Apple Pencil can be used not only for drawing, but also for full control operating system. However, there are some tasks that are beyond the power of iPad Pro.
You can open apps and links, scroll and navigate
It is obvious that with help from Apple With Pencil, you can launch programs, follow links, scroll through content, and navigate your system. This works in all applications, including those not adapted for using a stylus. In this case, you use the Apple Pencil in a similar way to your finger. The system recognizes long presses, so you can delete apps or open links in new tabs.
You can't open Notification Center or Control Center
You can't swipe up or down the screen with the Apple Pencil. To access the relevant sections of the system, you must use your finger. It's only a matter of Apple solution and not any technical restrictions.
iOS 9 multitasking features not available for Apple Pencil
The stylus cannot be used when invoking Slide Over or Split View modes. Swipe on the right side of the screen does not bring any results.
if you have open application in Slide Over, you won't be able to remove it from the screen with the stylus. Apple Pencil will not allow you to control the calling and position of windows in Split View.
You can type on the keyboard, enter your password on the lock screen, and bring up Spotlight
If you're used to typing with one finger, you can use the Apple Pencil to work with virtual keyboard iPad Pro when typing in Safari, Spotlight, search queries App Store and any other applications.
If you do not want to unlock the device using Touch ID, then use the stylus to enter the password.
Third party keyboards work great with Apple Pencil
Plain Apple keyboard offers not the most fast way input, so use third party solutions that support gesture control can speed up typing.
The system does not respond to touch with the palm of your hand
Want to give your hand a break while using your Apple Pencil to scroll through pages in Safari? This works great.
You can rest your hand on the iPad Pro display while navigating the system, typing, or taking handwritten notes. Apple Pencil works great with apps that haven't received a special update to interact with the stylus.
You can charge your Apple Pencil with a Lightning cable
While you can charge the stylus battery directly using iPad Pro, Apple Pencil can be charged via standard cable Lightning using a special adapter from Apple.
You can draw through a piece of paper
If you place plain paper on top of the iPad Pro's screen, the display will recognize the movement of the pen. Depending on the thickness of the sheet, you can change the brightness level to view the resulting pattern. The display also does not respond to touching the palm through the sheet.
You cannot use the opposite end of the stylus as an eraser
Despite its name and round lid, the Apple Pencil doesn't have sensors for eraser mode. Although instinctively you can try to erase the excess.
In customized applications, in order to erase something, you need to programmatically select the eraser mode.
You can't use multi-touch gestures (obviously)
There is no way to return to home screen or switch to another app in iOS 9 using Apple Pencil.
If you use gestures to control the system, then you need to use your fingers. Of course, a pencil cannot replace four or five fingers at once.
But if you want, then press the stylus on home button to return to the home screen.
Apple Pencil won't work with other iPads or iPhones
This accessory was designed specifically for iPad Pro and only works with Apple's new 12.9-inch tablet.
The iPad Pro has a low-latency display by reading pen position 240 times per second. The device absolutely accurately recognizes the moments when Apple Pencil or a fingertip is used for control.
These technologies aren't available on the iPhone 6s or iPad Air 2, so you don't have to worry about buying a $100 Apple Pencil if you haven't splurged on an iPad Pro.
Of the minuses - after drawing in this application, the vector has to be decently cleaned up like this, since a lot of extra points are formed. On the plus side, you can drag an image from your iPad directly into Illustrator with the click of a button, and it's incredibly convenient!
There is also a very cool drawing application called Procreate - it is also free, it costs about $ 6, and, unlike Adobe Draw, you can only draw a raster there, which then needs to be converted to a vector. There are a lot of settings, brushes and other cute things, but for me personally, drawing there, as they say, didn’t work, I don’t know why (but I know that many people adore it).
#2 CONTOURING
True, for this method to work, you need an additional application called Astropad and costs money. With this application, you can "broadcast" the computer screen to the iPad. That is, by launching the illustrator and the Astropad application, you can turn the iPad pro into a kind of Syntic (who doesn’t know, it’s such Graphics tablet from Wacom, which allows you to draw "directly on yourself").
If you already have Syntic - again, this method of cleaning will not surprise you. But since my role is played by Wacom Bamboo, which lies on the side of the computer and does not have its own screen (that is, it essentially works like a more convenient kind of mouse), I really liked being able to edit “right on the screen” using the iPad Pro.
In theory, you can draw right in the same way - right away in illustrator, but when working through Astropad, there is still a slight delay in the appearance of lines, and therefore I like to use this application to “finish” pictures. I open the image after the trace in illustrator, connect the iPad via USB cable(so the connection is more reliable), I launch Astropad and use the pencil tool to correct the lines. Of the minuses - in the CC version, the selection is constantly self-cancelling, so you have to keep one hand on the keyboard to press CMD + A (and who came up with the idea of \u200b\u200bdeleting the selection when working with this tool? Clearly some evil person)
#3 RECORDING THE DRAWING PROCESS
Now in the trend are videos that show how you draw quickly, easily and coolly. Well, or not even cool, but you draw - everyone likes to watch the accelerated process. Therefore, if you are thinking about how to get promoted in social networks, then recording a video of the drawing process is it. I must admit that I ignore this trend for now - not because I don’t understand its importance, but rather because it’s too dark in my current habitat to shoot decent videos (and it’s already cold to draw outside). Well, I also have a terrible habit of hanging over the drawing, which greatly complicates the process of shooting top view (one crown is visible, which, as I found out, is not very photogenic for me :)).
And yes, you can record the process without an iPad Pro. But it's cool when I drew the picture and recorded the video :)
Decided to do Apple review Pencil is separate from the iPad Pro, as there is something to tell and show about this iGadget. At the same time, the Apple Pencil is not some kind of serious gadget, it's just an accessory to the iPad Pro. But how to look at it. Apple Watch is also considered an accessory, but the watch performs much less useful features with iPhone than iPencil with tablet. What are the main questions we are interested in regarding the new device:
Overview and specifications of Apple Pencil
Apple Pencil is the drawing pencil for iPad Pro. This is a stylus with a built-in mechanism by which the Apple Pencil works. The mechanism is located at the end of the pencil and reads touches with great accuracy and minimal delay. This is because the built-in mechanism reads the signal at a frequency of 240 times per second and the display captures twice as many dots as when touched by a finger. In the stylus market, the Apple Pencil for iPad Pro is the best solution today. With it, you can draw with various lines quickly and easily. The Apple Pencil was specifically designed to be able to draw and write normally on the iPad Pro. The pencil is equipped with a Bluetooth 4.1 module through which it is synchronized with the iPad Pro.
How long does an Apple Pencil hold a charge?
The battery of the Apple Pencil lasts a long time and charges quickly, so there are no problems with autonomy. Apple Pencil lasts 12 hours on a full charge while in use. And if it is discharged and urgently needed, then in 15 seconds you can charge it for half an hour of work.
You need to charge the Apple Pencil through the Lightning connector, which is located on the back under the cap. You need to insert it into the iPad Pro, which in turn can charge devices connected via Lightning. Not just the Apple Pencil. Moreover, even if you have an iPad Pro in a silicone case, the Apple Pencil will easily fit in, because its connector is elongated and can crawl deeper.
How to find out the charge of iPad Pro?
The fact that the Apple Pencil charges quickly and lasts for a long time is all very well. But how to find out how much the stylus is charged, now you will find out.
iPad Pro can see the battery charge of Apple Pencil if it is connected to iPad Pro via bluetooth. To do this, you need to activate the widget, which allows you to see the battery level of the pencil in the curtain (notification center). We call the curtain, tap on “Edit” under the calendar and select the “Batteries” widget. After that, you will be able to observe the Apple Pencil charge level at this place.
You can connect your iPhone, Apple Watch to iPad Pro and also see what battery level these devices have. It is noteworthy that the widget for viewing the charge level of connected devices via bluetooth can be called up not only on the iPad but also on the iPhone.
Apple Pencil compatibility with other tablets
Can the Apple Pencil be used for iPad Mini or iPad Air? Will the Apple Pencil work with the iPhone? Main question, which torments today many consumers of Apple products. Apple Pencil only works with iPad Pro. Air, Mini, iPhone, android devices do not support Apple Pencil. This is because the Apple Pencil interacts with the screen of the iPad Pro, i.e. in other words, this iPad Pro supports Apple Pencil. Other devices are not.
Apple Pencil price
This tricky stylus is worth a lot - $ 100. Well, I rounded it up, in Apple, as always, all prices end in 9. The price of Apple Pencil in the USA is $99, and in Russia - 7790 rubles. In Ukraine, Apple Pencil costs about three thousand hryvnia, which is unthinkable for some kind of stylus. Although, as Apple assures us, this is not just some kind of stylus, but a full-fledged gadget.
You can buy an Apple Pencil stylus on the official Apple website or in stores that sell Apple technology. Apple Pencil pricing varies by country. Somewhere more expensive, somewhere cheaper. For Americans, 100 bucks is not very expensive, but for us the same 100 bucks at today's exchange rate is 25 UAH for 1 dollar, this is not an imaginable price at all! For 2500-3000 UAH you can buy a used iPhone 4 or iPad 2.
How to draw with Apple Pencil
Instructions on how to use, draw, write Apple Pencil for beginners.
In principle, everything is extremely simple. You need to remember the main points and that's it. The Apple Pencil for iPad Pro is both pressure and tilt sensitive. Well, then, act as your imagination pleases. If you want to make the line thicker, then just press harder with the stylus on the screen and you will have a bold line. If you want a thinner line, then press easier. If you need to make a line with fading, tilt the Apple Pencil a little and you get the effect of a real pencil.
Maintainability of the Apple Pencil
The guys at iFixit took apart an Apple Pencil to see how repairable the pencil is. Well, at the same time we will see the structure of the Apple Pencil. The cap that covers the lightning connector on the pencil is held on a magnet, so it can be easily lost. Be careful if you buy. Removable tip. Apple included another one in the kit, so if anything, you can easily replace it manually. He spins out.
In general, the Apple Pencil is not repairable. Getting to the insides to repair something is not realistic without mechanical damage. I'll have to cut the pencil and take it all out. The battery is also not easy to replace. So you work with your Apple Pencil until your battery dies. Well, she won't die soon. But after 3 years, the Apple Pencil will run out of battery faster than a new one. Therefore, the only solution is to bury it in the yard and buy a new one.
I was most impressed with the board built into the Apple Pencil. It weighs only 1 gram - it's amazing! There are so many things placed there and it all works clearly - this is progress!
Introducing Apple Pencil
Video: General introduction to the Apple Pencil. Original video voiced by Johnny Quince.
Apple presented the new 9.7-inch iPad Pro to an enthusiastic audience as something new, and more advanced and more convenient than the previous iPad Air 2 or iPad Pro 12.9. The idea is simple: the power and versatility of a large iPad with a 12.9-inch screen and support for everyone's favorite Apple Pencil technology and new Smart Keyboard user now gets a more compact and familiar form factor iPad Air 2.
On the other hand, it's not all free. If you want a more powerful processor, a cooler screen, and proprietary drawing technology along with a super-stylus, plus a cool wireless keyboard, but you don’t want to buy a big iPad, then get ready to buy new iPad Pro 9.7. The tradition is this: more new (or not new) functionality - higher price.
However, if you already have an iPad Air, as it is, and the need is not to rush into buying new iPad, then you might think about how to add this same Pro-functionality to your "old" tablet. Thankfully, there are options. You can choose a stylus with similar sensitivity and accuracy options, covers and cases with and without keyboards, which are at least as good as the Smart Keyboard, and a couple of high-quality applications that allow you to draw and write almost the same as on iPad screen Pro, you can also download. In other words, if desired, and relatively inexpensively, you can also make almost Pro out of your iPad. But about how exactly, we are now going to tell.
Let's start with the most difficult. As you know, the styluses of the so-called third-party manufacturers, by and large, only imitate the functionality of 3D touch technology and do not work on regular iPads with the same high level quality, like the branded Apple Pencil on the iPad Pro. In addition, older iPads do not have a special magnetic connector that allows you to connect a non-Bluetooth keyboard to the iPad Pro. There is no point in denying these facts, however, as we have already said, there are options. So, in order:
acceptable alternative to Apple Pencil
Adonit has been releasing interesting accessories for the iPad (and not only for them) for several years, but a product called Adonit Jot Dash appeared in the company's assortment quite recently. And it has already managed to gain fame for itself as the world's best stylus for drawing. The model is made in a lightweight case, no larger than a regular pen, it comes with a miniature magnetic USB charger and turns on with one click. The Adonit Jot Dash is compatible with all iPads (as well as iPhones and many Aindroid smartphones and tablets) without any additional software or Bluetooth connection. As for the quality and accuracy of the Jot Dash, here is a visual description of the capabilities of this device (you can turn on subtitle translation):
Another no less interesting alternative to the Apple Pencil was offered by fiftythree, by the way, well known to all lovers and professionals of tablet drawing, as the developer of the popular Paper application. The stylus from fiftythree is called Pencil. "pencil", and really most of all it looks like a plump pencil with flat edges and a sharp tip, which, like the tip of the Apple Pencil, allows you to adjust the thickness of the lines by tilting the stylus relative to the screen surface when drawing in compatible applications like the same Paper. Pencil also responds to pressure (the stronger it is, the darker the line), its back end serves as an “eraser”, and along with this stylus, you can also use your fingers to, say, mix or smudge “paints” on the tablet screen. A separate plus: the proprietary Paper application can be downloaded for free, it works both on the iPad and, more recently, on the iPhone.
how to replace Smart Keyboard for iPad Pro?
The new keyboard cover, as you've probably seen, simply snaps onto the long side of the iPad Pro case. Branded iPad keyboards Air or iPad Air 2 can't do that. They need to be connected “the old fashioned way” via a Bluetooth module, and they only work when Bluetooth is turned on on the iPad. And users turn it off quite often to save battery power, so sometimes there is extra fuss with reconnecting the keyboard. With third-party keyboards, the situation is about the same. But there are nuances.
For example, a case-cover released 2 years ago Folio by Logitech although it looks less elegant today than the Smart Keyboard for iPad Pro, its massiveness also has a number of advantages. It protects the tablet, and it has a physical keyboard, but also Bluetooth, like everyone else. It only charges via a USB cable, but is equipped with its own battery, which provides it with up to 3 months battery life(and if you take Folio with solar panels, even longer). This case also has magnets, they are hidden inside, hold the cover well in the closed position and automatically turn on the screen if you lift its upper part. In addition, Folio keeps iPad at a comfortable angle while typing.
In addition to Folio, Logitech also has BLOK - also a keyboard case designed specifically for iPad Air 2, but different. This accessory makes the iPad look a bit like Microsoft's Surface Pro 3 because it also has a kickstand on the back. But BLOK, which is not only a cover, but also a bumper, unlike many other covers, protects the tablet body not only from above and below, but also from the ends, and protects not only from bumps and other mechanical influences, but also a little from any wet substances. And, what is most interesting in our case, the BLOK keyboard is also magnetized. Not to the tablet, like the Smart Keyboard, but to the cover, but some similarity of the effect still takes place.
Pro apps to choose from
One of them is Paper, with which the best way the possibilities of the Pencil stylus are revealed - we have already mentioned. But, of course, this is not the only program that implements the technology of screen response to different pressing forces. There are others.
In the list of recommended applications for mobile drawing on the iPad, Apple included in particular Adobe Illustrator draw and line. Both in basic versions can be downloaded for free, but, as the developer notes, they work even better when combined with a subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud, which is paid. The list goes on:
- Adobe Photoshop Sketch And Mix - also free, but after them Adobe installations will ask you to subscribe Creative Cloud;
- Astropad Graphics Tablet
($19) - Aimed at professional artists and actually transforms
iPad to graphics tablet for Mac, i.e. you can draw on iPad screen and follow the whole process on the computer screen through serious software like Photoshop;
- Procreate ($5.99) - one of the best drawing apps for iPad with an easy-to-learn interface, extensive tools and the ability to connect additional accessories;
- Noteshelf ($7.99) - A very "fancy" mobile handwritten note manager for the iPad;
- Autodesk SketchBook (Free) is a professional drawing and sketching app optimized for tablets that has it all too.
As for the new iMovie , which Apple released exclusively for its iPad Pro, then, there is such an opinion, it will fit perfectly on “ordinary” iPads as an alternative to the sensational new product Pinnacle Studio is a professional mobile video editor with which you can create storyboards, precise cuts, high-quality transitions, add effects and soundtracks. The program is compatible with Pinnacle Studio for desktops (that is, videos edited on the iPad can be simply transferred to your work computer), supports resolutions up to 1080, it provides a tool for exporting videos to YouTube and Facebook (by the way, we also recall that through the kit Apple Camera Connection iPad Camera Connection Kit, photos and videos can be imported to your tablet from external cards memory).
Adobe Creative Cloud also has functionality similar to IMOVIE (and Pinnacle Studio), besides, it can be synchronized with Adobe Premiere Creative Cloud, one of the most popular and powerful video editors. In Premiere Clip, you can also easily import video, tweak lighting, add transitions and effects, slow down, speed up, edit audio, and more. and then send the finished video to Twitter, Facebook, YouTube or export to Adobe Premiere Pro CC, whose toolkit is even more extensive.
and about money
Let's summarize, as they say. With the accessories and apps described above, your iPad Air (or iPad Air 2) won’t turn into the new iPad Pro 9.7 by itself, of course, but it’s guaranteed to be much more Pro in terms of functionality than it was. And now some arithmetic.
The "youngest" 12.9-inch iPad in the line Pro Apple offers today for 71,990 rubles, and iPad Air 2 for 16GB - for 35,990 rubles, in fact, half the price. Apple Pencil for iPad Pro 12.9 costs 7790 rubles, branded Smart Keyboard for the same - another 13290 rubles. Total: for the iPad Pro 12.9 (mind you, the most inexpensive in the series) with a keyboard and a stylus, you have to pay 93070 rubles (OK. $1400 ). A set of iPad Pro 9.7 with the same stylus and Smart Keyboard of the appropriate size will cost 72570 rubles (52990 - iPad Pro 9.7 with WiFi, 7790 - stylus, 11790 - keyboard, in general, approx. $1100 ).
The new iPad Air 2 with Wi-Fi (R35590), along with one of the two styluses (R3300) and the most expensive keyboard we have listed (R850) will cost about 47500 rubles , plus maybe a few hundred more to buy paid versions Appendix. Such is the alternative. But if you buy new tablet with new accessories. If you already have an iPad Air or iPad Air 2, then the cost of the entire event to bring its functionality to a level close to Pro will be the maximum 12500 rubles (i.e. less than $200).
Yes, the iPad Air 2 and iPad Air, along with cool accessories and a whole bunch of professional apps, will obviously still lose something to the iPad Pro with Apple's original stylus, keyboard, and software. BUT here one question arises: is this difference so significant, and is it worth it to lay out 1000 bucks for it?
The Apple Pencil is a device for drawing on iPad tablets. Initially, the appearance of this gadget caused a mixed reaction among admirers of Apple technology. After all, the founder of Apple, Steve Jobs, promoted purely manual control of equipment produced by the legendary company, and the stylus, in his opinion, is a relic of the past. Therefore, Apple promised not to produce this, in their opinion, an unnecessary accessory.
In support of styluses, it’s still worth saying that this tool is very necessary for people of certain professions, so the Apple founder may have been deeply mistaken when making such statements. Since the time when Apple has lost a key figure - Steve Jobs in the leadership team, their views have clearly changed somewhat. They did see a certain category of people on the market who would be interested in the appearance of the Apple Pencil for the iPad Pro.
Specifications
Apple Pencil has the following options:
Contents of delivery
The standard set includes:
- Apple Pencil
- Lightning adapter
- Additional tip
Standard equipment, price and description of Apple Pencil
So, the company released a stylus as standard with which it comes with:
- Spare cap for Apple Pencil;
- Adapter for charging from a cable.
By and large, the Apple Pencil is just an optional accessory to the iPad Pro series tablets, which can be purchased separately. A stylus is not included with Apple tablets as standard. Of course, most people can manage quite successfully with touch screens with the help of fingers, and, nevertheless, the novelty has found its buyer and has already gained popularity in certain circles, for example, designers, planners and people of other professions do not get tired of singing the praises of Apple Pencil for iPad Pro.
Some are confused by the cost of the Apple Pencil, in Russia its price tag is close to 8,000 rubles, but do not forget that, for example, styluses for Wacom tablets cost about 10,000 rubles, so the price issue is debatable.
Concerning appearance then, like other equipment from the company, Pencil looks great. Apple design"pencil" is designed in a laconic style, has a uniform smooth, glossy surface, only on the rim, under the magnetic cap, you can see the inscription (manufacturer's name), under this cap, in fact, there is a connector that allows you to charge the stylus. The body of the Apple Pencil is made of durable white plastic.
The reliability of this product has been confirmed by numerous tests. The device has a fairly light weight, only 20 grams, which is important for people who constantly use it in their work.
Many people know that Apple releases technology High Quality, where everything is thought out to the smallest detail, and the new gadget is no exception. Engineers designed it in such a way that even if the stylus rolls on the desk, and this will definitely happen, because it has a round shape and is absolutely smooth, the device will stop on its own, while the manufacturer's logo will always look up.
Interestingly, there is no battery indicator on the Apple Pencil, and you can’t track the charge level through the tablet either. Most likely, the developers of Delhi are counting on a high charging speed. So, after only 15 seconds of charging, the device is able to work for half an hour, and it will take about 10 minutes to fully charge the device. A full charge is enough for 12 hours of operation.
Describing the Apple Pencil, one cannot fail to mention the question of interest to many, with which devices does it interact? Apple engineers did not deviate from the company's policy and created a gadget that is suitable for use only in tandem with Apple technology. Apple Pencil is compatible with:
- iPad Pro,
- iPad Air,
- iPad Mini,
- iPhone.
Now it’s worth returning to the issue of charging again, since the Apple Pencil only works in conjunction with Apple’s released tablets, then there should be no problems with a full battery charge. After all, you can connect a pencil to an existing device.
Apple's new product "understands" over 2,000 degrees of depression. Simply put, increasing or decreasing pressure on the Apple Pencil adjusts the thickness of the lines, while tilting the gadget produces shading. With these features, the Apple Pencil is very similar to a regular pencil, which certainly adds points to it. In addition, the high fidelity of the stylus is achieved due to the frequency of reading signals, namely 240 times per second.
Using Apple Pencil, you can easily work on devices from the Cupertino company. It easily reproduces the simplest commands, movements on the screen, moving icons, and so on, but if you need this gadget for creativity, then in order not to draw with your fingers, you will have to master programs that can work with the Apple Pencil. Fortunately, there are many such products on the market today, so no one should have any difficulties with this.
Principle of operation
Most often, this gadget is used for drawing. The nuances of his work can be seen on the example standard application notes. There are three modes at once, in each of which Apple Pencil identifies pen tilt and pressure, simulating drawing on real paper. For example, by selecting the “pencil” mode, you can make a sketch, and then, by increasing the angle of inclination of the device, shade the necessary details of the drawing.
There is another interesting "chip" here - the ruler. With it, you can easily draw straight lines. Simply draw a line next to this makeshift ruler with your Apple Pencil and the app will display it on your screen. At the same time, at first, using this technique, a person usually waits for contact from the contact of a pencil with a ruler, and experiences some inconvenience when this does not happen, but after several attempts, users adapt to this.
There are other programs for your iPad that are better suited for drawing and drawing. They have "pens" that allow you to create lines of different thicknesses, "watercolor brushes", layers and transparency settings.
Comparison with analogues
The main competitor of this stylus is the Adonit Pixel from Adonit. Only professional designers can evaluate the convenience of each of the options, and the technical components are described in the table below.
Who needs an Apple Pencil?
Initially, Apple released a stylus for people of technical and creative professions, such as planners, designers, and artists. This tool greatly facilitates their work and saves time.
However, later, in addition to people of these professions, Apple Pencil for iPad Pro became good decision for company executives. Now managers can easily and quickly make the required adjustments to layouts without writing down all the amendments point by point, working with documents, making comments in them, crossing out individual words or phrases. All this is much more convenient to do not with a keyboard and mouse, but with an interesting accessory - the Apple Pencil.
