Livescribe 3 Smartpen Announced for iOS Devices with IR Camera, Content Recognition Capabilities - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Livescribe 3 Smartpen Announced for iOS Devices with IR Camera, Content Recognition Capabilities

by

Paper-based computing company Livescribe has announced the Livescribe 3, the latest version of its popular Bluetooth smartpen for iOS devices. The smartpen includes an ARM 9 processor inside and a high speed infrared camera at the top, along with an on/off twist ring and a lithium ion battery that lasts up to 14 hours.

livescribe3_pen

Elevate Your Writing
From the integrated stylus cap to the Swiss-made tungsten-carbide ballpoint ink cartridge, the Livescribe 3 smartpen is a statement of elegant design that delivers the experience of a premium writing instrument.

Putting The Smart in Smartpen
The streamlined design of the Livescribe 3 smartpen conceals an astonishing amount of technology. An infrared camera, ARM processor, Bluetooth Smart chipset, flash memory and lithium ion battery all work together to bring your notes to life on your tablet or smartphone.

Not Just Bluetooth, Bluetooth Smart
Bluetooth Smart wireless technology allows your Livescribe 3 smartpen to quickly and easily pair to your tablet or smartphone. It also extends the battery life, giving you over 14 hours of continuous writing between charges.

livescribe3_notebook2 The Livescribe 3 is also accompanied by the new Livescribe+ app [Direct Link], which works with the pen to recognize different types of handwriting on Livescribe paper, including tasks, reminders, contacts, and calendar events that can be shared to services such as Dropbox and iCloud, and imported into iOS apps such as Reminders and Maps. The app also includes a Find My Pen function which causes the device to emit a noise when prompted, a MyScript transcription option, and a view option named "the Feed" that groups relevant notes together.

The Livescribe 3 is avaliable in two versions, including a standard edition that comes with the pen, a starter notebook and a ballpoint ink cartrige for $149.95, and a Pro Edition that includes the pen, a bigger journal, a leather portfolio, two ballpoint ink cartriges and one year of Evernote Premium for $199.95. Both versions along with additional accessories for the smartpen are avaliable to purchase on Livescribe's official website.

Top Rated Comments

MrSmith Avatar
168 months ago
Can anyone still write by hand? My handwriting had regressed to pre-puberty levels. My typing speed has hit the roof, though. :)
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iMat77 Avatar
168 months ago
Good idea but...

Special paper = no deal.


At least for me.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
168 months ago
I remember growing up and having to learn cursive handwriting. Now it's being cut from many educational programs.

Modern communication is about efficiency, yet there is an art to hand writing. While these are great devices with so much potential, it make me a bit sad.

There are people at my office who still like to use these. To each their own I suppose. Personally I hate writing
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MrSmith Avatar
168 months ago
Because if you don't use paper, there won't be trees. All the paper you use was made out of trees grown to be paper. The tree farmer has to feed his family, and if he can't sell the trees he is growing on his land, he'll sell his land to some developer who will cut down the trees and put in a shopping mall. There are more trees in North America now than there were 100 years ago.
Interesting post, though probably not what the tree-huggers here want to hear.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
168 months ago
+1 for not wasting paper.

Paper/wood is the most easily renewed and recycled resource we have. I wouldn't worry about "wasting" it per se. It's not like coal, oil, or even natural gas. We can grow more.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Nevaborn Avatar
168 months ago
So the make a new pen that still requires me to need paper and ink and just creates a digital copy. All well and good but I would rather a recision pen for the actual iDevice.

My handwriting is great but I would rather write on to my tablet than waste paper
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iphone duo

Apple Announces Foldable 'iPhone Duo'

Wednesday September 9, 2026 10:56 am PDT by
Apple today announced the "iPhone Duo," a new kind of iPhone featuring two screens and a foldable inner display. The two halves of the iPhone Duo connect into a single continuous frame with the same aspect ratio across both displays, and Apple said the transition between open and closed is designed to feel fluid. When fully open, Apple says it is the thinnest iPhone ever made, with an...
Surprise and Shine Live Coverage Article

Apple Event Live Blog: iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, and More Expected

Wednesday September 9, 2026 9:10 am PDT by
Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event kicks off today at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, where we're expecting to see the foldable iPhone Duo, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 models, new AirPods 5 earphones, and perhaps some other announcements. Apple is providing a live video stream on its website, on YouTube, and in the company's TV app across various platforms. We...
apple surprise and shine event

Apple Event Today: iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo Cheat Sheet

Tuesday September 8, 2026 10:24 am PDT by
Apple's biggest event of the year is almost here, and all eyes are on Cupertino. With the first foldable iPhone expected to headline Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event on Wednesday, September 9, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, the rumor mill has been running full throttle, fuelled by the biggest single design change in the life of the iPhone. To get you up to speed, here's a quick reference...