obon-pencils-mineO’BON: Building a Better Pencil

These fabulous pencils aren’t built in Los Angeles but we can sure benefit from them

by Deborah Shadovitz Instead of pencils and paper, how about pencils made out of paper — and paper made from sugarcane. [column-group][column] You know that mild frustration that comes when you sharpen a pencil — and the wood doesn’t peel evenly so you have to keep cutting away at the wood until you can actually write or draw with that pencil? Or the frustration of a pencil point that keeps breaking off as you sharpen it? I don’t — when using O’BON pencils. I first saw O’BON pencils at an ecology show at the Los Angeles Convention Center. They were laid out on a table and were so attractive that I just had to stop and look. Picking one up, I noticed how smooth the sharpened area looked, and then I saw the unique design that encircled the lead. It was then that I noticed the bowl full of pretty swirls was actually a bowl of pencil shavings. Could a pencil really be made from newspaper wrapped graphite? I’d never really thought about how that graphite ever got into its wood. I tried the pencil. It was an excellent quality 2B graphite, silky smooth both writing and held to the side for sketching. I came to learn that O’BON makes a point out of using high-quality graphite. O’BON also makes sketching pencils and colored pencils. I liked them all. obon-pencil-points [clearboth] It turns out, too, that by using rolled paper instead of wood, the graphite is better protected. Apparently, when dropped onto the floor, these pencils won’t splinter the way a wood pencil will. O’BON points out that because the pencil doesn’t splinter or break as much, its pencils last about three times longer than their wooden counterparts. There are several earth-friendly aspects to these beautiful pencils as well. To start, trees are not used, so that leaves the trees in place to full-fill their natural place in the ecosystem. But it gets better. Less energy needed in the manufacturing process. As the O’BON website explains, there are “no trees to chop, no wood slates to grind and no hexagonal shape to cut by grinding wood.” obon-pencil-topThis pencil company also takes care to repurpose the left over paper bits. They are saved, filtered, and then used as mulch on the company’s grounds. It seems that aside from the graphite, everything in the pencil creation process is post-consumer waste product, rather than raw materials. You may notice these pencils don’t come replete with an eraser atop. Considering how many of those erasers have gone dry and hard on me, I don’t mind a bit. There are so many cute erasers out there these days, that it’s easy enough to always have one handy. [/column][column] These beautiful 2B writing pencils sell for about 50¢ per pencil in packs of 5, 9, 10, or more. For $5 you can get 10 Wildlife or Rainbow pencils or 9 O’BONanza Series Bursts of Fruit design pencils. There are several designs. obon-pencils Colored pencils are sold as a 12-pack for $6. obon-animal-colored-pencils The $10 L’Artiste Series is comprised of 10 high quality professional art pencils. Their graphite, from harder to softer is 2H, 1H, 1B, 2B, 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B, 7B, and 8B. Again, the graphite is wrapped in recycled newspaper, but these professional sketching pencils sport a brushed nickel finish. obon-pro-art-pencils For now, O’BON products are primarily known in Asia. If you can’t find them near you, you can purchase these terrific eco-friendly pencils from their website, which per O’BONs FAQ, happens to be at an energy-respecting hosting company.

Notebooks and Binders, too

O’BON also makes binders and journals (notebooks). The journal pages are made from Sugarcane (aka Bagasse) Paper, covers printed with Soy-Based Inks. This means that no trees are used in the process of creating the paper. Not even recycled paper.

About Bagasse

Bagasse (Buh-Gas) is the remnant of a sugarcane plant after the juice is drained from it. By creating paper from it, the company is getting more from the plant. You can learn more about bugasse here at O’BON’s website and learn more about the making of the bagasse products here.

More Info

You can learn about the making of these and traditional pencils on the O’BON website. [/column][/column-group]]]>

obon-pencils-mineO’BON: Building a Better Pencil

These fabulous pencils aren’t built in Los Angeles but we can sure benefit from them

by Deborah Shadovitz Instead of pencils and paper, how about pencils made out of paper — and paper made from sugarcane. [column-group][column] You know that mild frustration that comes when you sharpen a pencil — and the wood doesn’t peel evenly so you have to keep cutting away at the wood until you can actually write or draw with that pencil? Or the frustration of a pencil point that keeps breaking off as you sharpen it? I don’t — when using O’BON pencils. I first saw O’BON pencils at an ecology show at the Los Angeles Convention Center. They were laid out on a table and were so attractive that I just had to stop and look. Picking one up, I noticed how smooth the sharpened area looked, and then I saw the unique design that encircled the lead. It was then that I noticed the bowl full of pretty swirls was actually a bowl of pencil shavings. Could a pencil really be made from newspaper wrapped graphite? I’d never really thought about how that graphite ever got into its wood. I tried the pencil. It was an excellent quality 2B graphite, silky smooth both writing and held to the side for sketching. I came to learn that O’BON makes a point out of using high-quality graphite. O’BON also makes sketching pencils and colored pencils. I liked them all. obon-pencil-points [clearboth] It turns out, too, that by using rolled paper instead of wood, the graphite is better protected. Apparently, when dropped onto the floor, these pencils won’t splinter the way a wood pencil will. O’BON points out that because the pencil doesn’t splinter or break as much, its pencils last about three times longer than their wooden counterparts. There are several earth-friendly aspects to these beautiful pencils as well. To start, trees are not used, so that leaves the trees in place to full-fill their natural place in the ecosystem. But it gets better. Less energy needed in the manufacturing process. As the O’BON website explains, there are “no trees to chop, no wood slates to grind and no hexagonal shape to cut by grinding wood.” obon-pencil-topThis pencil company also takes care to repurpose the left over paper bits. They are saved, filtered, and then used as mulch on the company’s grounds. It seems that aside from the graphite, everything in the pencil creation process is post-consumer waste product, rather than raw materials. You may notice these pencils don’t come replete with an eraser atop. Considering how many of those erasers have gone dry and hard on me, I don’t mind a bit. There are so many cute erasers out there these days, that it’s easy enough to always have one handy. [/column][column] These beautiful 2B writing pencils sell for about 50¢ per pencil in packs of 5, 9, 10, or more. For $5 you can get 10 Wildlife or Rainbow pencils or 9 O’BONanza Series Bursts of Fruit design pencils. There are several designs. obon-pencils Colored pencils are sold as a 12-pack for $6. obon-animal-colored-pencils The $10 L’Artiste Series is comprised of 10 high quality professional art pencils. Their graphite, from harder to softer is 2H, 1H, 1B, 2B, 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B, 7B, and 8B. Again, the graphite is wrapped in recycled newspaper, but these professional sketching pencils sport a brushed nickel finish. obon-pro-art-pencils For now, O’BON products are primarily known in Asia. If you can’t find them near you, you can purchase these terrific eco-friendly pencils from their website, which per O’BONs FAQ, happens to be at an energy-respecting hosting company.

Notebooks and Binders, too

O’BON also makes binders and journals (notebooks). The journal pages are made from Sugarcane (aka Bagasse) Paper, covers printed with Soy-Based Inks. This means that no trees are used in the process of creating the paper. Not even recycled paper.

About Bagasse

Bagasse (Buh-Gas) is the remnant of a sugarcane plant after the juice is drained from it. By creating paper from it, the company is getting more from the plant. You can learn more about bugasse here at O’BON’s website and learn more about the making of the bagasse products here.

More Info

You can learn about the making of these and traditional pencils on the O’BON website. [/column][/column-group]]]>

iPod & iPhone Speaker Recommendations

Because the people of Los Angeles deserve good sound

by Deborah Shadovitz with Mario Salinas (2010) Much like the CDs reduced people’s music collections from major shelves (or multiple milk crates) to shoebox-sized containers and the iPod reduced CD collections to the size of a deck of cards, we’ve seen home speaker systems shrink greatly as well. However, sound is the result of air being moved. That’s much easier with a large speaker in a large speaker cabinet, but a great challenge for today’s small speaker system that typically contains an iPod dock. The challenge for speaker manufacturers is to create true, clear sound within a small box. On this page we show you two speakers that we’ve tested and like. Both are by Memorex. We’ll bring you other recommendations as we have the opportunity to check them out for you. [hr] About our speaker evaluation The best measure of an audio playback or speaker system is: Does the music sound like the producer of that music intended for that music to sound? Is the sound reproduced faithfully? Most of us can only guess what any particular music producer had in mind for his/her sounds. So we called upon Mario Salinas, a professional music producer, former owner of Milagro Sound Recorders in Glendale, California. Mario tried these systems with his own music, music he produced — so he knows for sure what was intended to be heard. He also tried each speaker with a range of other music in order to hear which type of music each speaker or headphone reproduced best. [hr]

The Memorex™ PartyCube™ CD Sound System

We love this speaker — for many reasons! It’s amazingly well thought out. It sounds great. PartyCubeCDSoundSystemThe size and features make it perfect for any living room, any room in your home, and also for travel. Yes, even travel to places where you won’t have power. And the cost is very reasonable, unlike many speaker/sound systems on the market.

Excellent sound

PartyCube CD Sound System can easily fill a room with clean-sounding music without irritating distortion. It has a crisp high end and enhanced low end while the voices sit nicely in the middle, making it a fine choice for most songs with lyrics and also for orchestral compositions. If you raise the volume to the point where you start to feel the sound like in the old big-speakers days, the music will distort. That’s not what this comfortable-sounding home speaker is for. At the mid volumes which is easily loud enough when you’re alone enjoying the sound, the music is true to what the artists wanted you to hear. If you were to use it during a small get-together, full volume would cause your guests to have to yell to be heard and would ask you to turn the volume down. At full volume the sound reached into every room of a one-level, two-bedroom condo. Mario felt that in a family home situation, the sound from the PartyCube wouldn’t blast the house and annoy other family members. With great clarity on the high end and good sized speakers, it’s an excellent choice for a home or office if your choice in music is most popular music or orchestra. It’s not strong on bass though so if you’re into Hip-hop this isn’t the greatest solution for you. (But your neighbors would like you better than when they get stuck hearing your base in their walls.)

Convenient built in CD Player

Having an iPod is great. It holds a ton of music and makes it easy to get to any of your music. But what about the times when a friend brings a CD to your party, get togethers, or just to hang out? Even with the most convenient laptop, it’s not appropriate to stop and import that music, create a new playlist, stop the party to undock your iPod and sync it. That’s inconvenient, and there’s a matter of this being illegal as well. Having a CD player right on top to easily pop your friend’s music into is a terrific plus. Memorex has another model of the PartyCube that doesn’t have the CD. It’s about $49 less, but we so love having the CD that we didn’t ask to try that model.

Features we love in the PartyCube™ CD Sound System

PartyCubeCDSoundSysmterTopView1Just 10.3″ x 7.6″ x 6.3″ it fits in almost any space. With 4 multi-directional speakers, sound emanates out of each side. It contains a rechargeable battery so you can pick it up and take it to a picnic, on a camping trip, etc. It’s said to get eight hours of music play. We have not tested that yet. The bottom has small silicon feet which enable it to protect and stick to a shelf. As we’re in the Los Angeles area where the ground shakes, that’s a very helpful feature. We keep ours on a glass shelf and our PartyCube adhere’s perfectly; it’s not about to jump but we can pick it up to clean. It charges all iPhones and iPods, as do most iPod dock speakers It contains an AM/FM radio tuner so we don’t need yet another device, as is typical with most iPod/mp3 speaker systems. There are 5 FM and 5 AM presets (top left). AM and FM antennas are included. The AM antenna is shorter than the speaker so it can be discreetly placed out of sight behind the unit. It has a built-in CD player on top, so again we don’t need yet another device like with most iPod/mp3 speaker systems. It has a backlit display so you can see your radio station, track number, etc. We love the way the dock is built, too. Because iPod models vary in thickness, Memorex has brilliantly placed a flat knob behind where the iPod sits. No need to change out backing panels or risk the iPod sitting too loosely. Simply turn the knob to bring the backing closer to the iPod providing more support for your iPod, or turn it the other way to make more room for the iPod. Of course there is a line-in jack so you can connect other mp3 players, or other digital audio devices. (We connect an original FireWire iPod, keeping that iPod in use.)

Any downsides?

The only downside is that if you’re into having a remote you’re out of luck. To turn the volume down or switch playlists, you’ll need to step up to it. But is it really that awful to have to get up from your couch to turn down the volume when you answer the phone? These days, most of us need any excuse to get up off our butts. Actually though, this unit will nicely fit on an end table for those who want it to be within reach.

More info

The PartyCube™ CD Sound System is by Memorex™ and comes in both White and Charcoal Black. MSRP is $149.99 You can learn more about this speaker at the official Memorex product page for the PartyCube CD Sound System or its product support page. Unfortunately, we cannot find technical specs for this speaker anywhere on the Memorex site.

The Memorex™ Tagalong™ Portable Boombox — for iPod or iPhone

TagAlongPortableBoomboxThe Tagalong is well designed to do just that — tag along with you where ever you go. Memorex designed it as one solid piece, including the handle. It’s a great option for a teenager; it provides a good volume for a teen’s room and can easily be taken to a friend’s, brought outdoors, or dragged along on a picnic or to the pool or beach. Unlike many other portable speakers, combination of it’s solid handle and the generous backing behind where the iPod or iPhone sits, enable you to pick this up and take it with you without risking damage to the iPod or the speaker’s docking hardware. An iPhone sticks up less than an inch above the backing, leaving plenty of room for even an adult’s hand to carry the speaker, so it remains highly portable while protecting your beloved iPhone. TagalongWithoutIPod Memorex’s brilliant knob, shown on the left, sits behind the iPod/iPhone and is the perfect back rest for your iPod or iPhone. Simply turn the knob to bring it closer to the iPod providing more support for your iPod, or turn it the other way to make more room for the iPod. This now enables us to use our iPod’s touchscreen without compromising the docking device or the iPod’s dock connector. [clearboth]   The speakers on this portable speaker system are designed for popular music that has vocals. The lower mid-range is enhanced (probably boosted at about 1200hz) which gives the voice a strong emphasis. The background music is clear but not in the way of the vocals. If you really like/listen to orchestra and want something for your home or office, go with the Memorex PartyCube instead. (The PartyCube without the CD, is just $99. Although we have not reviewed it, we expect it has sound similar to it’s CD counterpart.) If you’re into pop or rock, the Tagalong will be comfortable. If your music choice is Hip-hop, this isn’t the best speaker system for you.

Features we love in the Tagalong

  • At just 6.7″ x 3.5″ x 8.7″ with a built in handle, it’s easy to pick up and take anywhere.
  • It can run on 4 AA A batteries.
  • The electrical plug is relatively small and thin, and faces sideways so it doesn’t hog your power outlet.
  • Silicon feet protect your furniture and help the speaker from sliding around. (A smaller unit, these feet don’t keep the Tagalong in place as with the PartyCube.
  • It charges all iPhones and iPods, as do most iPod dock speakers
  • It contains an AM/FM radio tuner so we don’t need yet another device, as is typical with most iPod/mp3 speaker systems. There are 3 FM and 3 AM presets (on the front). (FM antenna is included.)
  • It has a backlit display so you can see your radio station, track number, etc.
  • Memorex has brilliantly placed a flat knob behind where the iPod sits. There’s no need to change out backing panels or risk the iPod sitting too loosely.
  • There is a line-in jack so you can connect other mp3 players, or other digital audio devices.

Any downsides?

Designed for portability, the speakers on the Tagalong are not large, reducing it’s ability to produce low end sound as faithfully as the PartyCube CD Sound System. But it’s not meant for that finer reproduction. There’s no remote, but as this is always within reach a remote would add unnecessary cost.

More info

The Tagalong™ Portable Boombox is by Memorex™ and comes in both White and Charcoal Black. (Our photo of the white Tagalong doesn’t do justice to it’s color.) MSRP is $59.99 SRP is $59.99 You can learn more about this speaker at the official Memorex product page for this speaker or its product support page. Unfortunately, we cannot find technical specs for this speaker anywhere on the Memorex site.]]>

iPod & iPhone Speaker Recommendations

Because the people of Los Angeles deserve good sound

by Deborah Shadovitz with Mario Salinas (2010) Much like the CDs reduced people’s music collections from major shelves (or multiple milk crates) to shoebox-sized containers and the iPod reduced CD collections to the size of a deck of cards, we’ve seen home speaker systems shrink greatly as well. However, sound is the result of air being moved. That’s much easier with a large speaker in a large speaker cabinet, but a great challenge for today’s small speaker system that typically contains an iPod dock. The challenge for speaker manufacturers is to create true, clear sound within a small box. On this page we show you two speakers that we’ve tested and like. Both are by Memorex. We’ll bring you other recommendations as we have the opportunity to check them out for you. [hr] About our speaker evaluation The best measure of an audio playback or speaker system is: Does the music sound like the producer of that music intended for that music to sound? Is the sound reproduced faithfully? Most of us can only guess what any particular music producer had in mind for his/her sounds. So we called upon Mario Salinas, a professional music producer, former owner of Milagro Sound Recorders in Glendale, California. Mario tried these systems with his own music, music he produced — so he knows for sure what was intended to be heard. He also tried each speaker with a range of other music in order to hear which type of music each speaker or headphone reproduced best. [hr]

The Memorex™ PartyCube™ CD Sound System

We love this speaker — for many reasons! It’s amazingly well thought out. It sounds great. PartyCubeCDSoundSystemThe size and features make it perfect for any living room, any room in your home, and also for travel. Yes, even travel to places where you won’t have power. And the cost is very reasonable, unlike many speaker/sound systems on the market.

Excellent sound

PartyCube CD Sound System can easily fill a room with clean-sounding music without irritating distortion. It has a crisp high end and enhanced low end while the voices sit nicely in the middle, making it a fine choice for most songs with lyrics and also for orchestral compositions. If you raise the volume to the point where you start to feel the sound like in the old big-speakers days, the music will distort. That’s not what this comfortable-sounding home speaker is for. At the mid volumes which is easily loud enough when you’re alone enjoying the sound, the music is true to what the artists wanted you to hear. If you were to use it during a small get-together, full volume would cause your guests to have to yell to be heard and would ask you to turn the volume down. At full volume the sound reached into every room of a one-level, two-bedroom condo. Mario felt that in a family home situation, the sound from the PartyCube wouldn’t blast the house and annoy other family members. With great clarity on the high end and good sized speakers, it’s an excellent choice for a home or office if your choice in music is most popular music or orchestra. It’s not strong on bass though so if you’re into Hip-hop this isn’t the greatest solution for you. (But your neighbors would like you better than when they get stuck hearing your base in their walls.)

Convenient built in CD Player

Having an iPod is great. It holds a ton of music and makes it easy to get to any of your music. But what about the times when a friend brings a CD to your party, get togethers, or just to hang out? Even with the most convenient laptop, it’s not appropriate to stop and import that music, create a new playlist, stop the party to undock your iPod and sync it. That’s inconvenient, and there’s a matter of this being illegal as well. Having a CD player right on top to easily pop your friend’s music into is a terrific plus. Memorex has another model of the PartyCube that doesn’t have the CD. It’s about $49 less, but we so love having the CD that we didn’t ask to try that model.

Features we love in the PartyCube™ CD Sound System

PartyCubeCDSoundSysmterTopView1Just 10.3″ x 7.6″ x 6.3″ it fits in almost any space. With 4 multi-directional speakers, sound emanates out of each side. It contains a rechargeable battery so you can pick it up and take it to a picnic, on a camping trip, etc. It’s said to get eight hours of music play. We have not tested that yet. The bottom has small silicon feet which enable it to protect and stick to a shelf. As we’re in the Los Angeles area where the ground shakes, that’s a very helpful feature. We keep ours on a glass shelf and our PartyCube adhere’s perfectly; it’s not about to jump but we can pick it up to clean. It charges all iPhones and iPods, as do most iPod dock speakers It contains an AM/FM radio tuner so we don’t need yet another device, as is typical with most iPod/mp3 speaker systems. There are 5 FM and 5 AM presets (top left). AM and FM antennas are included. The AM antenna is shorter than the speaker so it can be discreetly placed out of sight behind the unit. It has a built-in CD player on top, so again we don’t need yet another device like with most iPod/mp3 speaker systems. It has a backlit display so you can see your radio station, track number, etc. We love the way the dock is built, too. Because iPod models vary in thickness, Memorex has brilliantly placed a flat knob behind where the iPod sits. No need to change out backing panels or risk the iPod sitting too loosely. Simply turn the knob to bring the backing closer to the iPod providing more support for your iPod, or turn it the other way to make more room for the iPod. Of course there is a line-in jack so you can connect other mp3 players, or other digital audio devices. (We connect an original FireWire iPod, keeping that iPod in use.)

Any downsides?

The only downside is that if you’re into having a remote you’re out of luck. To turn the volume down or switch playlists, you’ll need to step up to it. But is it really that awful to have to get up from your couch to turn down the volume when you answer the phone? These days, most of us need any excuse to get up off our butts. Actually though, this unit will nicely fit on an end table for those who want it to be within reach.

More info

The PartyCube™ CD Sound System is by Memorex™ and comes in both White and Charcoal Black. MSRP is $149.99 You can learn more about this speaker at the official Memorex product page for the PartyCube CD Sound System or its product support page. Unfortunately, we cannot find technical specs for this speaker anywhere on the Memorex site.

The Memorex™ Tagalong™ Portable Boombox — for iPod or iPhone

TagAlongPortableBoomboxThe Tagalong is well designed to do just that — tag along with you where ever you go. Memorex designed it as one solid piece, including the handle. It’s a great option for a teenager; it provides a good volume for a teen’s room and can easily be taken to a friend’s, brought outdoors, or dragged along on a picnic or to the pool or beach. Unlike many other portable speakers, combination of it’s solid handle and the generous backing behind where the iPod or iPhone sits, enable you to pick this up and take it with you without risking damage to the iPod or the speaker’s docking hardware. An iPhone sticks up less than an inch above the backing, leaving plenty of room for even an adult’s hand to carry the speaker, so it remains highly portable while protecting your beloved iPhone. TagalongWithoutIPod Memorex’s brilliant knob, shown on the left, sits behind the iPod/iPhone and is the perfect back rest for your iPod or iPhone. Simply turn the knob to bring it closer to the iPod providing more support for your iPod, or turn it the other way to make more room for the iPod. This now enables us to use our iPod’s touchscreen without compromising the docking device or the iPod’s dock connector. [clearboth]   The speakers on this portable speaker system are designed for popular music that has vocals. The lower mid-range is enhanced (probably boosted at about 1200hz) which gives the voice a strong emphasis. The background music is clear but not in the way of the vocals. If you really like/listen to orchestra and want something for your home or office, go with the Memorex PartyCube instead. (The PartyCube without the CD, is just $99. Although we have not reviewed it, we expect it has sound similar to it’s CD counterpart.) If you’re into pop or rock, the Tagalong will be comfortable. If your music choice is Hip-hop, this isn’t the best speaker system for you.

Features we love in the Tagalong

  • At just 6.7″ x 3.5″ x 8.7″ with a built in handle, it’s easy to pick up and take anywhere.
  • It can run on 4 AA A batteries.
  • The electrical plug is relatively small and thin, and faces sideways so it doesn’t hog your power outlet.
  • Silicon feet protect your furniture and help the speaker from sliding around. (A smaller unit, these feet don’t keep the Tagalong in place as with the PartyCube.
  • It charges all iPhones and iPods, as do most iPod dock speakers
  • It contains an AM/FM radio tuner so we don’t need yet another device, as is typical with most iPod/mp3 speaker systems. There are 3 FM and 3 AM presets (on the front). (FM antenna is included.)
  • It has a backlit display so you can see your radio station, track number, etc.
  • Memorex has brilliantly placed a flat knob behind where the iPod sits. There’s no need to change out backing panels or risk the iPod sitting too loosely.
  • There is a line-in jack so you can connect other mp3 players, or other digital audio devices.

Any downsides?

Designed for portability, the speakers on the Tagalong are not large, reducing it’s ability to produce low end sound as faithfully as the PartyCube CD Sound System. But it’s not meant for that finer reproduction. There’s no remote, but as this is always within reach a remote would add unnecessary cost.

More info

The Tagalong™ Portable Boombox is by Memorex™ and comes in both White and Charcoal Black. (Our photo of the white Tagalong doesn’t do justice to it’s color.) MSRP is $59.99 SRP is $59.99 You can learn more about this speaker at the official Memorex product page for this speaker or its product support page. Unfortunately, we cannot find technical specs for this speaker anywhere on the Memorex site.]]>

PulsePenInHandThe Pulse Smartpen

So much more than just a pen!

By Tyler Regas It’s rare to experience something that fundamentally redefines the way we look at something we never even considered a candidate for advancement. The pen is certainly one of those devices. What more could you do with a device that makes a line on paper when you move it around? [clearboth] [column-group][column] Humans have been making written records for centuries and for most of that time we’ve used something akin to the common, consistent, irreplaceable pen. It has taken many forms, but its function has remained the sameuntil the Pulse smartpen from LiveScribe Inc. came along. Pulse_penIf you are not yet familiar with this compact, pocketable, and powerful piece of computerized simplicity, you’ll soon want to be. That’s right, this pen is actually a tiny little computer. Because there’s only one button on the Pulse you might wonder how it can be so powerful and do so much. Let’s discuss what the Pulse Smartpen can actually do. To be clear, the LiveScribe Pul se still performs exactly the same function as its predecessors have. It is, after all, a pen at its core, so you can simply pull it out and start writing with it. In that form, however, that’s all it will do. To make the magic happen, you need special paper. A 100-sheet college-ruled notebook comes with the kit and you can purchase paper at stores such as the Apple Store, Best Buy, Staples, Target. So, pen in hand, open a dot paper notebook to page one, and start writing. As you write, the pen records every dot and line and stores that data inside its memory. Carry just your pen and notebook with you and take amazing notes anywhere. HowItWorks Then take the pen home, attach the included USB dock to your Mac OS X or Windows computer, and the data is transferred over to a program called LiveScribe Desktop. In this application, you literally see every single page of every single notebook you have ever written on — exact replicas of your pages. It’s so smart it even knows which notebook you worked in and what page of that notebook you wrote on. Yes. Very, very smart. pulse_transfer But there’s more… The Pulse can also record audio through its built-in microphone — and if you turn on the recorder as you’re taking notes, the Pulse knows what was said while you were writing. And, of course, there’s built-in speaker so you can play back your recordings at any time. Just open your notebook to the page you want to listen to and tap on the page where you want playback to start. Each page has controls printed on it so you can speed up the playback or slow it down, jump back and forth, and move amongst recordings, all rather seamlessly. You’ll be tapping here and there in no time. Were it to end there, that would certainly be cool enough. But, it goes further… Plug in the included stereo headphones — which just happen to have microphones in each earpiece — and you can record in stereo. When you play back through the headphones later, you can recall from the audio, that it was Bob from Marketing who was sitting at your left. After you have saved your handwritten pages to your computer, you can use keyword searches to find words and names. Yes. It will search your handwritten words and find them for you. One great trick while recording is to jot only quick notes or keywords during discussions. This frees you from having to take long, tedious notes, which may lose their meaning in the translation and also frees you up to participate. Even after you sync to your computer, the audio remains synched to your words. And still more… Of course, the Pulse smartpen has several more tricks up its sleeve.
  • Draw sketches as well as words.
  • Draw working calculators or use the scientific/financial/statistical calculator included inside the cover of every notebook.
  • Create “pencasts.”
[/column][column]   The LiveScribe Pulse smartpen is a truly intriguing device. It is deceptively simple and instantly powerful. It is empowering as it can truly free you from having to lug about a laptop everywhere.  
  I find that in most cases I do very well with my Pulse smartpen and my BlackBerry smartphone. The Pulse smartpen should be a huge success in the professional service industries and I expect it will be used by millions of doctors, lawyers, and engineers who must retain copious notes on everything they do. In fact, I suggested a Pulse to a doctor friend some months ago and soon after, received an angry phone call from his assistant demanding to know when she’d be getting a Pulse! It is amazing that a small, simple, and common piece of technology can have such a profound impact on how we work, but the LiveScribe Pulse Smartpen is just such a product. This pen is well worth the cost and will last years. If anyone in your life has issues with technology but needs help getting organized or takes a lot of notes, strongly consider the gift of an easier life in the form of a LiveScribe Pulse smartpen.  

 The Pulse Pen Specs

6.1″ 1.3 oz. 150MHz processor 2GB = $149.95 4GB = $169.95 Available at Livescribe.com and at retailed listed here.   Several types of notebooks and accessories are available. Company: Pulse-logo    

About The Dot Paper

There are many paper options. You can even purchase UK-sized paper. Check Livescribe.com for current offerings.
  • Single Subject Notebooks
  • Flip Notepad, 4-Pack, Black Cover A pocket-sized (3″ x 5″) flip notepad with a protective black cover makes it convenient for quick and easy note taking on the spot.
  • Lined dot paper replacement flip notepads.
 

More Info

You can see this pen in simulated action on this LiveScribe page Note: This review was written July 2009. It’s still accurate, but the pen keeps getting even more powerful, so use this as a basis for your expectations, not as the last record.  
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