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The Game 161

macrumors Nehalem
Original poster
Dec 15, 2010
31,223
20,461
UK
How many bought the pencil too? I’m loving mine so much easier from the old when from a connecting point of view.

Easier in the hand too as first Gen felt was more slippy.
 
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I’m actually using my new iPad Pro 12.9 to write this message! Ive been trying to do all of my school work with it by using the pencil and notability. From that perspective using the pencil has been interesting. I’m still waiting for the moment that I go “ Where has this been all my life.” But so far I’m just getting over the learning curve of using the pencil. I want to love it!!!!!!!
 
The Pencil remains one of my favorite pieces of Apple gear ever. I love how it snaps to charge now. And the tapping gesture is a big time saver in Procreate.

I wish it were thicker and heavier though. I know that's sacrilegious to say in the Apple world but it slips around in my hand too much when I have to use my fingers to interact with menus. And I can't use a nice silicone grip this time around to give it more size and weight.

Overall, it's nicely improved. Personally, I'd prefer it to feel heavier and more solid in hand.
 
I’m actually using my new iPad Pro 12.9 to write this message! Ive been trying to do all of my school work with it by using the pencil and notability. From that perspective using the pencil has been interesting. I’m still waiting for the moment that I go “ Where has this been all my life.” But so far I’m just getting over the learning curve of using the pencil. I want to love it!!!!!!!
How are you using it for this message? Are you tapping the keys?
 
Gruber was right. This is one of the best 2.0 products that Apple has ever made. In use it's not very different than the old one, but they fixed so many gripes with it in so many areas: improved grip with matte texture, better finger placement on the flat edge, roll prevention on flat edge, side attachment using strong magnets that always keeps it ready to use with full charge, wireless charging that can't be damaged by plugging it into bottom while retaining fast charge, no cap to lose, improved feel and pull on the glass, it's a little more compact, shows the charge level when plugging it in, and allowing a customizable gesture. Adding a triple tap gesture would be nice, which they could do in software. Only thing I can think of for future hardware is making the outside touch sensitive near the bottom so that you could combine tap gestures with slide gestures to do different things such as adjusting the width of the brush or the opacity level. The magnets are also quite good but they could probably be improved slightly as they hold very strong in the middle but less so near the edges which means lever action pops them off easier than if they were attached better at the ends. Still quite impressive and I would be very surprised if this thing gets another redesign for at least five or six years. Good time to buy.
 
I loved the original Apple Pencil. At the time I said something along the lines of it being the best product Apple had made in years - I still think it is.

So, needless to say, I’m loving the V2.
It’s basically the same experience. But I do like that we have the double tap gesture now - very handy.

And I don’t think I’ll tire of it magnetically attaching to the iPad. I just love that.

Plus, when I’m at my desk and I don’t want the Pencil attached to the iPad for whatever reason. I no longer need a stand. I just pop the Pencil onto the case of my CO2 laser, which sits next to me :D
(And obviously it’s got a steel case.)
 
I’m thinking of getting the pencil myself. Do you think its a good way to start learning how to draw or do basic calligraphy? Or should i just stick with a real pencil and paper? I’m pretty sure there are apps that teaches you basic drawing and calligraphy using tracing or whatever.
 
I’m thinking of getting the pencil myself. Do you think its a good way to start learning how to draw or do basic calligraphy? Or should i just stick with a real pencil and paper? I’m pretty sure there are apps that teaches you basic drawing and calligraphy using tracing or whatever.

If you think you’ll get good use of it beyond just drawing and money isn’t an issue. Then sure, it’s good for it.

There’s actually quite a few apps available that will help you in your quest to learn the techniques.

But, I wouldn’t recommend it for that purpose and that purpose only - it’s a lot of money for something you might not fully utilise. There’s nothing wrong with good old pen/pencil and paper. Indeed the old fashioned way could be better at teaching you the art of pressure, for instance, more than drawing on glass.

Oh, on that subject. I recommend a matte screen protector - it gives a more natural feel to using the Pencil.
 
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The new pencil is quite nice. I do feel stupid paying almost $140 with tax for a pencil but it is what it is and for what it is I think it’s up their with AirPods for Apples best invention in the past several years
 
I wish it were thicker and heavier though. I know that's sacrilegious to say in the Apple world but it slips around in my hand too much when I have to use my fingers to interact with menus. And I can't use a nice silicone grip this time around to give it more size and weight.

There's a simple, albeit inelegant, fix for this. Just take one of your silicone grips and slit it down the side. Wrap it on your Pencil when using it; stow it away when charging.
 
Ya know, Surface has this. But this Pencil actually charges when it's docked....amazing. MS must be collectively blushing.

I don't know, seems like it's way advanced to me. I hated the previous Pencil's charging setup. Was a huge PITA for casual use; and that's the key term, there was nothing casual about it.

I mean, sticking that thing in there like that, fearing it would snap like a twig. We all knew it was a sad hack. Now they've got it.
 
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I love the new pencil - they have done a great job.. Such a shame they didn’t improve the keyboard as well ! I want it to be backlit ! Especially for the money !
 
There's a simple, albeit inelegant, fix for this. Just take one of your silicone grips and slit it down the side. Wrap it on your Pencil when using it; stow it away when charging.[/QUOTE
Some very interesting use cases that will be possible - especially after seeing this developer demonstrate the pencil for cutting, copying and pasting text:

https://twitter.com/johnsundell/status/1060893608755298306
would love to see current capability use cases besides drawing.
 
Is it a bug or is the new pencil not suppose to resize a split view, or swipe a slide-over window/app to the right? It functions with everything else but those things I cannot use my new pencil for. Or to swipe up from the bottom to go to the home screen. Those things I have to use my finger for.

Can’t remember if that was the same with the old Apple Pencil and iPad Pros.
 
Is it a bug or is the new pencil not suppose to resize a split view, or swipe a slide-over window/app to the right? It functions with everything else but those things I cannot use my new pencil for. Or to swipe up from the bottom to go to the home screen. Those things I have to use my finger for.

Can’t remember if that was the same with the old Apple Pencil and iPad Pros.
same with old pencil
 
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What are the best free colouring book apps? Most I can find has limited features unless you do an in app purchase.
 
When I first got the pencil 2, if I want to charge it I do what everyone does, pick it up and snap it to the magnetic side of the iPad. Then, I realized, I don’t need to pick up the pencil. If I’m holding the iPad and the pencil is on a table or some other surface, I just move the iPad (magnet side) towards the pencil. Once it’s close enough, the pencil immediately snaps to the iPad and starts charging. No adjustment needed. Even when the flat side of the pencil is down, the magnetic attraction is so strong the pencil will rotate until its flat side comes in contact with the magnet side of the iPad. That entertained me for a bit.
 
I’m loving the new pencils. I haven’t had an iPad Pro in over 2 years so i forgot how nice it is. The flat side and matte covering makes it much nicer to hold. Only thin I wish for improvement was that it has magnets on the two opposite ends instead of one in the middle... when carrying my iPad around my pencils easily spins around.
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What are the best free colouring book apps? Most I can find has limited features unless you do an in app purchase.
I’ve been using Lake. Pretty solid so far, only used it for about 30 mins or so.
 
The Pencil remains one of my favorite pieces of Apple gear ever. I love how it snaps to charge now. And the tapping gesture is a big time saver in Procreate.
What feature do you use for double-tap with Procreate Kate?
I take it it is easy to choose and setup?

Still waiting for my Pro and Pencil so obviously have no idea at the mo.
 
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