TeddyK
on
The pen itself is a bit sizeable, which may not sit well with some users, but like certain gadgets, it takes a bit of time to get used to it. Seems a bit odd that Livescribe would use a standard ballpoint tip but this doesn’t matter that much, since it’s replaceable. The small OLED screen at the top (the microphone and speaker are right underneath) shows the time and toggles the menu. The tip at the top has the 3.5mm audio jack and a microUSB port, and the power button is just below the top of the unit.
The key is the camera housed next to the ballpoint, which is able to scan what you’re writing and keep it stored on its built-in hard drive. Of course, this only works on the special dotted paper that comes in a 200-sheet booklet with the pen. Once connected to a PC or Mac, the notes can be transferred over. What it can’t do, however, is convert your scribbled notes into actual text that you can edit by typing.
This is a pretty glaring oversight, since other competitor smartpens can already do that out of the box. You can pull it off by downloading the MyScript app from the Livescribe App Store (of which there are dozens), but it will cost you $30 for the full version (there is a trial you can test first).
You will likely be impressed with the capabilities of the mic and speaker, mainly because they capture and play audio with excellent clarity. This is important because the combination of what’s on paper and what’s recorded is huge with this product. Go to any notes you wrote with your pen, and any audio you recorded will play from the exact instant the speaker actually said those words. You can opt to do one without the other, of course. If you just want to record an interview or lecture without writing any notes, that’s your prerogative.
These are called “pencasts”, Flash-based videos that can be uploaded on the Web. Livescribe Connect allows you to upload and share notes on Livescribe’s site and even Google Docs, Evernote, Facebook and to iOS devices. The true appeal of this part of the Echo’s features is subjective, but it can prove useful when emailing it to a study group or any other contact you want.
I could go on here, but the fact is, the product is pretty cool — albeit with an expense attached to its longevity. Aside from apps that cost extra, getting more dotted paper notebooks can range from $9 to $25, though you might have to get them directly from Livescribe.
If you have a colour laser printer that is compatible with Adobe’s PostScript and can print at 600 dpi or higher, you can actually print out your own dotted paper free of charge. But the problem is that it just doesn’t seem to work with inkjets.
Though this review is based on the Echo 4GB model, there are also 2GB and 8GB ones too, and you can see all of them here.
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