Over the years, Samsung has enhanced the smartphones’ trademark tool with innovations that have transformed the way users manage their mobile lives. Here, we’ll show you how to utilize the S Pen’s new Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) connectivity and other convenient enhancements to enjoy a more fun (and efficient) mobile experience.

Tip #1: Customize Clicks for the S Pen’s Remote Control Function

New BLE technology transforms the S Pen into a handy remote control that allows Galaxy Note9 users to manage a wide variety of functions and apps from within 10 meters of their device.

Users can customize clicks of the S Pen’s button to perform specific actions within specific apps. Single clicks and double clicks can designate different actions, while holding down the pen button can be assigned to opening other apps and the S Pen features. This means that you can open the camera by holding down the S Pen’s button, click once to take a picture and twice to switch cameras, without the need to touch the smartphone’s screen at all.

The S Pen’s single and double press functions are compatible with more than 10 apps and is expected to expand to further apps thanks to the S Pen’s open SDK. You can pick and choose which remote control functions you’d like to enable by accessing the S Pen’s settings.

Tip #2: Flex Your Creative Muscles with Photo Drawing and Live Drawing

Good news for those of us who’d like to fine-tune our artistic skills: the Galaxy Note9’s new Photo Drawing and Live Drawing features offer simple tools to add an effortless creative flourish to your images.

Both feature integration with PENUP—a social network for creative types to share S Pen-created artwork. Photo Drawing allows you to use the S Pen to draw over images as you would with a sheet of tracing paper. Once you’re finished, you can delete the original photo or drawing and save your new creation as a separate image.

Live Drawing, meanwhile, allows you to see for yourself how seasoned S Pen artists create impressive works of art. The feature’s wide selection of step-by-step tutorials offer simple instructions for drawing everything from everyday objects to cute characters and scenic landscapes. The videos make it easy to see exactly which colors and brushes the artists used, and you can also trace over the featured objects, scenes and characters to practice drawing them.

Tip #3: Make Your Emojis More Meaningful

Introduced in the Galaxy Note8, Live message allows users to easily send handwritten notes, make animated GIFs, and create the perfect emoticon to capture the emotion they wish to express. The feature was recently enriched for the Galaxy Note9, with three new pen effects bringing the total number to six effects, and various pen colors to choose from. Live message can also be added to users’ AR Emoji Stickers, bringing an even more personal touch to their messages.

Introduced with the Galaxy S9, Samsung’s augmented reality-based emoji feature utilizes machine learning and facial recognition technology to create a 3D model that matches your appearance and facial expressions. From a simple selfie, the function automatically generates a total of 36 sharable stickers that feature your unique AR Emoji expressing a wide range of emotions.

The combination of AR Emojis and Live message creates a unique way to make your messages more personal, and makes messaging friends and family that much more fun.

Tip #4: Take Advantage of User-favorite S Pen Functions

In addition to introducing an array of brand-new functions and innovations, the Galaxy Note9’s S Pen includes the great collection of fan-favorite features that have enabled Galaxy Note users around the world to experience new levels of convenience in their daily lives.

Screen off memo has been a user-favorite feature ever since it was first introduced with the Galaxy Note5. The function gives you the freedom to jot down notes or ideas whenever you need by writing directly on your device’s off screen. The memo can be pinned to AOD (Always On Display) and automatically saved in Samsung Notes.

The Galaxy Note9 has made Screen off memos more dynamic by adding color to the mix. Now, when users compose a note, the S Pen’s markings match the color of the S Pen itself—either yellow, light gray, lavender purple or metallic copper. Users who prefer Screen off memo’s classic gray pen can easily select this option in the function’s settings.

The S Pen’s Air command menu offers users instant access to some of its most convenient functions. The menu can be customized with up to ten of your most frequently used functions with S Pen and shortcuts. Such S Pen functions include Smart select, which allows users to select, clip and collect content in one quick move with the S Pen in a desired shape, and the Translate function which lets users highlight and translate text on the screen, without the need to navigate away to another app. The Air command menu can be accessed simple by taking out the S Pen or by hovering S Pen over the screen then clicking the S Pen’s button.

Air view is another convenient function that offers instant insight into your phone’s content, simply by hovering the S Pen over the device. With Air view, you can see a short preview of your schedule in the Calendar app, text of webpages, and enlarged thumbnails of your pictures saved in the Gallery.

With innovative features designed to enhance your work and play, the S Pen for the Galaxy Note9 has redefined the mobile lifestyle, as the connected stylus brings even greater convenience and fun to both work and play.

The Galaxy Note9’s S Pen with remote control takes the iconic stylus to the next level, further transforming simple gestures into powerful actions. If you think you already know the S Pen, you’re in for a surprise.

The Galaxy Note8’s is the most powerful S Pen the series has ever seen. Here, Hyesoon Jeong, the Principal Engineer of Framework R&D Group for Samsung’s Mobile Communications Business Team, discusses various ways that Samsung optimized the implement’s latest iteration to streamline more facets of users’ daily lives.

Q. What kind of value does Samsung hope to deliver to consumers with the Galaxy Note8 and the S Pen’s new functions?

We’ve been delighted to hear that consumers who have used the S Pen with the Galaxy Note8 have given it good reviews so far, and remarked on how much better it feels to use the S Pen.

Many of these consumers had not had a chance to experience the S Pen’s convenient functions since the last device debuted. Therefore, when refining the design for the Galaxy Note8’s S Pen, we decided to, rather than upgrading the technology within, focus on adding features that would prove convenient in daily use.

Q. What are some of the processes that Samsung utilizes to identify potential S Pen functions?

In the beginning of each year, we hold a series of “Note Kickoff” meetings, which bring together our Development, Product Planning, UX and Usability teams. Each department is asked to present brand-new ideas for innovative features to include in the new model, and come up with ways to improve upon the previous device based on customer feedback. This is how the Note8’s new S Pen features came about – by diligently listening to our customers’ insights on previous S Pens.

Q. One of these new features, Live Message, has been particularly well received. What were your main focuses when developing it?

Live Message is a fun GIF-creation feature that’s an evolution of sorts of Smart Select, which was introduced with the previous Note device. We wanted to expand this type of functionality because the ability to create GIFs has proven popular among Note users, who are very active on social media. Live Message takes GIF creation a step further by allowing users to add personal touches to messages, via animated text or live emojis, and customize their photos with various pen effects.

Our main focus when developing it was usability. We wanted to make sure that the function would be freely available for users in markets across the world. Because people in different countries communicate via different channels, we worked closely with popular messaging services around the globe, working out conditions and regional restrictions, to build something that would work with them.

We also want to show users how easy it is to utilize the function when communicating with their friends. Our developers are currently working on software updates that will introduce more beautiful and decorative examples of animated GIFs for users who may not be entirely satisfied with their own GIF-creating handiwork to plug into messages. We’re also looking into expanding the selection of pen effects that users have at their disposal.

Q. What are some of the ways that users can utilize the S Pen when using Bixby?

Bixby integration currently allows users to utilize its voice command feature to adjust the type of pen they’re using, as well as its color.

The S Pen’s Bixby support also makes it easier for users to shop. When you’re surfing the web and you find an image of a product that you like, you can activate Bixby Vision via Air Command, hover the S Pen over it, and instantly search for it online.

Q. How did you improve the Screen off memo feature?

Screen off memo is another function that’s receiving positive reviews from users. It automatically activates when you remove the S Pen, and allows you to instantly jot down notes to the off screen. This is a new function that enables users to write even when the screen is off, so that you don’t forget any passing thoughts.

For the Galaxy Note8, we’ve enhanced the feature to deliver new levels of convenience after listening to the consumers’ voices. Whereas before this update, the function was well-suited for simple, temporary memos, now, Screen off memo supports up to 100 pages of notes and allows you to pin notes to the AOD and make edits. This makes the function perfect for taking notes during meetings or presentations, managing to-do lists, or writing quick reminders for important tasks.

Q. Could you elaborate on how collaborating with Wacom has helped Samsung maximize the S Pen’s utility?

Our collaboration with (pen display, tablet and stylus manufacturer) Wacom, incorporating its tablet technologies into mobile devices through the S Pen, has been excellent – a win-win. Although other mobile-device manufacturers could design a smartphone with a large screen, by introducing Wacom’s solutions to the mobile realm, we’ve been able to establish a new standard when it comes to productivity.

We’re currently working with Wacom to explore new possible S Pen features and B2B solutions, including support for secure digital signatures, that could offer users and businesses additional convenience.

Q. What motivates Samsung to constantly seek out new ways to innovate with the S Pen?

The S Pen is a feature that’s unique to our company. We often hear that Note users are very loyal, and I would like to add that we developers are also greatly committed to our work. Those of us who work on the Note devices take great pride in providing users with an S Pen experience that allows them to streamline how they work, live, and express themselves.

This desire to arm users with a tool that makes a difference in their daily lives is what motivates us to identify new and exciting S Pen innovations.