Samsung smart pen lets phone users sketch or write
Scattered across the Samsung booth at the International Consumer Electronics Show were artists sketching caricatures of visitors. But they weren’t using a pad and pencil. They were using Samsung’s Galaxy Note smartphone with the advanced smart pen (S Pen).
The 4G LTE Note, available soon in the U.S. on the AT&T Wireless network, runs on Android’s 2.3 operating system, and features a 5.3-inch Super AMOLED screen, full HD video recording, 16 gigabytes of internal storage and an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera. There’s a front-facing one, too. Most intriguing, however, is the S Pen. Users simply pull out the pen from the bottom of the phone and begin writing or doodling.
The device is pressure sensitive, so light strokes on the touch-screen create thinner lines, while pressing down more firmly creates thicker swipes. Samsung is hoping to leverage the benefits of the S Pen with several interesting apps, some of which are available in the Android Market and Apple’s App Store. Among them:
-To-chnote. Users can send photos from their smartphone as a physical postcard. With the S Pen, they can now add interesting messages or doodles to the front and even include a signature with their typed postcard. However, users must pay postage for each card mailed.
-Comicbook. Similar premise as Touchnote, only users turn their photos into comic book panels, using various digital effects. They can also use the S Pen to doodle on creations.
-Zigzag. The collaborative whiteboard app allows users to write notes, create quick sketch- es or other elaborate diagrams. And with a subscription, users can host sessions with others and interact with the app simultaneously.