stylus

Chopstakes: Chopsticks for iPad, not sushi

If one stylus is good, then two styli must be better, right? That's the premise Ipevo's Chopstakes are working under. The new styli for iPad come in pairs.

Chopstakes look like something you'd find at the local Chinese restaurant wrapped in a paper sleeve. Each stylus is made from aluminum alloy with a rubber tip and is weighted for balance. Chopstakes come in two lengths and run $34.95 and $44.95.

Other than looks, versatility is the selling point for the styli. Use one. Use one in each hand. Demonstrate your nimble finger dexterity by using both in one hand, you show-off.… Read more

How to make a free iPad stylus

I've known for years that there are special pens that can be used with capacitive touch screens, like the ones used on the iPad or any modern tablet or smartphone. Still, I've never bought one. It's not that they're too expensive (some are as cheap as $5), it's just that my curiosity doesn't match the level of patience required to order one online and wait a few days for it to show up.

So when I read iLearn Technology's tutorial on making your own capacitive stylus using common office supplies, I had to … Read more

Epson dubs space-saving printer the Small-in-One

Back-to-school shoppers looking for a space-saving printer to fit in a dorm room may find a match in Epson's newest desktop printer, the Stylus NX430. The company is so proud of its ultracompact chassis that it's inventing a new category for it, along the same lines as the Ultrabook, except the printer version is being touted as the Small-in-One. Get it?

Despite its small stature, the NX430 competes with larger models with an ample 2.5-inch touch panel and a vibrant screen for light-duty photo editing directly on the machine, superquiet operation, and the mobile benefits of Epson Connect, another proprietary way to print from the cloud by sending jobs to a unique e-mail address assigned to each printer.… Read more

Griffin crams laser pointer and pen into a stylus

Most modern business warriors don't need actual Swiss Army knives in the course of a typical work day. But they do love gadgets with Swiss Army-style features.

The Griffin Stylus + Pen + Laser Pointer not only sports a very long and specific name, it also delivers exactly what it promises. It's a stylus with a built-in pen and laser pointer.

This device is designed to withstand the rigors of the conference room battleground, survive the brutal world of tablet input, write grand poetry on actual paper, and amuse bored cats.

The pen part of the Stylus + Pen + Laser Pointer … Read more

Apple seeks stylus patents

Apple has applied for two patents relating to stylus input on capacitive touch screens and other surfaces.

The applications were made in January last year, but only published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office yesterday. One describes a stylus with a possibly heated conductive tip, where the stylus can be charged when inserted into the touchscreen device for storage.

The second describes a stylus that could be used to write on any surface, with the writing or drawing then appearing on a separate computing device--rather like a Livescribe pen.

Read more of "Apple applies for stylus patents&… Read more

Magnetic SnapStylus for iPad won't get lost easily

If you like using your iPad with a stylus but hate keeping track of it, how about a magnetic one that will stick to your tablet?

Teenage creator Jack Malone of Wisconsin says his SnapStylus is handier than the many styli, such as the Wacom Bamboo, available on the market. It's longer and heavier than the Targus stylus, but it's got magnets in its aluminum shaft that stick to the iPad shell.

As seen in the vid below, the SnapStylus snaps on to the iPad when it comes near. That way you don't have to hunt for a stylus when you need one. Its rubber tip can be used for gaming or drawing apps, and Malone uses it to sketch product ideas.

He's introducing the SnapStylus on Kickstarter, and will charge only $5 for the first 200 preordered units and $10 after that. Domestic shipping costs are included. … Read more

The 404 811: Where we pick a new Mayor of Cave Street (podcast)

The Internet already has jokes about the news of Osama's death and last night's subsequent broadcast, and someone already created a Google Maps location for Osama's compound on "Cave Street" with four pages of hilarious reviews. We also have a story a programmer living in Abbottabad, Pakistan that accidentally livetweeted the death of bin Laden, as well as more random topics like Tom Tom's privacy flub, the bacteria content of your steering wheel, and a Finger-nose stylus for your touch screen devices!

The 404 Digest for Episode 811

Osama's compound pops up on Google Maps, with reviews. Programmer unknowningly liveblogs the events in Pakistan. TomTom supplies driving data to police to set speed traps. Your car steering wheel is dirtier than a public toilet seat (good thing I drive with my knees). Eyes Wide Shut-esque finger-Nose stylus for touch screens.

Congratulations to @Blood_Nut and @Steamypeas for their winning entries in our #Gunnar404 contest. Direct message us @The404 to claim your Gunnar Optiks Performance Eyewear!

Episode 811 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

iPad as sketchbook: Hands-on with the Wacom Bamboo Stylus

Can the iPad be a valid artist's tool? Wacom, maker of professional digitizer tablets and computer peripherals for artists, has gone ahead and put its vote in the affirmative, with the upcoming release of the Wacom Bamboo Stylus for the iPad. Available in May for $29.99, the roughly pen-sized aluminum stylus works via a conductive barrel with the iPad's capacitive display. We were sent an advance unit from Wacom and gave the Bamboo a spin with our iPad 2 and some popular sketch programs.

The iPad has had styli available since its launch last year, and they'… Read more

Nintendo 3DS three weeks in: Less touching

So, I got a Nintendo 3DS roughly three weeks ago, ahead of the officially released one that's now in stores everywhere. Nintendo's handheld is in the wild, and while I've used mine a fair amount, I'm curious how those not in tech journalism feel about the product.

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the 3D effect on the 3DS, but I wondered whether 3D would be a gimmick whose appeal faded quickly. Much like any shiny new gadget, there's a quick fascination period that tapers off pretty fast, especially if you're the type (as I happen to be) who plays with a lot of gadgets over the course of any given month.

Several weeks in, here are my observations.

I (almost) never use the stylus. The DS' chief appeal, along with dual screens, was its touch element. The 3DS still has a stylus and a lower touch screen, but the stylus is tucked away in the back behind the display, instead of easily accessible on the side. Maybe this was a wink of acknowledgement on Nintendo's part, because so far I've barely used touch. Why? Because I'm too busy staring at that big 3D screen, that's why.

The addition of a great analog pad also means I'm far more likely to use physical buttons. The 3DS is an immersive portable experience, and I'm far less interested in pulling back and tapping away with a stylus. I think most 3DS games will make little to no use of that touch capability, except in cases like Super Street Fighter IV, where virtual lower-screen buttons are simply pressed with a finger.

… Read more