Ink Crossword

Ink Crossword is an application released by Microsoft and bundle on the Experience pack for Tablet PC users. The program comes with 12 starting puzzles and user are able to download more from MS. The program is really easy to use with only a pen, eraser and reveal the letter buttons as the main interactive tools. There is another information button next to the interactive tools that shows the remainder of letter still available. A timer sits on the top right corner to keep tabs on the time, and users are able to pause it or hide it at any time. Also, pointing on the any square with the stylus will scroll the boxes on the side to the respected piece of information for across and down. Overall is a simple program that let's user have an interactive crossword puzzle with enough tools for the noobs to start doing crosswords.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/tabletpc/experiencepack/overview.mspx

Bamboo Minis 'Doodler'

About a month ago I wrote about the bamboo dock by wacom.

http://tabletpcsoftware.blogspot.com/2010/01/bamboo-dock.html

Now I want to dig a little bit into the different "minis" that are available starting with the Doodler.

It's basically a simple drawing program. You have one brush, an eraser, some colors, a drag and drop feature and undo, and that's all you are getting.

The algorithm for pen recognition is not very fast and sometimes it takes a while for the program to recognize a stroke. The default brush doesn't have any features and user cannot even change the size of the brush. The eraser's size also cannot be change so you are out of luck if you want to erase a big part of a drawing.

The drag and drop feature let's you drop the current image into any image editing program, it's a nice touch but I would have prefer to have a better drawing algorithm or even be able to change the size of the eraser.

As it is, it is not a good drawing the program but only a simple application to take notes. It's kind of disappointing that Wacom couldn't create a useful drawing application. Most computer already have Paint so having a free good drawing application would have been a great addition.

http://bamboo.wacom.eu/dock-minis/en/

Rocket Dock

The rocket dock is an application luncher with a nice and simple design interface. A user can create an icon and drop it into the dock allowing and continue to add program or windows. Program windows can be set to minimize to the dock but I did have a problem once I added to many shortcuts as the contents of the dock went outside the desktop space.

Once you get used to the dock, dig into the setting to really get the full potential of the application. Changing the color settings and checking the auto hide really changes the utility of the dock. Plus is a really easy on the memory so computers with lower RAM can feel safe using it.

The best thing: it's free. Really a great piece of software that anybody should try.

http://rocketdock.com/

SnagIt

Snagit is an image capturing program that lets you capture any part of the screen and add notes.

The program allows you to capture different parts of the screen and then you can trim them, add text, arrows, marks almost anything that you would need to mark an image.

It's not specifically made for the tablet PC but it is so help and easy to use that I couldn't help but to include it. Plus using the tablet stylus is much easier.

You can download snagit with a 30 day trial or buy it for 49.99.

http://www.techsmith.com/screen-capture.asp

Web Search Power Tool

Web Search power tool is a simple application that lets you search the web by writing on the Ink area and hitting search. Users can select their preferred search engine and whether the search tool sits on top of all programs and that is about it on the options. It's a great tool for users who rely on web searches.

http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/e/b/5eb3bfd3-7b27-433d-8e14-fa533c80aa98/WebSearchPowerToolforTabletPCsetup.exe

InScribe Tablet Keyboard

In Scribe is a keyboard that lets the users type with the pen by taping on the keys or by sliding across the keyboard. InScribe it's a lightweight application that sits on top of all programs without eating the computer's memory. The best part is that there are a lot of options in how to use it. Users can create their own keyboards and customize it from the location of the keys to the transparency of the whole keyboard. It's a great program for table user looking for an alternative to the windows keyboard.

http://www.iliumsoft.com/site/fp/inscribe.php

Ink Flash Cards

Ink Flash Cards is another program from the microsoft education pack. It's a very useful program for creating flash cards with a simple to use interface and lots of options. User can create sets with text and images and 'play' them, letting you see the front first and a few seconds later the answer. Definitely something worth while for a college student looking for a way to study.

Hexic Deluxe

Hexic Deluxe is part of the MS education program. It's a puzzle game created by Alexey Pajitnov the creator of tetris, so the game it's good addictive and fun. Gameplay consists hexagonal tiles that the player most rotate to match three of a kind or more. The controls are based on the pen where the user draws the direction to where to turn the tiles.

It's a great game that feel tailor made for the tablet. By far my favorite from the pack.

MS Go Binder Lite

Go Binder is a journal program from the Microsoft Educational pack. It helps you track and schedule appointments along with adding notes to important items. User can add alarms and reminders to appointments that will pop up just like an Outlook meeting reminder. It's a helpful program that combines the features of Outlook and OneNote with hand writing functions.

MS Equation writer

Part of the education pack, equation writer translates hand written formulas to typed written images. It becomes helpful for adding clear formulas to reports or presentations. I had a couple of issues when writing the formulas where the program would capitalize a letter or convert a letter into a number or vice versa.

The application is simple enough which is also it's biggest problem. There is a lack of options when it comes to saving the formulas. You are only able to copy the current one and paste it to another program, and that is about it. Still it's a good program for math students or professionals working with a lot of equations.

Microsoft Education pack for Tablet PC

Microsoft release an education pack with programs targeted at college students. The set of programs include Equation writer, GoBinder Lite, Hexic Deluxe, Ink Flash Cards, and Send to one note. The programs are simple and easy to use. I'll delve with more details into the individual programs in the coming posts.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=9D346916-B526-487E-919D-0BCE568DEF39&displaylang=en

On a side note: The send to OneNote feature in the pack is just a wizard that lets you import images into OneNote. It's not very useful as windows has a built in feature in the print section of any document that let's you import images. Plus once you do it's hard to modified the imported image.

Ink Desktop

Ink Desktop is a microsoft tablet PC application where user can write down notes on the screen. The notes are automatically saved and remained on the desktop until they are deleted. User can copy and paste the notes to other programs and including MS word or Outlook. It's a simple application that makes your desktop a writing pad.

AutoDesk Sketchbook Pro

Sketchbook Pro is my favorite tablet program because it's simple and easy to use. The controls are superb and it's one of the few programs that completely transfer the feeling of traditional drawing tools to a digital medium.

The program has a simple UI where the user can control all the tools' setting. There isn't a need to access the keyboard or even use the right click.

It's an excellent tool for drawing and designing and it's the one program that I use the most simple because it feels the best. The one downside it's the price, as it retails for 100 dollars with a 12 dollars discount from Amazon. Still it's the best out there when it comes to drawing.

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/index?siteID=123112&id=6848332

Art Rage

Art Rage is painting application for Windows and Mac that uses intuitive controls at a bargain price. The program mimics the look of traditional painting tools with great results. You can use 20 different painting and utility tools with a simple user interface. The program is really easy to use and provides a simple solution for artist on a budget.

The best part is that Art Rage starts a $20 dollars for version 2.5. The best version seems to be Art Rage 3 Studio which contains all the tools from the Pro minus some teaching DVDs.

ArtRage is one of the best painting programs out there and really worth checking out.

http://www.artrage.com/index.html

Bamboo Dock

Created by Wacom using Adobe AIR framework, the Bamboo dock offers a simple way to interact with a variety of small applications called Minis.

Minis are small programs with simple features. Those features range from Drawing and animation to games like Paper Cakes, Cutter and Blokt. Other minis include the social networking DrawTweet, which works as a drawing pad where people can submit drawings. User can also add their own shortcut to the dock for accessing their favorite programs.

The controls are set around the using the pen, with drawing in certain areas as a way to open windows or confirm downloads. Version 3.1 works on tablet PC but I found that with the current updates it creates problems so if you download it don't update.

It is intuitive and fun to use but limited by the number of minis available.

http://bamboo.wacom.eu/dock-minis/en/