Adding a mouse and keyboard to Android - revelation!
Firstly I was surprised that you could add a mouse to an android device, then I tried it. It was so good I bought a keyboard to see what else I could do. The results were so good I grinned for about two days solid.
Really.
This will definitely meet one of our client's immediate requirements.
If you have used a tablet in the field, or in a situation where one of your hands is holding the device you will know that it is a pain to type long streams of narrative. This post and the next one will cover off some very cool techniques for speeding that input.
The Samsung S Action bluetooth mouse will pair and work on all the devices I have - even my phone (an S4) and the older S2, Tab 2 7/10.1 inch and Tab 3 7 inch. Once connected a mouse pointer appears, and then the fun begins. It is most odd controlling one's phone with a mouse, and the novelty wears off when a call comes in, however I want to focus on the tablet usage.
I coupled using this mouse with the Logitech K480 keyboard. Though a bit on the plastic key side, I was sold on being able to pair it with upto 3 devices at a time. This is important if you have a team of Inspectors each with a device as you can share a keyboard. It may be a gimmick, but I was sold. I am not alone through as it got 4 out of 5 in a PC Mag review.
But why do this I hear you ask? For my purposes it was because one of our clients had to write some narrative comments as part of their inspection regime. As alluded to earlier, doing this one handed is tricky, even with the great auto-correct features of the Samsung devices.
What we had seen this client doing (and others) was using shorthand, and then expanding it when they got back to the office. Most clients expanded the text when they continued writing their reports (in Word etc. after running our report generator), but this one client in particular continued using the Clarinspect App back in the office - and with the onscreen keyboard. 'Why?' I hear you chant. In this case the client preferred to continue using the App because it enforced a rigorous approach to entering their data. So I wanted to make this stage faster for them.
Hence the mouse and keyboard.
So what was it like?
Amazing, I really was grinning for two days solid. My data entry speeds went through the roof - scrolling was faster, less hand and arm movement, faster typing and more rapid App navigation. A winner.
The mouse wheel allows you to scroll rapidly through screens, pages, and within applications - much quicker than swiping with a finger.
The right mouse button takes you back, and left mouse is the equivalent of your index finger - you can tap (click) and long tap (click and hold) to operate the device.
S2 and Tab 3 (showing Clarinspect in use) both connected to the keyboard.
Having a real keyboard allows touch typists like me to rattle ahead at a furious pace. The keyboard is one you would use in the cab of the truck or in the office, not really in the field, nor is it a nice tidy fold up one - but that was not what we were looking for.
What also appealed is that the keyboard had a support channel so you stand your devices up. Again this suits the 'hot swap' idea of sharing a keyboard.
For people who want a larger keyboard then there is always the Logitech K810 - but if you aren't wowed by switching devices quickly then you can pretty much try any bluetooth keyboard.
There is a trick you need to know about to get the spell checker on screen, but I will talk about that next week, along with details about using the Google Keyboard.
How did the client get on with this combo? To say they were pleased is an understatement. I can see this mouse and keyboard combo being recommended far and wide.
With a larger tablet and this navigation facility you can see why the laptop could become redundant.