Apple Pencil

Apple Pencil

Developer	Apple Inc.
Manufacturer	Foxconn
Type	Digital stylus
Release date	November 11, 2015
Introductory price	US$99[1][2]
System-on-chip used	32-bit RISC ARM-based Cortex-M3
CPU	ST Microelectronics STM32L151UCY6 Ultra-low-power MCU @ 32 MHz
Memory	64‐Kbyte Flash
Input	Lightning Connector, Bluetooth 4.1
Power	Recyclable Rechargeable 3.82 V, 0.329 Wh lithium-ion battery
Dimensions	Length: 6.92 inches (175.7 mm) measured from tip to cap Diameter: 0.35 inch (8.9 mm)
Weight	0.73 ounce (20.7 grams)
Website	www.apple.com/apple-pencil/

The Apple Pencil is a digital stylus pen that works as an input device for the iPad Pro tablet computer and was designed by Apple Inc.^[3] It was announced on September 9, 2015, alongside the iPad Pro and released in conjunction with it on November 11, 2015.^[4][5]

Description

The Apple Pencil features pressure sensitivity and angle detection.^[6][7] Encased in a plastic housing is a Bluetooth device that can communicate simultaneously with the screen and the system underneath it.^[8] The Pencil can detect force, allowing, for example, darker or lighter strokes in a drawing app depending on how hard the user presses.

The Apple Pencil was designed for low latency to enable smooth inking on the screen.^[6] The iPad Pro also allows simultaneous use of an Apple Pencil and one's fingers, while rejecting input from the user's palm.^[9][10]

One end of the Apple Pencil has a magnetic removable cap. Underneath this cap is a Lightning connector, which allows the Pencil's battery to be recharged via the iPad Pro's Lightning port itself. The initial charge lasts about 12 hours, but 15 seconds plugged into the Lightning connector of the iPad Pro provides sufficient power for 30 minutes of use.^[11] The user can also use the included Lightning female-to-Lightning female adapter to charge via a standard Lightning cable instead.^[12]

The Apple Pencil utilizes an ST Microelectronics STML141UCY6 Ultra-low-power 32-bit RISC ARM-based Cortex-M3 MCU running at 32 MHz with 64 KB of flash memory, a Bosch Sensortech BMA280 3‐Axis Accelerometer and a Cambridge Silicon Radio (Qualcomm) CSR1012A05 Bluetooth Smart IC for its Bluetooth connection to the iPad Pro. It is powered by a recyclable rechargeable 3.82 V, 0.329 Wh lithium-ion battery. There is also the antenna and pressure and angle sensors near the tip, which is replaceable and sold in packs of four.

Purpose

iPad Pro and Apple Pencil (in boxes)

The Apple Pencil is designed to work with the iPad Pro for creative work.^[13] It makes drawing on the iPad Pro more feasible. However, multitouch finger input is still the primary input mechanism for the iPad Pro.^[14] During the September 2015 Apple Event, Apple demonstrated the Pencil's drawing capabilities on the mobile version of the Adobe Creative Suite^[15] and its document annotation capabilities on several Microsoft Office apps.^[16][17]

Third-party iPad styluses

A number of third-parties have produced stylus accessories for the iPad in the past. However, there has not been a consistent technology for pressure sensitivity, palm rejection or angle detection, leading to delayed reaction times and inaccurate strokes. Each third-party manufacturer has implemented its own hardware and software approaches, resulting in a fragmented market with styli and apps having differing functionalities. For instance, a particular stylus may be designed to offer pressure sensitivity, but any given app must implement such functionality for it to work. All have been limited by previous iPad hardware, which had higher latency than the iPad Pro. FiftyThree, Inc. produces an unrelated stylus, also known as Pencil, for use with its Paper drawing app for iPad.^[18] Other popular styluses include products made by Wacom and Adonit.^[19]

See also

• Surface Pen
• List of iPad accessories
• Pen computing

References

1. "iPad Pro, Apple Pencil, Apple Keyboard Specifications". simmyideas.com. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
2. "#AppleEvent : iPad Pro, Apple Pencil, Apple Keyboard Specifications And Pricing". 360nobs.com. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
3. "Apple Introduces iPad Pro Featuring Epic 12.9-inch Retina Display". Apple.com. Apple Press Info. Archived from the original on September 11, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
4. "iPad Pro: Apple Pencil". Apple.com. Apple Inc. September 9, 2015. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
5. "Epic 12.9-inch iPad Pro Available to Order Online Wednesday & Arrives in Stores Later This Week" (Press release). Apple Inc.
6. Statt, Nick (September 9, 2015). "Here's why Apple made the stylus that Steve Jobs hated: Styluses and screens have come a long way". The Verge. Vox Media. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
7. Harley; et al. "United States Patent: 8638320". Patent Full Text. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
8. Ulanoff, Lance (September 12, 2015). "Apple is not following Jobs' script and that's OK". Mashable. Archived from the original on September 15, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
9. Ulanoff, Lance (September 10, 2015). "Hands on with iPad Pro and Apple Pencil: A huge tablet and an impressive tool". Mashable.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
10. Cunningham, Andrew (September 9, 2015). "Hands-on with the iPad Pro, its keyboard, and its pencil". Ars Technica. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
11. "Apple Pencil". apple.com. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
12. bpepermans (September 9, 2015). "Zoom sur l'iPad Pro... la tablet grantee.". MacPlus. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
13. Malarie Gokey (November 22, 2015). "5 Best iPad Pro Drawing Apps For Apple Pencil". Digital Trends.
14. Pagliery, Jose (September 10, 2015). "Artists cheer the new Apple Pencil stylus". CNN.com. CNN Money. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
15. King, Hope. "Apple criticized for Photoshopping smile on woman's face". CNN.com. CNN Money. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
16. Price, Rob (September 9, 2015). "Apple just announced a product that Steve Jobs famously hated". Business Insider. Archived from the original on September 15, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
17. Davies, Chris (September 9, 2015). "Apple Pencil for iPad Pro revealed: The stylus' time has come". Slashgear. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
18. "Pencil Stylus for iPad & iPhone". FiftyThree.com. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
19. Villas-Boas, Antonio (October 22, 2014). "Wacom Intuos Creative Stylus 2". PC Magazine. Retrieved November 6, 2015.

External links

• Apple Pencil (official website)