Phatware CalliGrapher 8 review

It's so important to be able to enter information into your Pocket PC quickly and effectively.

Every Pocket PC comes with four built-in text entry options to choose from. If your own preference is to scribble text directly on to the screen with Transcriber but you can't seem to persuade it to recognise your handwriting accurately, you should try the latest version of CalliGrapher.

This program is based on a more advanced text-recognition engine than Transcriber and does a better job of turning scribbles into properly recognised text, whether you enter words as separate letters or cursive handwriting. There's still a limit to what it can decipher, but if you write reasonably tidily you should have no problem managing at least 95 per cent accuracy, and in most cases performance is even better.

The software makes it easy to correct mistakes when they occur, with a quick pop-up menu of suggested corrections as well as an onscreen keyboard for more serious alterations. The new version adds a brand new Write Pad mode, which lets you write out words in a separate window at the bottom of the screen. By entering letters within the ruled lines of the box you get improved accuracy, though you have to tap on an Enter icon to pass each batch of three or four words into the underlying application to clear the box ready for the next few words. Most people will prefer the standard Write Anywhere mode, which improves its accuracy by learning from your mistakes (a process that takes a few weeks); this feels more natural than entering text into a defined area. There's plenty of configurability to further hone the program's accuracy, and a macro feature can enter pre-set phrases and sentences using a few onscreen gestures.

However, as well as being thrown by poor handwriting, CalliGrapher can be tripped up by text containing a higher-than-average mix of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers and punctuation. In these cases, it's sometimes better to use the onscreen keyboard. CalliGrapher's version of this offers worthwhile extra features, such as automatic word completion, and can be set to float around the screen if desired.

With a range of text entry alternatives for all occasions, CalliGrapher has a lot to offer, and this new version is easily the best yet.