Database Users

Should HTC have provided a stylus with HD2?

I am finding clicking links which are quite small a bit hit and miss and the lighter the touch the easier it is to register a click Also registry tweaks on things like total commander are very difficult and I miss a stylus for things like this. I beleive a capacitive stylus should have been provided and left to the user to use or not. What do you think?

Nope - capacitive screens don't need styli. What they should have done is made all of the wm 6.5 menus finger friendly and maybe added a safari-type magnifying glass for clicking links in Opera.

While I was waiting for my phone to arrive, I had ordered a cheapo Pogo stylus "just in case". I've used it a few times when I first got the phone and started changing stuff in the registy, but got confident enough with my "finger poking" very quickly. Haven't used it in nearly 2 weeks now.

I think the HD2 is perfectly finger friendly. However, if HTC could have produced a stylus for the capacitive screen that was the same size as a normal stylus and managed to find room in the current case for a silo to hold it then I wouldn't have objected. Regardless of what the finger nazis would have you believe, you can still get more done faster with a stylus and ruling it out is as silly as ruling fingers out.

jakem said:
I think the HD2 is perfectly finger friendly. However, if HTC could have produced a stylus for the capacitive screen that was the same size as a normal stylus and managed to find room in the current case for a silo to hold it then I wouldn't have objected. Regardless of what the finger nazis would have you believe, you can still get more done faster with a stylus and ruling it out is as silly as ruling fingers out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. The transition from stylus to finger may be ok for people with slim fingers but my fingers are not slim, I have bloke hands so a stylus for me is essential for some operations like editing the registry.
The possibility of screwing something up with a large fingered prod after using that slider thing to navigate to the right registry key doesn't bear thinking about. That alone stopped me in my tracks mid regedit and made me go to the bay and buy a pogo.
Koreans and snake hipped ladyboys might find styluses obsolete but some actual men use these devices, some of us have been doing so since they were invented and some of us are over 40
HTC ought to have included a stylus, whether the user chose to use it or not.

compact_bijou said:
...
Koreans and snake hipped ladyboys might find styluses obsolete but some actual men use these devices, some of us have been doing so since they were invented and some of us are over 40
...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am well over 40, neither Korean nor a ladyboy... but quite tall with quite big hands and not so small fingers...
And I got used to the touch screen after some practicing... after having some experience from Apple devices.
"Problem" is maybe that HD2 is really fast with everything. One has to get used to the sensibility of the screen and the sheer speed.

eyeofthetiger said:
Should HTC have provided a stylus with HD2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.
Next question?

Im also using pogo stylus, works great and regarding registry editing on mobile i use CeRegEditor which basically connects from PC to mobile registry and on PC you can fast and easily edit it.

compact_bijou said:
I agree. The transition from stylus to finger may be ok for people with slim fingers but my fingers are not slim, I have bloke hands so a stylus for me is essential for some operations like editing the registry.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Erm finger size not quite an excuse ... I've got slim fingers, true (I'm a girl), but instead I have long nails to contend with (and I mean long - they "stick out" by about half an inch) so I had to find the right angle to poke at. Agree with you that it would have been nice of them to include a stylus anyway and let the user decide.

i really need a slim stylus...i use VNC/RDP alot and with this phone it's quite impossible.

tictac0566 said:
One has to get used to the sensibility of the screen and the sheer speed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm getting there with the sensitivity of the screen vs the insensitivity of my digit (it's only been 6 hours) but I have to say that I'm delighted to have finally found a hand held device which fast enough to work my way.

Will be doing an indepth review of the Note - let me know your questions!

Hi everyone,
I'm getting a Note (whenever it does actually release that is).
Keen to know what questions you have about the device? Either ask here, or post a comment here (it'll probably be easier for me to track questions via the blog).
Will also be getting a Razr and Nexus if you have questions about those handsets.

Hey!
I can't wait to get this phone!!
The stylus looks interesting, and I'm keen to know whether it feels "right" as a pen and paper substitute. Can you write on the screen easily without the stylus dragging too much/feeling too slide-y etc? I'm talking purely as using this as pen/paper rather than using handwriting-recognition etc.
Oooh - also, if this is something you were planning to do, I'd be interested to know how Divx/videos look/work over HDMI out
And battery life is always a good Q, although I know it normally takes a week or two to get a feel for this.
Very jealous of your new phone! Thanks for your report

Thanks man, I waiting for one myself. My one question is: When can I upgrade to ICS? Not easy for to answer
An overall comparison between the devices would be nice.

I am so hopeful that it will come to the US on AT&T, I'll skip the SGS II for this one! I'm very interested in the stylus and its functions, if you could go over that I'd appreciate it.

Please try to include stuff that other videos don't.
It seems like the videos cover the exact same stuff over and over - it's incredibly boring. I'm close to making my own video actually, if I don't see a review that I like.
Stuff I want to know, for example:
1) Most of the stylus writing demos are stupid. They write 'HELLO' or "BOB' in huge finger paint letters.
That's not how it's supposed to be used. It's supposed to emulate a pad of paper and a pen. Can you write, say, a shopping list on it? Is it comfortable to write on? Does it have enough friction or does the stylus slide all over the place? Is it really noisy and would annoy everyone around you? (plastic vs glass = tap tap tap generally) How comfortable is the stylus?
How well does say, a regular capacitive stylus work? what exact functions will you lose? (pressure sensitivity, screenshot button, anything else?)
2) Show some pocket tests. Show how easily it slides into say, a front jeans pocket. Then sit down. Do jacket pockets, or whatever. People always ask how pocketable it is.
3) Ideally show some useful ways to use the stylus.
There's a demo of some guy circling the weather map and writing 'nice weather'. is anyone really going to do that?
The 'trace an outline to crop'- that's clever. Anything else like that?
A better example is to say, take a screenshot of a map, with buildings circled that you want to visit. I think a stylus is at its best when annotating things like documents or whatever.
4) Does the s-pad scroll, like you are a window above a larger sheet of paper? or is a fixed block?
- Frank

Pocket tests +1.
Like jeans, trousers etc. Might as well have to completely refresh my wardrobe for this.

One thing that I did not see yet is how the applications would look like in 1280x800 and compare to let's say a regular 800x480.
Can we return to a 800x480 mode if we want (with a reduced window)?
How easy is it to crop images ? What are the different functions of the built in drawing program?
Are there any other apps for taking notes compatible with the pen ?
Does the pen work as a mouse in a VPN connection/remote connection to a Windows system ?
On the audio outputs, what is the maximum output level?
Can you take pictures with the volume buttons ?

Hi,
Im interested much on Note, because dont want to have both smartphone and tablet PC, so hope Note can replace both.
Im worry about matter, said on some forum & review: Note as phone is too big but as web browser is too small.
Also with a high price, i worry to buy very expensive but not for daily use product.
Pls give your review how Note is comfortable for the daily use?, Can it completely replace a smartphone and tablet ?

kunalparwani said:
Pocket tests +1.
Like jeans, trousers etc. Might as well have to completely refresh my wardrobe for this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is a nice video that shows the note fitting into some jeans. I have seen most of it before, but the pocket demonstration is not till after the 14 minute mark!
BTW, I have a Dell Streak 5" and its actually a little longer than the Note. Fits into my pockets fine, even with Otterbox case...
Sent from my Dell Streak using Tapatalk

Where you getting it from and how much @nztechfreak
Sent from my Desire HD using xda premium

DJKick_fr said:
Can we return to a 800x480 mode if we want (with a reduced window)?
Can you take pictures with the volume buttons ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why on earth would you want the former?
I have some games on my current phone which don't scale, and appear in the middle. I can't stand it - the controls are impossible. ( i guess since we have the stylus it is okay, but why would you actually want this? It's not like you can open multiple windows)
I'm quite certain the answer to the last question is no - you have to use the camera app (and I beleve the galaxy s 2 is the same way)
- Frank

Is the touch experience as fluid as galaxy s2? I mean is the stylus an added bonus or a requirement? Did you try throwing it against the wall?

vuvan said:
Im worry about matter, said on some forum & review: Note as phone is too big but as web browser is too small.
Pls give your review how Note is comfortable for the daily use?, Can it completely replace a smartphone and tablet ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a matter of taste, and how you use a phone/tablet.
As far as tablet goes, would you be willing to go down to a 5.3" screen for pocketable 24x7 access? Depends - for example if you read a LOT, maybe you prefer that 7"/10" screen.
As far as replacing your phone goes - it's mostly how big are your hands, and how important is one handed usage? This is a two handed device, like all tablets.
- Frank

Can you also answer my concern?

Dragooon123 said:
Is the touch experience as fluid as galaxy s2? I mean is the stylus an added bonus or a requirement? Did you try throwing it against the wall?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seems just like a big S2 (I have both), the stylus is a bonus, not needed.
I didn't throw it against the wall, since my S2 has become to small, so I will throw that against the wall.
---------- Post added at 06:55 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:52 AM ----------
kunalparwani said:
Pocket tests +1.
Like jeans, trousers etc. Might as well have to completely refresh my wardrobe for this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, you wont have to I guess.... Until now the Note fits everywhere where the S2 fitted before.

ChodTheWacko said:
Why on earth would you want the former?
I have some games on my current phone which don't scale, and appear in the middle. I can't stand it - the controls are impossible. ( i guess since we have the stylus it is okay, but why would you actually want this? It's not like you can open multiple windows)
I'm quite certain the answer to the last question is no - you have to use the camera app (and I beleve the galaxy s 2 is the same way)
- Frank
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Originally Posted by DJKick_fr View Post
Can we return to a 800x480 mode if we want (with a reduced window)?
Why on earth would you want the former?
I have some games on my current phone which don't scale, and appear in the middle. I can't stand it - the controls are impossible. ( i guess since we have the stylus it is okay, but why would you actually want this? It's not like you can open multiple windows)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is just in case the scaling looks odd or in case the app does not launch properly.
The scaling from iphone to ipad apps is quite bad, often I don't use the scaling for iphone apps on ipad so just making sure you can remove scaling if you want to.

Please test the audio quality in headphone out and let us know if its good or atleast any better than galaxy s2.

Test the glonas gps. How does it work? Does it work without internet connection?

Greatbape said:
Test the glonas gps. How does it work? Does it work without internet connection?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried the Chartcross GPS Test and got without a SIM-Card and deactivated Wifi a fix in under 10 sec!
smeddy said:
Hey!
I can't wait to get this phone!!
The stylus looks interesting, and I'm keen to know whether it feels "right" as a pen and paper substitute. Can you write on the screen easily without the stylus dragging too much/feeling too slide-y etc? I'm talking purely as using this as pen/paper rather than using handwriting-recognition etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ChodTheWacko said:
Can you write, say, a shopping list on it? Is it comfortable to write on? Does it have enough friction or does the stylus slide all over the place? Is it really noisy and would annoy everyone around you? (plastic vs glass = tap tap tap generally) How comfortable is the stylus?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Stylus has nearly no friction and is sliding very fast over the glass. A little tap noise is there, but not annoying. Also the Stylus is a little bit small! imho its not very comfortable to write but for me thats ok because I just wanted the big screen
ChodTheWacko said:
2) Show some pocket tests. Show how easily it slides into say, a front jeans pocket. Then sit down. Do jacket pockets, or whatever. People always ask how pocketable it is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It fits in a front jeans pocket but if you sit down it is visible a litte bit at the top of the pocket!
DJKick_fr said:
How easy is it to crop images ? What are the different functions of the built in drawing program?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With the stylus very easy because if you hold the button on the stylus and hold a long tap on the screen it takes a screenshot of the whole screen!
DJKick_fr said:
Are there any other apps for taking notes compatible with the pen ?
Does the pen work as a mouse in a VPN connection/remote connection to a Windows system ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Stylus works everywhere like a finger, only that it is more accurate for handwriting/drawing! I tried Gmote and it works flawlessly!
DJKick_fr said:
On the audio outputs, what is the maximum output level?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On maximum the speaker sound is really loud. It sounds quite well. While watching a video everything sounds loud enough and clear!
DJKick_fr said:
Can you take pictures with the volume buttons ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately only the on-screen button works!

ankydu said:
Please test the audio quality in headphone out and let us know if its good or atleast any better than galaxy s2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please nswer my question as well.

[SuggestionForDevs] One Handed App

Everybody says it's almost impossible to use the phone with one hand, so can there be a little app that shows the android on a portion of the screen, about 4" on the right side? Or at least the basic quick funtions, wich in my case are Call/Message/Camera?
Of course this would be acessed by a shortcut in the lockscreen on the right down side of the screen.
Also is there a camera app that shoots through sound trigger?
And another ideia for a case, in wich you would a cloth-rubber like feel, a rubber so you could have enough friction, and a cloth like so it would fold a little trough your fingers when you pull the back of the case one handed, thus giving a lot of grip.
Would be awesome, probably ain't gonna see this anyway.
Thoughts?

Kriggs said:
Everybody says it's almost impossible to use the phone with one hand, so can there be a little app that shows the android on a portion of the screen, about 4" on the right side? Or at least the basic quick funtions, wich in my case are Call/Message/Camera?
Of course this would be acessed by a shortcut in the lockscreen on the right down side of the screen.
Also is there a camera app that shoots through sound trigger?
And another ideia for a case, in wich you would a cloth-rubber like feel, a rubber so you could have enough friction, and a cloth like so it would fold a little trough your fingers when you pull the back of the case one handed, thus giving a lot of grip.
Would be awesome, probably ain't gonna see this anyway.
Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's nothing to stop you putting phone/message/whatever icons on the left side of the phone. That's what I do. Putting the entire android screen on a shrunken portion of the phone totally defeats the purpose of the note.
You want a screen this big, you have to expect to sometimes need to use it two handed. If you don't want a screen this big since you require full time one handed use, then don't get the note. It's a very fair reason for not wanting the Note.
Cases with flaps, or stuff like the flygrip, or attaching a lanyard are all pretty useful attachments for using the phone one handed. The one handed keyboard helps too.
- Frank

I love the idea of a voice activated camera. I hate having to press that button, and my hands are quite large.

ChodTheWacko said:
You want a screen this big, you have to expect to sometimes need to use it two handed. If you don't want a screen this big since you require full time one handed use, then don't get the note. It's a very fair reason for not wanting the Note.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It would be just for time to time, in my job I carry a clipboard all around, and can't afford to just drop it anywhere, I'm still on the transition stage on my way to go all digital. And while I'm walking around I need to make a phone call or just send an "OK" or another short message, in those case a small screen Note would be necessary, but after the message/call it would be fullscreen again. Just for quickies.
And thanks for the flygrip, will buy it when it becomes avaible on DX/Ebay.

happy with the S-Pen, if yes explain

I am NOT very happy with my S-Pen because I have to press REALLY hard before the S-Pen touch register on the screen.
This makes the following very hard to do and not practical:
- Taking notes: kinda hard trying to take notes when I have to keep "jabbing" the screen really hard
- Drawing: forget about the pressure sensitive feature, there is only one for me --> press really hard!
I tried replacing the S-Pen (bought one from my local Fry's Electronics), no go.
How about you? Can you use the S-Pen on practical day-to-day basis...or this is just another "gimmick" for you?

I don't have to press any harder than I would with paper and a pencil. Although even now and again it will stop writing, like show a space between two lines because I didn't press hard enough. A lot of peoples are apparently too sensitive sometimes and will start to write above the screen... Samsung seems to have screwed up a few things with the note
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA

Looks like you have a problems with touch screen.

I try to use it. But always end up shoving it back in it's holder and just tapping out texts the old way.
Find it difficult to write with anyway, it doesn't flow naturally and seems a little behind all the time. Not got use to how fast or slow to use it.

The S pen is ok. Its not as good as I thought it was and I actually only use it to make rage comics and post them on 9gag.
Its not very useful for taking down notes on the spot
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

My Problem is as follow :
There are 2 zones in my screen that don't respond to the pen at the First time,
I attached 2 screenshots showing :
The First with the blank untouchable 2 zones,
The second, is the same try, but I added some drawings later with my finger.
So this means that my screen is OK, and May be something is wrong with the S pen.
Any body experienced the same issue?
Sorry for the second screenshot, The volume bar came in
But you can clearly See the cercle with the + incidents. At the buttom zone.

Do you have a case with magnets?
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA

I use mine to play draw something and its great, love how accurate it is. Makes you seems like a right artist haahah

namelok said:
Do you have a case with magnets?
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tell you what,
Even If I stayed a month digging, I would'nt guess!
Thank you Thank you Thank you so much.
You saved my note
The First thing I will do now, is to throw my case away, and look for a non magnetic one.
Take a look at my thread, That could interest you:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1620625

My S Pen works fine for writing and drawing. It's basically the same as writing with a pen for me in terms of pressure. Granted, it is thinner and a little less friction on the surface than pen and paper.
I write a lot on whiteboards for work and it is a little similar to that for me. When writing on a whiteboard, you don't anchor your hand on the surface like you would with paper.
Sometimes if I want to draw very accurately, I will anchor my writing hand on the fingers of the hand holding the phone that stick out from the right hand side. But I find writing like this slower.
I use the S Pen a lot more than I though I would before I bought it. I originally thought it would be a gimmick and just wanted the big screen, but I use it a lot for taking handwritten notes in FreeNote+ (I find this quicker than dealing with text conversion and auto-correction) and also find it a lot more accurate for drawing and photo editing.
I also find myself using it for Swype quite a lot. It's quicker than using my fingers. I think because there's less friction and you have a longer reach, so you hand doesn't actually have to move as much.
Also, the accuracy is excellent for some games like Fruit Ninja and Deer Hunter.

It works well for me. Though, need to get a bit of used to.
I use it mainly for taking notes...

I use mine when I am wearing gloves. No need to remove them.

I use it for taking notes an play DrawSomething! I love it. Everybody prases my drawings and at several iPhone players say they envy my Note and wish they had one
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA

Those who enjoy using the on, do you see any issue with it? I.e. Pen not registering in screen, must press hard, etc.

Alexanderbooth said:
I use mine to play draw something and its great, love how accurate it is. Makes you seems like a right artist haahah
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

useful
I find the S-Pen incredibly useful whenever you want to write something down on the go.
I find it much faster to take out my phone and launch a smartly-placed app to start taking a quick note (phone number, adress, any work-related post-it...) rather than searching your pockets for something to write on and asking for a pen (though i still always carry one on me )
The trick is then to process the notes and not just leave them in that folder you never go to. Well, that just takes a little discipline.
As for good apps, i've only tried a few but i think the first important thing to look out for in such an app is it's capacity to transform you're wavery note-taking skills into a nice smooth handwritten text on the screen. The S-Memo tool does it pretty well but i would recommend something more like Papyrus (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1580716&highlight=papyrus) which has some pretty useful vector-imaging capabilities.
EDIT : I forgot to add that the s-pen is meant to work without pressure on the phone (though it still requires a minimum of contact), and works flawlessly on mine (i don't use cases or covers to protect the phone, i just take care of it.). Anyone needing to press hard on their phone for the s-pen to work has a problem, either with the phone or the pen. Consider having it checked.

I don't use it for all tasks, because that would just make things much harder. It's good for playing basic games though, like Draw Something, or just any other game where it feels better to use the S-Pen.

lanwarrior said:
Those who enjoy using the on, do you see any issue with it? I.e. Pen not registering in screen, must press hard, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I don't have such problem. Sometimes, I find it a bit sensitive than I had hoped.

If you have to press REALLY hard for it to register, it might be a good idea to go to a shop and test one out to see if it's the same as your unit.
Maybe try and test their S Pen with your phone to see if it's a problem with the S Pen or the screen.

I think the spen is to small for 1 handed users. But works perfectly fine for all spen activities.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

Finger print sensor position bad press

Is anyone else sick of the bad press this phone is getting for fingerprint sensor ? Many site saying the phone has a major flaw and buyers beware. Granted it's not the best but I personally do not use the sensor and with 3 other options to unlock the phone i think it's a moutain out of mole hill issue.
Maybe this is a big issue to security minded people?

You said yourself it's not an issue because you don't use it. The fingerprint sensor is in an absolutely awful place. This is the first phone in the past several years I won't be able to use it, and will have to use another method. I setup face recognition, but I'm sure it's going to have issues in dark rooms, plus it can be fooled by a photo of yourself.

geoff5093 said:
You said yourself it's not an issue because you don't use it. The fingerprint sensor is in an absolutely awful place. This is the first phone in the past several years I won't be able to use it, and will have to use another method. I setup face recognition, but I'm sure it's going to have issues in dark rooms, plus it can be fooled by a photo of yourself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes heard it is no where near as fast to use iris or facial recognition. Samsung obviously things an earlier release is more important than sensor placement as we know this was a last minute hash job just hope it does not ditract to much from what promises to be the best phone of the year

I've been using the fingerprint sensor all day without an issue.

Agreed. While I would have preferred it to be in the center like the Pixel or V20, finding it with a case on your phone is extremely easy. I'm sure I won't even think about it in couple weeks.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

The finger print scanner works great for my right hand. I can easily find it and use it.
MY left hand wants to go to the heartbeat sensor. It will take some getting use to, but its not unusable.
True it would of been better if it was in the middle center by itself but hahh it doesnt break the phone for me.

4 digit passcode as like, forever.
It's all marketing, any publicity is still publicity. Remember the makers of GTAV paid for negative press. On purpose! Don't be blind to how "it" works.
Again. 4 digit passcode. If that. I don't live in fear.

it always good to have finger print sensor on front. i always use the sensor for samsung pay. you may need to look backside and front side for authenticating a transaction.

mattcall said:
Is anyone else sick of the bad press this phone is getting for fingerprint sensor ? Many site saying the phone has a major flaw and buyers beware. Granted it's not the best but I personally do not use the sensor and with 3 other options to unlock the phone i think it's a moutain out of mole hill issue.
Maybe this is a big issue to security minded people?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use it without fail. The position on the back is not a problem for me. I prefer it on the back.

While not ideal, the fingerprint placement isn't a huge issue for me. As once i got my case i can honestly find it easily and not worry so much of smudging the camera.

I use my phones on the desk, table, and so on and the back sensor is an extra step for me, doesn't matter where it is or how well it works. Neither is facial or iris a work around because you have to pick up the phone. I've read many comment that after a time you become accustomed to rear scanners, might even like it better. Didn't happen with me, I've gone through a couple and I like them less and less the more I used them. While there is no perfect placement for every situation there is a reason why Apple and Samsung are trying to get the scanner under the screen, it's the placement that has the most strengths and fewest weaknesses. I'm a Note man anyways and as reports seem to indicate that we have hope Samsung will get the scanner they failed to get under this screen under that one it's a no brainer for me. My current phone is only a few months old and I picked up an LG watch sport the other day to get my toy need in check for a while. Assuming the international Note 8 can be rooted it will be my next phone.

Ive been wondering.. since its already in a bad position would it be even harder for me to reach it since im left handed.. what do u think?

Viouf said:
Ive been wondering.. since its already in a bad position would it be even harder for me to reach it since im left handed.. what do u think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, if anything you have a slight advantage. Just buy yourself a case and you should be good.

Astron8 said:
No, if anything you have a slight advantage. Just buy yourself a case and you should be good.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh you are right i thought it was on on left side of the cam (looking phone from rear view) thank u !