Apple introduced the first iPad Pro in 2015, which came with an optional Apple Pencil stylus. Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs was famously at odds with the stylus, but the Apple Pencil has proven to be a useful tool for taking notes, drawing, and more.
Apple Pencil has been maintained since 2015, and as of today, it is compatible with the entire current line of iPads.
We’ve included everything you need to know about the Apple Pencil in the guide below.
What is the Apple Pencil?
Apple Pencil is a pencil designed by Apple that works with iPads. It is called the Apple Pencil because of its resemblance to a traditional pencil, albeit with a design that is decidedly in style.
There is a small plastic tip (which can be replaced) that connects to the iPad screen, a pen-like body to hold it, and a charging mechanism. The original Apple Pencil has a Lightning connector, but the second-generation model is magnetically charged.
It is used instead of a finger for precise tasks such as writing and drawing, and can also be used to navigate the operating system. It’s perfect for drawing, creating artwork, taking notes, and similar tasks because it’s precise, has palm rejection, and offers pressure and tilt sensitivity.
In short, the Apple Pencil is designed to work like a traditional pencil, but instead of writing on paper, it is written on the iPad screen. When writing, you can put your hand directly on the iPad, a feature that for a long time other pencils couldn’t exactly replicate
We recommend reading the article about the Apple Pencil 3 Release Date – https://myintelligenthouse.com/apple-pencil-3-release-date/
Features of this gadget
Pencils for iPads are quite a few and various. Active, passive, and even smartpens. Apple had to design a variant that would distinguish itself from its rivals. The manufacturer at the conference praised several key features: adequate accuracy, responsiveness, and charging through the Lightning port, which gives up to 30 minutes of use in 15 seconds. These are the most essential elements of the stylus, but not the only ones. Many other aspects count. Apple has taken care of various things. I like the cooperation of the finger gesture systems and the coexistence of the stylus. The new iPad will see when to use the stylus.
The issue, of course, is the recognition of the wrist applied to the display. iPad Pro will begin to ignore the contact with the fingers and focus on the contact of the tip with the screen. This is basically a necessity, and without it, the system would work strangely. Every better active stylus has this software support.
Apple said it recognizes the amount of touching the body to the panel, so iOS will appropriately recognize whether you are actually using the stylus or accidentally touching the screen. Even placing the whole hand on the display will not affect the stylus. Simply, both systems will be activated accordingly.
The white stylus has a lot of different technologies inside. They managed to fit all the important elements in it and indeed the gadget is designed comprehensively. The way of charging was very coolly thought out. It will practically never happen to us that the stylus will discharge.
There is a lightning port at the end, so you can power it straight from the tablet in 15 seconds. Of course, it will pull some power from the iPad, but really not much, and there will be a working stylus. This is much better than in my Surface Pen, where the AAA battery can suddenly die.
It’s a shame that the stylus is an optional extra. The iPad Pro can work without it, but the larger tablet was designed specifically with a stylus, after all. There are a lot of sensors inside, wireless radio, and systems that recognize pressure, or the angle at which the tip is applied. Don’t count on the Pencil working with other iPads. It was built only for the iPad Pro, which has a redesigned sub-system responsible for touch. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are used for connectivity. The pressure force is transmitted through the latter.
Hardware is important, but software is equally important. Across the board, Apple does not need to worry about these issues. Plenty of applications will be created, as developers are eager to design apps for iPads and iPhones. For starters, Cupertino has revamped Notes and Mail in iOS. They are to support the Pencil stylus. We will be able to enter handwriting in notes, sketch and keep notes.
The rest will probably come with the next iOS 9 updates, well, and the influx of apps from third-party developers. I think this is where the AppStore has the advantage over Windows, but Windows 10 is already prepared for the emergence of programs for the stylus (for now OneNote does best, but also Fresh Paint for drawing).
Apple will make little available to users for the stylus for time being, because, for example, Windows 10 responds almost everywhere to stylus contact, but it is important to remember that we use the stylus for specific situations rather than for OS operation. Fortunately, the Apple store is a very wide range of applications for creative people. There are plenty of offerings for artists, and these are sure to receive the appropriate updates to work with the Pencil stylus. At some point, Windows will be overtaken unless Microsoft makes sure that developers provide their apps for the Surface Pen.
What are the disadvantages?
The disadvantage of the stylus is the lack of a secure place to store it. Exactly the same problem is being redone by Surface. True, it can be magnetically clipped to the side of Microsoft’s tablet, but it is bound to get lost in transit. There is still a special keyboard loop that saves the situation. Apple has an even bigger conundrum. A loosely stored stylus can easily be misplaced. Surely suitable covers will solve the problem.
There is no stylus holder. Neither the Surface nor the iPad Pro found a place to hide the stylus inside the tablet. The iPad is slimmer than the stylus, so it wouldn’t be possible to fit/dock it there anyway. Probably, accessory manufacturers will offer some kind of attachment. Too bad Smart Keyboard didn’t offer a cache for a digital pen…
How is the Apple Pencil Different from Other Styluses?
How does Apple compare to its competitors? Microsoft Surface already has several generations of styluses and a suitably adapted system, on the other hand, quite a few solutions are being developed for Android, Samsung, for example, offered Galaxy Note tablets, and now has a partnership with the Galaxy Tab A variant. Apple hasn’t invented the stylus segment and is catching up (as with phablets). It should quickly reach or even overtake its rivals.
