As we have previously seen with our stylus reviews for Artists and Children, Styli come in all shapes and sizes. They are also used by a variety of people and in this article we review styli that are aimed at the professional end of the market, for business people to use from the desktop to the board room.
The Stylus Presenter by LOGiiX is one of their high end styli and it shows. A beautifully crafted pen, stylus and laser pointer combined into a single device that would look great in the boardroom to take notes on paper, scribble on your iPad or use the laser pointer to highlight something on the projector.
The fact that all three features are combined in a single device means that you not going to lose one part or the other. The pen and the stylus are combined in a unit which can be flipped around to whichever you need to use at the time, while the laser pointer is located in the top of the pen, activated via a button on the side.
The Stylus Presenter feels solid in design, comes with replacements pens and batteries to get you up and running straight out of the box.
The Stylus Platinum is the little sibling to the previously discussed Presenter both in size, features and price. The device provides both a stylus and a pen on opposite ends of the stylus.
It’s a thinner shaft than the Presenter which will appeal to some and the pen can be retracted by twisting the barrel.
The addition of two pen refills is a good addition but the $10 price differential certainly shows itself in the inferior build quality
Four distinctive designs make the Emote stylus from Arctic certainly stand out from the crowd and will certainly appeal to a user who wants their stylus to stand out and be noticed.
This extra dose of style compared to some of the other styli in this category is not at the expense of features and functionality though as it offers both a pen and a stylus with a cap which will cover either when not in use.
The metal shaft feels good in the hand and it’s nicely weighted too, not too heavy and not too light. While the ink can be re-filled it doesn’t come with a replacement, instead a replacement stylus is provided.
It’s great value at just $23.95 and writes well on both paper and on your tablet device. Which design would you like? You can check out the different options here.
For a dollar less than the Arctic Emote Stylus you can get you hands on the equally distinctive and yet more understated Architect stylus.
While it may not have the glitz and glamor of its stablemate it’s modern design is not going to go unnoticed when in use. It does lack a pen but the design alone earns it a place in the boardroom or on your desk.
While I’m not sure how practical a stylus case is the Architect Stylus does provide one and it’s indicative of the quality of the stylus that the case is equally high quality. Use of the case would be reduced further if you use the cap that can be screwed to cover the stylus nib or onto the opposite end to provide extra length.
The Arctic stylus puts the style into stylus!
The Stylus Ball from Elago provides both a stylus and a ball point pen in a sleek, compact design that is available in multiple colors which should provide enough options for everyone.
A replacement stylus nib is provided, as is a cap for the pen but no replacement ink refill is included although it can be replaced . It’s also disappointing that the cap for the pen will not fit onto the stylus end when the pen is in use and could increase the chances of being lost.
The compact design fits nicely in the hand when using it as both a stylus and a pen and the aluminum shaft feels solid and if a little slick.
The Calligrapher is another dual function stylus and provides a stylish, ink pen looking pen that doubles as a stylus.
The default use of the Calligrapher is the pen which uses the barrel rotation method to be retracted. Unfortunately it only uses the tip of the pen to activate the pen and this is not as comfortable as being able to use the whole barrel.
To access the stylus the cap can be removed, unfortunately the cap can’t then be put on to cover the pen which changes the centre of balance between the two uses, it’s not a big problem but it would be nice.
At just $25 you get a great stylus both in term of style and functionality, add in the two spare pen refills and you’ve got even more of a bargain.
We discussed the Jot stylus from adonit in our review of styli for artists and you can read more about them here. However, they deserve another mention as a potential stylus for the professional who wants a high level of precision in their tablet writing and drawing.
The Jot Pro and Jot Classic doesn’t include a standard pen, although it certainly looks like one, instead it provides a precision disc for writing on your tablet, which while it takes some getting used to provides a level of precision that the other styli can’t provide.
While the two devices are predominantly the same the additional $10 of the Jot Pro will get you a rubber grip on the shaft for comfort and a magnetized barrel which enables the stylus to be secured to your iPad.
The unique selling point of the Touch Pen from Lunatik is the fact the while it includes both a pen and a stylus there’s no need to swap things out or turn the pen around as the nib of the pen comes out of the end of the stylus. This feature certainly makes it quicker to jump between the two so if this is a requirement then this could be the device for you.
The pen is activated as most retractable pens are with a click of the pen top and is retracted in the same way. While the pen retracts far enough to eliminate the risk of it touching the screen while the stylus is being used this won’t help you if you forget to make the switch as you change between paper and tablet.
For $19.95 you will get the entry level version which is made from plastic and is light, if you are willing to produce an additional $20 you can upgrade to an alloy build, which while not reviewed, may offer better quality. Both options come in a variety of colors.
The Touchpen from PenGo Creative provides a more modern style on the stylus pen. It contains a non-retractable rollerball pen at one end and a stylus at the other, both of these can be covered with the lid.
The build quality of the device is excellent and feels well balanced in the hand. It also comes with replacement stylus nib which is nice.
However, getting a replacement stylus nib over replacement ink refills is an odd decision in my book as it suggests that they envisage that the nib will become unusable before the ink runs out.
$24.99 is another great price for a pen/stylus combo and the white, modern design looks great too.
Best iPad Stylus for Professionals – Gallery
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The New iPad more than any other tablet is not only a consumption device but also a creation device and that’s certainly the case when it comes to art. And one of the key accessories for any artist who is working with the iPad is a stylus.
While there are many stylus out there a whole genre specifically for the artist are now available and we’re going to look at some of the best here. If you’re looking to paint your first masterpiece or are just drawing for fun some of these styluses may be just what you are looking for.
The Stylus Diamond form LOGiiX is a precision stylus which is a great tool for those times where attention to detail is the core requirement. The stylus may look like a pen with its black styling and clip but where the pen nib would be a plastic disc resides instead.
This plastic disc is the key to the precision of the LOGiiX Stylus Diamond but it takes a bit of getting used too, if you do though there is no beating the precision. The tip is flexible so that the stylus can be used at multiple angles.
The one problem I have with the Stylus Diamond is that the clip is fairly low down on the barrel of the stylus which means it can sometimes be uncomfortable which is not ideal if you’re going to be using it for long periods of time.
For the $34.95 price tag you will not only get the stylus but you’ll also get a spare tip and 5 clear tip protectors that would add extended life to the tip. The LOGiiX Stylus Diamond is a professional looking stylus and while providing good precision lines for artists it would also work to write freehand on the iPad and look good in the boardroom.
For the price of one stylus you are getting 3 with the Brushpen from PenGo Creative as not only do you get two different sized styluses but also a brush stylus all of which can be easily swapped in and out.
Both ends of the Brushpens’ barrel are available to put the interchangeable nibs into meaning that you can quickly and easily use the one that you need at the time while the other end can be covered with the pen lid which has a clip attachment too.
The 3 nibs certainly feel different on the iPad screen with the brush nib specifically providing a very smooth and natural feel for sweeping paintbrush style strokes.
The 3 nibs provide great value for money and having choice at your fingertips could be just what you need as an artist.
The Sensu Brush from Sensu is not only a tool that artists can use to create works of art but is a work of art in itself. The metal barrel of the Sensu Brush is a smooth solid mirrored face and feels great in the hand.
With both a stylus nib and a brush available it’s the nib that is available by default and it provides a soft yet solid tip to use on the iPad or any other touchscreen device. The brush end meanwhile is hidden inside the shaft and can be access by pulling the on the nib end of the stylus, reversing it and re-attaching it to the barrel.
With the brush stylus in place the stylus doubles in length which provides excellent balance for the more sweeping style that the brush stylus allows. And if it’s at all possible it looks just as good in this form than when the nib is used.
The brush is slightly harder than the other brushes that are available and whether that is a good thing or not will be a personal preference. It’s also at the more expensive end of the price scale but quality comes at a price and quality plus style is what you get with the Sensu Brush.
You may think that once you’ve seen one stylus you’ve seen them all and that it’s difficult to tell them apart. That’s not the case with the Cosmonaut from Studio Neat as you can forget everything that you’ve previously thought of what a stylus is. From a style perspective at least the Cosmonaut is the crayon of the art world.
As one of the shortest styluses we’ve looked at it makes up for in diameter for what is lack in length and with a thick rubber sleeve encasing the entire shaft and nib it’s pretty weighty too and feels solid and sturdy in your hand.
Despite it’s size it feels great in the hand especially when used for extended periods of time and while it may not provide the fluid movement of a brush stylus it works great across a range of iPad apps that we tested it with as well working as a writing implement too.
The Cosmonaut may not look conventional but it’s a great stylus which thanks to it’s sturdy design is going to last you a long time at with a $25 price tag provides great value for money.
adonit provide a range a quality styluses all of which provide slight alternatives on the same theme and that is precision, control and style and they all use a precision disc that enables the user to draw and write in detail and provides the most pen/pencil like experience.
Because of the ball point style tip you get to hold the Jot Pro like a pen and it includes rubber grip at the bottom end of the shaft to provide a more comfortable feel and certainly lends itself well to being used for long periods of time.
The ball point style tip could be a make or break it deal for some people and I certainly found that it took awhile to get used to it, once I did however it was worth it.
The Jot Pro is also magnetic which given the fact that the iPad is too it means that you can keep you stylus attached to your iPad for safe keeping. My iPad has a skin on the front and while the Jot Pro would stick to it the connection wasn’t the strongest, however, without the skin it was a much better connection.
If you are going to be to a lot of precision artwork then the Jot Pro comes highly recommend.
The Jot Classic offer many of the benefits of the previously mention Jot Pro but at a more attractive price.
The Jot Classic uses the same ball point tip for precision use and the same pen/pencil like experience however there is no rubber grip and it’s not magnetized.
For just $19.99 though it’s a great entry level price and a great opportunity to find out if the ball point tip is right for you.
Along with the previously discussed Cosmonaut the oStylus is one of the more uniquely styled styluses. It’s a thinner shaft than most styluses and the barrell is one solid piece. The cold aluminium shaft feels good in the hand and its lightweight makes it feel very comfortable in the hand.
Both the Original and Dot oStylus use a precision disc still nib for drawing with the Origianl using a much larger disc than the Dot which using the same size disc as the other styluses that have been discussed.
While both the Original and Dot oStylus allow excellent precision drawing the benefit of the Original oStylus with the larger disc with a hole in the middle of it which will allows you to easily see what you are drawing as you do it which I found to be very advantageous at times.
Both versions also include replacement vinyl film dots which are used on the discs and that provides additional value to the oStylus.
The compose stylus from nomadbrush provides the most paint brush like experience of the stylus we’ve reviewed. From the narrow shaft and two-tone color scheme it certainly looks the part and with two interchangeable tips you also have options when it comes to the feel of the stylus.
The first tip provides the most paintbrush like experience with it’s long soft bristles, despite the softness of the bristles though it still provides a great response on the iPad especially when used with an app that provides a painting option. (In this case Paper by FiftyThree).
The second tip still has bristles but they’ve been cut much shorter and provide a more original stylus type experience which provides a good contrast to the other tip.
The two nibs screw in and out and while this provides a secure connection it can be a little fiddly to switch them out, not that you should ever be doing this in an emergency!
The Compose from Nomadbrush is a great stylus for those looking for the most paintbrush like experience.
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More and more children are getting access to touchscreen devices these days. Whether it’s their own device or using one of a parent, sibling or friend they are become more and more intune with them. Because of this, iPhone / iPad accessories are being made specifically aimed at children and the world of styluses is no different. Here we look at some that while not all specifically aimed at children would certainly appeal to them.
While not directly aimed at children the Stylus Pro Jr could be the ideal stylus for a child. Not only is it small and perfectly formed but it also attached to the headphone socket on the device to keep it from getting lost when not in use. The bullet sized stylus has three raised ridges around it that make it easier to grip despite it’s small size. It’s size doesn’t lend itself particularly to writing but for gaming and drawing it works very well. While the ability to attach it into the headphone socket is a nice addition and always keeps it handy pushing it into there can be a little tough especially for smaller fingers. However, after some time this did become easier. At under $20 the price could be a little pricey for some where the potential to getting easily lost is quite high.
There is one type of writing implement that every child has used and is one of the only writing implements that is only used by children and that’s the crayon. Harnessing on those two facts comes the Cosmonaut from Studio Neat which couldn’t look less like a crayon if it tried, all be it a giant one! The large size of the Cosmonaut could make it difficult to handle for smaller hands but the wooden stylus is completely covered wrapped in black rubber and makes it incredibly comfortable to hold, draw, write and play games with. It’s solid design also makes it rugged and long lasting and that’s pretty important when children are going to be pushing it to its limits. It has an iconic look and one that may turn a few heads too. If you have a child that likes to have something a little different then the Cosmonaut could be the stylus they are looking for.
The Phantomus bright colors and style will certainly grab the attention of the children in your life. Coming in either blue or pink the fun colors are made even more attractive to the children in your life thanks to the ghost like apparition that fits to the top of the stylus. The ghost to will certainly appeal to younger children and can be used either just as a stylus topper or when the stylus is not in use to cover it and keep it protected. The Phantomus stylus is very light, especially with the top removed although with it left on it provides a nice balance to the stylus. At $15 the iChic Geat Phantomus is one of the cheapest stylus that we’ve seen and with good build quality, fun design it could be a great option as your childs first stylus.
The Stylus Pen H10 from Kuel is the cheapest stylus that we’ve seen but that doesn’t mean that it’s cheap in any other aspect. The small sized stylus comes in a range of colors which provides a lot of options for anyone looking to try out a stylus for the first time or for a pocket sized option that’s not going to break the bank. The stylus is another one that can attach to the headphone socket of the iPhone or iPad and this means that it’s not going to be easy to mislay should that be a problem for you. Because the connector to the headphone socket is connected to the cap of the stylus you don’t have to keep pulling it in and out to use it. Just unclip it in and out of the cap to use and store again when not in use. The Kuel Stylus Pen H10 is a fine stylus at a great price and comes highly recommended.
The Scribbly stylus from scribbly.co.uk is another stylus that is built in the image of another well known writing instrument that everyone is familiar with and that’s the marker pen. From the large, white barrel shaft to the thick nib and clickable lid the scribbly won’t look out of place alongside your other permanent markers, however I wouldn’t suggest that you use it on your wipe board and keep it for your iPad or iPhone instead. The large barrel certainly makes it a comfortable stylus to hold and it’s light too which makes it ideally suited to the younger user. It works well for everything that you would want to use a stylus for although I found it especially suited to drawing, sketching and note taking. So, that’s our ultimate guide to stylus you can purchase for your iPad suited best for children. There are many scribbling, drawing apps in the App Store and now there’s a stylus just just for that.
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Growing up I would frequently send and receive greeting cards that used the poems and character of Purple Ronnie, a stick figure, funny guy who always brought a smile to my face, and in Fancy Pants for iPhone and iPad I was taken back to that time as the lead character in this game reminded me of him.
However, most of you will know Fancy Pants from the web version of the game that’s been around for a while now and the port over to iOS is a pretty accurate representation of the stick figured platformer although the opportunity to take advantage of the iOS unique control functions of a touch screen and accelerometer was one that should have been taken advantage of. Instead the controls are simply via 4 virtual buttons.
All that aside Fancy Pants {App Store} is still a lot of fun, it’s fast, smooth and addictive and has loads of content that will keep you coming back for more again and again.
The back story consists of the everyday story of rescuing your sister from a bunch of pirates who have kidnapped her, the story is fun, entertaining but following the story is not required and doesn’t take anything away from the game play.
After a brief tutorial you’ll soon find yourself running, leaping, climbing and crawling through large sprawling levels which are full of obstacles but also various challenges and things to collect. You don’t have to complete everything to move through the store mode, in fact having something to go back to the earlier levels to do is all part of the fun.
The artistic style of the whole game is one of simple line drawings but they spring to life as Fancy Pants charges through the 11 levels and multiple arcade challenges that you can unlock as you play through the levels. These arcade games can then be played separately and you can track your success across all of this via the Crystal social gaming network.
If you decide not to complete all of the side challenges then the game can be literally run through pretty quickly, the question is though, why would you!
Despite not taking advantage of any iOS unique control options the controls do work well and Fancy Pants moves around so fluidly that even when he’s not swimming under water it can seem like he is, and that’s no bad thing!
If you like platform games but want something that is a step up from the normal jump up, jump over, stomp, repeat, repeat then Fancy Pants is for you. Fancy Pants is only 99c at the moment and is a universal game so can be played on both your iPhone and iPad, however there is no iCloud support so you’ll need to complete the game on both separately.
[rating: 4/5]What to know:
Comic strips have never gone out of fashion and with today’s technology is easier than ever to create you own. If you have an iPhone, iPad or both then you can try your hand at creating your own by using the photo’s on your camera roll with the universal app Strip Designer.
The functionality on both the iPhone and the iPad are the same although the iPad obviously benefits from the additional real estate but the iPhone version can still produce great results.
The first task in building your strip is to select a template category which controls the style and the number/position of the pictures. If you want to get really granular you can even create your own and while this is a little more complex it’s unlikely that you’ll ever need to delve this deep as the pre-built templates provide a great range of options.
With your layout selected you can then start adding graphics that not only include pictures from your photo album, camera and Facebook but also maps and drawings the latter of which lets you get very artistic with a range of brushes, effects, layers and filters.
Not being that artistic though I focused on using pictures for my strips and adding those are just a couple of taps away and once you’ve added it you can pinch to zoom and rotate the picture to get your desired result.
With your pictures added this is where the fun begins as you begin to add your text that brings your strips to life. Just like the rest of Strip Designer there are a plethora of options to delve into and everything can be tweaked and changed as much and as little as you can like.
The depth of options, tweaks and functionality could put some users off as it may be too complex for them but it shouldn’t, you can get great results without delving in too deep but for those that want to go a little bit further.
With your strip created you can easily share it via email, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and more which makes it easy to get your work seen by potentially millions of people! Strip Designer also takes advantage of the iCloud which means that you can start work on one of your devices and carry on your work on your other device.
At just $2.99 Strip Designer is a great way to get started in comic strips for old and new a like.
What we like:
What to know:
Folder+ is a File Manager / Viewer / Editor for your iPad / iPhone. We have seen several apps that are built on the same premise but the features of Folder+ make it a refreshing addition to the market. It handled just about anything one would expect a file app such as this should and then some.
Folder+ ($4.99) is loaded with features which makes it stand out in a fairly saturated file handling market. The interface is very slick and keeps everything within your reach without having to go in and out of a ton of menus. This is clutch for someone who has to handle a lot of files on the go. The ability to zip and compress folders on the go is also very handy. I haven’t seen this in all of the file management apps but it is a welcome addition.
I also like how Folder+ allows you to long touch on files and folders and give you options of what you want to do. This limits the need to jump in and out of menus. The ability to use multi touch to quickly move between viewing and editing files is also very good if you’re willing to utilize it. Features such as these are what makes this app different from the rest.
The basics of file management apps are also present in this app. You have the ability to create Folders, Text files, Drawings, Audio files, Pictures or Video or upload from Library. This allows you to not only copy files to the device using the built in FTP but also create files right there on your device. Emailing of files and folders allows for sharing your files directly from your phone via email and FTP all from inside Folder+.
Overall I really like Folder+. It is a solid file management app for both iPhone and iPad. You may hesitate at the price of $4.99 as there are cheaper file management apps but few with the features of Folder+. I definitely feel like its worth it as I have both an iPhone and an iPad.
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[rating: 4.5/5]
Max and the Magic Marker is an extremely addictive game for the iPad that combines awesome graphics with a unique user interaction that sets it apart from most games. The story begins with Max getting a mysterious magic marker in the mail. Max’s first drawing with the marker is a monster. As soon as Max has finished his drawing the monster jumps off the page and into another drawing. This is the ah-ha moment for Max, who proceeds to draw himself on the page so that he can stop the monster. This is where you take over and the wildly addictive and creative gameplay kicks in.
The controls are my favorite part of this game. The game [] is played in landscape mode on your iPad. At the bottom left you have a left and right button that moves your character, Max, in those directions and a pause and jump button in the bottom right. Oh I almost forgot the best part, you use Max’s magical marker to draw freehand in the game and everything you draw becomes a real, interactive object. It is this control that really changes the entire game for me. Using this intuitive control system you help Max along his journey.
Max encounters many things along his journey that your magic marker skills must defeat. Max will face obstacles, enemies and puzzles along the way that will require some ingenuity with your pen. There will also be orbs that you must collect along the way to get a high score. Each level will have 3 types of orbs: golden orbs, orange orbs that give you ink for your marker and the elusive black orbs that are difficult to get to but are worth it. At the end of each level you receive a one to three star ranking based on your score on that particular level. The orbs play a large role in this but so does the amount of time it takes you to clear all obstacles, obtain all orbs and get to the end of the level. These things keep the game difficult and keep you striving to get three stars. The ultimate goal is to get to the monster that is trying to damage Max’s drawings.
The overall appearance of this game is excellent. From the drawing based opening screen of each level down to the details of each level. The interactive drawing shows up great and never causes a hitch in the game play. The game plays very smoothly, especially with multiple input methods by the player. The game is very cartoony but everything from the opening screen to the character Max looks great. The multiple different kinds of monsters are unique and pretty cool. The game sports 58 levels in three different environments which keeps the scenery fresh. The sounds go along great with the game and only further the great experience that this game provides. I can’t say enough about this game visually as it truly impressed me.
Overall I’d say that this game is worth every penny. It is unique in how it approaches its control system. The story is solid and makes for an entertaining play. The game is also great for all ages as I played through many of the levels and also had my niece play it and she loved it as well. The number of levels and unique controls make this game stand out. I highly recommend this game for anyone looking for a new game that provides one of a kind experience.
Pros
Cons
$4.99
Category: Games
Released: Mar 17, 2011
Version: 1.0.9
1.0.9
Size: 116 MB
Languages: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
Seller: Electronic Arts Inc.
© Max and the Magic Marker – Copyright Press Play 2011
Rated 9+ for the following:
Infrequent/Mild Cartoon or Fantasy Violence
Requirements: Compatible with iPad. Requires iOS 3.2 or later
Trailer
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We Doodle is an online multiplayer drawing and word-guessing game similar to Charadium for iPhone.
Join your friends drawing and guessing online in We Doodle. Enjoy turn-based play, which allows you and your friends to play at your own pace! Or play live games against players around the world!
We Doodle is a free game and is expected to be available worldwide very soon. Check back soon for a detailed review. If you have a Canadian app store account then head over to App Store to download the game for free and let us know what you think.
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