How long will the battery last?
The battery lasts 2-7 days depending on usage. Full charging time is about one hour. Charging is by USB port on Phree or by external wireless charging pad for Phree with case.
Does Phree have pressure sensitivity?
Phree’s tip has pressure sensitivity enabling varying width lines in specific applications.
Is Phree easy to use for both left and right-handed people?
Phree’s design is symmetric for writing and fits both left handed and right handed users, so there is no difference between right- and left-handers when Phree is used together with a device screen, like mobile phone, laptop or tablet – its most frequent use. In the less frequent use of Phree with its built in screen, Phree can be placed on the table to operate the screen. For a quick glance at notifications while writing, the screen lights up indicating a new message so left-handed users can tilt to see it.
How far of a distance from the target device will Phree still work?
The Bluetooth® connection works well typically a few meters from the target device.
What operating systems, devices and apps are supported by Phree?
Phree supports all major phone, tablet and PC operating systems – Android, iOS, Windows, OSX (Mac), Linux. Phree supports most third party apps on Android, OSX, Windows like Office, OneNote, EverNote, Photoshop, Acrobat, Sketchbook, Google Handwriting Keyboard, Viber, Skitch and more – using the existing interfaces and cursor on the screen. For iOS (like iPhone or iPad) and Android, our app allows users to take quick notes, use Phree as a headset, and display notifications. Currently iOS devices do not show a cursor on their screens and do not support cursor control, so Phree can support only third party iOS apps that interface to Bluetooth® mouse, pen, handwriting recognition keyboard software or specifically interface to Phree.
Can one enter text using Phree?
Operating systems such as Windows, Apple OSX and Android include handwriting recognition software. We tested Phree with such software by Google, Microsoft, and others and are pleased with the performance. Phree has high resolution to pixel precision with minimal latency for handwriting, sketching, filling forms, annotating and more. Find videos of Phree in action on the Phree YouTube channel.
Can Ink be added? How can one write here and look there?
Phree comes with replacement nibs that write on any surface, so no ink. The idea behind Phree is to provide a complete, real-time digital experience to write, sketch and interact in the digital world. The best interactive digital user experience is when Phree is without Ink. Our user testing shows that Ink interferes and confuses… (having to split-attention between ink in both the physical and digital domains) Digital ink makes it easier to share, organize, collaborate, etc. For paper, you print. Seconds to adjust like mouse. We are considering Phree solutions that may add Ink to answer market needs – like an education solution, where the students continue to write with Phree on any paper, and teachers can digitally monitor, check and provide feedback in real-time.
Can Phree be calibrated to the screen? Can you write on the screen?
Phree is calibrated to you. Regardless of screen size, you choose your writing size, location, surface and position for what’s most comfortable for you. Writing and interaction with Phree has pixel precision, pressure sensitivity and minimal latency. To write on the screen as stylus, use Phree’s cap/stylus or your finger.
Is phone needed to use Phree? Any internal storage or recording?
Phree is connected by Bluetooth with your phone, laptop, etc. using the device’s screen to render real-time digital ink from Phree’s pressure-sensitive tip. After Bluetooth pairing, your phone/device can be kept in your bag or pocket, for quick notes, answering calls & notifications using the Phree app (iOS, Android). Phree’s mic, speaker and mouse mode provide functions like Bluetooth headset, Bluetooth recording and Bluetooth mouse with most mouse or pen enabled third party software/apps, using the storage and other features on the phone and other devices. With Phree’s open API, developers can expand its usage with new apps and integrate into the Phree OLED touch screen for context sensitive operation.
Does Phree have a SDK to integrate and develop apps?
Phree has an open API that allows developers to make use of its screen for context-sensitive interaction with their applications. The API provides access to additional sensor information such as vertical (Z) motion data, as well as access to the accelerometer. Anyone who has a Phree has access to the open API to develop their apps and software for using with Phree. The API documentation will be published for the use of the community.
How does Phree work? How is it different from other input technologies?
For real-time on-screen digital ink rendering, the latency between your writing motion and the perceived ink trace needs to be almost instantaneous for it to feel “right.” You also want to be able to write and sketch wherever you are and whenever you want to. Well, Phree cracks this. Phree’s patented Optical Translation Measurement (OTM) sensor is a compact 3D laser interferometer that fits into the tip of a pencil. The beauty of Phree is that it extracts motion signals optically. OTM precisely tracks the relative motion of a nearby surface by measuring the interference signal between a laser beam projected on the surface and the reflections from the surface. The signal is then translated to X-Y-Z motion information by our signal-processing algorithms running on a very small, integrated electronics component.
Using OTM, Phree captures your hand motion across virtually any surface, in a wide dynamic range (0-1,000 mm/sec). The OTM sensor can measure the motion of any object that we can see with our eyes, in three dimensions, with extremely high resolution (2,000 dpi) and very high accuracy (more than a pixel point), up to a distance of about one inch from the object. So, it continues to measure your hand motion between strokes. The sensor is eye-safe at any distance, as its laser is similar to what’s found in optical mice (0.3 mW optical power and 850 nm wavelength).
For additional questions, contact us.