We are desperately trying to finish off our Z Stylus review. It’s very near done, but Asus has put out a software update to the ZenPad 10 and ZenPad S 8.0 (Z580CA) that enhanced and improved the Z Stylus usability.
We will go into far more detail in the review, but what we can say is this. The new feature and settings are so good, that it’s safe to say that Asus hit a home run here. Let’s explain why.
Ideally when you put a stylus to a touch screen, you hope that it creates a pen and paper type experience. In theory, that’s what you get. However a touchscreen can best be described as a hot potato. It can be touched by accident with any part of your writing hand or your hand that’s trying to hold the tablet. Adding to the challenge of holding a tablet is the fact that there is even less bezel on today’s tablets.
Asus initially had the typical palm rejection technology. That’s what in theory should work. If the stylus is engaged with the screen, your fingers and or palm shouldn’t be an issue. However in real terms it’s almost impossible to eliminate accidental presses.
Asus has not done better than simply palm rejection technology. This new setting is so good that it makes “pen only” modes redundant and unnecessary. Here is how it works.
First, ensure “Stylus only mode” is activated. Then you set the duration of the mode (choose between 1 and 5 seconds). Now when you bring the Z Stylus to the screen, a small icon appears which shows that your tablet is now 100% in non touch mode. When you remove the stylus from the screen, the duration (like a timer) will begin. The icon will disappear and the tablet will become a 100% touch screen device. In a nutshell, this is how it works.
In real terms, this new setting allowed me to hold and treat the tablet screen just like a pad of paper. I used the 5 second time out which gave me lots of time to reengage the stylus with the screen and thus keeping the “Stylus only mode” active.
Brilliant update to the technology. My only suggestion would be to have something like a 10 second duration or longer setting so that our tablet can be safely passed on to say, someone young enough to not quite grasp the technology.
More details upcoming in our Z Stylus review, but hopefully this new feature has you excited about this accessory. Thanks Asus!