Livescribe Smartpen 3 launched to revolutionise notetaking
THE ELECTRONIC PEN called the Livescribe received its second refresh when the firm unveiled the Livescribe Smartpen 3 today, a model that works with iOS 7 tablets and smartphones.
The pen, which is renowned for its ability to take a note of whatever its user
writes and hears and copy it, on the fly, has received some major changes with this update. The new edition eliminates the microphone from the pen and instead relies on those embedded in iOS devices such as the iPhone and iPad to make recordings via a 'pencast' feature, which synchronises the captured audio with written notes.
The smartpen does this using Bluetooth Smart LE technology, transporting everything that is written on special Livescribe dot paper to the iOS device via the Livescribe+ app. Livescribe said the removal of the mic allows for clearer recordings, because the user can put the iOS device where 'the action is' and jot down notes from somewhere a little further away.
The Livescribe Smartpen 3 captures everything written on Livescribe paper as soon as it starts up, and then transfers that content to Livescribe+ when the app opens. This allows people to take notes with just a smartpen and notepad, and then review that information on the mobile device later. The handwritten notes that are beamed to the app can then be transfered into text, able to pasted into a word document.
The pen has also undergone some dramatic design changes compared to previous models, and is now much more sleek. Livescribe has removed the LCD screen and instead there is just one LED indicator light that shows if it paired with the iOS device or not.
However, the Smartpen 3 could meet with criticism due to its lack of support for non-iOS tablets and smartphones. But the firm insists this is because most Android powered tablets and smartphones don't support Bluetooth LE, a technology that allows the Smartpen to work for up to 14 hours continuously without needing a recharge. This is something it will look to support in the future as more Android devices are made that support the standard.
The Livescribe Smartpen 3 is compatible with iOS devices that are Bluetooth Smart Ready, including the iPhone 4S or later, third generation or later iPad, iPad Mini, and the fifth generation iPod Touch or later. The Livescribe+ mobile app is available for free from the app store.
The Livescribe Smartpen 3 is available in two versions, one for £129.99, which includes the smartpen along with a 50-sheet Starter Notebook, as well as a microUSB charging cable and a black tungsten carbide medium-tip ink cartridge.
Priced at £169.99, the Livescribe Smartpen 3 Pro Edition includes a leather smartpen portfolio with a 100-sheet hardbound journal, a one-year subscription to Evernote Premium, the charging cable and an additional ink cartridge. µ
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