At some point, most tablet and smartphone owners think about buying a stylus. Today I have threes styluses from LOGiiX to show you that can be used for writing, drawing and even presenting at your next meeting. LOGiiX isn’t a company that I was familiar with before they contacted me to ask if I’d review some of their offerings. I’m happy to say that the quality of their products is top notch. But let’s delve in a bit deeper.

Note: Click the images in this review to see a larger view.

LOGiiX sent me three of their styluses including the Stylus Titanium, Stylus Presenter and Stylus Diamond. To be perfectly honest, I was only looking forward to trying the Stylus Diamond. The others look like every other stylus I’ve seen in the past few years. At least that’s what I thought when I was browsing their website before actually receiving the samples. Let’s start with the Stylus Titanium.

LOGiiX Stylus Titanium

Price: $19.95

The Titanium was the LOGiiX stylus that I figured I’d photograph, try once, write about and then shove into one of my gadget castoff drawers.

The reason why I thought the Titanium wouldn’t impress me, is that it looks very similar to the generic standard of capacitive styluses: The Targus Stylus. That’s not to say that there’s actually anything wrong with the Targus, It’s just that there’s nothing unique about it.

The Titanium has a nice heavy pocket clip and is available in seven colors. It is slightly shorter and wider than the Targus, but weighs the same and has the same hollow style rubber styus tip. It’s just a silver (titanium?) color instead of Black like the Targus. Using the Titanium on my iPad feels no different than using the Targus.  Because the tip is large, this stylus is better suited for anything that does not require detailed lines. I wouldn’t use this stylus for drawing, with the exception of using it to play Draw Something. I also wouldn’t like to use it for writing text in apps like PhatPad or Paper because you can’t see what you’re writing, which tends to cause you to write larger than necessary.

Bottom line: The LOGiiX Titanium Stylus is no better than the Targus Stylus, but costs $5 more. For that fact, I’d skip this one.

LOGiiX Stylus Presenter

Price: $39.95

The Presenter Stylus has a nice matte black metal body with a definite heft to it. That heft translates into  1.6 ounces. It feel good in my hand and has a nice balance.

The Presenter is actually three “tools” in one. First of all, it’s a stylus with a large hollow rubber tip. Nothing special there. The same comments that I have about the Titanium stylus also applies to this stylus. It’s fine for anything that doesn’t require a lot of detail.

The The lower part of the stylus can be unsnapped from the barrel, flipped and then snapped back in, to convert the stylus into a ballpoint pen. Included in the package are 2 extra pen refills – all of which have black ink.

The only things missing from the Presenter Stylus is a cap to protect the pen or stylus tip when it’s exposed and a way to retract the ballpoint tip.

The third “tool” that the Presenter Stylus offers is a Red laser pointer for presentations. Included with the stylus are 3 button cell batteries that install in the cap. The button on the side of the cap activates the laser for as long as it is held down.

The Presenter Stylus is well made and would make a nice gift for your favorite corporate gadgeteer.

LOGiiX Stylus Diamond

Price: $34.95

Out of the 3 sent to me by LOGiiX, the Stylus Diamond is the one I was most looking forward to reviewing.

The stylus has a matte black metal body with a pocket clip. You’ll also notice that there’s a protective cap on one end.

If you remove that cap, you’ll see why this stylus excites me…

It has a unique plastic tip which is clear so that you can see through to the screen and the line that you’re drawing.

The tip isn’t exactly a new design. It’s similar to another popular stylus – The Adonit. The Adonit has been my favorite stylus for drawing due to the clear tip makes it much easier to draw close lines.

In my opinion, the Diamond Stylus has a slightly better design than the Adonit. Instead of using a ball joint, it uses a spring. The spring allows the tip to easily maneuver around the screen no matter which angle you hold it, but unlike the Adonit, it will not get loose and potentially stop working. Note, I’ve not had any problems with my own Adonit styluses, but I’ve seen complaints that they sometimes stops working.

Included with the Diamond Stylus is a spare tip and 5 circular protectors that you can stick on the bottom of the tip if you’re concerned that it might scratch your tablet’s display.

Writing with the Diamond is much easier than writing with either of the other two LOGiiX styluses because you can see through the stylus tip to the display below it. It allows you to write smaller and make detailed drawings as it glides smoothly across the screen. This stylus even gives me slightly more control than the Adonit.

The LOGiiX Stylus Diamond is a keeper and is my new favorite stylus to use for drawing and writing.

Filed in categories: Android related, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews, Tablet Computers and Gear

Tagged: Stylus

LOGiiX Styluses Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 6, 2012 at 8:53 pm.

With all the touchscreen devices being introduced, it seems like every day a new stylus appears.  Well, here’s another.  The HAND Stylus is a new Kickstarter project that boasts the “world’s smallest tip, a mere 4mm in diameter, plus a host of other features that set it apart from all other styluses.”  With the knurled grip of a drafting instrument and hexagonal barrel of a traditional pencil, it is made from anodized, laser-engravable aluminum in six different colors and either gloss or matte finish.  The replaceable, retractable tip rotates automatically so that it wears more evenly.  The stainless steel pocket clip is removable and magnetized to attach to your iPad’s Smart Cover.  It is currently available only as a Kickstarter project and has 43 days left to go (Jun 17 end) so go place your order today.  $25 minimum pledge with prices and perks upward from there.  I don’t own a stylus yet, but this might just be my first one—it reminds me of my favorite Koh-I-Noor Rapidomatic drafting pencils I used in high school!

UPDATE May 8, 2012: I’ve taken the plunge and become a Backer on this project.  Stay tuned to The Gadgeteer for a review of the Hand Stylus in the future!

Filed in categories: Android related, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News, Tablet Computers and Gear

Tagged: Stylus

Simple, Elegant HAND Stylus is Loaded with Subtle Features originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 3, 2012 at 3:00 pm.

For 99.9% of the things you do on your smartphone you don’t really need a stylus. But if you’re as addicted to Draw Something as I am, you may find that a stylus is almost a necessary accessory (say that 3 times fast for bonus points). At least if you want your opponent to be able to guess what the heck you’re trying to draw. Keeping a stylus handy is the main feature of the MicroStylus, which claims to be the world’s smallest capacitive stylus. It’s definitely tiny. But when is small too small? Let’s find out.

Note: Click the images in this review to see a larger view.

This is the MicroStylus. See, I told you it was tiny!

It’s machined from billet aluminum and from end to end it’s only about .8 inches long.

It’s available in Silver or Black, with the same type of hollow stylus tip that we see in many other styluses on the market like the Targus.

The shaft the MicroStylus is designed to fit into a standard 3.5mm headphone jack.

When inserted, it will not fall out even with vigorous shaking.

Also, when it’s inserted, it does not trick your smartphone into thinking that you have earphones plugged in. At least on my iPhone, I was able to play music through the built in speakers with no problems while the MicroStylus was stored in the earphone jack.

Here’s the good news… The MicroStylus is a handy little stylus that you never have to go searching for because it’s attached to your device. Although I would not want to use the MicroStylus as my primary stylus, it does get the job done for a super fast round of Draw Something, written note in BugMe or any other time when using my finger doesn’t allow for more finely detailed drawing and writing.

The bad news is that the MicroStylus is so tiny that the .4 inch long shaft might make this stylus just as useless as big fingers for large handed folks. Because it’s so small, your whole hand blocks the view of what you’re trying to draw / write, instead of just your finger tip.

Another thing to consider, is where the heck do you put it when you actually want to use your earphones with your phone? The stylus is so tiny, that if you don’t store it in the earphone jack, it will most likely vanish without a trace.

I also had an issue with one of the MicroStylus samples that were sent to me. As you can see in the image above, the stylus tip looks deflated. It didn’t come that way. It seemed fine for the first couple of minutes I was inspecting and trying it. It was only after I inserted it into my iPhone’s earphone jack and then pulled it out, that I noticed the dimple. The only thing I can think of that happened is that I accidentally pinched the stylus tip when removing it from the phone. I must have damaged the tip in some way. No matter what I have tried, I have not been able to repair it. Squeezing it, rolling it between my fingers, etc, hasn’t caused the dimple to go away. So far I’ve not damaged the other sample in the same way. This is just something to be aware of if you decide to order a MicroStylus. Be very careful how you insert and remove it from the earphone jack, so that you can avoid ruining it.

The MicroStylus is a clever idea. It can be useful for apps that require finer control than what our fingers can provide. That said, the size makes it feel a bit awkward to use and the price of $9.99 for one or $15.99 for two seems pretty inflated for what you’re getting. At least shipping is free.

Do you use a stylus with your smartphone? If so, which one?

Update 4/29/12

The MicroStylus people saw my complaint about the deflated stylus tip and told me that the rubber they are now using is a bit thicker and should not have that problem. They also informed me that you can disassemble the MicroStylus by pinching the tip and unscrewing it. I did this and now the stylus is fine.

Filed in categories: Android related, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews, Tablet Computers and Gear

Tagged: Stylus

MicroStylus Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 28, 2012 at 3:56 pm.

I travel a great deal throughout the country and do my best to survey what the tech folks are using along the way. This is especially true in the airports, where people (young children to little old ladies and everything in between) are killing time on their various electronic devices. Over the past year or so, I have noticed an increase of stylus use on tablets. So, when asked if I would like to try the AluPen Pro from Just|Mobile, I accepted to see if a stylus really added to the modern-day tablet experience.

Remember back in the days of the Palm Vx, where you had to use the included stylus to input and control the device? For better or worse, when Apple released the first iPhone, that all changed. Manipulating our devices evolved from the stylus to touching, swiping, and tapping. According to Steve, anything else was just so 90′s. For the most part I agree.  However, I have found the more I do with my slate devices, finger input is not always the best method especially when it come to drawing or illustrating finer detail.

Just Mobile’s AluPen Pro is a redesign of their original AluPen stylus that Bill reviewed a few years ago, adding 2-in-1 functionality (a retractable pen on one end and a rubber ball shaped stylus tip on the other) in a sleeker, slimmer package. It’s constructed of finely machined aircraft aluminum with a six-sided body that is easy and comfortable to hold. Just Mobile includes a quality leather sleeve/case for the stylus, a replacement tip, and a high-quality Pelikan ballpoint ink cartridge.

Features

• High-quality aluminum construction
• Soft rubber stylus for precise control
• Works with all capacitive touch screens
• Retractable ballpoint with twist mechanism
• Equipped with high-quality Pelikan ballpoint refill
• Replacement nib and carry case included

Dimension:

• 13.43 x 1 x 0.9 cm
• 5.23 x 0.4 x 0.35 in

The black tip is meant to substitute for your fingertip. Using it in conjunction with the pen-shaped form of the stylus makes drawing much easier and more precise. The nub is rounded, soft and a bit squishy….reminds me of an eraser.  I use it 99% of the time when playing Draw Something.  The Gadgeteer Kid and I pass the stylus back and forth when playing.  According to Just Mobile, the tip works on all capacitive touch screens.

On the other end, the AluPen Pro has a retractable ballpoint pen that easily retracts with a twist of the barrel tip.

The Pro’s high-quality Pelikan ballpoint ink cartridge writes very well; smooth with great ink flow.

The AluPen Pro is available in the aluminum you see in my review and black as well.

The AluPen Pro is a nice update to the original design, doubling its functionality without losing any of the original’s craftsmanship or stylish, high-tech design. The Pro’s solid construction, beveled feel, balance, and moderate weight makes it an ideal stylus/writing instrument. However, adding the ability to write nearly doubles the cost ($40) from the original AluPen ($25).

Filed in categories: Gear, Reviews, Tablet Computers and Gear

Tagged: Stylus

Just Mobile AluPen Pro Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 27, 2012 at 5:15 pm.

If you enjoy painting on canvas, you might find that you also enjoy “painting” on an iPad. Or if you’ve never painted before, doing so on a tablet is fun and way less messy. I am a doodler and don’t claim to have any talent whatsoever. I just enjoy drawing cartoons and thingamabobs whenever I’m bored. Lately I’ve been interested in trying to paint instead of sketching. I happened to see the Sensu Artist Brush capacitive stylus on Kickstarter and thought it would be a great new addition to my growing collection of styluses. I’ve been testing it for a couple of weeks with several popular drawing programs for the iPad. If you’re a budding digital artist, you’ll want to read this review.

Note: Click the images in this review to see a larger view.

I mentioned above that I have a growing collection of styluses, but the Sensu Brush is only my 3rd paintbrush style stylus. Pictured above you can see it next to  two of my other brush styluses (Nomad Brush and iClooly). With one look at the Sensu, you can see that it resembles a traditional paint brush a bit more than the other two. Its look isn’t all the Sensu has going for it though…

First of all, it’s the first stylus I now of that comes in a thick felted sleeve. The sleeve is a good idea because it protects that shiny chrome finish when the stylus isn’t being used.

In the closed position, the Sensu looks like a little like a Fisher Space Pen.

In this position, you can use the rubber stylus tip. The tip is a standard hollow style tip used on a lot of styluses on the market like the Targus Stylus. This Tip works best for sketching and writing, but the tip is large and isn’t my favorite for detailed doodling/sketching.

The magic happens when you pull the stylus out of the protective cap, the Sensu Artist Brush tip is revealed.

Placing the cap on the end creates a 7.25 inch long paint brush.

Looking at the smooth bristles, you wouldn’t guess that it would work as a capacitive stylus. But it really does. The brush feels comfortable in hand due to the soft touch rubber around the handle. It’s well balanced too.

Depending on the painting app (some of my favorites for painting are Procreate and ArtRage), the Sensu feels and behaves exactly like a real paint brush. The only difference is that you don’t have to wash the paint out of the bristles at the end of each painting session.

The Sensu works really great as a paint brush, but don’t expect to be able to easily create detailed sketches with the brush tip (or the rubber tip end for that matter) because it’s just not made for that. In the hand of a true artist, I think it could help make some great art. I might not be an artist, but I really enjoy using the Sensu. It’s my favorite paintbrush style stylus in my collection. Ok, I have to get back to my Bob Ross how to paint videos.

Filed in categories: Android related, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews, Tablet Computers and Gear

Tagged: Stylus, Tablet

Sensu Artist Brush Capacitive Stylus Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 26, 2012 at 9:33 pm.

A couple of years ago I reviewed a very unique Canadian made stylus called the oStylus. It had a very unique design with a bullseye style swivel tip. At the time I really liked the stylus because it made it much easier to draw due to the fact that I was able to see the tip of the “ink” as I moved around the display, giving me much better control over my work. Now the folks at oStylus have a new version called the oStylus DOT which is more geared towards writing than drawing. Let’s take it for a spin.

Note: Click the images in this review to see a larger view.

First of all, let’s compare the original oStylus (top), with the new DOT (bottom). Both have a comfortable bead blasted anodized solid aluminum handle that gives the stylus a nice heft and balance.

The hinged tip is attached to the handle by two titanium wires.

The tip is made of stainless steel. Unlike the original oStylus, this is not a see-thru style tip. It’s a solid 6mm dot.

The ability of the tip to rotate 180 degrees is supposed to provide natural contact with the display so that holding and using the stylus is comfortable.

The area of the tip that comes in direct contact with the display is protected with a vinyl film that will not scratch the display. The DOT comes with 2 replacement stick-on films.

The overall design and construction of the oStylus DOT gives off a cool industrial arts type of vibe. Looks aside, the stylus performs pretty well. I like it better than the average hollow rubber tip style stylus like the Targus and Tuff-Luv because the tip is significantly smaller, allowing you to better see what you’re writing and drawing. I can write smaller text and draw more detailed doodles with the DOT.

So while it can be considered an improvement over the generic stylus, it’s not quite as nice as the Adonit Jot Pro stylus which has a tip that swivels in all directions allowing it to always remain in contact with the display. That’s where I had some problems with the DOT. On numerous occasions while doodling SketchBook Pro, I would draw a long stroke and the line would not start until halfway into the stroke. I noticed the same issues while writing in PhatPad. Sometimes my efforts to cross my T’s and dot my I’s will go unnoticed. I know this is due to the DOT’s tip not coming into full contact with the display. Since it’s a very small tip (only 6mm), if you don’t have it fully touching, it will not make an electrical (capacitive) contact. Once you’ve used the DOT for awhile you start learning how to hold it so that you minimize these skipping problems. After several days using it, I have noticed less problems, but they still happen here and there…

I like the look and feel of the oStylus DOT, but it’s hard to fully recommend it due to the problems I’ve had with skipping while writing and drawing. I think the tip is just a little too small for its own good. Have any of you tried this stylus? If so, please share your thoughts about it.

Filed in categories: Android related, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews, Tablet Computers and Gear

Tagged: iPad, Stylus, Tablet

oStylus DOT Capacitive Stylus Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 20, 2012 at 6:49 pm.

Wacom just released an update to their Bamboo Stylus.  Their new Bamboo Stylus Duo adds a ballpoint pen on the other end of the stylus.  This new design makes much more sense as you won’t have to carry an additional pen.  They will sell for $39.95 when they come out in May.

Filed in categories: Android related, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News, Tablet Computers and Gear

Tagged: Capactive stylus pen, Stylus

Wacom’s Upgraded Bamboo Stylus Duo originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 14, 2012 at 10:00 am.

Friday night I was watching one of my favorite shows Shark Tank, where one of the “contestants” was trying to get funding for their iPad musical instruction app called Miso Music Plectrum. After the show, I checked out the app and some subsequent research turned up a surprisingly interesting new stylus that is shaped like a guitar pick. The iPic from Woodees can be used like a standard capacitive stylus, but it can also be used to “play” virtual stringed instruments by providing a more traditional feel. Priced at $14.99, the iPic is available in several colors and can also be used with gloves.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News, Tablet Computers and Gear

Tagged: Stylus

Strum your iPad with an iPic Capacitive Stylus originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 18, 2012 at 8:50 pm.

While most capacitive pens for the iPad don’t support pressure sensitivity, Blue Tiger is a true pressure-sensitive pen for iOS from Ten One Design.  Connecting via low-power Bluetooth 4, a standard fully supported in iOS5, the pen will offer full pressure sensitivity and palm rejection capability in compatible apps. Thin and thick lines will be just a pressure stroke away. The pen is currently undergoing FCC approval and will start shipping to developers for integration and development of apps once approval has been received.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: digital pen, Stylus

Ten One Design Blue Tiger Pressure-Sensitive Pen for Your iPad originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 7, 2012 at 9:00 am.

Love writing on paper and on tablet computers?  Then Just Mobile’s AluPen Pro is just what you need.  This aluminum stylus/pen hybrid has a retractable ballpoint pen on one end and a soft rubber nib on the other.  It’s the best of both worlds if you jot notes on classic paper and a modern tablet.  It’s priced at $39.95 direct from Just Mobile.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News, Pocket Gear

Tagged: Pen, Stylus

Just Mobile AluPen Pro is at home on paper or tablet originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 6, 2012 at 3:30 pm.

The Pogo Sketch Plus from Ten One Design is a stylus for capacitive displays like those found on the iPad, iPhone and Android tablets. Check out my full report after the jump.

Note: Click the images in this review to see a larger view.

Made of anodized aluminum, the Pogo Sketch Plus is available in Pink, Orange, Sliver and Green. As you can see, they sent me the Pink version of the stylus.

The Pogo Sketch Plus is shorter, thinner and lighter weight than the Targus Stylus.

The steel pocket clip allows it to magically (ok, magnetically) stick to the iPad’s smartcover or the iPad itself.

The Pogo Sketch Plus is a very basic stylus. It has a hollow feeling rubber tip like the Targus stylus. When I say it feels hollow, I mean that you can squish it with your fingers. It is not a solid rubber tip.

You can see that the Pogo tip is smaller than the Targus tip. This is a good thing because it makes it much easier to see what you’re writing or drawing.

Drawing and writing with this stylus works fine. It glides smoothly across the screens of my iPad 2 and Kindle Fire. I also tried it with my iPhone, but it didn’t work as well because I have a screen protector installed. It tended to drag a bit on the protector.

You will notice that the end of the tip has little holes in it that remind me of a salt shaker. I have no idea what purpose the holes provide, but they’re there.

It’s important to realize that you can not replace the tip on the Pogo Sketch Plus if it somehow becomes damaged. You’ll have to replace the entire stylus.

There’s not much else to say about the Ten One Design Pogo Sketch Plus capacitive stylus. It writes/draws smoothly on the displays I’ve tested and won’t break the bank. I prefer the Pogo to the Targus mainly due to the tip size, but my current favorite stylus is the Adonit Jot Pro.

Filed in categories: Android related, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews, Tablet Computers and Gear

Tagged: iPad, Stylus, Tablet

Ten One Design Pogo Sketch Plus Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 15, 2012 at 5:07 pm.

Accessories can sometimes be just as important to us as the gadgets themselves. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m always on the lookout for a new favorite gear bag, wallet, writing instrument, phone case, etc. Lately I’ve been fixating on finding the perfect capacitive stylus that I can use for drawing and writing. When I came across the Adonit Jot Pro Stylus, I knew I had to try it. I actually purchased it with my own cash because I didn’t intend to review it. But after using it for a couple weeks I knew I had to share my experience. So here goes.

Note: Click the images in this review to see a larger view.

Over the years, I tried many capacitive styli with my iPad and Android tablets. With only a few exceptions, they’ve all been pretty similar. In the image above, you see the Jot Pro next to a Targus stylus. The Targus has a typical large rounded rubber tip. Although it works fine for writing and drawing, it’s less than optimal because it’s difficult to do really detailed work because it’s hard to see what you’re writing due to the large tip. The Jot Pro has a very unique tip which solves that problem very well.

First of all the Jot Pro is larger than the typical stylus. It’s more along the lines of a pen or mechanical pencil. It is 6 inches long and .375 inch in diameter. It’s also nicely weighted and balanced to give it a true pen-like feel.

The barrel is made of aluminum and is available in Black, Silver and Blue. A rubber grip around the bottom half of the barrel makes the stylus comfortable to use for long writing or drawing sessions.

It also has a magnet in the barrel that allows it to “stick” to your iPad.

I love love love that there’s a threaded cap that protects the stylus tip when it’s not being used and stores on the opposite end when it is in use.

Replacement caps are available in several colors for $6.00.

The tip of the Jot Pro is what sets it apart from the other capacitive styli I’ve reviewed. It looks like a finely tapered point with a plastic disc stuck to the end. But if you look really close, you’ll see that the tip is actually a tiny ball.

The transparent disc snaps on to the ball tip allowing it to swivel in a variety of angles.

The bottom of the disk has a thin layer of plastic, so you don’t have to worry that it will scratch your display. Replacement discs can be purchased at $8 for 2 discs.

The Jot Pro glides effortlessly on an unprotected display. However, it didn’t work well at all on a Pure Gear screen protector which I had on my iPhone. It felt sticky and wanted to drag across the screen. The Pure Gear protector is thicker and softer than other protectors I’ve used, so it’s possible that the Jot Pro might work just fine with other brands of screen protectors.

The swivel disc lets the stylus adapt to the way you hold it instead of you having to hold it in a certain way against the display.

The best thing about the Jot Pro is that you can see what you’re writing and drawing through the disc. It really makes a huge difference when drawing and allows for more detailed work. I also found that the Jot Pro is the first stylus that actually feels like a pen when writing. In addition to the Jot Pro, Adonit also offers a classic (does not have the rubber grip or magnet) for $19.99 and a Jot mini that has a pocket clip (no pricing on that one yet). Even more importantly, Adonit will be offering a pressure sensitive stylus soon that I’m really looking forward to try. The Jot Touch will allow for varying line thicknesses when drawing depending on how hard to press it against the screen.

The Adonit Jot Pro is my new favorite stylus. What is yours?

Filed in categories: Android related, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: Stylus

Adonit Jot Pro Stylus Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 2, 2012 at 11:00 am.

I remember the day I eagerly unpacked my first Nintendo DS.  At the time it was revolutionary–a touch screen gaming platform.  I inserted my first game (Nintendogs!) and picked up the stylus for the very first time.  It was then that I noticed said stylus had apparently been sized for a toddler instead of an adult.  Thus began my issues with gamer’s claw–grasping a teeny tiny stylus for so long your hand cramps up in a claw shape.  I thought I had made that affliction up, but the good folks at GreenBulb luckily suffered from the same problem and set out to fix it.

The XStylus Crayon began its route to my DS as a funding campaign on IndieGoGo (similar premise to Kickstarter).  300 gamers saw a need for the innovative stylus and chipped in, allowing it to go into production.

So what is it?

DS stylus in front; XStylus in back

Out of the package, the XStylus Crayon is a bit smaller than the Nintendo stylus.  However, once it’s flipped open and locked into place, it widens and becomes the comfortable to use XStylus.  The Crayon is meant to simply give a gamer a wider grip at its base, thus preventing any cramping (or Gamer’s Claw).  It’s also intended to fit on board the DS in place of the Nintendo stylus.  At its sweet spot it’s roughly the same width as a Bic pen.

Bic pen vs XStylus vs Nintendo stylus

So I mentioned that sweet spot–there is really only one way to hold the XStylus, which is with the index finger across the top of the widest spot and the bottom resting against the first joint of the middle finger.  Nothing should be blocking or touching that middle gap.  It’s a bit like trying to master chopsticks, but once you find the spot, the hand cramps just melt away.

When it’s in the closed position, the stylus does slide and snap in to the stylus slot in the DS fairly seamlessly.

The XStylus is pretty successful in accomplishing what it’s meant to do.  It’s both comfortable to hold and convenient to store.  However I found the top half above the base a bit flimsy.  It easily bends and didn’t feel as solid in my hand as the base.  Depending on the game I’d be playing, and the death grip I’d have as a result, the bending was sometimes a bit of an issue and I did manage to accidentally snap one of the crayons during play.

The other weird thing is that it’s called the Crayon and is packaged to look like a Crayon–but that paper sleeve must be destroyed to actually use the stylus.  There is no other crayon-type branding anywhere on it.  I was kinda bummed about that.

Each pack of XStylus Crayons come with one each of white, red, black, and blue plastic styli.  It is compatible with all existing versions of the Nintendo DS and 3DS.  The XStylus Crayon 4-pack for DS can be purchased through GreenBulb for $19.99 shipped worldwide.

Filed in categories: Gaming Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Nintendo DS accessory, Stylus

XStylus Crayon for Nintendo 3DS/DS Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 7, 2012 at 2:00 pm.

Those of you who have read my Lenovo Thinkpad Tablet review will know how much I love the active stylus that comes with it. It’s accurate , pressure sensitive and extends the tablet’s use way beyond any non-pen tablet especially for drawing and handwriting.  The capacitive stylii you get just don’t compare.

Cregle has just complete funding from Kickstarter for their iPen.  The battery powered, active iPen will require a receiver to be plugged into the iPad’s UART port which will be used to accurately track the position of the pen.

It’s worth noting that it will only work with iPen-enabled apps, a list which is on the Kickstarter website and that pressure sensitivity won’t be included in the first release.  It’s well worth looking at just for the accuracy of the active stylus alone and will be a great addition to iPad functionality (don’t think it’ll be enough to turn me to the “dark side” though ).

Kickstarter funding has finished, and it will be available from the Cregle website in January 2012 for $89.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: digital pen, iPad, Stylus

Cregle iPen – Active Stylus for the iPad originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 29, 2011 at 2:00 pm.

A normal stylus with a hard tip works fine for writing and sketching, but when you want to “paint” on your tablet, a stylus with a brush tip can be a much better choice. There aren’t many styli on the market that fit this criteria and I’ve only had the opportunity to review one other before today. The Nomad Compose Dual Tip Stylus is unique because it has interchangeable tips to give you the perfect paint brush feel.

Note: Images in this review can be clicked for a larger view.

The Compose stylus is sold in two versions. Long tip and Short tip. Each package also includes a Glide Bevel tip.
The handle of the Compose is made of aluminum. It’s light weight but nicely balanced. Each end has a threaded socket that the stylus tips or the end cap can screw into. You could screw a tip on both ends if you like.

The brush tips are made of natural and synthetic fibers and feel just like a real paint brush. The Long tip is 0.7″ inches long, the Short tip is 0.4″ inches long and the Glide Bevel tip is 0.05″ inches long.

I tested all three tips with my iPad 2 and the Levels drawing app. I found that I liked using the long tip best as it provides a very comfortable painting feel that requires very little pressure on the display. Swiping the stylus back and forth over the screen results in accurate strokes at almost any angle of the brush. The shorter tip is more firm and strokes are sometimes skipped and don’t show up in your drawing. I found that I liked the Glide Bevel tip least of all due to the fact that you have to hold it almost flat to the screen for your strokes to be recorded. I’d rather use a regular hard stylus tip instead of the Glide tip for drawing and sketching. If it was up to me, I would offer a version of the Compose with both the long and short tips and ditch the glide tip altogether. But that’s just me… Unfortunately, you can’t buy the individual tips. Since they are interchangeable, you would think that would be an option.

The only other small complaint that I have with the Compose stylus is the lack of a protective cap. Nomad will offer a case for the stylus in January, but that’s another purchase.

All in all, I would say that the Nomad Compose with the Long Tip is my current favorite paint brush stylus. I’m no artist, but it sure makes me feel like one.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews, Tablet Computers and Gear

Tagged: Stylus

Nomad Compose Dual Tip Paint Brush Stylus Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 29, 2011 at 11:00 am.

I’m sure there’s more e-doodlers out there than me , and Artist Hardware’s Sensu Artist Brush looks pretty cool for doodling and painting on the go on your capacitive screen device.

Now fully funded on  Kickstarter  ( funding requested $7,500, funding recieved $68,823 !!! ) , the Sensu is a capacitive brush device that gives you the feel of a real artist’s brush . Traditional synthetic brush hair is infused with conductive properties to make this work on your iPad or Android Tablet ( or any other device with a capacitive screen ) .  Made for portability,  when closed the brush is 4 1/2″ ( 114mm ) in length and when the protective cap is posted  is 7 1/8″ ( 181mm ). There’s also a useful rubber tip on the other end that can be used for  everyday operation of your tablet or as a pencil/stylus.  Made of chrome-plated brass, silicon and rubber this looks like a really nice product for the more artistic among us

Check out their Kickstarter page for some video showing its use

Set to be released next year, the brush will sell for $34.95

Filed in categories: Android related, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News, Tablet Computers and Gear

Tagged: Android, Drawing, iPad, Stylus

Sensu Artist Brush for Capacitive Screens originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 28, 2011 at 12:00 pm.

ACME Studios, known for their pens that have been designed by well known architects, designers and artists, have just created an accessory that will convert their any of their standard pens into a stylus. Just unscrew the front section of the pen and replace it with this new front section with a capacitive stylus tip that is safe for smartphones, iPads and other tablets. This new tip is available now for $16 from Design Mafia and other retailers that sell ACME products.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News, Tablet Computers and Gear

Tagged: Stylus

Convert your ACME Pen into a Capacitive Stylus originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 21, 2011 at 10:00 am.

The stylus is making a comeback in a big way this year. We’ve reviewed quite a few here on The Gadgeteer (see the list of related posts below for just a few of them…). I’m still trying to find the BEST stylus out there and I’m thinking that the XStylus Touch might be it. I can’t be sure till I get my hands on one, but it looks pretty cool from the demonstration videos I’ve seen so far. The only problem is that the XStylus Touch isn’t yet available for sale. It’s part of a crowd funding project at IndieGoGo (similar to Kickstarter) that has 29 days to go. This capacitive stylus is weighted and can attach magnetically to your iPad when it isn’t be used. I’ve never given my money to a crowd funding project before, but I think I’m going to take a chance on this one… What is your favorite capacitive stylus?

Update: I just contributed $25 to this project. It’s the first crowd funding project that I’ve participated in. If the project doesn’t get all the funding needed, my contribution will be refunded.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: Capacitive, iPad, Stylus, Tablet

XStylus Touch – Best Capacitive Stylus Design Yet? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 17, 2011 at 3:11 pm.

It’s the 3rd of September and if you’ve been watching Game of Thrones, you know that Winter is coming. That means it’s time to start shopping for cold weather gadget gear. Last winter I reviewed the Agloves and loved them. They allow you to easily interact with your capacitive phone without having to take off your gloves. They are great for chilly to cold temps, but if you live in an area where it gets really frigid, you might consider a pair of OnTips. They have small a ‘stylus’ sewn into the tip of the thumb and index finger, and a special swipe pad on the side of the thumb. They are available in 4 different versions that range in temperature protection. These gloves appear to be better suited for extreme outdoor activities  instead of just walking from the parking lot to your cubical every morning. Prices range from $29.50 – $69.50.

Filed in categories: News, Outdoor Gear

Tagged: Stylus

It’s time to shop for winter gadget gear originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 3, 2011 at 10:33 am.

Bracketron will be unveiling their new stylus at the IFA in Berlin at the end of this month, but they’re giving us a sneak-peek.  The Style-iT combines a ballpoint pen with a stylus that will work with all touch screens.  The ballpoint is hidden under the cap, which has a clip to keep it securely in your pocket or bag.  The stylus end will work for anyone, left- or right-handed.  You’ll be able to write, tap, swipe, slide, or draw with the stylus.  Style-iT will be available in black, white, and blue, green, pink, and orange to coordinate with the iPad 2 Smart Covers.  The suggested price for the Style-iT is $24.95.  It will be available at Bracketron online and other retailers beginning in the middle of September.

Filed in categories: News, Tablet Computers and Gear

Tagged: Stylus

Bracketron Introduces the Style-iT 2-in-1 Stylus + Ballpoint Pen originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 27, 2011 at 12:00 pm.

Do you enjoy making art with your iPad or Android tablet? If so, you probably prefer using a stylus instead of your finger when drawing. There are quite a few capacitive styli on the market, and now there’s another. Ten One Design, the company that has brought us the Pogo Stylus has just announced the Pogo Sketch Pro Stylus. This stylus features a paintbrush style aluminum handle and a new tip that can be used at any angle and is even user replaceable. The Pogo Sketch Pro is available now for $24.95

Filed in categories: Android related, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: Art, iPad, Stylus

Ten One Design Announces new Pogo Sketch Pro Stylus originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 24, 2011 at 4:00 pm.

Still looking for the best stylus for your iPad? Quit looking and make your own for free! The folks at Rainy Day Projects show you how to take an ordinary Bic pen and an old power cord to create paint brush style stylus that will work with any capacitive touch screen device..

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: iPad, Stylus

Make your own iPad paintbrush stylus originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 13, 2011 at 4:00 pm.

Back when Steve Jobs introduced the original iPhone, he went on and on about how Apple decided to use the most natural stylus, your finger, for navigating the newly designed touchscreen. The advantages were obvious: You already know how to use your finger (no, not THAT finger), you can’t misplace it and it’s always there, ready to use. But truth be told, I am an artist (designer, actually) by trade and I haven’t painted with my finger since I was seven. And I use a Wacom tablet in my work – a lot. So I depend on a stylus and I am quite comfortable using one. But is there a stylus made for the iPhone/iPad that I might actually want to use? Yeah, there is and it’s called the AluPen, from Just Mobile.

When Jobs stated his reasons for no stylus being necessary, I agreed. When I bought my first iPhone, I thought it was genius that I could use my fingers to type, tap, scroll, drag and pinch. Pretty cool. Then I downloaded Autodesk’s SketchBook Mobile. All of a sudden, my finger wasn’t so cool, anymore. Try taping a pencil to your finger and draw something. It feels really weird and – sorry, Steve – it’s not natural. But a pencil is. And everyone is familiar with them.

The people at Just Mobile thought about this and so, they designed a pencil for the iPhone/iPad. Well, it’s not really a pencil, but it sure look like one. What it is, is a hexagonal shaped aluminum stick with a black tip attached. That’s pretty much it. But Just Mobile collaborated with Tools Design to make it look and feel like the pencil we all know and use. And the result is a thing of beauty. The AluPen really does look cool and feels good in your hand.

At first glance, it looks and feels fat, which it is. But because it’s aluminum, it’s really light and cool to the touch. The black tip is rounded, not “sharp” at all and it’s soft and a bit squishy. That’s weird. The softness bugged me until I realized why it’s soft. It mimics the finger tip. Try dragging or tapping on your iPad with a real pencil or other hard stylus and it’s won’t do anything. But with its soft tip, the AluPen fools the iPad into thinking you’re using your finger.

Now, when I am doodling in Sketchbook, it’s a more natural feeling when I just sketch like I always have… except when it isn’t. There is (for me) one major flaw to the AluPen, and it’s not even Just Mobile’s fault. When I sketch, I rest my hand on the paper so my arm doesn’t get tired and it gives me more control of the pencil. However, using the AluPen on an iPad required that I lift my hand off the screen while sketching. Because if I didn’t, my hand or another finger would start drawing, too. Not good. I really don’t know what the solution is at this point. But we are only in the first version of the iPad and maybe in the future, there will be settings that will correct for that. Note that because of the its relatively small screen size, this was not an issue with the iPhone.

For its intended market, the AluPen is fun, comfortable and genius in its simplicity. But it is hampered by the limitations of products it was designed to work with.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: iPad, Stylus

Just Mobile AluPen iPad Stylus Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 7, 2010 at 11:38 am.

If you are still searching for the perfect capacitive stylus for your iPad or other touch screen device, I have another one for you to consider. It’s the Candy Pen iPad Stylus from Hard Candy Cases. This stylus has a chromed finish with two caps that reveal a capacitive stylus on one end and a refillable ball point pen on the opposite end. According to the folks at Hard Candy, the stylus weighs almost as much as an iPhone. So those of you that like pens with some heft, this one might be perfect for you. It’s priced at $34.95 and is available now.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: Capacitive, Spotlight Gadgets, Stylus

Hard Candy Cases Offers Yet Another Stylus Option originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 31, 2010 at 1:00 pm.

Ten One Design’s Pogo Stylus for the iPhone 4 isn’t radically different than their original stylus, but you do get some added functionality with the clip on stylus holder. Besides holding your stylus when it isn’t be used, it will double as a stand to position your iPhone at a comfortable viewing angle in portrait and landscape orientations. The Pogo Stylus comes in 4 colors: Hot Pink, Black, Cactus and Burnt Orange. It’s priced at $14.95 (Available Now for Pre-Order – ships by Oct. 25).

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: iPhone, Spotlight Gadgets, Stand, Stylus

Ten One Design iPhone 4 Pogo Stylus Now Available originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 9, 2010 at 10:00 am.