At the moment, clearing the old position then printing is the fastest way to do it http://forum.m5stack.com/topic/173/how-to-avoid-text-flicker/3 you can print to sprite if you use the eSPI library and that'll gain you a few ns on the chip but I think the bottleneck is the SPI protocol, that's what Bodner was saying.
You can wrap the clear and print in a function which will make your code as concise as using an object.

@m5dude Thanks!
Sorry about comments absence in code - they was on local language, and dropped automatically when downloading. Code optimisations was only on chess engine, other parts made more rudely.

Top prize should be ALL stacks + $1000.
Runner ups should get the yellow version + $100

@world101 Really glad you raised this question and found a solution... I have wanted to use it for quite a while but hadn't chased it.... thanks. Will test it out.

@jp128 @Dave @ddaniel

Hi Jp128,
Thanks for the tip..... could be very useful.... more reading required....

@reaper7 Excellent - thanks. No problems for the link - its just new.... looking forward to trying it ASAP. Enjoy !

@anichang
Hi Anichang,

Glad to hear our issue is cleared.... its understandable for anyone if one has had issues with something in the past to be sensitive - even more so when digital rights are involved as this can quickly become a serious matter.

I think I have some similar views to yours in that area.

OK well all the best with your work..... I stay tuned ! Jimi

A new version of the M5StackSAM library
https://github.com/tomsuch/M5StackSAM

Added features to easily create and navigate the list.
(APPLICATIONS -> LIST DEMO)

Added support for the FACES QWERTY keyboard.
(APPLICATIONS -> FACES GET STRING)

cool , thanks for sharing!

Another one wich looks even more promising :
https://github.com/earlephilhower/ESP8266Audio

So there's no way to make a copy of the screen for now?

@m5stack Thank you.

Yes, pretty close to your design.

haha

啊啊