DailyDirt: Styli Are Getting Better

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

Tue, Jun 19th 2012 5:00pm — Michael Ho

Microsoft's new tablet computer was announced with a bit of fanfare -- and curiously, a stylus. When Apple introduced its touchscreens (not counting the Newton), Steve Jobs dismissively tossed away the idea of using a stylus and said the finger is the best pointing device around. Well, stylus technology is getting better all the time, and here are just a few examples of some styluses/styli that might beat the finger.

The Collusion iPad pen isn't just a piece of plastic in the shape of a pen. This pen-like device uses an ultrasound system instead of the iPad's built-in touchscreen to provide better accuracy. Plus it comes with collaboration software and handwriting recognition, so you can share your drawings and notes with other users. (NB: This Kickstarter project hasn't ended yet.) [url]
The Cosmonaut is a big stylus that is designed to mimic a dry erase marker. This *was* a Kickstarter project, and now it's currently selling for about $25 (shipping not included). [url]
The PressurePen is an open hardware stylus for the iPad (and Android platform) that gives users a pressure-sensitive way to draw on a touchscreen. Okay, so how many Kickstarter stylus projects are there?!? LOTS. At least this one is open source.... [url]

If you'd like to read more awesome and interesting stuff, check out this unrelated (but not entirely random!) Techdirt post.

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Filed Under: collusion, cosmonaut, finger, hardware, hmi, input device, ipad, pen, pressurepen, steve jobs, stylus, tablet, touchscreen
Companies: apple, kickstarter, microsoft

7 Comments

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Cerberus (profile), 19 Jun 2012 @ 5:37pm

Cool technology. As a primary means of input, it is less efficient than fingers; but, as a secondary, specialized tool, it can be great, as for drawing and such. By the way, the plural of stylus is styli, not *stylii.
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- Jeremy, 19 Jun 2012 @ 6:33pm
  
  Re:
  Ya I was thinking the exact same thing, artists assume the input is good enough would love something like that. No need to drag around a drawing pad.
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- Michael Ho (profile), 19 Jun 2012 @ 10:45pm
  
  Re:
  Thanks for the correct plural, Cerberus!
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Amazing Sammy, 19 Jun 2012 @ 8:06pm

But don't forget the stylus that comes with the Asus Pad Phone
It may look like a mild mannered stylus, but it turns into a bluetooth phone when your phone is docked in your tablet, which is docked in your laptop. Seriously. It's cool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rrh_EwFaZ7I
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filthpig (profile), 20 Jun 2012 @ 9:13am

Who wants a stylus? I do, or at least I wouldn't mind having the option to take one out when I needed. The only thing I miss about my old Treo is the stylus. Fat, greasy fingers are the best pointing device around? Hardly, the stylus gives you pin point accuracy that is quite handy for certain things, one in particular being trying to navigate miniature menus and click on tiny links while web browsing.
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Anonymous Coward, 20 Jun 2012 @ 2:48pm

Yeahhhh, I gots dat styli, homeboy! Word!
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DinDaddy (profile), 21 Jun 2012 @ 1:04am

The cosmonaut is pretty decent. I bought my son one for artistic use in his ipad and he was pleased with it. I then bought a Maglus (new product from a startup in Europe, also was a kickstarter project at one time I believe), and he and I both prefer that. It is a bit smoother and smaller, and the tip is firm enough that I am not concerned it will wear away and rip of like so many of them do, while still being chunky enough (it's pretty much a machined piece of aluminum), and has built in magnets to secure it to an ipad.
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