Furthermore, the entire pen has a nautical design with rivets, propellers and funnels dotted about. The theme continues even inside, where a ship's wheel-shaped gear operates a propeller that pushes ink to the nib, all visible through a little sapphire-glass porthole.

There're only 88 in existence, and considering the Titanic metal, and the gold and palladium elsewhere in the construction, we can only imagine that the price would've surprised even Titanic's owners. [Vialuxe via Born Rich]

The Price: $199

The Verdict: I like the Livescribe Pulse quite a bit. I think it performs as advertised and is relatively easy to use. That said, this doesn't offer anything enticing or groundbreaking for people who don't use a pen and paper on a regular basis. It's a product for the likes of students, journalists, or even doctors, who are constantly scribbling things down with a pen. Here's a quick rundown of the pros and cons of the Pulse.

As a quick refresh, the Livescribe Pulse uses special dotted paper for spatial recognition to digitally replicate the notes. In one regard, this is good, because it doesn't require any secondary hardware. On the other hand, you cant just use any old piece of paper to make this thing fully functional. each sheet of paper has controls on the bottom, allowing navigation of the pens menu system, recording controls, bookmarking, playback controls, and speaker volume.

The note-taking/digital recording/replay function works smoothly. You hit the record button on the paper before you begin to write, then as you jot down your handcrafted masterpiece, it simultaneously records the audio and keeps the two linked. When you stop recording, you can tap anywhere in the vicinity of your notes and it will playback the audio from that moment when you were writing. It's awesome.

These can also be uploaded into Livescribe's Desktop software, which archives your notes according to the notebook they were written in and the page it was on. Text with audio linked to it appears in green, and when clicked, plays back the audio. There is also a search engine with handwriting recognition that works exceptionally well. I laid some chicken scratch on the page and it picked every word up, save for one word I couldn't even recognize. It doesn't currently support OS X right now, but they say its in the works.

Many of the secondary functions are neat, but I don't know I would use any of them on a regular basis. The Paper Piano is novel. The written calculator seems semi-practical, when in the middle of note scribbling, but the printed material on the inside cover of notebooks just isn't that useful. There's another calculator, a visual keyboard (which isn't yet supported) and status buttons for time and date. Also strange is that the settings can only be adjusted by the interfaces printed on the inside covers of notebooks. There's no on-screen system for adjusting this using the cross-based navigation.

The highly touted translator is also missing (though promised in the future), replaced with a demo that translates 20 words into Arabic, Mandarin, Spanish or Swedish. And one issue I had with the written calculator and translator was that I tend to write without picking up my pen between letters, and it couldn't recognize what I was writing. They say cursive support will come, but I'm not sure it will fix the recognition for people with poor handwriting.

The build quality of the pen is good, with a metal exterior that doesn't feel too light or heavy in the hand. It has an OLED screen that brightly displays pertinent info, stereo microphone, a loud speaker, and a magnetic dock/data connector. However, it's closer in size to a magnetic marker than a pen, and you have to hold the pen relatively high so as not to block the sensor. This feels a little cumbersome in the hand, but you mostly get used to it. Mostly.

The Livescribe Pulse is an amazing piece of tech, and I enjoy using it, but has an admittedly limited appeal. I'd love to see more creative and functional uses implemented with future "apps," and a touch of refinement in the current interface. But this is recommended for anyone who takes a lot of notes. [Livescribe on Giz]

[Product Page]

We got an up close look at the Livescribe Pulse, and found out for ourselves what it could do. Livescribe's CEO, Jim Marggraff, is the same man responsible for Leapfrog's Fly Fusion Pen. He left to found Livescribe and work on more advanced smartpens. The Pulse is about 6 inches long, about a half inch in diameter, has a 96x18 OLED display, up to 2GB of memory (good for 150-200 hours recording time or 60,000 pages of notes), dual embedded mics, and a data/charging dock with a similar design to a magsafe charger.

The main feature of the Pulse is that it digitally transfers handwritten notes and links it to audio recorded at the same time. For example, if you were to begin recording audio while writing, you could go back later, tap anywhere on the page and bring up the audio that was recorded while writing in that specific part of the page.

The written notes are transferred to the computer via USB dock and are imported into Livescribe's own software interface. From here notes can be organized and manipulated as you see fit. One feature is the ability to animate pen strokes, so that they sequentially appear on screen like you wrote them on paper. It also comes with handwriting recognition software so that you can search for keywords in your notes. The early software we saw had a few bugs, but it should be ironed out before the pulse hits shelves. All of these notes can also be uploaded to your own personalized page on Livescribe's server (250 MB free) where you can share with others, or just keep it as backup for yourself.

One of the neater functions of the Pulse is the 3D recording headset that comes with the pen. The headset looks and functions like a normal pair of headphones, but on the backside are a pair of binaural mics that enable 3D audio recording. If you have the headset in your ears, or draped over your shoulder while recording, and you go back and listen later, the audio sounds exactly the way you experienced it earlier. If someone is walking around you while talking, you can hear the sound transfer from one ear to the other.

The specialized dot paper is the key to the Pulse's functionality. While Livescribe will produce notebooks catered around specific functions of the smartpen, templates can also be downloaded and printed from home for free. At the bottom of the paper are a series on controls (Record, Play, Stop, etc...) that run the main functions of the pen. Tapping on a section of your notes will bring up the corresponding audio that was recorded as you were writing on that spot of the page. Menu navigation is carried out through a cursor, which is also on the page, or can be drawn anywhere on the page. From here, some of the more advanced functions of the pen can be accessed.

The calculator and translator show off some of the more powerful abilities of the Livescribe Pulse. If you bring up the calculator app, and write "10x4=" on the paper, the Pulse will spit out the correct answer of 40. Likewise, with the translator, if you pick to translate from Spanish to English and write down the word "coche", the Pulse will analyze the text and show the word translated as "car." These functions are just the tip of the iceberg; Livescribe not only plans to make more productivity apps like this, but open up the platform with an SDK available to all in the second half of 2008.

The Livescribe Pulse Smartpen is expected to ship in March (PC only, Mac support to follow soon) with the 1 GB model selling for $149 and the 2 GB model for $199. Both pens come with a 100-page dot notebook, 3D recording headset, ink and stylus refills, USB cradle, Livescribe Desktop app, and 250 MB of online storage.

Livescribe Unveils Pulse™ Smartpen and Developer Program
Livescribe invites developers to create applications for Pulse

DEMO - Palm Desert, Calif. - Jan. 28, 2008 - Livescribe, Inc. Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Jim Marggraff will unveil a new category of consumer electronics on Tuesday with the introduction of
Pulse™, the world's first smartpen.

The Pulse smartpen from Livescribe is a computer within a pen that captures handwriting and
simultaneously records audio and synchronizes it to the writing. Users can simply tap on their notes to
replay what was recorded from the exact moment they were writing, so they never miss a word they hear,
write, or speak. Further, the smartpen is a general purpose computer with rich I/O capabilities and a Java
development environment that enables a wide range of applications.

"Pulse is a new type of mobile computer that supports the four basic modes of human communication -
reading, writing, speaking and listening" said Jim Marggraff. "Using an embedded speaker and display
for audio/visual input, and microphones and a pen for audio/visual output, Pulse advances the power and
flexibility of mobile computing - it's the missing link that now connects the paper and digital worlds."

Introducing the Pulse™ Smartpen from Livescribe

The Pulse smartpen is available for preorder at www.livescribe.com and will arrive on doorsteps in
March. Key features with every Pulse smartpen purchase include:
• Pulse Smartpen - With a sleek, ergonomic design and charcoal blue anodized aluminum
housing, the smartpen weighs in at just 1.3 ounces. Pulse is available in two models. Priced at
$149, the 1GB model provides storage for recorded audio (over 100 hours), digital notes (over
16,000 pages), or add-on applications. At $199, the 2GB model doubles the storage capacity and
provides more flexibility for downloading future applications.
• Paper Replay™ - Pulse's core application enables users to record and sync audio with whatever
they write, so they never miss a word. With Paper Replay, users can tap on their notes written on
paper to hear exactly what was said. They can also fast forward, rewind, jump ahead, pause, and
even speed up or slow down their audio recordings using controls printed on the bottom of each
page.
• Smartpen Technology - The Pulse smartpen is a sophisticated mobile computer that includes: a
high speed infrared camera with a Dot Positioning System (DPS); rechargeable lithium battery;
high contrast display for easy indoor/outdoor viewing; dual microphones for clear recording and
noise cancellation; an embedded speaker and an audio jack for Livescribe's 3D Recording
Headset.
• Dot Paper Notebook - The nearly-invisible micro dots printed on notebook pages tell the Pulse
smartpen exactly where a user is writing or tapping. The Dot Positioning System enables not only
printed controls for recording and playback on each page, but also paper-based applications
including a full-function calculator on the inside front cover of every notebook. Additional
notebooks will be available for purchase at prices comparable to ordinary paper notebooks. Users
can also print dot paper for free on qualified laser jet printers beginning in April.
• 3D Recording Headset - Livescribe has created a revolutionary 3D Recording Headset. Each
earbud has an embedded microphone that creates a new standard in recording quality in large
rooms or noisy environments.
• USB Mobile Charging Cradle - This light weight magnetic cradle connects the Pulse smartpen
to the PC to recharge, transfer digital ink and audio, and install new applications.
• Livescribe Desktop Software - The digital hub for notes and audio, Livescribe Desktop allows
users to store, replay, and search for words within their handwritten notes on their PC.
• Livescribe Online Community - Every registered Pulse user receives 250MB of online storage
to upload and share notes and audio as interactive Flash movies or PDF files. Users can choose to
share with the Livescribe community, selected contacts, or other sites like Facebook. Text and
audio transcription services will also be available online.
• Additional Applications - Users can customize their Pulse with additional applications -
ranging from language learning to productivity tools to games - via download from
www.livescribe.com.

Developer Program Makes Pulse Smartpen Even Smarter

Livescribe also announced the launch of the Livescribe Developer Program, inviting developers to build
innovative, paper-based computing applications to enhance and broaden the functionality of the Pulse
smartpen. The program provides a suite of tools and services for users, casual developers and professional
developers to create, publish, share and sell their applications. Members will have access to developer
tools, technical documentation, starter guides, sample code, community forums and technical support.

Some of the applications already underway by developers for Pulse include foreign language translators,
productivity tools, games, interactive books, transcription services, and specialized educational aids:

Languages
• Binary Labs is developing a complete Spanish translator for Pulse, providing a powerful tool for
people that want to learn or communicate in Spanish. Consumers simply write words in English
to hear and read the Spanish translation on Pulse's OLED display screen. Users can also look up
Spanish verb conjugations and Spanish idioms.

Productivity
-Living Paper will develop the Elephant Calendar, best known for its paper-based personal
organizer, into an interactive digital organizer that works with Pulse.

Entertainment
• Stiletto Ventures will offer several games and entertainment applications designed to provide
Livescribe customers with an engaging, interactive paper experience.

Interactive books
• J-PEA will make the Bible, the most widely distributed book in the world, interactive by printing
it on dot paper. Readers tap on pages with their smartpen to hear verses read to them, hear
pronunciations, read definitions of specific words, or jump to cross-referenced verses.
• Audio Tutor will create the first interactive birding journal. The dot-enabled field journal
provides bird visuals and information, in both text and audio. Consumers can also record their
birding expeditions through handwriting, drawings and audio recordings.

Transcription
Livescribe provides several options to help consumers easily transcribe handwriting and audio
into digital text:
• Living Paper will provide ink to text transcription services.
• Vision Objects will provide handwriting recognition software that converts handwriting captured
by Pulse into digital text.
• Winscribe will offer integrated workflow and speech transcription technology for Pulse.

Specialized Education Tools
• The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute will develop applications to assist visually-
impaired students with learning through Pulse.
• ViewPlus will produce embossed color images with their Emprint™ SpotDot Braille Embosser
that works with Pulse.

By providing an open platform, building a strong developer support program, and offering targeted
distribution channels, Livescribe will provide an attractive business opportunity for developers. Software
developers interested in designing applications for Pulse should e-mail developer@livescribe.com.

Only available in Japan (or through an importer), the official NDS Pencil Stylus is basically your regular DS/DS Lite stylus, but thicker. The stylus lacks lead and therefore has no need for an eraser. If you think holding a pencil will improve your game (but won't help on your homework), you can grab one for a costly $10 import, around $5 less than what you might pay for the added frills of the HORI package. – Kevin Hall

Buy it [videogame.brando.com.hk via technabob]

LiveScribe [Gizmodo]

Use your ballpoint pen as a stylus [AVING]

The type of wood you get is random, but one thing's for sure, you'll have a Phillips screwdriver, regular screwdriver, tweezers, X-acto knife, and of course, a ballpoint pen in hand whenever you carry this handmade work of art. We thought it would cost a lot more than $32. – Charlie White

Product Page [Eco-Artware, via The Uber Review]

Femurs are great for holding pens [Medgadget]

Froggie the Robotic Pen goes through quite a frog-like convolution just to open itself up, but it's about the most gadget delight you can get for 8 bucks. Fold it back up into itself, and it's hard to even tell what it is. Available in silver or black. It's not exactly robotic, but big fun nonetheless. See a close-up of both colors, after the jump.

We're digging that black one with its eerie-looking green buttons and trim. – Charlie White

Product Page [Grand Illusions, via Coolest Gadgets]

We've seen enough movies to know that just about anything can be made into a shiv, so it'll just be a matter of time that we'll need to move on to allowing prisoners to write with finger paints. – Jason Chen

Product Page [SpyCatcher via Oh Gizmo via Uber Gizmo]

Hi, I'm Rick Brawn, founder of USB Pen Holders International. Here at USB PHI, we know it's hard finding enough ports to plug in your USB gadgets. And we also know that you've only got two ears to stick pens behind.

With three easy payments of £3.32 ($6.50), you can be the proud owner of your own USB pen holder. As you can see, I'm not only the president. I'm also a douchebag. – Jason Chen

Product page [Phatphones via Gearlog]

Check out all of the schwag goods from CES here. –Travis Hudson

Ball point pen chandelier [MAKE]

If nothing else a techie pen might remind us that an old fashioned handwritten letter can achieve a more personal level of communication. Now if only pens had spellcheck. – Mark Wilson

Product Page [via popgadget]

Product Page [via popgadget]

They're sterling silver, lacquered in Racing Red or Modena Yellow, or you can go all-out with one in 18-karat yellow gold lacquered in Racing Red. And of course, all are decorated with a hand-made Ferrari prancing horsy, and each pen arrives in a case that looks like the interior of a fine Ferrari automobile. Go ahead, he's worth it. It's $1500 for the sterling silver models, and the 18k gold one? Well, it's going to be a lot more. – Charlie White

Product page [Montegrappa, via productdose]

We're hoping they'll soon offer pens from famous baseball bats, because if these bleacher seat pens could talk, they'd probably just complain a lot about all the big butts that have been sitting on them for all these years. – Charlie White

Product page [Uncommon Goods, via OhGizmo]

Atwood dreamed up the device when signing a UPS delivery tablet and got together some ubergeeks to help her build it. The result is an amalgam of high-tech and a rusty Erector Set, but it allows Maggie to "send" signatures to her fans and interact with them in real time.

Product Page [UnotChit]
Tracey, Meet Margaret... [BookMaven]

Product Page [MOMA]

Product Page - FLASHY ITALIAN [Omas via Coolhunting]

This week at Lifehacker: Get the most out of your video iPod. Buy the best quality recordable DVDs. Cube warriors, firewall your attention at the office. Fold up a pen and stick it in your wallet. Finally, remedy LCD screen burn-in.

So you got yourself a shiny new video iPod over the holidays. Know how to use it? Subscribe to free video content, play movies and TV on the big screen with cables lying around the house, compress and save your own home movies. In short, get the most out of your new 'pod.

Ever go cheap and wind up with a spindle of DVD-Rs that don't burn or wind up unreadable? Check out this guide to high quality recordable DVDRs to avoid a stack of shiny drink coasters.

"Corporate accounts! Nina speaking! Just a moment!" When every day is a case of the Mondays at your cubicle job where constant interruptions keep you from getting a thing done, take our advice on how to firewall your attention at the office.

Need a pen? Oh, look! Here's one all folded up in my wallet. Get your brilliant ideas down on paper wherever you are with a foldable wallet pen.

When the ghost of your login screen burns into your LCD monitor and haunts you while you're working in other programs, Apple's got a little tutorial on getting rid of the little bugger and avoiding it in the future.

Lifehacker's Power User column appears every Wednesday on Gizmodo.

My father always used to carry around a pen and crumpled pieces of paper in his coat so he could write things down—songs on the radio he liked, prices of things in stores, and other useless hunks of information. It wasn't very handy, though. Luckily for him, there's the PicoPad. PicoPad is a little credit card-sized (if not smaller) notepad complete with a minuscule pen for jotting down notes on the little blue sheets. It fits perfectly into a card slot in your wallet and doesn't get in the way at all. The paper included comes out easily and has a sticky back for using it like a Post-It Note. You can score a PicoPad for only $3.89 each in a multitude of colors. Extremely handy and a great gift for that dude you know who's always writing down numbers on his hand.

Product Page [Picopad]

Nintendo DS Slot Filling Pens and Cleaners [Kotaku]

World's Thinnest Ball Point Pens by Signo [I4U]

Digital Pen from Hitachi Maxell [101Reviews]