To get the most from your stylus on a Windows Mobile smartphone, train the device to recognize how you write. Here are step-by-step instructions as done on the Verizon XV6800, but other touch-screen Windows Windows Mobiles should all work similarly.

 

Open Word or Notes or another program that lets you enter text.

 

Tap the keyboard icon in the middle of the bottom menu bar.

 

When the keyboard comes up, that same keyboard icon will have a pulldown menu triangle next to it. Tap that and select Transcriber.

 

Review the quick intro that pops up (note the shortcuts for cut, copy, paste, backspace and quick correct). Click Okay.

 

Click on the transcriber icon on the bottom menu bar (the second icon from the left)

 

Proceed through the demonstration letters and wherever you see one that doesn't match your typical writing style, click on it to see how the device expects you to make the letter

 

For each letter, select where it's the style you use (often, rarely or never).

 

Save your profile (click File'Save and give it a name).

 

To use the transcriber, close the shapes box and write on the screen

 

Seconds after writing, your chicken scratch will appear as text. If it doesn't match what you wanted, try revisiting the Letter Shapes and making different selections.

 

While using the transcriber, you can click the keyboard icon in the transcriber menu bar to enter symbols and numbers. That menu bar also contains arrows for scrolling and a return-key arrow and a delete key.

 

To change transcriber settings, click the left-most icon on the transcriber bar.
           o Now, you can further personalize by specifying your stroke direction (Quick Settings tab), changing the size and color of the pen stroke (Inking tab) or creating your own shorthand and dictionaries (Advanced tab).

If your thumbs just can't take over for your typing, or you miss the tactile experience of penning notations, then put the transcriber to work for you.