Crayola and Griffin team up again to create a freehand Light Marker for iPad (First Take)
The new Crayola Light Marker for iPad announced at CES 2013 lets you paint, color, or draw freehand from a couple feet away from your device.
Jason Parker has been at CNET for nearly 15 years. He is the senior editor in charge of iOS software and has become an expert reviewer of the software that runs on each new Apple device. He now spends most of his time covering Apple iOS releases and third-party apps.
The Light Marker for iPad is Griffin Technology's latest collaboration with Crayola to make more kid friendly products, and this gadget looks like it will be a hit.
For $29.99, you can get a glowing marker-shaped pen that interacts with your iPad's front-facing camera to let you freehand draw, paint, and color on your iPad screen. After touching the glowing tip of the pen to your front-facing camera you simply point the pen in the direction of the iPad (from a couple of feet away) to see a laser-pointer you use as your drawing instrument.
Directing the laser dot to the bottom of the screen brings up a radial menu with selections for markers, crayons and paintbrushes, and you can choose colors and other settings all without ever physically touching your iPad. It's not just for drawing though -- the free app comes with activities like Dot to Dot pictures, splatter paint balloons, puzzles, and several others.
The Light Marker will be available from Griffin Technology this spring for $29.99, and is sure to be popular with any young creative types.
