The short answer is no. You keep using your current version of Livescribe Desktop as the software will recognise the new pen and creating a specific space for content from this new pen.

Here are the key points:

1. Keep your current version of Livescribe Desktop
2. Give your new Echo Smartpen a new or different name (see screen capture below)
3. Use the Echo Smartpen normally, docking it via the USB cable to charge/update it and manage content.
4. Take the opportunity of the new pen to make sure your Desktop software is up to date and the pen software is current.
   1. Current Livescribe Desktop version – 2.2.2.41615
   2. Current pen Firmware version – 2.4.3

Can I still Access my Pulse Content?

Yes. Livescribe Desktop allows you to dock and manage multiple Smartpen’s. To view or access content from your Pulse Smartpen simply change the pen you’re viewing. You do this via the drop down list in the top right hand corner of Livescribe Desktop

Here’s a screen capture of my Livescribe Desktop – the red box shows you where to go to change what pen you are viewing.

When you click here it will drop down a list of the pens that you manage via Livescribe Desktop. This screen capture zooms into this box more and shows the pens that I manage via my Livescribe Desktop. Mr Smartpen was my most recent Pulse Smartpen whilst Mr Echo Smartpen is my current Echo Smartpen.

I hope this post answers any questions you may have about managing content should you decide to change from a Pulse to an Echo Smartpen.

I’ve been travelling around the country recently and I’m always amused to see the other passengers suddenly take notice of the Livescribe ad during the inflight entertainment program.

Last week one passenger across the aisle from me was madly trying to write down the details that I couldn’t help but hand him my business card – inflight ad to inflight Livescribe demo to inflight Livescribe sale…

As an aside, did you know we’ve introduced an Australian version of the Livescribe Pro Pack?

We now offer a 2GB Pro Pack and a 4GB Pro Pack. These packs include:

• 2GB or 4GB Livescribe Pulse Smartpen in Titanium (not black as shown on the US site)
• MyScript for Livescribe – fully licensed version for Mac or PC
• Pro charging Cradle
• Premium Black Case.

Details of both Australian Livescribe Pro Pack bundles are available here

If you have any questions about the Pro Pack please don’t hesitate to contact me directly either via comments here on the blog or via the website

Next week in Adelaide, we’re going to be speaking and exhibiting at the Special Education Expo being run by SERU, a support centre under the South Australian Department of Education and Children’s Services (DECS). SERU provides a range of learning and teaching materials and specialised services which support children and students with disabilities and learning difficulties. We’ve been liaising with SERU for some time now and they are using quite a number of Livescribe Pulse Smartpens in the field.

The Expo is being held from Monday the 5th till Wednesday the 7th at the Education Development Centre in Hindmarsh.

If you are involved in education in any form and you’re in Adelaide next week, please take the opportunity to drop by the Expo.
On Monday and Tuesday I’ll be running workshops on how to use your Pulse Smartpen as well as sharing feedback from users around the country.

I’d love to meet you if you are interested in Livescribe or have one and want to talk about your experiences with this magic piece of technology

Here’s a snapshot of the 2GB pens:

The 4GB Pens are listed in a similar way.

I trust these changes make navigation easier on our site. Any feedback will always be appreciated.

For the past 12 months we’ve offered this product in conjunction with both the 2GB and 4GB pens.

We’ve also been using this application for since it was launched into the market 18 months ago.

What is MyScript for Livescribe

MyScript is an add-on software application that allows a user to covert hand-written notes into editable text. At present, Livescribe Desktop allows a user to print their notes or save as a PDF, but it has no edit function.

MyScript for Livescribe has been extremely popular with students, teachers, business users, executives – pretty much anyone using the Livescribe Pulse Smartpen.

Within a corporate/Government environment, MyScript has been very popular as it allows users to quickly edit and share notes that are generated by the user.

Some examples include:

• Within most if not all Australian state Health departments, Clinical researchers are able to capture and share notes ranging from internal meetings to interviews conducted with patients. MyScript gives these users the ability to quickly share information without the need to re-key information.
• Across many education units – ranging from State education, Catholic Education, Universities etc, administration staff are able to edit and distribute meeting minutes in a fraction of the time it was taking previously.
• Executive users are able to capture notes, dock the pen on a PA/EA’s machine and transfer notes for distribution quickly and without need to share or remove notes from notebooks.

Need more information?

Feel free to contact me directly if you would like more information

To access the SDK you need to register via the Livescribe site. Use this link to find out more.

Here’s some of the information that was released yesterday at the Java conference:

Livescribe’s SDK includes Paper Designer for Eclipse, providing software developers with all the tools, technical documentation, sample code and support needed to create, publish, share and sell sophisticated applications for the Pulse smartpen. The pre-release Platform SDK also includes the Penlet SDK, which contains an Eclipse plug-in for penlet development as well as a suite of APIs, sample code, documentation, debug tools and command line build utilities.

Livescribe CEO has been quoted as follows:

“The release of the SDK 1.0 is a significant step forward for Livescribe’s mobile computing platform,” said Jim Marggraff, Livescribe founder and chief executive officer. “We’re anxious to see what our more than 4,000 software developers already actively participating in our developer program will create to expand the functionality, purpose and value of the Pulse smartpen for consumers.”

This is good news for our local developer community. We’ve had ongoing contact with many developers who have been eagerly awaiting this release. Given that innovation is in our genes I’m sure it won’t be long before Australian applications are available via the Livescribe Application Store.

If you have any feedback or wish to share your thoughts please use the comments or let me know if you have a longer piece. We’d be happy to publish it via a guest author spot on the blog.

For our Sydney customers, you’ll have the option of inspecting the new pad products in the showroom of our Sydney partner KPOWER. Their showroom is located at 277 Sussex St, Sydney. Look for the KPOWER Kafe. The KPOWER team are all gadget nuts so you’ll be able to have an educated discussion with them about the Livescribe pen and the entire product range.

The new paper products we will introduce include the following:

Flip Notepad – 4-pack

We’ve had tremendous interest in these pads. They look really nice and having seen them first hand, I can vouch for the quality.

A pocket sized flip notebook with a protective black cover

Paperblanks Handtooled Mini Wrap Journal

This is a great looking product and when you get your hands on it, you will be impressed. Again, we had a lot of interest particularly from our business customers. I predict this journal range will be a top seller by Christmas. Again, I’ve seen this product first hand and I can safely say the owner was lucky to get it back.

This small and elegant journal is ideal for your everyday notes and fits easily in your pocket.

We know of a few other products coming through the system so stay tuned whilst we finalise the details.

You can use our Twitter account to contact us if you have any questions about your Livescribe pen. We’ll also announce new products, Livescribe Desktop upgrades etc.

We look forward to following you on Twitter

A couple of points stood out for me.

Firstly, Livescribe are listening.

They know there are a few things they’ve not done the best job on, and they’re committed to doing things better in the future. As I’ve commented many times here and in my direct communications with you, Livescribe’s a company that’s still relatively new and growing so it’s important we give them constructive feedback but also exercise some patience as they learn and grasp what they need to do better.

Secondly, they have a vision

They have a vision for where the Livescribe product is going that fits in with much if not all of the feedback that you’ve given us over the past 7 months. This applies across the many facets of the user community as well as those of you who want to develop applications. Some of the dates for new features mightn’t be what we’re expecting but we’re heading in the right direction.

I promised Eric I wouldn’t spill the beans so stay tuned as we work closely with Livescribe over the next 8+ months. It’s going to be an exciting year – there’s some great things being worked on.