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All iPads Adonit Jot Script information and discussion thread

New Penultimate update today that was supposed to make Jot Stylus changes.

My quick test seems to indicate that they've greatly improved the offset issue as well as lag. It's much closer to writing just like a regular ball point pen. I'm loving it.

Has anyone else tried it yet?
 
Fireproof! said:
New Penultimate update today that was supposed to make Jot Stylus changes.

My quick test seems to indicate that they've greatly improved the offset issue as well as lag. It's much closer to writing just like a regular ball point pen. I'm loving it.

Has anyone else tried it yet?
Click to expand...

I just received my Jot Script today, so using it for the first time with the Penultimate app already updated. I can't say I'm impressed. The offset is really bad, as described here already. It's WAY worse, in all apps, than the Jot Touch, which is perfectly precise.

Not having the disc is a nice advancement, but until the precision is fixed, I can't see keeping this.

I will note that the offset appears to be largely dependent on your hand position when writing. If I adjust my position to a more upright one, it gets much more accurate, and I could live with it if I didn't already have the Touch which is more accurate still and doesn't require me to adapt to it. I also miss the shortcut buttons that the Touch has, and the fact that I don't have to turn on the Touch each time I pick it up to use it.
 
I'm debating whether or not to return this... it's pretty bad. I want to have hope it will get better, but I honestly don't feel the $80 I spend is worth the risk.
 
Johnny Steps said:
I'm debating whether or not to return this... it's pretty bad. I want to have hope it will get better, but I honestly don't feel the $80 I spend is worth the risk.
Click to expand...

That's where I'm at. I think it will get better, not sure I want to hold on to it to find out, especially considering that the best it will get is as good as my Jot Touch 4 already is. I'll probably return it and monitor these threads and perhaps try it again in a few months.
 
TheAppleFairy said:
You guys are scaring me now. I should have mine by Monday, hope I like it more than you two.
Click to expand...

The thing is that it really is a combination of what app you want to use, and how you want to use it. If you use it in the right app, and you normally use a zoom box or otherwise don't mind zooming in on the page, it will probably be fine. If you have a fairly upright grip, where the pen is relatively vertical, it will work a lot better.

The problem is, even at its best - adjusting my grip to vertical, zooming in a bit, it's still not as accurate as the Jot Touch in Goodnotes. It's nice not to have to deal with the disc, but it's not worth the frustration that it brings right now.

If I did all my writing in the zoombox in Goodnotes, I'd probably keep it as there it works fine and feels a lot more like a traditional pen than the Touch.
 
I guess I will just have to wait and see, there are a few really good youtube reviews, but they could have been paid reviews or worked well with the apps that were being tested.

zhenya said:
The thing is that it really is a combination of what app you want to use, and how you want to use it. If you use it in the right app, and you normally use a zoom box or otherwise don't mind zooming in on the page, it will probably be fine. If you have a fairly upright grip, where the pen is relatively vertical, it will work a lot better.

The problem is, even at its best - adjusting my grip to vertical, zooming in a bit, it's still not as accurate as the Jot Touch in Goodnotes. It's nice not to have to deal with the disc, but it's not worth the frustration that it brings right now.

If I did all my writing in the zoombox in Goodnotes, I'd probably keep it as there it works fine and feels a lot more like a traditional pen than the Touch.
Click to expand...
 
TheAppleFairy said:
I guess I will just have to wait and see, there are a few really good youtube reviews, but they could have been paid reviews or worked well with the apps that were being tested.
Click to expand...

The thing I've found with most video reviews of a stylus is that they are writing either very large or zoomed in where every stylus, even your finger, will do an acceptable job. The challenge, that the Jot Script is supposed to be addressing, is to make a fine-point stylus that is accurate for fine detail. This is where the Jot Script fails. Try to find a review where someone demonstrates writing at normal handwritten size with no zooming. I haven't seen such a review.

I should note that in the latest revision of Penultimate if you adjust your wrist position, the accuracy is pretty decent, even in portrait orientation. The problem is that Penultimate overall leaves so much to be desired that it's still only marginally useful - ie. I get accuracy but lots of missed inputs and plenty of stray marks on the page from my palm. Their zoom method is also terrible. Again, it's ok, but it's nowhere near as good as the solution I already have with Goodnotes.
 
Last edited:
Goodnotes 4 finally released with better Jot Script support, and it is tremendously better.

Unfortunately, as I kind of was expecting, while it is better, it's still nowhere near as good as the Touch for writing. It's way more accurate than it was, but there is still an offset that increases as the angle you hold it at grows. If I adjust my grip to hold it close to vertical it is quite good, but that takes a lot of concentration and inevitably my grip starts to slip and then it gets really inconsistent. I also find the ink not to be as 'smooth' as with the Touch - the whole experience, even at its best, doesn't feel as natural.

I would like to re-iterate that everyone's experience will be somewhat different depending on how you hold and/or use the stylus. If your grip is fairly upright, you will have a better experience. If I zoom in even a relatively small amount the experience gets much better - so for someone that doesn't mind zooming and really wants the feel of a regular pen, the Script may be a good choice. I value the ability of the Touch to write in normal pen and paper sized handwriting with no zoom. My experience is that the Script still can't do that.
 
That is actually disappointing, I just bought Goodnotes 3 days ago for $6, now if I want the upgraded version to work better with my stylus, I have to spend another $5. I would have waited 3 days.

zhenya said:
Goodnotes 4 finally released with better Jot Script support, and it is tremendously better.

Unfortunately, as I kind of was expecting, while it is better, it's still nowhere near as good as the Touch for writing. It's way more accurate than it was, but there is still an offset that increases as the angle you hold it at grows. If I adjust my grip to hold it close to vertical it is quite good, but that takes a lot of concentration and inevitably my grip starts to slip and then it gets really inconsistent. I also find the ink not to be as 'smooth' as with the Touch - the whole experience, even at its best, doesn't feel as natural.

I would like to re-iterate that everyone's experience will be somewhat different depending on how you hold and/or use the stylus. If your grip is fairly upright, you will have a better experience. If I zoom in even a relatively small amount the experience gets much better - so for someone that doesn't mind zooming and really wants the feel of a regular pen, the Script may be a good choice. I value the ability of the Touch to write in normal pen and paper sized handwriting with no zoom. My experience is that the Script still can't do that.
Click to expand...
 
TheAppleFairy said:
That is actually disappointing, I just bought Goodnotes 3 days ago for $6, now if I want the upgraded version to work better with my stylus, I have to spend another $5. I would have waited 3 days.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I got about a month or so after buying the previous version. That said, this app is so much better than anything else out there that I'll happily pay it. I want the developer to stay interested.

You are close enough that you can file for a refund with Apple if you like.
 
TheAppleFairy said:
I requested a refund and already purchased the new one. Though I am not sure I like how they do upgrades. I think they should offer in-app upgrades to the latest features instead of scrapping the old app.
Click to expand...

Yeah, don't love it either, but I trust that the developer might have had a reason - even if that reason was to generate enough revenue to make supporting the app practical.
 
zhenya said:
Yeah, don't love it either, but I trust that the developer might have had a reason - even if that reason was to generate enough revenue to make supporting the app practical.
Click to expand...

If I do get a refund, it will end up that it cost $1 less to get the new version for me. Should have an answer within 48 hours.

----------

Got a fast response from Apple already.

I''m happy to inform you that we have successfully reversed the charge made on your account. You will receive $6.47 USD in twenty-four to forty-eight hours. You may need to sign out then sign back in to see this.
 
If you're interested by GoodNotes, especially the new version, I made a quick overview video. Hope you like it; if you do, sharing would be much appreciated. :)

It's here.
 
TheAppleFairy said:
Well it's nice to have enthusiastic users making videos like this. I learned a little today and subscribed to your channel.
Click to expand...
I'm new to this, I never thought I would be on YouTube on day; right know, I'm trying to see if I can expand, so I appreciate all the help I can get. Thanks for your support!
 
fatalle said:
Your forgot to mention that Goodnotes makes you pay AGAIN for this update.
Click to expand...

And I remember a time when we were appreciating the value of software… I can understand angry people who bought the app recently (they can try to have a refund from Apple), but I'm having a hard time seeing how a few bucks are too much for a very nice software update!
 
I agree. Handwriting support is a really niche market on the ipad. In order to keep good developers interested, you need to pay them enough to make it worth their while. At $5 I can pay more than once if it means that a great program stays up to date.
 
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