Android OneNote and Stylus input

Anonymous

BLUF: OneNote for Android NEEDS support for stylus input for drawing and annotating!

Let me first say that on my IBM X200 with digitizer that OneNote is my most used application. I absolutely love the ability to make rough design sketches then annotate them with information. (Parts lists, notes etc) My favorite feature though is the ability of OneNote to actually improve upon the simplicity of pen and paper. You have the freedom to use it as a simple notepad. But where it excels is with the ability to move and resize drawing and text elements. All though college I used it to take notes in class and being able to move a diagram around was a huge benefit.

Android needs the pen input functinality. I can't stress this enough. I'm not talking about handwriting recognition for text input. I'm talking about being able to use the application like a notepad. Initially I bought a Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 to use as my "idea pad". With all of the capability that the table has, the software available for the built in digitizer is abysmal. It does everything well except be a notepad. It's actually pretty horrifying how much trouble to have to go through to even try to use it that way. It was so poor at being a notepad that I returned it. The same is almost true of the Samsung Galaxy Note II I have been using as my phone.

I have found an application published by Asus called Supernote that does a decent job at combining a notepad and drawing application. If the handwrighting recognition feature were enabled it could give OneNote a run for it's money. OneNote still has the advantage with the moving text and graphics around. If it could access the clipboard for the S-pen that would be great too...

The question is, with more and more devices being sold with digitizers and stylus', when is OneNote going to support their input? (Oh, and being able to ignore finger input while the pen in is use is an important aspect of that.)

Thanks for listening,

Michael

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126 answers

Anonymous

2014-08-13T19:17:00+00:00

I have been using oneNote on my Surface 1 for over a year now. I started using it for EVERYTHING, for the cloud options. I do IT design, user experience, and on the side theatrical design of sets and lights. I NEED to draw and take pictures.

I just upgraded to a Samsung Galaxy 5 for the bigger screen to add this awesome program to my phone. I bought a $35 jot pro stylus. I installed... and am SHOCKED that you don't have this feature. There is no technical reason why we can't draw on our phone if we have a precise stylus.

If something isn't announced in the next two weeks I'm switching over to Evernote and proposing that my patrons (4000+ educators on a major campus) do the same for this exact reason.

Shocked, truly. You made the Surface. There is no excuse for this.
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Anonymous

2014-08-12T02:43:50+00:00
Check out this link. I sold my GN3 so I cant try it with a stylus. If anyone is able to try it, please let us know how it is.

Probably Microsoft will benefit from Android-stylused devices user base, because after releasing Onenote with stylus support on Android, competitor's apps become inferior:
- SNote - no multiplatform support
- Evernote - multiplatform support exists, but the main focus of app on text note-taking, not stylus-one
Potentially, it covers all the target market of 'stylused-devices' users.

Maybe it would be even reasonable for Miscrosoft to provide an option to buy Onedrive 'access' for OneNote, or somehow persuade users to subscribe for Office 365... (something like 'wanna instant syncing of your android notes to other devices/OS ? -> buy subscription)

Anyway, good for us. Thank you, Microsoft!
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Anonymous

2014-08-10T19:09:46+00:00

I don't see this on my Galaxy Note1. Only a very basic version of One Note

To get to the OneNote beta you have to join the Google+ group for the beta program. After you have joined it if you have OneNote app installed the app store will then give you an update for the OneNote app to install the beta version.

The link in a previous post had a brief set of instructions for getting into the beta program and how to get the beta OneNote application.

I am not part of it or an expert but that is what I read and did and I see the update on my phone for the beta.

Not easy to join the beta group, but eventually I succeeded.

Now I've found the beta version installed on my Asus transformer prime (which wasn't my intention), but not in my Galaxy Note 1.

I don't know what else I can do.
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Anonymous

2014-08-09T16:19:53+00:00

I followed the instructions more or less as above.

First join One Note community on google plus and then you will have access to this new beta in play store.

Since we are finding out about this beta through sources other than Microsoft it's clear that this message board is ignored by the company.

The inking seems to be working fine on my note 3. No handwriting recognition but it's a step in the right direction.
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Anonymous

2014-08-09T16:10:02+00:00

I don't see this on my Galaxy Note1. Only a very basic version of One Note

To get to the OneNote beta you have to join the Google+ group for the beta program. After you have joined it if you have OneNote app installed the app store will then give you an update for the OneNote app to install the beta version.

The link in a previous post had a brief set of instructions for getting into the beta program and how to get the beta OneNote application.

I am not part of it or an expert but that is what I read and did and I see the update on my phone for the beta.
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