Styluses. How styluses for capacitive screens work Capacitive styluses with a fine pen

Signs of pregnancy after embryo implantation

According to rumors, in a few months Apple will introduce the first in its history iPad model with stylus. But you can use styluses on smartphones and tablets for a long time; the main thing is to choose a beautiful and convenient one. In Russian retail stores you can often find inexpensive Chinese styluses of a standard design - with a large rubber tip. These are primitive devices - they are inaccurate, and working with them is a complete pain. Good styluses are more expensive, look more attractive and are much easier to use.

This stylus is compatible with iPhone, iPad and Android devices. The thickness of its rubber tip is 2.4 mm. The stylus is active and is powered by the included AAAA battery. One battery lasts for a month of operation if used for half an hour a day. Replacement tips can be purchased for an additional $6.

This stylus has an aluminum rubberized body, and its tip is made of steel, which means it will last a very long time. The stylus is compatible with devices equipped with capacitive screens, including tablets and Apple smartphones. It does not require battery power, but its sensitivity is lower - you cannot draw on screens protected with film. The accessory is available for sale in four colors.

The DotPen tip is made from durable, hard thermoplastic with extremely low friction and is 1.9 millimeters thick. The aluminum case is heavy and thick (11.9 mm) - it fits an AAA battery. One battery for the stylus lasts only 12 hours, after which the battery has to be replaced with a new one.

This stylus, like others, is compatible with most smartphones and tablets. Its distinctive feature is the presence of a built-in battery with a reserve of 500 charge cycles. The tip is made of plastic, it is relatively thin - 2.3 mm, there is no pressure recognition. After half an hour of inactivity, the stylus automatically turns off, which saves energy. The kit includes a USB charging cable and a spare tip.

Wacom styluses are very popular all over the world, and the Bamboo Stylus Fineline is one of the most common. It has a sleek design, a thin tip and a built-in battery. Some developers are adding optimized support for this stylus into their apps, but Bluetooth connectivity must be activated to use them. The stylus comes in five colors: blue, silver, grey, orange and pink. Aluminum body.

Adonit Dash 2 is a stylus for capacitive screens in the format of a full-size ballpoint pen. Compatible with all modern phones and tablets. Compared to regular inexpensive styluses, it has a very fine and precise tip, but requires charging as the fine tip is powered by electricity.


In this note, I share my first impressions of the stylus paired with the OnePlus 3 phone, and also compare it with the S-Pen - the series stylus Samsung smartphones Note, made using Wacom technology.

Background

I'm a big fan of styluses. Last year my faithful Samsung Note 2 “tired”, attempts to cheer him up failed. I was hoping to replace it with a Note 7, I even walked around with a push-button device for two months, waiting for the Note 7 to go on sale. It didn’t work out, I had to buy a smartphone without a stylus - OnePlus 3.


Life without a stylus was not life! Adonit Dash 2 was on my wishlist from the moment of its announcement, but it was not available in Russia. I was in no hurry to order from abroad due to the traditional pre-New Year jam at the post office. My wife Katya found a store in Moscow where the subject was supposed to go on sale on December 31st. She went to pick him up just before the New Year from the dacha to Moscow and back - and gave me a surprise!


Description

Adonit Dash 2 is a stylus in the format of a full-size ballpoint pen and at first glance is indistinguishable from it.

Features (from the manufacturer)

  • Write and draw. The fine tip of the stylus allows you to achieve new levels of detail and precision.
  • Unlike conventional capacitive finger styluses, fine tip creates the feeling of writing with a ballpoint pen.
  • One-click activation also reproduces the impression of a ballpoint pen. No phone connection required: just turn on the stylus with your thumb and you can immediately take notes.
  • Compatibility. Dash 2 works with all capacitive touch devices, including all iOS smartphones and tablets and almost all Android and other OSes.
  • Design. The aluminum body of the Dash 2 combined with a stylish, ergonomic design makes the subject an iconic multimedia tool. The stylus is pleasant to look and feel.

Characteristics

  • Tip: hemisphere with a diameter of 1.9 mm;
  • body diameter: 8.5 mm;
  • total length: 141 mm;
  • weight: 12 g;
  • stated operating time: 14 hours of continuous use;
  • automatic shutdown: after 15 minutes;
  • time until fully charged: 45 minutes;
  • body material: aluminum;
  • colors: Choose from three matte shades: black, silver and bronze brown.

The subject differs from the previous model, Adonit Dash, in the shape of the indicator (a strip instead of a dot), the “top” Pixelpoint tip, as well as redesigned filling and design.

Principle of operation

Conventional passive styluses imitate a finger: to operate, they need a sufficient area of ​​contact with the screen. Without technical tricks, it is impossible to make the tip smaller - it will simply stop working.


To solve the problem, electricity is used: the tip of the stylus acts as the negative pole of the battery, thanks to which the capacitive sensor is able to detect a touch over a much smaller area.


The Dash 2 tip is not always active. First, the stylus needs to be turned on by pressing the button on the end. Secondly, the tip is pressure sensitive (no gradation) and current is only applied when touched.


Thus, to write, it is not enough just to touch the screen with the tip of the stylus. It takes a little effort.


The Samsung S-Pen stylus was adjustable, and I set it to a very high sensitivity: the slightest touch on the screen would trigger it. It could be compared to writing with a felt-tip pen on paper. The Adonit Dash 2 is not adjustable and feels like a ballpoint pen: you need to press lightly, just a little bit.


The tip of the Dash 2 has a micro-play that is noticeable when you touch the screen. This may cause a false alarm. To avoid this problem, I had to retrain myself from light, gentle touches to firm, firm presses.


I expected the pressure to work poorly when tilted significantly, but it doesn't. The stylus works reliably, even if you hold it at an angle.

Accuracy of work

The accuracy of the Adonit Dash 2 is extremely high. On my five-inch smartphone, I use a very small scale and font size, and the stylus allows me to place the caret cursor exactly where I want it, between two specific letters.


Selecting text by dragging those damn little bumps is also easy! (tears of happiness)


Previous models of Adonit styluses had a drawback: when drawing, horizontal and vertical lines turned out to be straight, and diagonal lines turned out to be wavy. In this regard, the Dash 2 is completely fine, at least on my OnePlus 3. It looks like the manufacturer has worked out the bugs.


By the way, my smartphone has a factory film glued to the screen, and it does not interfere with the operation of the stylus.

Not suitable for drawing and handwriting :(

The subject immediately discovered a problem with drawing and handwritten text: the stylus “swallows” small movements, which is why the rings in the letters turn into “bumps”.


Here is an attempt to write “Once Upon a Time in the Cold Winter” using the usual movements for writing on paper in the INKredible application:



Nevertheless, Google app Handwriting Input, which replaces the on-screen keyboard, recognizes such handwritten text accurately. Also, the subject should do an excellent job of entering hieroglyphs.


The problem of small movements also applies to drawing. Large lines across the entire screen turn out well, but drawing small details is impossible. Probably, on a tablet this problem is not so acute, due to the larger screen area, but on a smartphone, even a “shovel”, Adonit Dash 2 does not allow drawing.

Typing on the on-screen keyboard is extremely good, but has a drawback

My impressions of typing on the on-screen keyboard are extremely positive. Thanks to the full size of the stylus, typing is very convenient. Accuracy and typing speed are excellent.


Compared to the S-Pen, there's a bit of a learning curve to get used to: the way the tip is designed, I had to switch from light taps to jerky, sharp taps on the on-screen keys. This typing style is very nice.


However, even with on-screen keyboard A fly in the ointment was waiting for me: the stylus occasionally allows false double taps. If you get used to sharply lifting the stylus from the screen after each poke, double triggers become less frequent, but I was not able to completely get rid of them.


On average, this results in approximately one character doubling per paragraph of text. :(

Charger

The manufacturer claims 14 hours of continuous use.


Time battery life I didn’t check for the obvious reason: using the stylus for 14 hours straight is extremely difficult.


The kit comes with a plastic charging dongle, which for some reason is difficult to fit into the USB connector. The stylus is placed perpendicularly on it and fixed with a very powerful magnet. If you accidentally touch the stylus with your hand, it returns to its original position.


I would prefer to connect the stylus with a cord using a MicroUSB or USB C connector: there is no risk of losing the unique charger, there is no risk of accidentally knocking the stylus over, interrupting charging.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages

  • Compatible with any capacitive devices and all applications.
  • Convenient size of a full ballpoint pen, matte finish is pleasant to the touch.
  • Long battery life.
  • There is no need to connect the stylus to your smartphone.
  • Extremely high touch precision.
  • Works confidently even with a significant tilt.
  • Works well with Google Handwriting Input.
  • Extremely convenient for everyday work, games and text input using the on-screen keyboard.
  • Allows you to use your smartphone with gloves, including quickly typing text.

Flaws

  • Poor accuracy of small movements - Dash 2 is unsuitable for handwriting and drawing, at least on smartphones.
  • Annoying spontaneous double clicks when typing on the on-screen keyboard.
  • Unique Charger, which is not sold separately. If you lose it, the stylus will become useless. It is possible that Adonit will accommodate you if you contact technical support with a request to buy a charger to replace the lost one.

Advantages compared to Samsung S-Pen

  • The Dash 2 is much more comfortable than the thin and short S-Pen.
  • Works confidently at the edges of the screen.
  • Has no delay. However, some drawing and handwriting apps introduce their own latency, which is almost unnoticeable when using a finger, but noticeable with a fine tip.
  • Compatible with all applications, while S-Pen does not work in some games.

Disadvantages compared to the S-Pen

  • Does not respond to presentation, does not display the cursor.
  • Does not integrate with the phone: does not have an erase button, does not launch the application when turned on.
  • Does not have pressure gradation.
  • Does not disable finger and palm touch recognition: with the S-Pen, you can press your palm against the screen, and the Note will ignore it, reacting only to the stylus.
  • Can't be hidden inside the phone.

Conclusion

Adonit failed to make the perfect stylus. However, it should be understood that the company is trying to release an accessory for devices whose manufacturers, in principle, do not provide for the existence of accessories of this type! Adonit engineers have had to find solutions and make compromises, and compared to previous attempts to make an active stylus, the progress is quite significant.

2 years ago

Resistive technology in most mobile touch-screen devices is already quite outdated. So outdated that capacitive touch screens have partially replaced them. And for a long time. And this is not surprising!

After all, the advantages of capacitive screens over resistive screens do not need to be proven to users. They are obvious. For example, a capacitive sensor is stronger and more durable. This is because it uses a grid of electrodes that can be applied to almost any surface. And the flexible resistive membrane can be damaged very easily.

Let us also recall that a capacitive screen can withstand much more pressure at one point. In addition, it is more transparent. Well, don’t forget that for capacitive sensors such a necessary function as multi-touch can be implemented.

However, as is known, the main method of manipulation in capacitive technology is working with the fingers. But it is not always suitable for work and is not suitable for everyone. Many people find it inconvenient. Very often, those who use handwriting text input or drawing on a graphics tablet complain about this.

It is noteworthy that this is associated with some inconvenience in winter. The point is that with sub-zero temperatures in the yard, not everyone likes to take off their gloves when someone calls and you need to answer the call.

Those who previously used older smartphones and PDAs with resistive screens, of course, have not forgotten how they had to manipulate their interface using a stylus. Instead of a stylus, there could be any other thin object that came to hand. The smartest ones, for example, used a toothpick. If you didn’t have one with you, you could use a plastic card.

It must be admitted that resistive technology was imperfect. Still, this method was quite convenient. After all, it was possible to achieve great accuracy of manipulation. If we take a capacitive screen, then it is unlikely to respond if you touch it with a regular stylus.

To work with it, you need some capacity. It must receive and conduct low voltage electricity. As it turns out, the human body is simply perfect for this purpose. However, you don’t need to think that the capacitive sensor interface is controlled only with your fingers.

Currently, companies that specialize in the production of mobile accessories offer the purchase of special styluses for capacitive screens of the most different models. They can be made from a variety of materials. These could be, for example, fibers capable of conducting current. There may also be sponges, special rubber or plastic.

As a rule, such accessories are designed very simply. We say this for those who may want to make a stylus for a capacitive screen with their own hands. Let us remind you that some users do not hesitate to use even an empty coffee bag to control the capacitive sensor. Although, of course, such homemade styluses should not be taken seriously. In this case, there is a high probability that such a homemade stylus for capacitive screens can scratch the display.

Therefore, anyone who thinks about the safety of their favorite mobile device and who intends to use it for many years should refuse such experiments. In addition, the stylus is not that expensive. We emphasize that the lion's share of stylus models for capacitive screens have a very reasonable price.

However, it must be admitted that best models Styluses are not cheap to purchase. And despite this, this stylus can be recommended to those who have already bought themselves a good communicator or tablet. That is, the price of the stylus should match the device you have.

The mobile accessories market mainly offers four types of styluses for capacitive screens. This is a stylus made in the form of a brush from a bundle of conductive fibers; stylus on sponge; soft rubber stylus; plastic stylus.

If we take a common stylus for capacitive Samsung screens, iPhone, iPad, HTC - “SPMP 1019”, then it is made on a sponge. This is a relatively inexpensive model because it has a metal body that is responsive. This model allows for high precision in interface control.

Like most Mobile Planet capacitive touchscreen styluses, this model has a hook. Therefore, like a ballpoint pen with a cap, you can only lose it if you really want to.

This stylus, however, has a drawback that is common to many other thin sponge-based styluses for capacitive screens. Unfortunately, they don't last long. They are short-lived because the sponge quickly deforms and wears out.

However, for those who do not use a stylus very often, this model is quite suitable and will fully pay for itself. Of course, the clear advantage of the SPMP 1019 model is that it does not lose its tactile properties even at sub-zero temperatures.

There is another stylus for the capacitive screen of HTC, iPhone, iPad, Samsung - “SPMP 1001”, which is also made on a sponge. True, it is more massive. Due to this, it is very comfortable to hold in your hand. Let us also note its special design. It is precisely this that allows it to be used as a stylus not only for a capacitive screen, but also for a resistive one.

Styluses for capacitive touch screens made of conductive plastic in the Mobile Planet assortment can be represented by such models as SPMP 1002 and SPMP 1039. Both the first and second models are more economical analogues of the capacitive stylus produced by Dagi Corporation Ltd. This is known to be the world's first and still one of the best capacitive styluses.

Note that it is no worse than its prototype. And if it is inferior to it in anything, it is only at a lower cost. There is a flat round pad at the end of the stylus. It is this that allows you to achieve fast and precise manipulations. It provides greater accuracy and ease of interface control.

Users have long determined that a convenient type of capacitive stylus is one in which the working end is made of conductive rubber, soft and hollow. Not only the material, but the design feature of such a stylus creates a complete imitation of what a human finger has touched touch screen.

This means that rubber styluses provide maximum clear tactile feedback, as well as much greater accuracy compared to a finger. The stylus is good so that you can easily adjust the pressure on the screen. And the best thing about it is its ability to be virtually indestructible.

The range of soft rubber styluses is usually represented by such good models as SPMP 1009, SPMP 1014, SPMP 1015, SPMP 1043 and others. It must be remembered that they differ from each other in design and dimensions, but are suitable for all types of capacitive screens. For example, for Apple, Samsung, or HTC.

Models SPMP 1009 and 1010 are also equipped with a special lock. With its help, the stylus can be securely attached to the audio jack of a mobile device. This type of fastening is as reliable as possible. The likelihood that the stylus will not be lost is very high. And you can carry it with you all the time.

And now a few words should be said about gift models of styluses. They are usually supplied in special cases. They are more functional when compared to regular soft rubber styluses, and are well suited for those who are used to writing with a regular ballpoint pen. Please note that some of these models have a built-in laser pointer and flashlight.

Using a capacitive screen stylus we can get much more out of our tablet or smartphone. There is a child inside of a person who likes to leave colorful lines and figures on the surface, creating unique masterpieces. In addition, pen and pencil for many remain the most the best way expressing your own thoughts. Even the most convenient virtual keyboard cannot keep up with the speed of their flight.

On Android or iPad you can install one of the powerful graphic editors (Brushes, ArtRage, SketchBook Pro and Penultimate). But if you draw in them with your own finger, then this is a huge step back compared to the progress that has occurred in modern art. Therefore, choosing the best stylus for a capacitive screen has become a very urgent task for many users of iPads and Android tablets. The main requirement for it is the same as for a regular pen or pencil: to be a natural extension of the human hand, allowing you to create without thinking about the technologies used.

In addition, the best stylus for a capacitive screen should have a comfortable tip that leaves exactly the same mark on a virtual canvas or notepad sheet as the “real” writing and drawing tools we are used to. With an ideal stylus and tablet, a person immersed in creativity forgets that he has digital devices in his hands. His movements should be as natural as those of Leonardo da Vinci or Serov.

These are the requirements I make for candidates for the title “Best stylus for a capacitive screen.” If you need a simple tool for basic navigation and poking at on-screen buttons, then you may not agree with my conclusions. But creative people should read this material to the end.

1. Kensington Virtuoso Touch

With Virtuoso Touch, Kensington tried to bridge the world of paper and touch screen. Its stylus has a slim profile with a nicely textured surface and a cap. Virtuoso Touch is very easy to use. On one side of the stylus there is a soft rubber tip for the touch screen. And under the cap we see an ordinary ballpoint pen, which will come in handy if the battery charge is running low.

2. Truglide Pro Precision Stylus

The aluminum TruGlide Pro resembles a regular pen with a pocket clip. It fits comfortably in the hand and is well balanced. Its affiliation with styluses for touch screens is revealed by a mesh “onion”. It is made of microfiber that elastically contacts the surface of the display. This allows you to easily control the movement of the stylus. In addition, you can use a brush-shaped tip, which expands the creative potential of this model.

3. Wacom Bamboo Stylus Solo

Wacom has come a long way from the unprepossessing touch screen pen to the elegant and perfectly built Bamboo Stylus Solo. The latest model has a textured surface that is pleasant to the touch. The silver cap with a clip can be worn on both sides, like on traditional pens for schoolchildren. And the removable 6mm soft tip has ideal sensitivity and allows you to create masterpieces. Solo is convenient for both taking handwritten notes and drawing.

4. Studio Neat Cosmonaut

Don't let the astronomical size of one of the best touchscreen styluses, Studio Neat, put you off. This Cosmonaut is great for handwritten notes and sketches. It is comfortable to hold in both large and small hands. Among the disadvantages are certain difficulties in precise positioning. But this can also be a strength, since the imitation of brush strokes turns out quite natural.

5. Just Mobile Alupen

Short but easy to hold, Alupen is very reminiscent of a colored pencil. It has a familiar weight distribution, and the hexagonal aluminum body fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. Inside the metal shell is a rubber core. Its rounded edge glides well on the touchscreen. But if you need a stylus with the most precise positioning, you may have to give preference to a different model.

6.MediaDevil MagicWand

MediaDevil has created a decent stylus for mobile devices on iOS. Among him distinctive features– a removable cord that can be fixed in the headphone jack. But when drawing, you will probably want to abandon the cord, since it restricts movement. The weight and diameter of the pen are perfectly matched, making it quite convenient to use the “Magic Wand” from MediaDevil. And the pointed rubberized tip, it seems to me, has the highest sensitivity of all touch screen styluses.

Text

Rodion Danilov

Increasingly, tablets and smartphones with touch display used as sketchbooks, notepads and even canvases. However, drawing and writing with your finger is extremely inconvenient. To achieve this, many companies are developing styluses that imitate the familiar sensations of working with a pen, felt-tip pen or brush. We offer you a list of 10 styluses for capacitive screens that are worth checking out.

Just Mobile AluPen


Just Mobile's AluPen is a budget-friendly pencil-style device made from sleek aluminum, designed specifically for the iPad. The soft rubber tip allows you to work with the tablet much more efficiently than with your finger. It is accurate, smooth, does not leave fingerprints on the screen, and is perfect for taking notes, creating sketches and graphic drawings.

WACOM Intuos Creative Stylus


Wacom Intuos Creative Stylus with 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity and BlueTooth support is capable of creating the effects of drawing on paper with a regular marker or pencil. Suitable for serious digital artists, the stylus has interchangeable tips for drawing, sketching and painting. Programmable buttons provide fast access to the necessary elements, which saves time.

LYNKtec TruGlide Pro


The TruGlide Pro stylus is LYNKtec's best-selling stylus. The device does not require Bluetooth connection and special applications. The body is made of anodized aluminum, and the 5mm tip is made of special microfiber. It is more durable and glides smoother and smoother than its rubber counterparts. The design of the device allows it to be replaced with a brush attachment.

Sensu Brush


The digital brush Sensu Brush, developed by Artist Hardware from the USA, was released in 2012 thanks to the Kickstarter crowdfunding platform. The required amount for the production of the device was collected in just a few days. With the Sensu Brush, which has a bristled tip made from highly conductive fibers, you can draw on any device with a capacitive screen, and tactile sensations the process is as close as possible to working with a real brush. A list of recommended applications can be found on the manufacturer's website.

Wacom Bamboo Duo2


Ten One Design Pogo Connect


The Pogo Connect stylus is already a cut above the device. Firstly, it reacts not only to pressure (and reads 100 levels of pressure), but even to the tilt of the pen. In this case, the tablet, when connected to Pogo (and it is connected via Bluetooth 4.0), ignores the touch of the hand when drawing. In addition to the stylus, you can purchase 4 different attachments, including 2 hard nibs and 2 brushes. A nice bonus is that Pogo allows you to track its location, making it difficult to lose. Pogo Connect is powered by an AAA battery, the charge of which, according to the developers, lasts for almost several months.

Adonit Jot Pro Stylus


Adonit Jot Pro is perfect for writing, sketching and graphic drawings on iPad screen. The main advantage of the Jot Pro is its precision, which is achieved thanks to its unusual tip. At the end of the pen there is a small round silicone plate with a special coating. It allows you to control the thickness of the line (having 2000 levels of pressure sensitivity), while the feeling of the stylus is comparable to writing with a regular ballpoint pen.

Adonit Jot Script


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