which is what I used to use for that purpose. It's small enough to be portable, but large enough that I can annotate PDFs, etc., especially in landscape. It comes with an okay program called S-Notes, which you can sync with your computer. But I prefer a third-party program called Lecture Notes, which is more customizable. You can also sync Lecture Notes with other devices via DropBox.
Does no one find it a bit awkward to write, because of your hand falling off the end of the bezel?
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+1 for Lecture Notes.
I need Project based note books for my job. I used to have a separate paper notebook for every project which was a pain when I was working on multiple projects simultaneously and running between multiple meetings. First I switched from paper to an iPad, then from the iPad to Lecture Notes on the Note 8. I write in it in landscape, but read my notes in Portrait. I was able to import my iPad notes as PDF, and just continue in Lecture Notes. I find the size to be just right. The iPad size is necessary with a capacitive screen, but with the S Pen, 8 inch works just as well and it is more portable. I only wish it had better battery life and no screen freezing issues (does not freeze while taking notes, only in other apps or while using the keyboard, which is why I only use the Note 8 at work, almost exclusively for taking notes). But it still works better than anything else I've tried so far, and I've been trying everything from the early Palm days... When the next version is released next year I will most likely upgrade to that, assuming it will have higher resolution or better battery life.
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crp62 said:
I use Stylus Labs Write on my Note 8, Note 10.1, ATIV 500T (Win 8 Convertible). It's a basic "word processor for handwritten text", that is quick and keeps up with my stylus - no lag.
Pros: Free, fast, saves files in .xml format (so if you save the file your're using in your cloud-sync app of choice, I use Dropbox), then you'll be synced across devices, and can open, and for me, most importantly, edit, any file you've created in the app on any device.
Con: Doesn't allow typed input - handwritten only.
I also use OneNote 2013 for longer documents (it automatically syncs itself to Skydrive), although the Android app doesn't allow you to write directly "on" the page -- you input into an input box and the Note 8 converts your handrwriting into typed text.
And I also will use the native S-Note app for when I need to quickly jot something down, say notes from an incoming phone call.
I'm not affiliated with the creators of any of these apps, just a user.
HTH,
crp
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Interesting combo! Questions:
1). From all the 3, WHICH ONE do you use the most for your main note taking apps that works well ACROSS the different platform?
2). Can you "scribble" on OneNote 2013 document? From the screenshot in Google Play, it seems you can.
3). I use a Mac and there is not OneNote 2013 native apps for OSX. However, I have been hearing about the FREE Web Office Apps from Microsoft (not Office 365), which comes with OneNote 2013. How does this work?
lanwarrior said:
Interesting combo! Questions:
1). From all the 3, WHICH ONE do you use the most for your main note taking apps that works well ACROSS the different platform?
2). Can you "scribble" on OneNote 2013 document? From the screenshot in Google Play, it seems you can.
3). I use a Mac and there is not OneNote 2013 native apps for OSX. However, I have been hearing about the FREE Web Office Apps from Microsoft (not Office 365), which comes with OneNote 2013. How does this work?
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Click to collapse
1) Of the 3, the Stylus Labs Write product is the one that works "best" across all platforms. You "scribble" on the note directly in all versions of the product. I save the files in Dropbox, so when I sync Dropbox, I can open a note I've just created (on my Note 8) on my desktop and it looks exactly the same.
I like OneNote 2013 for handwritten notes, but, and this is a big but: the Android version of the product does NOT allow you to write directly on a note: a text input box (2 lines) pops up and you input there. That's not the case for the desktop app - you write directly on the note. Not a dealkiller for me, but something to be aware of, since you have to purchase the desktop app.
2) As for "scribbling in OneNote 2013, see 1).
3) Sorry, I can't help you there, I don't use the Web Office Apps, so I don't know how that would work.
Use it all the time 20 pages or more on average. For school. Works great for me this thing eliminated carrying any type of notebook imagine touting around 4 notebooks a day for class. Saves my back from getting tired I have 95 notes right now arranged into various class specific albums, I also,carry a. Mobile printer in case I need hard copies of anything. Best device for me hands down the note 8 weighs like what one lb. And my printer it's about the same so my backpack Is light light. Thanks Samsung
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JOHNGAETANO said:
I am looking for a tablet that I can use for some note taking. I want something I can sync with my PC, and have notes always available to view.
My notes are typically 1/2 page to 1 full page, nothing more. Some small rough sketches.
Can anyone give me some real life examples of how the galaxy note 8 is helping them with note taking?
Thanks in advance
John
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Click to collapse
There are oodles of vids on YouTube using the various Note family of devices. Just name your app and there are vids on using it.
Here are a few vids from a user with a 10.1 using S-note but they still apply for any other GN device (all of her tips are using S-note):
General Note Taking
Real time note taking in class
LOTS of nice tips on S-note
Here is the demo video for Stylus Labs Write (which might become my fav overtime):
I really, really like this app. There are versions for several platforms plus the file format (HTML+SVG[vector graphics for your writing]) gives a nice degree of forward portability between apps. I have not tried altering the HTML then re-opening the file in Write. There are also threads for the app un. all of the GN forums here on XDA either started bythe developer or where he monitors to posts to support us users.
Then there is Lecture Notes which might have the most users of all, prolly more than the others combined. I like LN very much, however it is very customizable & hence can have a higher upfront learning curve. I suggest taking a very close look at it for the long term.
My recommendation to anyone new to taking notes with a stylus is use S-note and the other apps. This has a benefit of helping get a feel for the device. Then when you start to see features absent from S-note you are in a better position to evaluate other apps. But no matter what try several to learn which fit your style of note taking.
Have fun & good luck!
The bad thing with S-Notes is that a shape that has been automatically converted using the shape tool can no longer be moved within the note.
Makes using this feature useless.
I DO, however, really like the smooth writing in S-Notes.
I do all the time nearly every day. I mostly use S-note, but Write is gaining my attention more and more.
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electronically and/or printable ones. I not only write but also draw.
One choice for each person.
You are welcome to offer other solutions.
Please provide reasons. Thanks.
P.S. Sorry the last choice should be "Hancom Office's Hword 2014". I cannot edit the poll options.
Triple vote for Papyrus from this end. One from a doctor, one from a biochemist and one from an astrophysicist. (None of those are me. And yes, it does sound like the start of a bad joke.)
It has a write and draw option, and you can export as PDF, PNG and Jpeg. (PDF for easy printing and importing to other apps). All work offline, which is preferable over how some apps require an internet connection. You can also import PDFs and write on those, as well as insert pictures and write on them.. (convenient for diagrams and scanned documents.)
ShadowLea said:
Triple vote for Papyrus from this end. One from a doctor, one from a biochemist and one from an astrophysicist. (None of those are me. And yes, it does sound like the start of a bad joke.)
It has a write and draw option, and you can export as PDF, PNG and Jpeg. (PDF for easy printing and importing to other apps). All work offline, which is preferable over how some apps require an internet connection. You can also import PDFs and write on those, as well as insert pictures and write on them.. (convenient for diagrams and scanned documents.)
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Is there a handwriting to typed text function? I can't find it myself.
petercohen said:
Is there a handwriting to typed text function? I can't find it myself.
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Not to our knowledge.
But then, I pity any device that has to convert their intelligible gibberish into actual words. I've learned to read the unidentifiable scrawls every doctor and scientist seems to have for a handwriting, (It took three days, a highly inept police team, two shouting matches and a sulk of epic proportions before we figured out those scribbles were a shopping list rather than a death threat.(It happens.)) but no device can manage that with any chance of success.
As time passes, sometimes I cannot recognize my own writing. I am very happy with S-Note's ability to recognize it.
Biochemist here:
Papyrus is fantastic and works very smoothly, including all the sorting of notes. MyScript Notes Mobile, however, has a fantastically accurate handwriting to text function and you can convert to text on the fly or highlight and change it later. This is the one I use on a daily basis because my thesis will be a copy and paste dream. It doesn't like to flick through pages very quickly though which limits its use as a lab book and whilst you can create cloud backups, as well as manually export to cloud, you can't just make it sync with a folder at specific intervals.
I would agree with ShadowLea that Papyrus works best overall but that handwriting to text function in Notes Mobile is a killer feature for me.
Can you create a A4 page in MyScript Notes Mobile and then later print out the notes without lost of contents? According to their website, MyScript Notes can search converted text. How good it is in doing that? Can LectureNotes do a good job on this? As Papyrus does not convert text, I guess one cannot search text using this app.
One can modify the imported picture in S-Note but not in LectureNotes. How about MyScript Notes Mobile? Can it do a good job on this?
Is it possible to do a recording under MyScript Notes Mobile?
I have tried S-Note many times during conferences and/or meeting and it was so good.
I can make notes by typing and/or handwriting, insert pics and so many.
Papyrus seems good but I haven't tried it yet.
Everyone has their favorite apps and the fold 4 makes a few of them very much engaging and more useful obviously due to the amazing screen.
Are there any apps/ games/ activities that you think in particular have become more usable and indispensable on this device?
For eg. I really like using tradingview for analyzing stock charts. Really can use more indicators on the go.
Also, I love reading FLIPBOARD and amazon kindle app.
What are your app discoveries?
Spotify and Outlook do a good job of using the ZF4 like a mini tablet on the inner screen
Telegram, Gmail, MS Outlook/Teams and Office Apps, Lightroom, Canva, Chrome, GoogleDrive Apps, YouTube, Zoom Meetings...
Just this morning I had training in the office. At the end there was an assessment and to get the questions you needed to scan the QR code. This then took you to the training website and to the questions. Everyone was either squinting to read the questions, swiping from right to left to read or did their phones in landscape. No problem for the Fold, simply opened the inner screen and viola! Reading the questions was a breeze
What's the offset difference between Microsoft Outlook and Samsung Email? I've tried outlook but the ads annoy me, and I don't need the Microsoft suite of apps enough to subscribe to 365. Is there any stand out feature that Ive missed that could make me switch?
morley636 said:
What's the offset difference between Microsoft Outlook and Samsung Email? I've tried outlook but the ads annoy me, and I don't need the Microsoft suite of apps enough to subscribe to 365. Is there any stand out feature that Ive missed that could make me switch?
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I've been using the outlook app without the MS365 suite and it doesn't have any ads.
Probably u can try adding dns.adguard.com to your private dns and it will block all ads on all aps.
Samsung email is a great app and i've been switching on and off to outlook but since last 2 years it has been my primary email app. It has improved a lot.
Also, if u have a hotmail or live.com email, u can directly create task from emails to MS todo ( another MS app I can't do without)
Robson said:
Just this morning I had training in the office. At the end there was an assessment and to get the questions you needed to scan the QR code. This then took you to the training website and to the questions. Everyone was either squinting to read the questions, swiping from right to left to read or did their phones in landscape. No problem for the Fold, simply opened the inner screen and viola! Reading the questions was a breeze
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Click to collapse
Yeah. You one upped everyone there
rafafischer said:
Telegram, Gmail, MS Outlook/Teams and Office Apps, Lightroom, Canva, Chrome, GoogleDrive Apps, YouTube, Zoom Meetings...
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Click to collapse
Agreed. Any app that has anything to do with reading makes a great use of F4.
Video media consumption is kind of ok because of the aspect ratio and usually it gives the black bar sandwiching the video content. But I guess a 16:9 phone would be a bit odd. But also beautiful.
Does anyone know how to play videos in YouTube a little bit zoomed in, but not fully (so It cuts off less of the video but uses more of the screen? )
Total Launcher is the best launcher and the best app for me
4 Screens: horizontal folded, vertical folded, horizontal unfolded, vertical unfolded and i can customize them all.
Samsung Notes: I've bought a s-pen and it suprised me how good that app is. Got it synced with my girlfriend and we write, import, manage everything in it.
I agree total launchers cool, and seems to work well with fold 4, ita Just alot of effort to set up each screen in my opinion. Any one know any other launchers that work well with dual screen set up?
Ironically, Apple Music.
We can now add Google Keep to this list (it's been a staple of mine due to its cross-platform support for a long time anyway). They've just added a two-pane mode which works on tablets AND it works unfolded in landscape mode on the ZF4.
Anyone else got any more app recommendations for our Fold 4??
The obvious one is DraStic, the DS emulator and Citra, the 3DS emulator. Like, it's just asking for it.
I'd also say that Infinite Painter really takes advantage of the extra screen space when unfolded.
Another great find, Win-X launcher now supports folded screen v21.4, now my fold 4 can look like a windows pc!
book reader apps, have read quite a bit of ebooks already
Does anyone have any other new recommendations for apps??