Using Surface Dial on regular (non-Surface) Windows 10 desktops

[mark5171]

Hi, I'm considering investing in a Surface Dial. I have a regular (not a Surface machine) up-to-date Windows 10 desktop machine and I use Affinity Photo, Designer and Publisher.

I'm trying to decide whether the features/functions offered make the investment worthwhile but I'm having considerable difficulty finding out what those features are. Most articles seem to refer to using the Dial with a Surface machine which I understand has inbuilt compatability.

Can anyone point me to an article or post or review which describes the scenario above?

Many thanks - Mark

[walt.farrell]

3 hours ago, mark5171 said:

Most articles seem to refer to using the Dial with a Surface machine which I understand has inbuilt compatability.

Presumably that's why it's called Surface Dial

Have you found these articles?

• https://blogs.windows.com/devices/2017/02/15/five-things-need-know-surface-dial/
• https://www.windowscentral.com/does-surface-go-work-surface-dial

They indicate that it can work with any Bluetooth-enabled PC with Windows 10 Anniversary Edition or later. The second one mentions that compatible apps may offer additional functionality when the Surface Dial is used on-screen on a compatible Surface device.

I know that Affinity supports the Surface Dial, but I have no idea whether there is a difference between on-screen and off-screen usage of a Surface Dial with Affinity. Nor do I know exactly which functions Affinity provides with it. Sorry.

[mark5171]

Thanks for this Walt.

It was the functions that Affinity does or deosn't provide with it that I was particularly interested in. You'd assume Affinity know this but I cant find it anywhere.

I think I'm going to take the plunge and give it a go. If it's interesting, I'll report back. I'm a tad nervous about the bluetooth LE requirement but we'll see.

Thanks again.

Mark

[SilverSurfer1221]

I have a Dell Canvas which comes with a totem. The totem works off of the Windows controls (not any Dell drivers) and is essentially a Surface Dial (uses the same Windows drivers). I can use it in Photo and Designer to rotate the canvas, which is nice (though I wish I could do this via gestures).