text: Livescribe smartpen gets online app store – Which? News
  Livescribe smartpen gets online app store
  Free and paid-for apps include games and travel
  Livescribe, maker of electronic smartpens that record your handwriting and audio, has announced an online application store and updated Livescribe Desktop software.
  When Which? experts tried out Livescribe Pulse Smartpen they found it easy to use, yet viewed the price and need for special stationery as cons.
  Read the Which? Livescribe Pulse first look review for more details.
  The new Livescribe app store is initially in beta, and currently has 30 apps available to download. These range from free apps such as Video Poker, Spanish Travel Phrases and Classical Music snippets, through to paid-for apps such as Blackjack and Hangman.
  According to Livescribe, these apps 'extend the functionality of the Pulse smartpen beyond its core feature of recording and linking audio to handwriting'.
  New apps mean that consumers can now read and hear a translated phrase in languages such as Spanish, French, German, Japanese and Korean. There are also apps for trivia, educational study guides, simple games and music apps that let users play a guitar using the 'pentip' of their Pulse smartpen.
  'The initial set of more than 30 applications only begins to tap the potential of the Livescribe smartpen platform,' said Byron Connell, chief marketing officer of Livescribe. 'We look forward to seeing our community of more than 5,500 registered developers create, develop and distribute the next generation of innovative paper-based computing applications to come.'
  Livescribe software update
  Livescribe has also released an update to its software which runs on both the smartpen and computer. Version 2.0 including an upgrade to the Livescribe Desktop software which allows consumers to save, organise and share their notes and recordings from their computer, as well as download and install applications.
  Consumers will need to download Livescribe Desktop Version 2.0 to be able to install apps downloaded from the beta Application Store. Once the application is downloaded and the Livescribe smartpen is docked to the computer, apps are automatically installed and available for use. According to Livescribe the corresponding update for the smartpen software also includes a new 'quick launch' and 'hot spot' feature that enables faster, more convenient access to applications.
  The Livescribe Pulse smartpen is available in two models, and can be purchased from retailers including Micro Anvika, Amazon and the Livescribe website: