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.

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.

The Universal Leather Case (http://www.smartpen.com.au/content/universal-leather-case) has been designed to suit both the Pulse and Echo Smartpens.

This case looks similar to the original Premium Leather Case – a product designed only for the Pulse Smartpen.

The Universal Leather Case is available now from Smartpen.

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

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

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

The new Smartpen Caps are designed to easily snap onto the end of your Smartpen and will protect the tip whilst also preventing the pen from rolling away.

At this stage we’ve not been given any information as to local pricing or availability – rest assured, as soon as we know we’ll blog about it.

The special offer is for a Livescribe 2GB Pulse Smartpen plus a free Premium Leather Case in Blue.

If you’re interested in this offer – check out our store for details.

What you get:

A shiny new 2GB Pulse Smartpen in Titanium

The Titanium Pulse Smartpen from Livescribe

A Premium Leather Case in Blue

This is a limited time offer from Livescribe and Smartpen. If you’d like any further details, don’t hesitate to contact us

Like podcasts, videos, tweets and digital photos, Pencasts are a new online communication tool, allowing anyone to digitally share notes, ideas, drawings and conversations from pen and paper online for the first time.

We’re talking to a number of Australian schools about how they are using Pencasts and in the coming weeks I hope to be able to share some examples with everyone.

In the meantime, here’s a great list of Pencasts from a Professor of Mechanics at Purdue University in the US.