Android OneNote and Stylus input

Anonymous
2013-10-10T21:17:55+00:00

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

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneNote | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-12-17T16:27:31+00:00

    I would like to chime in on this as well. I feel that this needs to be fully implemented for Android as well as iOS as quickly as possible. Microsoft has, generally, always been very helpful in allowing users to leverage third party devices. OneNote has the opportunity to be the 'One app to rule them all' but not until drawing is implemented across all platforms.

    I'm sure I'm not unique in that I carry devices from several different ecosystems on a regular basis. My daily assortment includes a Surface Pro 2, iPad Air, iPhone 4 and Galaxy Note 3. Some of this is dictated by my employer. I can't necessarily jump to the devices I would like but I would desperately like to use OneNote equally on all these devices. At the moment, I really have to use the Surface to create notes and this just isn't always possible. Not being able to use the stylus with the Note is particularly stinging.

    I really think MS has an opportunity here to take over this market. Please make it happen!

    Thanks!

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-12-23T11:07:28+00:00

    I consider changing from Evernote to OneNote. I really like OneNote, but without the stylus support it is as "useless" on my tablet as Evernote. Please implement this!!!

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-12-23T21:29:46+00:00

    I completely agree with the OP.  Adding pen/ink support to OneNote Mobile would be great.  I currently use NoteAnytime for my tablet because OneNote can't do handwriting.  If OneNote had this feature, I wouldn't need the other app.  In fact, if OneNote added this feature, I would pay for it.

    Right now I take notes in NoteAnytime, export the note pages as pictures, and then insert them into OneNote.  That's quite a hassle.

    In fact, OneNote Mobile lacks a lot of the features present in the PC version.  It would be great if you could make OneNote the same regardless of what platform you're using.

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-12-24T15:55:19+00:00

    I would LOVE to see inking added to Android versions of the product.  Count me as a potential customer lost due to this feature not being available.  

    I'd love to use One Note on my Galaxy Note 2 and Vaio Duo pairing.  But until the stylus is available, I'm sticking to Evernote.

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  5. Anonymous
    2013-12-27T16:47:20+00:00

    I also use Onenote EXTENSIVELY at work on my desktop.  I am now going to purchase a tablet specifically so that I can use Onenote with stylus.  

    However, having a stylus input on Android (for my Galaxy Note III) would definitley help me be more productive.

    Stylus input on Android please. :)

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