“It just wonks!”
Exploring Apple's awkward but entertaining Inkwell technology.
Key to the announcement is that the device will feature handwriting recognition. Could Inkwell be getting a new lease on life? Or is this just another lame Apple rumor? More details as they are released…
-Doug!as
Respond using Inkwell if you Can...
I'm thinking of turning this blog over to somebody with more time or interest than I. Either that or pull it down. What would you like to see happen?
-Doug!as
Respond using Inkwell if you Can...
Of all of Inkwell's quirks, it's handling of quotes drives me insane. Take a look at the following examples:
"1" "12" 11 I 23"
It seems to do better with "longer" words, but then it decides to NOT do CC better". Sometimes the results appear almost random.
One of the culprits is whether the quote is curved or not. From my experimentation, I have found Inkwell definitely prefers the straight quotes as opposed to ones with a curve. However, there are certain limitations that cannot be worked around. For example, let's assume you put something in quotes and INkwell gets the left quotes wrong (which it Often doe s for me). Try selecting the quotes and just rewriting new ones. You can't. The strokes are too short. Inkwell doesn't recognize them. You are better off reaching for the keyboard, but darned if I don't catch myself trying to get the quotes right over and over again instead.
If you have a knack to getting Inkwell to give you perfect quotes, please leave it in the comments. I'm sure other Inkwell users would appreciate knowing your trick. In the meantime, my advice is to keep those quote marks as straight up and down as possible.
-Doug!as
Respond using Inkwell if you Can...
Many words are part of Inkwell's dictionary. This dictionary helps Inkwell recognize what you are writing despite errors. However, if Inkwell's crack recognition is less than par for you on certain words that you use frequently, you may consider adding them to the Word List. I have done this with family names and found it immensely helpful.
If a word is already in the Inkwell dictionary you will receive a notification like this:
-Doug!as
Respond using Inkwell if you Can...
You Can add password fields to the list of input fields in OS X, such as Spotlight and any field in Dashboard, that remain "Write Anywhere" agnostic. I have not found a workaround yet aside from scrawling in the Ink Window. In the case of Dashboard that is not an option. In this Case, it might be a security measure.
-Doug!as
Respond using Inkwell if you Can...
Ever find yourself typing an [( r" with the keyboard because Inkwell thinks all your little Rs are Ns, or even Ps? Well, have no fear. Here is a tip you're sure to appreciate.
Try writing your "r" more angular.
As you can see in the example, none of the Rs curve down. Using this type of 11 r" I have had 100% accuracy. I wish the same could be said of quotes.
-Doug!as
Respond using Inkwell if you Can...
A year after being announced the Axiotron Modbook is finally for sale and still wowing people. The Modbook is a hacked Mac Book with a tablet touch sensitive screen. This allows the artist and designer the truest WYSIWYG experience available on computers. Simply draw on the screen and the line is digitized in real time directly underneath the stylus - a wonderful boon for Painter and Photoshop users. The closest Mac users have come to this has been the Wacom Cintiq. Tablet technology has been available for PC users for years. However, since Steve Jobs is apparently allergic to styluses the techology has not been pursued by Apple.
Since the ModBook has no keyboard (thagh one can attach one via USB) the stylus is the only form of input. This puts a shiny spotlight on Inkwell. Unlike using a graphics tablet one can directly write onto the screen, 1eading to the same levels of accuracy PC tablet users have been bragging about. Having atablet Mac also does away with the cumbersome need for both a Mac and a tablet.
If this product is success fu! we could see industry pressure for improvements in Inkwell. Money has a way of Making hobbies and toys, as Inkwell has been relegated to, viable business niches. Time will tell, but the ModBook is a great step in the (( write" direction for Inkwell users.
Many companies covered the Modbook at MacWald but the following links provided what I thought was the best coverage.
Axiotron Modbook tablet Mac hands-on
Show floor video: Axiotron's Modbook wows the crowd
-Doug!as
Update: Added links
Respond using Inkwell if you Can...
