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  #1  
Old 08-29-2005, 04:00 PM
Darius Wey
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Default CalliGrapher 8.0 Released

http://www.phatware.com/calligrapher/

"PhatWare Corporation, a leading provider of software products and professional services for mobile and desktop computers, announces the immediate availability of CalliGrapher 8.0. Most notable new features of the award-winning handwriting recognition software include support for Windows Mobile 5.0, a new soft input panel called Write Pad and the Statistical Analyzer. CalliGrapher, one of the most popular Pocket PC handwriting recognition applications on the market, analyzes pen strokes written in any application window or in the designated Write Pad area, then converts those pen strokes into text and sends the recognized text to the target application. Employing advanced fuzzy logic and neural net techniques, CalliGrapher recognizes arbitrary alphanumeric strings as well as words contained in its integrated dictionary."



PhatWare has just released CalliGrapher 8.0. It includes a lot of new features (too many to list), so be sure to visit the CalliGrapher page for all the details. For those interested in the upgrade policy, if you purchased CalliGrapher 7.5 between March 21, 2005 and September 1, 2005, you are eligible for a free upgrade by following the instructions contained within this page. For other users, CalliGrapher 8.0 can be purchased from Handango for $39.95, and as always, a trial version is available. [Affiliate]

There's also a review over at ClintonFitch.com, so be sure to check it out.
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  #2  
Old 08-29-2005, 04:56 PM
Jacob
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,162

I wasn't too impressed with the upgrade from 6 to 7, in fact I was pretty much in the process of giving up on Calligrapher altogether.

That being said, after using version 8 it surprised me in that their handwriting recognition got significantly better at making sense out of what I write. It's gotten so much better that I'm using it as my primary input method again and loving it.

My only problem with it is the price... even though it provides a lot of value, the price is quite high.
 
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  #3  
Old 08-29-2005, 04:58 PM
applejosh
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 498

Is the handwriting recognition that much better with 8? I haven't tried it (since it was in beta, and frankly I never really used it since v.7 didn't seem to recognize my chickend scratchings that well (and editing was more of a pain in the neck)). I mainly use Version 7 for trying to decipher notes I write in PhatPad.
 
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  #4  
Old 08-29-2005, 05:16 PM
caubeck
Intellectual
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 147

The betas I've used over the last few months show a significant improvement in handwriting recognition. I'd go for it if you haven't tried it yet. I noticed one of the betas worked better for me than the final one, but I've been too busy to worry about that. It's the best input tool I've ever tried.
 
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  #5  
Old 08-29-2005, 05:17 PM
PatrickD
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 138

There is also an upgrade price of $24.95

http://www.phatware.com/support/upgradeinfo.html

Still a bit pricy for an upgrade but better than $39.95 :wink:
 
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  #6  
Old 08-29-2005, 05:20 PM
Tye
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 233

Quote:
Originally Posted by applejosh
Is the handwriting recognition that much better with 8? I haven't tried it (since it was in beta, and frankly I never really used it since v.7 didn't seem to recognize my chickend scratchings that well (and editing was more of a pain in the neck)). I mainly use Version 7 for trying to decipher notes I write in PhatPad.
I've always felt Calligrapher was a neat addition to Transcriber, but not really a ground breaking improvement. With v8, I now believe Calligrapher has become a must have product.

The Write Pad recognition is truly incredible. This is where you'll notice the biggest improvements in the software and recognition engine.

This is, I believe, the first version of Calligrapher that actually learns from its mistakes due to the Calligrapher Statistical Analyzer (CSA). If you try it for a couple of weeks, or less depending on how much you use it, you will notice it starts correcting its text automatically.

Also, keep in mind that this is the first release of v8. I'm sure that they have some good ideas in the pipeline for future 8.x releases.

(If you have any doubts, just try v8. If you like the idea of HWR SIPs, you'll love this one.)
 
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  #7  
Old 08-29-2005, 05:34 PM
Clinton Fitch
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tye
I've always felt Calligrapher was a neat addition to Transcriber, but not really a ground breaking improvement. With v8, I now believe Calligrapher has become a must have product.

The Write Pad recognition is truly incredible. This is where you'll notice the biggest improvements in the software and recognition engine.

This is, I believe, the first version of Calligrapher that actually learns from its mistakes due to the Calligrapher Statistical Analyzer (CSA). If you try it for a couple of weeks, or less depending on how much you use it, you will notice it starts correcting its text automatically.

Also, keep in mind that this is the first release of v8. I'm sure that they have some good ideas in the pipeline for future 8.x releases.

(If you have any doubts, just try v8. If you like the idea of HWR SIPs, you'll love this one.)
During testing, I found the recognizer in 8 to be substantially improved. If you haven't used the product since 6.x or 7, I would highly recommend downloading the demo and trying it out.

As you point out, the CSA is terrific. It will learn the more you use it.
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  #8  
Old 08-29-2005, 05:49 PM
surur
Mystic
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,734

Quote:
Originally Posted by PatrickD
There is also an upgrade price of $24.95

http://www.phatware.com/support/upgradeinfo.html

Still a bit pricy for an upgrade but better than $39.95 :wink:
I just made it under the wire by buying 7.5 it in April this year. The free upgrade registration system is a bit clunky though (you have to forward you handango email to them and wait 3 days for the code).

Surur
 
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  #9  
Old 08-29-2005, 06:18 PM
Marcel_Proust
Theorist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 307

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tye
Quote:
Originally Posted by applejosh
Is the handwriting recognition that much better with 8? I haven't tried it (since it was in beta, and frankly I never really used it since v.7 didn't seem to recognize my chickend scratchings that well (and editing was more of a pain in the neck)). I mainly use Version 7 for trying to decipher notes I write in PhatPad.
I've always felt Calligrapher was a neat addition to Transcriber, but not really a ground breaking improvement. With v8, I now believe Calligrapher has become a must have product.

The Write Pad recognition is truly incredible. This is where you'll notice the biggest improvements in the software and recognition engine.

This is, I believe, the first version of Calligrapher that actually learns from its mistakes due to the Calligrapher Statistical Analyzer (CSA). If you try it for a couple of weeks, or less depending on how much you use it, you will notice it starts correcting its text automatically.

Also, keep in mind that this is the first release of v8. I'm sure that they have some good ideas in the pipeline for future 8.x releases.

(If you have any doubts, just try v8. If you like the idea of HWR SIPs, you'll love this one.)
Personally, I haven't found the regular mode that much improved in the betas, although I'm still building my CSA. But for whatever reason, I find the new Write Pad recognizes my handwriting much better, so you may want to give that a trial.
 
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  #10  
Old 08-29-2005, 08:02 PM
PocketPC Addict
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 176

Do you have to build the CSA manually or is it automatic?
 
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