Livescribe notebook

To get the full benefits from the Livescribe Smartpen you will need the Livescribe notebook.  This livescribe notebook has paper, which is encoded with microdots.  The microdots are how the smartpen links the text to the audio files. 

Livescribe notebooks include a variety of controls at the bottom of the page.  There are areas that can create and navigate bookmarks in the audio, and control playback speed and volume.  Included is a four-arrow control that must be used to navigate the smartpens functions.  Livescribe makes the printed control available on a sheath used to protect the Pulse.   A more convenient way would be to have an integrated scroll wheel or some other means of navigating the smartpens user interface.  This way you would not have to use the printed surface.

Once a “sessions” is recorded, (which can consist of written notes, audio or both) they can be transferred to a PC.  You will need to use the docking cradle to download your sessions.  Currently Livescribe Desktop software is a Windows-only (a Mac version is slated for development) application.  You can use this to play back recorded audio or audio-synchronized note-taking sessions.  It will also allow you to search for text in the notes, or copy whole pages to the clipboard.  To bad, there is no character recognition function to turn written words into editable text.  It seems such software has been a mixed bag in previous smartpen offerings. 

With the Livescribe Desktop, you cannot save pages as PDF either.  However, there are several quality free PDF print drivers so you can work around that with ease.  One option is the software allows uploading your files to Livescribe’s website to share.  There they can be shared as a PDF or Flash movie.

Livescribe gives each smartpen owner 250MB of online storage.  There Livescribe users can store or share documents and creating a community around them.  LiveScribe has in essence created a new form of media that it has dubbed “pencasts”. 

As impressive, as the Smartpens note-taking function is it is still in its infancy.  It is just the birth of what Livescribe aims to turn into a whole ecosystem of pen-based applications.  

Livescribe includes some intriguing demos on their website.  One of them allows you to draw your own playable piano. In addition, one can recognize a few words and display the translation for them in a number of languages on the device’s display.

Livescribe has plans to make a range of content and software development tools available.  Currently they will appeal to different kinds of developers, including Java coders.

Pick up a extra Livescribe notebook today and join in on the fun!

Livescribe Smartpen

The Livescribe smartpen may be just what the college students are looking for.  For those who are having a tough time keeping up with long-winded professors they need to try the smartpen.  This unique device could save their college careers when old notes suddenly take on a meaningful and informative look.  

Now instead of having to ponder over some poorly organized notes and trying to make sense of them.  They will have their instructor’s actual speech readily available with the tap of their smartpen.  This audio file ties directly to the key word or phrase that they wrote down during the speech.  So now, reviewing notes will be like getting their own personal instructions one more time with the Livescribe Smartpen. 

The Pulse Livescribe Smartpen is a mind-blowing pen and a computer in one.  This pen records audio while you are writing and links them together.  Then you go back to your notes, just tap what you have written the pen plays the audio that was recorded when you were writing.  You can also upload the notes to your computer.  Once uploaded notes can be organized, searched and shared. 

When using its noise canceling and ink recognition system it works great.  The Livescribe Smartpen Pulse can be used to take written notes that are uploaded to the PC.  It can also be used to just record audio.  The best evolution for note taking is the ability to match written notes with the audio.  Simply put the pen into “Paper Replay” mode and tap on some text to hear what was being said as you scribbled.  The result is the next best thing to real time transcription.  It can be used to check what may be an unclear or hastily scribbled note.  You will be able to focus on commentary while the pen captures the content.  You will be able too create or copy a diagram then later have it explained via audio.

Livescribe is naturally focusing on marketing the smartpen to the college crowd.  However, the device has broad appeal to journalists, lawyers, doctors or anyone who tends to take notes in a meeting.  The Livescribe Smartpen may well be one of the most useful gadgets to come along in quite some time.   

Down the line, the company plans to rollout new applications to widen its usefulness.  These applications will broaden the functionality of the device.  Translation software would be a great next step for the Livescribe Smartpen.

LiveScribe Pulse Smartpen

LiveScribe Pulse Smartpen is a new way of storing audio with your hand written notes.  You write down the main topic and play back all that was said about the topic later.  You can play the audio linked to topics you wrote earlier simply clicking on the link you have on your paper.

This new device is a little larger then a normal style pen.  LiveScribe Pulse Smartpen was designed to replace the common pen for taking notes.  It is likely to be the user’s main writing tool when taking notes.  The Smartpen employs new ideas in memory, microprocessors, storage, component size and connectivity. 

The LiveScribe Pulse Smartpen is a landmark, modern paper-based computing device.  With its audio and visual feedback, it is sure to be a hit.  Users will enjoy its many processing abilities and large storage space, of up to 2 GB.

It makes recording business meetings, lectures, speeches or any other audio a real breeze.  The LiveScribe Pulse Smartpen lets you link audio with your notes as you write on special dotted paper.  It stores those notes electronically.  Other devices currently on the market only capture data onto your PC.  However, the Pulse is the first to link the audio capability with data entry.  This gives you an efficient way to save and replay your notes while you are on the go.

This opens up new potentials for tools that will enhance personal production.  The Smartpen will launch a new era in mobile computing.

Learning, communications, and entertainment will now be even easier. 

This mobile-computing platform has the following:

• The Smartpen, a fountain pen sized computer. This has audio and visual feedback memory. It is for handwriting capture, audio recording and applications.
• Plan paper printed with the Microdot Positioning System technology. Used for creating documents which are tied directly to audio files.
• A number of software applications for audio and text links. An application to transform handwriting to a text document. It even has an application allowing connection to the internet.
• Tools for users to create publish and share new applications and content online.

This makes it an ideal tool for students to use for taking notes.  Lawyers, doctors, journalists, and bloggers will now be able to take accurate precise notes.  They will now have a convenient way of verifying their notes with the audio recordings.  Consumers looking for an easy way to transcribe records and find information quickly will enjoy using the LiveScribe Pulse Smartpen .