ArcticStyle

networkshadow:

Espresso 1.1 - Features some great new interface and workflow tweaks and additions. Immediately very useful is the new window for all your projects (shown above). [What’s new?]

jessedodds:

christopherdowner:

A really nice font I found the other day. One that I’ll definitely be using quite a bit, and best of all, its open-source.

http://www.campivisivi.net/titillium/

lickystickypickyme:

More scientific evidence for your MOAR COFFEE pleas.
After all it IS Monday….

found at Tom Oatmeal.

Livescribe Pulse: First Impressions

About a week and half ago I ordered a Livescribe Pulse 2GB. It arrived last monday, after three days of shipping from the US and a whole day clearing customs.

Basically, what the pen does, is record everything you write. It also records audio, which it then links to whatever you write at the time. Now, after about a week of using it in class, I’ve come to the conclusion that the pen is well worth the $199. (Or $169 depending on where you buy it from.)

The pen itself is sturdy and sleek. Although it’s a little big, I’ve had no problem accustoming my hand to it. The ball point tip of the pen produces a rather slim trail of ink, maybe a little too slim for my taste. The pen uses an infrared camera with a Dot-Positioning System to track whatever you write or draw on the special Dot Paper also from LiveScribe. The Pulse has a built-in mic for recording audio. Optionally, you can use the headset, which is included with the pen. The headset also has a mic, this one much more powerful, making it ideal for recording in large and/or crowded rooms. Now, I know a lot of countries have laws against recording people without their consent, so I’d make sure to ask before just pressing the record button.

On that note, I should also mention that the pen has only one physical button. All menu navigation is done by tapping buttons, which are printed on every sheet of Livescribe Dot Paper, with the tip of the pen. If you have closer looksie at the picture above, you’ll notice the two arrows crossing. Double tapping the button in the middle accesses the menu, while tapping the ends of the arrows navigates it. I might also mention that the pen’s firmware is snappy and, as far as I know, bug-free.

After a long day of note-taking, you use the included docking cradle to transfer your notes to your computer. Desktop clients for both Mac and PC are available from Livescribe’s site. (The Mac version is still, very clearly in beta.) Possibly the coolest thing about the desktop client is the search functionality. Once you’ve transferred you’re notes, you can search for any word(s) you’ve written on any page. The app will then display all pages you’ve written that/those word(s) on, as well as highlight the word(s).

So far, I have no gripes with the pen. As mentioned, it’s very obvious that the Mac version of the desktop client is still in beta. It’s a little sluggish, but it does what it’s supposed to.

In conclusion, the Pulse is a device I’d recommend to any student. If you’re like me (read: completely OCD and a tech geek), you’ll love how easy the pen makes note-taking and organizing. Of course, it’s also possibly the coolest gadget ever.