Header Banner
gadgethacks.mark.png
Gadget Hacks Shop Apple Guides Android Guides iPhone Guides Mac Guides Pixel Guides Samsung Guides Tweaks & Hacks Privacy & Security Productivity Hacks Movies & TV Smartphone Gaming Music & Audio Travel Tips Videography Tips Chat Apps
Home
Samsung

How to Auto-Change Keyboards on Your Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Based on the S Pen's Position

Jan 8, 2013 11:58 PM
Stylus pen held above a smartphone.

Got a Samsung tablet with an S Pen stylus? Then you might be one of the many people irked about having to manually choose a different keyboard layout after pulling the S Pen out of the device.

White pen next to a smartphone.

For instance, if you have a Samsung Galaxy Note I or Note II, when you pull the S Pen out, the keyboard layout stays the same. But if you'd like it to switch to a different keyboard, say, from the stock Samsung keyboard to something like SwiftKey, then you're out of luck.

Actually, no you're not, thanks to XDA Developer LegendK95, who brings us S Pen owners SPenBoard Switcher. The app detects the stylus's position and the keyboard is automatically switched based on a learned or predefined position, like in or out of the S Pen holder.

You can download the app here, but you'll need root access to install it.

Here are the two modes LegendK95's app is capable of.

  • Learning mode: Tries to detect the keyboard you use in each pen position, stores the detected keyboard, and uses it the next time you take your pen off, or return it to its place.
  • Fixed Mode: The service only uses the keyboards you chose inside the application, even if you use another keyboard for a short time, when the pen's position, the keyboard is reverted back to the ones you chose.

SPenBoard Switcher can be enabled to launch at boot and also works just fine with third-party keyboard apps.

Settings screen for a switcher service with options for enabling services and keyboard preferences.

For more information on the app ad how to install it, be sure to check out the XDA forum thread.

The app has been tested on all of the following Samsung phablets, but should work on any device that can detect the S Pen position.

  • International Note 2 (N7100)
  • International LTE Note 2 (N7105)
  • Verizon Galaxy Note 2 (SCH-i605)
  • T-Mobile Galaxy Note 2 (SGH-T889)
  • Sprint Galaxy Note 2 (SPH-L900)
  • Galaxy Note 10.1 N8000

Photo by Android Nova

The next big software update for iPhone is coming sometime in April and will include a Food section in Apple News+, an easy-to-miss new Ambient Music app, Priority Notifications thanks to Apple Intelligence, and updates to apps like Mail, Photos, Podcasts, and Safari. See what else is coming to your iPhone with the iOS 18.4 update.

Related Articles

Comments

No Comments Exist

Be the first, drop a comment!