Tag Archives: Bluetooth 4.0

The Ultimate Galaxy Note9 S Pen Features + Tips Guide

One of the Samsung Galaxy Note9‘s most revolutionary features is its new Bluetooth S Pen. Everyone knows what it can do as a stylus, but here are FOURTEEN Galaxy Note9 S Pen features and tips that most people are completely oblivious to!

2018-10-04 : Upgraded to The Ultimate Galaxy Note9 S Pen Features + Tips Guide with additional tips and how-to instructions.

2018-09-03 : Originally posted as The 7 Secret Galaxy Note9 S Pen Features You Never Knew!

The Ultimate Galaxy Note9 S Pen Guide

The Samsung Galaxy Note9 S Pen looks deceptively like the S Pen from before.

In fact, it features the same design with a 0.7 mm tip and 4,096 pressure levels as the S Pen from the Galaxy Note8 (Price Check) and the Samsung Galaxy Note FE (Price Check).

But that’s where all similarity ends.

What You Probably Know About The Note9 S Pen

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What You Don’t Know About The Note9 S Pen

Where To Buy The Galaxy Note9

Here are some direct links to purchase the Samsung Galaxy Note9 in Malaysia.

Samsung Galaxy Note9 with 128 GB storage : RM 3,699 (Web | App)
Samsung Galaxy Note9 with 512 GB storage : RM 4,599 (Web | App)

Here are some direct links to purchase the Samsung Galaxy Note9 in the US.

Samsung Galaxy Note9 (128 GB, International Unlocked) : $849
Samsung Galaxy Note9 (128 GB, US Unlocked) : $999.99
Samsung Galaxy Note9 (512 GB, International Unlocked) : $1,214
Samsung Galaxy Note9 (512 GB, US Unlocked) : $999.99

What You Probably Know About The Note9 S Pen

Let’s run through what you probably know about the Note9 S Pen, since Samsung has been promoting them.

The Note9 S Pen Is A Bluetooth Device!

For the first time, S Pen communicates with the Samsung Galaxy Note9 via Bluetooth Low Energy. Opening it up reveals that the new S Pen uses the Dialog DA13580 Bluetooth Smart SoC.

The Note9 S Pen Is A Remote Control!

The Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity lets you use the shutter button to remotely perform a variety of tasks.

Hold the shutter button to open any app you wish. By default, it launches the Camera app.
When the camera is activated, press the shutter button once to take a picture, or twice to switch between the front and main cameras.
Press the shutter button once to go forward in an app or browser, or twice to go backwards.

You can customise this remote control feature in Settings > Advanced features > S Pen > S Pen remote.

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The Note9 S Pen Battery Life

This S Pen will last a good 30 minutes once it is ejected from its dock, or up to 200 clicks – whichever occurs first.

Your Samsung Galaxy Note9 will alert you when the S Pen’s battery is down to 15%, with more reminders as the battery level drops.

It Writes In A Signature Colour!

Like previous versions, you can pop out the S Pen to immediately jot your thoughts using the Screen Off Memo feature.

The Samsung Galaxy Note9 though introduces the ability to write in its signature colour!

The Ocean Blue S Pen will write in bright yellow, while the Midnight Black S Pen will write in silver, the Lavender Purple S Pen will write in purple, and the Metallic Copper S Pen will write in brown.

The only downside? The Samsung Notes app has not been updated with the ability to change its background to black.

If you prefer to write in the standard silver colour, go to Settings > Advanced features > S Pen > Screen Off Memo and disable Use S Pen signature colour.

Next Page > What You Don’t Know About The Note9 S Pen

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What You Don’t Know About The Note9 S Pen

The Note9 S Pen is more than just a stylus with a remote control button though. Here are some fun facts about it that most users are completely oblivious to!

It Will Work Even With Bluetooth Disabled!

The Samsung Galaxy Note9 (Price Check) communicates with its S Pen using Bluetooth Low Energy (formerly known as Bluetooth Smart) to keep power consumption low.

But we’ll bet you didn’t know that the S Pen will work even if you turn off the Galaxy Note9’s Bluetooth feature!

You can safely turn off your Galaxy Note9’s Bluetooth connectivity for security reasons, or to further reduce power consumption, and still have access to the S Pen’s full range of capabilities.

You Can Use It To UNLOCK Your Galaxy Note9!

To save power and protect your privacy, the Samsung Galaxy Note9 (Price Check) will turn off and lock its screen after a period of inactivity.

This can be annoying if you are using it to dictate notes or give a presentation… until you realise you can simply unlock the screen with your S Pen!

This does not mean anyone can use your S Pen to unlock your Samsung Galaxy Note9. This feature only works if you :

manually activate it at Settings > Advanced features > S Pen > Unlock with S Pen remote
unlock your Samsung Galaxy Note9 and then pull out the S Pen

It will not work if you pull out the S Pen while the Samsung Galaxy Note9 is locked. If you reinsert the S Pen into its dock, you will not be able to use it to unlock your Galaxy Note9.

This prevents strangers from using the S Pen to unlock your Galaxy Note9, while giving you the option to instantly unlock the screen if it locks up while you are using it.

Never Lose Your Note9 S Pen!

Its Bluetooth capability allows the Samsung Galaxy Note9 (Price Check) to sense when you forget your S Pen and set off an alarm to warn you.

It is more of a notification with an audio alert, but this incredibly useful feature will greatly reduce, if not eliminate, the chance of losing your S Pen.

This feature is enabled by default, but if you want to make sure it’s turned on, it’s the Alarm option under the Removal section of Settings > Advanced features > S Pen.

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It Is Powered By A Supercapacitor!

This S Pen is not powered by an internal lithium-ion battery, but a Seiko K8373 supercapacitor.

This supercapacitor is not only incredibly tiny and light, it is highly durable and withstands extreme temperatures. It can be recharged hundreds of thousands of times without any loss in capacity.

It also recharges in a flash, and delivers long battery life – just 40 seconds of charging will give you 30 minutes of use! It is also simple to recharge – the S Pen recharges automatically whenever it is docked.

Note : The S Pen’s supercapacitor will start discharging once it is out of the dock. Don’t be surprised if the battery level drops even if you did not use its remote control. This is perfectly normal.

How To Check The Note9 S Pen’s Power Level

You can check the supercapacitor’s power level in your Samsung Galaxy Note9 at Settings > Advanced features > S Pen > S Pen remote.

However, this is really not necessary, because the supercapacitor recharges so quickly! All you need is pop it in its dock for 40 seconds to get it up to 100%!

The Note9 S Pen Has TWO Power Sources!

Believe it or not, this S Pen has TWO power sources.

The supercapacitor is only used to power the Bluetooth Low Energy radio for its remote control functionality.

The stylus itself is still powered electromagnetically by close proximity to the Samsung Galaxy Note9‘s display. This means its stylus functions will never run out of power.

Next Page > More Samsung Galaxy Note9 S Pen Tips

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How To Disable The S Pen Remote Control

If you do not like using the S Pen remote control features, you can simply turn it off.

Go to Settings > Advanced features > S Pen > S Pen remote.
Tap on the On/Off toggle to disable the S Pen remote control.
To re-enable it, just tap on the On/Off toggle again.

Note : If you can’t reactivate the S Pen remote control, the S Pen is probably out of its dock. To reestablish the Bluetooth connection, it needs to be inserted into the Galaxy Note9.

How To Connect Another S Pen

If you need to connect another S Pen to your Samsung Galaxy Note9, here are the steps :

Insert the S Pen into your Samsung Galaxy Note9.
Slide down from the top of your Galaxy Note9 to open the notification panel.
Slide it down again to expand the notification panel.

Slide the notification panel to the left.
Tap the S Pen remote icon.
Tap the S Pen remote icon again to activate the pairing of the new S Pen.

The S Pen icon on the status bar will flicker as your Galaxy Note9 pairs with the new S Pen. This may take several minutes.

When the new S Pen is successfully paired, the S Pen icon on the status bar will disappear.

How To Reset Your S Pen

If your current S Pen is not working properly, you will need to reset it this way :

Insert the S Pen into your Samsung Galaxy Note9.
Go to Settings > Advanced features > S Pen > S Pen remote.
At the upper right corner, tap the More Options icon.
Tap t he Reset S Pen option.

Note : It may take a few minutes for the Samsung Galaxy Note9 to establish a new Bluetooth connection to your S Pen.

The Power Of S Pen Hovering

The S Pen is not just about writing or tapping. Many users are no aware of the power of hovering with the S Pen. These are not new features, but did you know that you can activate these features by merely hovering the S Pen over the screen?

Air View : Preview information, text and images by hovering the S Pen over the screen

Scrolling : Scroll up or down by hovering your S Pen over the edge of the screen

Translate : Translate words and phrases by hovering your S Pen over them

Bixby Vision : Search for products online by hovering your S Pen over their pictures

Magnify : Magnify areas of the screen by hovering your S Pen over them.

Glance : Minimise apps to a thumbnail that you can hover your S Pen over to expand.

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Picture Credit

Pictures of the internal parts of the S Pen are courtesy of the awesome folks at iFixIt!

Where To Buy The Galaxy Note9

Here are some direct links to purchase the Samsung Galaxy Note9 in Malaysia.

Samsung Galaxy Note9 with 128 GB storage : RM 3,699 (Web | App)
Samsung Galaxy Note9 with 512 GB storage : RM 4,599 (Web | App)

Here are some direct links to purchase the Samsung Galaxy Note9 in the US.

Samsung Galaxy Note9 (128 GB, International Unlocked) : $849
Samsung Galaxy Note9 (128 GB, US Unlocked) : $999.99
Samsung Galaxy Note9 (512 GB, International Unlocked) : $1,214
Samsung Galaxy Note9 (512 GB, US Unlocked) : $999.99

Recommended Reading

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The Edifier S350DB Price, Specifications & Demo

The Edifier S350DB (Lazada) is the latest addition to the renowned Edifier Signature studio series. In this article, we will share its price and specifications, as well as two presentation and demo videos.

The Edifier S350DB

The Edifier S350DB (Lazada) is designed to offer sound quality on par with high-end studio speakers in a compact form factor. It uses titanium dome tweeters for high frequency sound, and a 3.5″ mid-range driver with an aluminium diaphragm and frame.

The Edifier S350DB (Lazada) also boasts a powerful 8″ subwoofer that is capable of producing bass as deep as 40 Hz. It has a total power output of 150 W RMS.

Digital Audio Processing

The Edifier S350DB (Lazada) is powered by a Texas Instruments digital signal processor (DSP), which supports dynamic range control (DRC) and Active Crossovers. The signal is amplified by the Texas Instruments TAS5754 closed loop amplifier, which increases the output power while reducing impedance.

To ensure precise sound reproduction, the Edifier S350DB (Lazada) is certified using the Lipper high precision sound measurement system.

Connectivity Options

The Edifier S350DB (Lazada) offers a slew of common connectivity options – Bluetooth, Optical-in, Line-in, and Aux. It even supports Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX for low-latency audio streaming – just perfect for watching movies or gaming.

Edifier S350DB Specifications

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Total Power Output : 150 W (RMS)
Treble : 15 W x 2
Mid-Range and Bass : 25 W x 2
Subwoofer : 70 W
Audio Processing : Texas Instruments DSP with Dynamic Range Control (DRC)
Construction : Titanium dome tweeter, aluminium diaphragm mids, 8″ subwoofer
Remote Controller : Wireless remote controller
Connectivity Options : PC / AUX / Optical / Coaxial / Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX

Price & Availability

The Edifier S350DB is available online (Lazada) and in stores at the recommended retail price of RM 1,099 / ~US$ 239.

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Logitech MX Anywhere 2 Wireless Mouse Review

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Logitech is a Swiss company with a long history of producing some of the best accessories for the PC. They started with the computer mouse, and naturally diversified into keyboards, webcams and speakers. Today, we will take a look at the Logitech MX Anywhere 2 wireless mouse, which was specially developed for mobile users.

Don’t mistaken the term “developed for mobile users” to mean a teeny-weeny or flattened mouse with wireless capabilities. The Logitech MX Anywhere 2 is designed to address the critical needs of the mobile user, namely the ability to track on any surface, dual connectivity via Bluetooth and wireless receiver, and the ability to switch between 3 different devices. Let’s take a look!

Unboxing The Logitech MX Anywhere 2

The Logitech MX Anywhere 2 comes in a very nice cardboard retail box, with its key features listed on the box in four languages. The system requirements (Windows 7 and Mac OS X 10.8 or better for WiFi and Windows 8 or Mac OS X 10.10 or better for Bluetooth) are listed on the right side. On the left is a list of the box’s contents.

The box actually flips open in the front to reveal the MX Anywhere 2 mouse and its Pico Unifying receiver behind a clear plastic window. This allows you to gauge how well the mouse will fit your hand before purchasing it. The inner side of the cover shows you the five simple steps to get the MX Anywhere 2 mouse to work with your devices in pictorial form.

Once you open up the box, you will find the following items :

One Logitech MX Anywhere 2 wireless mouse
One Logitech Pico Unifying receiver
One micro USB cable
One set of Logitech MX Anywhere 2 user documentation

Logitech MX Anywhere 2 Specifications

Specifications	Logitech MX Anywhere 2
Model	M-R0057
Sensor Technology	Darkfield laser sensor
Sensor Sensitivity	1000 dpi (nominal) - Can be set between 400 and 1600 dpi in increments of 200 dpi
Easy-Switch Technology	Yes, up to 3 devices
Wireless Technology	2.4 GHz WiFi or Bluetooth - Logitech Pico Unifying WiFi receiver - Bluetooth Smart Ready
Wireless Range	10 meters / 32 feet (typical)
Operating System Support	WiFi - Windows 7 or better, Mac OS X 10.8 or better Bluetooth - Windows 8 or better. Mac OS X 10.10 or better
Battery	Rechargeable 500 mAh Lithium-ion Polymer battery
Battery Life	Up to 2 months on a single full charge
Dimensions	61.6 mm (2.4") wide 100.3 mm (3.9") long 34.4 mm (1.4") high
Weight	106 g / 3.7 oz (mouse only) 1.63 g / 0.06 oz (receiver only)
Warranty	1-Year Limited Hardware Warranty

Now, let’s take a closer look at the MX Anywhere 2 mouse…

Page 2 : Size & Grip, Darkfield Laser Sensor, Dual Connectivity, Battery & Charging

The Logitech MX Anywhere 2

The Logitech MX Anywhere 2 is a compact mouse designed for mobile use, so don’t expect much palm support. It is best used with a pincer grip, even with smaller Asian hands. With a typical resolution of 1,000 dpi, you don’t need much wrist action to go a long way.

4 / 6

In case you are wondering, the Logitech MX Anywhere 2 only comes in one colour scheme – a mix of black and army green, with chrome accents on the scroll wheel. Let’s take a look at its specifications.

Darkfield Laser Sensor

As a mouse designed to be used on-the-go, it is important that it can work with any kind of surface. However, the traditional laser sensor has trouble tracking on clear glass or very glossy surfaces. This led Logitech to develop a dual-laser system they dub as the “Darkfield laser tracking technology“.

Basically, it uses two laser diodes to better pick up the minute surface irregularities on highly glossy surfaces. This allows the MX Anywhere 2 to track on all types of glassy surfaces as long as the glass surface is at least 4 mm thick.

Dual Connectivity

The Logitech MX Anywhere 2 has another unique feature – dual connectivity. It supports Bluetooth 4.0 (also known as Bluetooth Low Energy or Bluetooth Smart), allowing you to pair it with virtually any laptop and smart device in the market without the use of any receiver. However, your PC will need to run on at least Microsoft Windows 8 or Mac OS X 10.10.

If you are using an older computer that does not support Bluetooth 4.0, or runs on Windows 7 or an older version of Mac OS X, the MX Anywhere 2 comes with a Pico Unifying receiver. This miniature USB receiver with a range of 10 meters (32 feet) allows you to pair any computer with the MX Anywhere 2 using a direct 2.4 GHz radio connection.

As this is a Unifying receiver, you can pair any compatible Logitech keyboard to the same receiver. This allows you to save one USB port by using the same receiver for both keyboard and mouse. You will need to install and use the Logitech Unifying software to pair and unpair compatible Logitech devices to the Pico Unifying receiver.

Battery & Charging

The Logitech MX Anywhere 2 comes with a small 500 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery. Logitech claims a maximum battery life of 40 days, based on 6 hours of daily use. This is probably based on the Bluetooth 4.0 connection. Using the Pico Unifying receiver, we got about 3 weeks of use before requiring a recharge.

The MX Anywhere 2 recharges its battery via a micro USB port in the front. They intentionally placed the port there so that you can continue using the mouse while it’s charging. Once attached, the USB cable temporarily turns this wireless mouse into a “wired” mouse.

You will be glad to know that since the MX Anywhere 2 uses so little power, a single minute of charging time will give you up to 2 hours of use.

Page 3 : The Scroll Wheel & Buttons, Gliding & Stability Performance

The Scroll Wheel & Buttons

The Logitech MX Anywhere 2 comes with a scroll wheel that supports both vertical and horizontal scrolling. Pressing on the scroll wheel switches between two modes :

a “hyperfast scrolling mode” – smooth and quiet scrolling but lacks tactile feedback, and
a “click-to-click scrolling mode” – the typical ratcheted mode which precise but “noisy”.

There is a small middle button behind the scroll wheel that enables the Gestures feature, but only if the Logitech Options utility is installed. Right behind it is a small LED light that gives you an indication of its battery life. If the green light turns red, it means the MX Anywhere 2‘s battery is down to less than 20% of its capacity – an indication you should recharge the mouse.

The Logitech MX Anywhere 2 looks symmetrical but it’s not an ambidextrous mouse. It was definitely designed for the right-handed user, with the two side buttons on the left side and none on the right side. However, the two side buttons aren’t really all that useful – being used as Forward and Back buttons.

If you don’t mind living without the side buttons, the MX Anywhere 2 is symmetrical enough to use with your left hand. You just need to install the Logitech Options software to switch the left and right main buttons.

The base of the Logitech MX Anywhere 2 conceals its On/Off switch and a Connect button. There is also an Easy-Switch button with 3 small LED lights. The Connect button allows you to put the MX Anywhere 2 in pairing mode, while the Easy-Switch button allows you to pair up to 3 different devices with the MX Anywhere 2.

Gliding & Stability Performance

The Logitech MX Anywhere 2 is supported on its base by four average pads of what appears to be UHMWPE (Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene), also known as UPE.

The traditional PTFE (commonly known by its trade name of Teflon) is slicker and gives a smoother glide, but is also more expensive and less durable. It is also hard to differentiate the gliding performance of UPE against PTFE. So we are not surprised to see UPE being used in the MX Anywhere 2.

More importantly, the base of the MX Anywhere 2 was very stable. Nothing irritates me more than a mouse that “rocks”. It’s pointless for a mouse to use PTFE feet for a smoother glide if it’s so unstable that it rocks as you move it.

Page 4 : Logitech Options, Our Verdict

Logitech Options

The Logitech Options software is not necessarily to use the Logitech MX Anywhere 2 mouse with your Windows or Mac PC. However, it gives you the ability to customise the mouse buttons, scrolling speed and gesture options.

8 / 11

The Logitech MX Anywhere 2 has a default sensitivity of 1,000 dpi. This is lower than what you would expect from a gaming mouse, because this is a mouse designed for mobile users who would have less screen area to work with. However, you can use Logitech Options to change the MX Anywhere 2‘s sensitivity from as low as 400 dpi all the way to 1,600 dpi, in steps of 200 dpi.

Our Verdict

For a relatively small mouse, the Logitech MX Anywhere 2 packs a ton of smart features. It supports both WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, which includes the ability to pair with up to 3 different computers or devices.

Road warriors who have to put up with all sorts of different table surfaces at cafés and airports will love its Darkfield laser sensor. This dual-laser sensor technology allows the MX Anywhere 2 to work on virtually any surface, including glass and highly glossy surfaces.

[adrotate banner=”4″]The Logitech MX Anywhere 2 also comes with a scroll wheel that not only supports vertical and horizontal scrolling, but also the option to switch between ratcheted and smooth scrolling modes. Just press the scroll wheel to switch modes – it can’t be any faster or simpler than that!

We also like the fact that Logitech was smart enough to recharge the MX Anywhere 2 via a micro-USB port in the front. This allows the mouse to be used while it’s charging, essentially converting it into a wired mouse while it’s charging up.

We thoroughly enjoyed our limited time with the Logitech MX Anywhere 2. It worked very well with both our Mac and Windows computers, switching between Bluetooth and its WiFi-based Unifying receiver effortlessly. It is therefore our pleasure to award it with our Reviewer’s Choice Award. Congratulations, Logitech!

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