[Galaxy Note II Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] fizzingbees:
I own Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and now in 2016 its showing its age,especially when on touchwiz based custom roms. Its not their fault since with time simple apps become more CPU and resources demanding and older devices struggle to keep up.One solution is to install mods/custom roms,especially AOSP/CM based roms.

I am currently sporting Resurrection Remix -Marshmallow v5.6.8 with Agni PureCM Kernel v4.5.3 and yeh i am so much happy with my setup.

But i do miss touchwiz features esp. my S pen features and its capabilities.

So this thread is to help out all those who are running aosp/cm based roms and are looking to get some s pen functionality on their roms.

My goal here is to provide best and closest possible alternatives to touchwiz stocks apps/features. Please note that there are many other alternatives than those mentioned here.they do provide somewhat similar funtionality or maybe even more in some cases,but arent similar to stock behaviour.

so 1st thing first i am highly thankful to guys at this thread that help me get started with spen features on cm/aosp based rom. Please do check out there thread,you will find it useful. http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2611415

1) for s command replacement there is this paid app called spen command.it works very well,though needs some tinkering to get the best out of it. link to thread: http://xdaforums.com/android/software/app-app-samsung-devices-provided-stylus-t3000448

link to official website: http://www.emandt.net/Android/SPenCommand/Website/

2)for screenshot we have a couple of options:-

a) using spen command app listed above,you can long tap spen on screen to screenshot it and then annotate,crop etc it.

b) use screenshot ultimate app on play store. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.icecoldapps.screenshotultimate&hl=en

Once installed open the app and let it decide best method to take screenshot.You also need to select trigger to screenshot,saving location and other settings as you see fit.once properly configured ,this app works like a charm.see this thread screenshot ultimate section to properly configure this app (text around the screenshot in post) http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2611415

After setting up the app,head to spen command app>side panel>settings>quick menu>scroll down to application shortcut tab>press on any blank shortcut no:>select app activities from menu>wait for list to populate>select screenshot ultimate>select viewEmptySearchButton.

3) for snote replacement ,i found squid app to be best . https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.steadfastinnovation.android.projectpapyrus&hl=en

4) for photo annotation (in stock touchwiz gallery,opening image and then option menu gives you this feature to annotate on picture),there is no perfect solution as touchwiz but Skitch by evernote (officially discontinued now) is a close match. you need to share the image to annotate via share button in gallery apps. http://www1.zippyshare.com/v/32aPQrWB/file.html.

5) for s pen attach/detach sounds,use spen command with sound in ogg format.

6) touchwiz stock camera replacement. there are many good option

a) Camera fv-5 = https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.flavionet.android.camera.pro&hl=en. NO VIDEO RECORDING CAPABILITIES

b) Lenovo Supercamera,my favorite one.There are many version . link to official thread and the version i use are here.

official link= http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2665714

version i use= http://d-h.st/ZYB

c) Snap camera v8.1.0= this one had better HDR output than lenovo supercamera,but i face storage and saving problem in external sd card. Also i dont like video recording in this app. http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2055140

7) touchwiz music = i prefer playerpro. but there are so many i wonder if any audiophile actually use stock app

8) radio app= spirit fm 2 http://xdaforums.com/apps/spirit-fm/app-spirit2-free-source-real-fm-radio-t2951455

9) action memo= i cant find the link so i will attach the one i am using.

10) another spen command app(PAID APP) alternative is Note Buddy(FREE). it requires CM spen addon(FREE) to be installed first.

link to note buddy= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tushar.spen_helper

link to cm spen addon= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tushar.cmspen2

you can also use this app called spen launcher to get air command like menu= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.steadfastinnovation.android.spenlauncher

these are the latest to date replacements for spen and touchwiz features for aosp/cm based roms. These are in no way perfect solutions and thus i urge you to help spread the word and help me in improving this article. if you know any better solutions/replacements please post in here.

i am still missing certain s pen and touchwiz features like smart select,smart stay and some others,but well you have to compromise on something to get something better.