The iPad is known to be primarily a finger driven device, but it seems to be creating a revival of the stylus. Why? People who enjoy drawing and sketching want a tool to make it easier. We’ve been reviewing several styli since the iPad’s release and today I have another. It’s the oStylus Capacitive Touch Screen Stylus. They are actually still in the pre-production and pre-order stages. I know we normally don’t review prototypes here on The Gadgeteer, but I am making an exception due to the unique design of this particular product. Just be aware that the production version of the oStylus might not exactly match what I display here in this review.
The oStylus has a sandblasted anodized aluminum handle, with a titanium wire holder for the tip. The tip is made of stainless steel in the shape of an O. An engraved vertical line on the O helps to give it cross hair type accuracy because you will see the “ink” dot in the center of the O as you draw.
The O swivels on the wire holder and as you can see from the image above, the bottom surface has an O-ring pad affixed to it. The pad is made of vinyl and allows the stylus to float across the iPad’s display without any drag or friction. Included with each stylus are some replacement vinyl rings. The material is the same as used for car and bus advertising, so it should be very long lasting.
Using the oStylus to draw and sketch does feel slightly awkward at first because you need to keep the O flat on the display in order to make the necessary contact with the screen. Since the O swivels, it is not hard to do, but it just seems weird at first.
Unlike the other styli that I’ve reviewed so far, the oStylus allows you to more easily see what you’re drawing. As you drag it around the screen, the ink dot will be in the center of the O. Other styli can get in the way of the ink because the tip is so large. This is the best feature of the oStylus in my opinion. It’s similar to the Dagi Stylus that Jackie reviewed recently in that regard.
The construction of the oStylus is very fine. I guess it should be considering that it was designed and partially handmade by jewelry makers. The handle is smooth and comfortable, with a nice weight to it.
I made a short video demonstrating the oStylus. Take a look…
The only ‘bad’ thing about the oStylus is the price. It’s $75, which is quite a bit to spend on a stylus. However, that’s the current pre-production pricing for this first batch of 250 styli that have been created. Hopefully the price will come down… I also wish that some type of protective holder was included with it. It’s too nice to just leave laying around when it’s not being used.
All in all, I will say that this is the best capacitive stylus that I’ve reviewed so far, and at the moment, it’s my favorite. Do you use a stylus with your iPad? If so, which one is your favorite?
Update 10/29/10 – The price has dropped to $37.50
Product Information
| Price: | $75.00 (pre-production pricing) |
| Manufacturer: | oStylus |
| Pros: |
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| Cons: |
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That is one expensive stylus! How’s the build quality of the wire part? Does it look like it would break off or flex over time?
@Jackie The build quality is very good. It’s not going to break… The wire is made of titanium 🙂
Lol! Styli
I also have played with a prototype. It is one o the coolest styluses for capacitive screens I’ve found. The quality is great, responsiveness is top notch.
It is strange to use tho. It is one of my favorite styluses. So far tho, my very favorite stylus has to be the Alupen. That’s just me tho.
I recently got a Targus one at Best Buy…aka Boxwave or more recently Griffin, and a few other names, all around $15-20 on Amazon (they’re all the same design). It works pretty well, has a small rubber dome tip and works smoothly on the glass. Probably not as accurate as the oStylus but it’s still pretty good.
The main knock I’ve heard from others is that it’s pretty short, around the length of an iPhone, but that hasn’t been an issue for me since my pen grip is usually pretty close to the tip anyways.
I have the box wave stylus ($20 from amazon) and it does made the iPad easier to use for some things. My wife likes it for doing sketches in sketchbook pro and I use it with the penultimate app. I agree with one complaint, it’s way to short for adult hands, Esp. Mine lol. If it were just two or three inches longer it would be great. Hopefully a suggestion this manufacturer can use before these go into full production. (You don’t mention how long the handle is in the article)
@Donald Sorry about not including the length details. Here you go:
# Overall length: 17 cm (6 3/4″)
# Handle length: 14 cm (5 1/2″)
# Handle diameter: 6 mm (1/4″)
FYI: they have lowered the price to $37.50 USD
….couple monts ago I did search for capacitive stylus and really this one looks best! What I did? I make copy of original in original scale and its realy huge and thats means not a practic! But I love the style ITS a excellent engineering and now I have in my pocket my own prototype!* its 1/3 size of original and everyone love it ! If someone will be interest of whole production I can help it its basicly free,it need just a bit practise,good garage tools and some specific materials*like old AL TV antenna,any metal wire but not for tight or steel fixing!You need a spring 1mm diameter one!,and what is most important is a capacitive foam… some electronics companies receiving a micro chips which are stock in that foam just for a keep capacity! so when you look a bit around you can have this thinks at home for free!
1. a smallest aluminium bar from antenna which fit to your hand and you gonna like it! from the top you have to drill two 1mm holes like you seen on the pictures thes you gonna cut two piece of wires and stick it to the holes and definitly a bar have to be pressed on the end to keep a wires on the place like is in the picture! for o ring you just have to seek a smallest aluminium bar I used a little one 8mm diameter with 6mm hole! have to be cutteda smal bit of it and drilled true with the same 1mm drill bit! then you are almost ready just bend the ends of the wires to the midle of bar and put between them your drilled piece of AL bar thes make shape which you llike by any proper handy abrasive tool! and the last think where is my know how is the foam! that vinil on the original doesnt stay in my heart! cut a bit a capacitive foam around a ring then cut it vertically to nake thin shape and use a glue to put it on the ring just make sure you not gonna put glue all the way around ring just leave a small bits next to hne wires*(to keep a static electric flow!) and again use knife to shaped around ring just for good geometry and image and definitly last think make in the middle of foam a small or large hole to see where you draw and like it was sad in the post before the hole in the middle draw and touch on your any capacitive display device! When some one will be interested about the whole pictures I can send some when you gonna ask true EMAIL! of it but keep in mind I dont use sand blasting and I still research improvments with lenght to make smallest in the pocket but together keeping good handling of it! you can make a mini one like3 cmm lengh and will be drawing excellent but its not good for long writing or drawing!*(noncomfort” :O) I have some bars on the table and working on a TELESCOPIC ONE! :O))))))))))))))))))))))) ITS just fun and good practise of different methods in the garage!Be patience and enjoy your free pens ! SORRY FOR MY ENGLISH AS WELL:O)
I think for sketching,Estylo from Plai is better.
have posted a set on
flickr.com/photos/59145126@N07/sets/72157628172115599/
Regarding accuracy of Estylo.
See all my 4 image photos and video on Estylo’s accuracy feature and my comments on my posts on the above stated flickr website.There,See the image tittled-“Error in styluses with Disc tips (2nd image)”
(Ostylus tip touching the screen is shown).You will find unnecessary point or line mark on the screen.However,Estylo does not have this problem,it’s very accurate and simple in design.In fact,at the corners of tips of Estylo,which are used to give command on screen,Estylo has the smallest tip curves of all styluses i have seen till now,be it resistive or capacitive.
Capacitive styluses works on Electric charge density on screens and resistive ounces work with Pressure sensitivity(pressure=force per unit area in newtons per metres square).Moreover the sensitivity size of capacitive screens is very slightly larger than that of resistive screens so we cannot use those very accurate resistive styluses with very precise small tip end .Let me tell you that the guys at Plai are creative genius. They have successfully invented a capacitive stylus with best possible accuracy till now at least which can be much improved in future through heavy research and development.Plai successfully have replaced those traditional punchy,rubbery stylus design *which have no accuracy with a highly sophisticated precision lightweight triangular design.More importantly,not only Estylo works with glove but also it does not require any additional direct radio frequency system support and external power.
SVK,Its sound intersting,can u explain your stylus idea in more clarity.I m inventing gravity engine,an engine whose fuel is gravity.Will your stylus will be as accurate and precise as Estylo stylus from Plai or Jot pro stylus.
My email is am*******@gm***.com
@Julie,can I get SVK’s email address.I am a scientist and want to know SVK’s idea on stylus.SVK’s idea sounds interesting.No need to worry,I am going to copy his idea.I am just curious to know new ideas.I respect intellectual property,trust me.He mentioned in his comment that if any body is interested asking true EMAIL,he will mail photos of his prototype.