We’ve taken the hugely popular 2GB Echo smartpen and added two extra items to this product for a short period to make this smartpen the best value for money for customers. From the 26th November, the 2GB Echo starter pack includes the following extras:

• MyScript for Livescribe – a fully licensed version of MyScript valued at $34.95
• Three-Subject Notebook – the three-subject notebooks are the best value large notebook product in the Livescribe range. Valued at $9.95 this 300-page notebook will keep you in paper for a long time.

This is an additional $44.90 of value is included for the standard price of $149 (inc GST). Standard delivery fees apply.

The Echo 2GB smartpen special offer is detailed here. You’ll note that the standard 2GB Echo is still available and will be supplied as the special offer. The 2GB Echo + MyScript will be unavailable whilst we have this special offer available.

This is an exclusive offer by Smartpen and will be available till the end of the year.

We currently have the following available for immediate dispatch:

• Livescribe Deluxe Carry Case – the demand for this product has been incredible and feedback from users has been overwhelmingly positive.
• Livescribe Smartpen Portfolio -this product has been very popular with business users – it figs snugly into most laptop bags and business satchels.
• Echo 3-D Recording Premium Headset – an excellent accessory that fits into the Deluxe Carry Case and gives users the complete set of accessories.

If you’d like to order these products then you can do so from our site now.

Note also that our February specials on the 2GB Pulse and 4GB Echo Smartpens have been extended into March. Details are as follows:

1. 2GB Pulse Smartpen – $149
   • Bundled solution – 2GB Pulse with MyScript – $188.95
2. 4GB Echo Smartpen – $199
   • Bundled solution – 4GB Echo with MyScript – $238.95
   • Executive Starter Pack – 4GB Echo with Portfolio and MyScript – $278.89

We’re in the process of reviewing two of the growing range of apps from the Livescribe App Store. Stay tuned for more details.

Business use of the Livescribe product range here in Australia has been very strong – a reflection of just how switched on we are as business people in that we quickly realised the efficiency benefits the mobile computing platform could deliver.

A couple of things Jennifer didn’t touch on.

1. MyScript

This is a critical time saver

One thing we’ve learnt from working with business owners and executives over the past couple of years is how important the optional MyScript for Livescribe is. In simple terms, MyScript allows a Livescribe user to take one or more pages of hand written notes and then convert this hand writing into editable text – a very useful time saving option.

Pencasts – Collaboration on a Different Level

The other key feature we’ve been discussing with business users lately is the new Pencast feature. This allows a business executive who might be remote from his or her office to take meeting notes and then send these notes – hand writing and audio back to the office so that other key people can access, listen, and use the information. This creates really interesting opportunities for knowledge sharing, collaboration etc.

Yep. The Livescribe Echo Smartpen is a cool piece of technology – but the coolness extends well beyond the features that a journo might find amusing…

In this post I’m going to discuss some of the core differences between the existing Pulse Smartpens and the new Echo range.

Smartpen Product Line Changes

By now you may have noticed changes to the product line up. With the withdrawal of the 4GB Pulse pen, the products available here in Australia and New Zealand include:

• 2GB Pulse
• 4GB Echo
• 8GB Echo

As always, the Pulse and Echo Smartpens are offered with the option of MyScript for Livescribe.

Differences in the Product Packages

The introduction of the Echo Smartpens coincides with a number of new accessories being introduced to the Australian market.

This has resulted in a number of changes to what is included in the basic pen package. The following chart compares the two Smartpens for you and shows what has changed.

Comparing the Livescribe Echo and Pulse Smartpens

What this chart tells you is that the Echo Smartpen doesn’t include a set of headphones or a carry case. It’s worth noting that the Echo Smartpen now has a standard 3.5mm headphone jack so normal headphone like the ones I use with my iPhone now fit into the pen. This makes it easier for me if I want to quickly review content as I’m more likely to have my phone headset handy.

The lack of a carry case is made up by the fact Livescribe has introduced the Deluxe Carry Case along with a universal leather case (like the premium leather case for the Pulse Smartpen).

Changes to the Look of the Smartpen

The Echo Smartpen introduces a very different looking pen – on the surface. Under the hood there is very little difference other than the Echo being 4GB and 8GB models versus the 2GB Pulse Smartpen.

Obviously when you look at them you notice Livescribe has moved away from the anodised alloy case of the Pulse smartpen. The Echo Smartpen has a rubber-like grip area with the upper body being black plastic/Polyprop type material.

Here’s a simple image I took of the two pens with my iPhone

Personally, I found the Pulse Smartpen a very comfortable pen to use for long periods. I’ve been using an Echo now for 5 weeks and I’m finding it as comfortable, if not more so than the Pulse. The changes to the barrel are certainly appreciated as the Echo is less likely to escape from me.

So Which is the Right Smartpen?

There is no one answer to this question – it’s really down to how you’ll use the pen and your budget.

If you’re on a tight budget or you’re not that interested in some of the new premium accessories then I’d say go with the 2GB Pulse – here in Australia we offer it to customers as the basic 2GB Pulse pack, along with the option of bundling MyScript for Livescribe along with our own version of the Pro Pack.

If you’re in more of a business type environment or you think you’ll need to keep a lot of content on the pen for extended periods then I’d recommend the Echo Smartpen range. We offer the 4GB and 8GB as a standard package as well as both pens bundled with MyScript (handwriting conversion software).

I hope this post has helped answer some of the questions you may have about the differences between the Pulse and Echo Smartpens. As always, you’re welcome to contact me directly or ask questions in the comments section below.

As many of our customers know, Smartpen are the only Australian sales partner to offer local customers the option of purchasing a Livescribe Smartpen bundled with MyScript for Livescribe.

We’ve now extended this to include the Echo range of Smartpens.

Exclusive offer from Smartpen Australia

Exclusive to Smartpen Australia we offer our customers the option of purchasing the Echo 4GB or 8GB Smartpen bundled with MyScript for Livescribe.

Details of these options are available:

• Here for the Echo 4GB Smartpen + MyScript for Livescribe; and

• Here for the Echo 8GB Smartpen + MyScript for Livescribe.

MyScript for Livescribe is a fantastic piece of software that allows a Livescribe Echo Smartpen user to take page(s) of hand written notes and convert these into editable text. MyScript sits behind Livescribe Desktop and is activated by clicking the ‘Convert to Text’ button that sits inside Livescribe Desktop.

Feedback from the user community about MyScript has been very positive – I encourage you to consider it when you go to purchase either a Pulse or Echo Smartpen.

If you have any questions about how MyScript for Livescribe works, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Let’s talk stock levels

Over the past 2 years of working with the fantastic team from Livescribe and you the Livescribe local community, we’ve not only had the opportunity to talk to thousands of you, but we also kind of get what you need from a local, dedicated, customers service supplier.

From time to time, we may not have every product in stock – in every case where this happens this is due to circumstances beyond our control. We know you need the stock.

Based on what we’ve learnt over the past 2 years we’ve quadrupled our investment in our stock holdings of Livescribe Smartpens and accessories. If it’s available in Australia we have it.

Let’s talk MyScript for Livescribe for a moment.

MyScript is a product we started offering to customers nearly 18 months ago.

We are still the only ANZ Livescribe partner to offer MyScript for Livescribe bundled with your Pulse Smartpen.

That’s 18 months of experience with a phenomenal software add-on – keep that in mind.

I’ve also lost track of the number of times I’ve demonstrated Livescribe and MyScript – these two products are made for each other. We are your home of Livescribe and MyScript in Australia and New Zealand.

What’s Next?

Stay tuned. That’s all I’ll say

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

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

As it stands, the license agreement for MyScript doesn’t permit this – so a user wanting to use MyScript across multiple machines would need to purchase additional copies of the software.

My question for the community is whether there is sufficient demand for a multi-machine option? Would it help if we had a single user/2 machine option for MyScript

This type of option is quite common in the software world, so we’ll ask the question and see whether we can encourage them to offer a multi-machine bundle.

Please let me know your thoughts