No longer a secret that the Palm OS version of the Next Arrow numbered 5.2 no longer supports the system of recognition Graffiti, c which users are familiar with more than one generation palmovyh machines. Along with the new hardware features, such as a virtual graffiti area and high resolution screen (320x320, 320x480 pixels) at the Pocket PC in this family will soon appear, and new technology is officially approved by the handwritten input Jot or Graffiti 2. The latter works on the principle of "digital packing area": for notes you can use the entire surface of the PDA screen, and not strictly assigned area. Of course, fans of "retro" can enjoy a virtual Old-good graffiti, but for novices, this system, according to representatives of Palm, is far preferable. However, recommended to use a commercial program Jot ($ 40), there are alternatives. Currently, there is at least two applications running on a "digital ink" and, curiously, is distributed free - Graffiti Anywhere and Newpen. Test all three systems come from our foreign colleagues, a columnist for the site PalmInfocenter, the material of which we present to your attention. Of course, the lack of Graffiti - not the only reason to wish the display text input. The display more space than in the selection and the principle of "digital ink", which uses all of these applications, provides greater visibility.
Jot v 2.0 (product of CIC Software, $ 40)
System Jot handwriting recognition has been around for several years. This application can be called a pioneer in its field. It should be noted that Jot - not just an ordinary utility that lets you write on the screen, and full-fledged technology. Not without reason, recently acquired PalmSource her license from the development company CIC. (Interestingly, that same company has its own analogue and Graffiti - the program RechoEcho, which can be purchased for $ 10.)
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The principle of Jot is this: each character is identified by a set of several strokes, is very similar to regular hand-written letters. Graffiti has existed in the old original reduced alphabet, which the owner of a handheld computer had to memorize. Each letter in it was reproduced by one stroke job. In the new system of recognition of letters and symbols (K, T, I, Y, P and $) can be configured by the user, albeit with some restrictions, that is, each letter may have several options tracings. Moreover, to enter one character, you have two or three flourishes, taking the pen from the screen. Punctuation marks are entered in one of two ways: they are automatically recognized in its original form or drawn between special flourishes, and then detected. Usually these characters are available in 2 or more strokes, so you need a special input mode. All punctuation can be entered in this way, but many signs do not need to shift functions for recognition, including:. ,! ? '@ And &. To help users learn the system, handwriting recognition Jot, applies the convenient tutorial (tutorial). Options Inscription symbol can be demonstrated at any point on the display PDA - it is necessary to press the top bar on the desired letter , number or punctuation mark. In Jot strokes are also available for most of the characters available in Graffiti, as well as means of identifying "Cut, paste, etc. However, some characters are not here, for example, double quotation marks or apostrophes (for their writing, using the function shift with Graffiti). As you have probably noticed a stroke, causing mode capitalization (upwards), is used in Jot for punctuation. So how to write capital letters? In Jot input area high letters were transferred to mid-band input. To enter an uppercase letter, you must write it so that it fell in the region enter letters and numbers in the region.
On the functional features of the application
Customize Jot is simple enough, almost all of the tools for this purpose you will find on the screen. The system can be either enabled or disabled completely. Unfortunately, it can not be called from another application. Convenient to use the program in both modes - in Jot, as well as in Graffiti. (Recall that in the Jot-mode, you can write not only in the graffiti, but also the entire surface of the screen.) Recognition of Gestures in Jot is somewhat slower than Graffiti. Chastoispolzuemye punctuation marks are entered in Jot is so simple that in a sense, this is even a "counterintuitive." Thus, a single press on the screen gives the dash. I have countless times in error introduced the double-dash, very much accustomed to double clicking, which is used to write this character in Graffiti. Also like to mention one more very useful features implemented by developers Jot. This is a selection of text using the stylus. I must say that in other programs, text recognition, which we describe below, this feature is not working effectively. In general we can say that Jot - a fairly good product. He runs faster than Graffiti, with its dedicated domain. But if you get used to working with the latter, remembering Jot strokes can cause problems: will often refer to the help Jot, to remember how to write one or another icon. In general, if you are confident user Graffiti, keep up the good work. If you find it hard to get used to its reduced alphabet, Jot - a great alternative. Each letter is well recognized by the system regardless of whether you type it in words or print properly. Dissatisfaction with the program may also cause its price. For an application, which for several years, virtually unchanged, except for adding support for high definition displays, and Palm OS 5, price $ 40 - too high.