Adonit Debuts New ‘Pixel’ Stylus With Pressure Sensitivity, Shortcut Buttons and Palm Rejection

[MacRumors]

Adonit, known for its line of styluses, today announced the launch of the Pixel, a stylus it's calling its "most advanced stylus to date." The Pixel features a 1.9mm Pixelpoint tip that's been improved with predictive touch technology for better accuracy and responsiveness, and "paper-like drag" to mimic the feeling of writing on paper.

Combining features from the Jot Script and the Jot Touch, the Pixel features Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity with support for 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity, palm rejection in supported apps, offset correction, and dedicated shortcut buttons that can perform functions like undo, redo, and erase.

"A stylus should do more than just replace a user's fingertip when working with a tablet, but rather enhance the experience so users can create and work without boundaries," said Rafael Gomez, Marketing Manager for Adonit. "With the introduction of Pixel in particular, we wanted to make sure we addressed all our users' needs and incorporated them into a stylus that works with the entire modern line of iPads. Users will be able to take notes, draw, mark finite details, or simply maneuver through their iPad more precisely with Pixel. Whatever their needs may be, Pixel provides consumers with a high performing experience."

An SDK for the stylus can be used by developers to incorporate support into third-party apps, and a built in sensor feature turns the stylus on when it's picked up and off when it's inactive to conserve battery power. The Pixel, which Adonit says is designed to be ergonomic, is available with a Black or Bronze 10.5mm body.

The Adonit Pixel is compatible with the following devices: iPhone 4s, 5, 5c, 5s, 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, SE, iPad 4, iPad Mini, iPad Mini 2, iPad Mini 3, iPad Mini 4, iPad Air, iPad Air 2, iPad Pro 12.9.

Apple makes its own stylus, the Apple Pencil, but it is only compatible with the 9.7 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models. The Pixel cannot be used alongside an Apple Pencil due to the potential for interference and screen protectors are not recommended.

The Pixel stylus can be purchased from the Adonit website or from Amazon.com for $79.99.

Article Link: Adonit Debuts New 'Pixel' Stylus With Pressure Sensitivity, Shortcut Buttons and Palm Rejection

 

[Good User Name]

When the entire line-up is updated to eventually work with the Apple Pencil I wonder if the market for styluses on iOS will be ruined?

 

[emm386]

Yeah ok... But can it "mate" with and "be charged" by an iPad via the "lightning" port? I really like the looks of it... pictures...

 

[Sheza]

Three features that stand out:
- Paper-like drag
- Shortcut buttons
- Activation sensor

They address the only issues with the Apple Pencil. It remains to be seen how well this will perform, but remember its major drawback is that many features require developer support, while Apple Pencil has near-universal palm rejection, and a greater amount of specific support from developers.

EDIT: I have just seen that the device costs £89.99 in the UK. That is *MORE* than a direct dollar to pound swap, which in itself is more than a currency conversion + VAT. Insane. It also makes their product £10 more expensive than the Apple Pencil

 

[rudychidiac]

No eraser on the back, not interested.

 

[Commy1]

Neat, like the price and the buttons and that it works will all iPads. But I'm happy with the Pencil, bit late to the plate, if it had been announced closer to iPad Pro 9.7" launch they'd have made a killing and been sued by Apple all at once.

 

[arggg14]

Who wants a stylus!? Yuck!

All kidding aside, I can see how it's useful for someone drawing with an iPad Pro.

 

[now i see it]

A stylus would come in mighty handy even just using Pixelmator.
A finger is a totally unsuitable pointing device. You can't even see what you're doing cuz the gigantic finger is covering everything.

 

[bushido]

certainly looks better than Apples fisher price inspired pen

 

[Glassed Silver]

A stylus would come in mighty handy even just using Pixelmator.
A finger is a totally unsuitable pointing device. You can't even see what you're doing cuz the gigantic finger is covering everything.

This is even more true for the ever shrinking size of UI elements and loss of visual indicator (Apple calls them "decoration" in their HIG) in iOS.

Now I don't use my Jot Touch for navigating iOS itself, but boy oh boy, it sure helps me save tons of paper, because I just can't take proper class notes in uni using a keyboard.
I need to use handwriting for that. Corrections, jumping around in the text, quick doodles to get a complex thought down on paper before the professor already jumped to the next train of thought....

I love my Jot Touch.
I'll definitely try the Pixel out when given the chance, although the Jot Touch still is mighty fine.
No problems using a screen protector either over here, that's a requirement for me.
Paper-like drag would actually make me consider upgrading.

Glassed Silver:mac

 

[mixel]

It had better work better than their last pixelpoint stylus. >.< The Jot Touch 4 was much better than the JTw/Pixelpoint despite having a plastic disk on the end.

Nice to know other ipads are still getting interesting stylus options. Apple Pencil is likely to remain the best choice while it does stuff like tilt sensing and has such insanely good palm rejection.

http://www.macworld.com/article/307...apple-pencil-but-this-stylus-comes-close.html - I like the URL, haha

 

[Shirasaki]

Too expensive. And does not have an erasor.

 

[mixel]

Too expensive. And does not have an erasor.

People keep saying variations of this but I don't get it at all.. As a digital artist who primary uses pencil and ink when doing traditional art.. Why do people want an eraser on the back? It's actually a lot quicker to use the UI if its designed properly than spin the pen around as your secondary hand is by the controls while you're drawing with the primary one..

The side buttons are actually much more of a draw to me than an eraser ever would be - you could set one to switch to the eraser and you'd not have to spin the pen or move your hands.. If you wanted to. (On my Wacom pens I have a eye dropper button and a brush properties one on the side.)

I set the eraser on my Wacom pens to do silly stuff like Save File!

BTW I'm not saying anyone's wrong or my way is right or anything, just trying to understand why people seem to value an eraser so much. Artists don't use the eraser on the end of the pencil anyway but reach for a better, bigger one.. (Art pencils generally don't have erasers on!)

.. I think I just figured it out - note taking? I can see why the eraser could be a bit more useful then.

 

[Pakaku]

People keep saying variations of this but I don't get it at all.. As a digital artist who primary uses pencil and ink when doing traditional art.. Why do people want an eraser on the back? It's actually a lot quicker to use the UI if its designed properly than spin the pen around as your secondary hand is by the controls while you're drawing with the primary one..

The side buttons are actually much more of a draw to me than an eraser ever would be - you could set one to switch to the eraser and you'd not have to spin the pen or move your hands.. If you wanted to. (On my Wacom pens I have a eye dropper button and a brush properties one on the side.)

I set the eraser on my Wacom pens to do silly stuff like Save File!

BTW I'm not saying anyone's wrong or my way is right or anything, just trying to understand why people seem to value an eraser so much. Artists don't use the eraser on the end of the pencil anyway but reach for a better, bigger one.. (Art pencils generally don't have erasers on!)

.. I think I just figured it out - note taking? I can see why the eraser could be a bit more useful then.

Just having the choice would be nice, and you wouldn't be forced to use it if you prefer switching through the app UI.

 

[mixel]

Just having the choice would be nice, and you wouldn't be forced to use it if you prefer switching through the app UI.

Fair enough - but realistically where else is the stylus going to charge but at the tip? I guess they could make a cradle and smart connector type thing, this way is nice and convenient.

 

[Shirasaki]

People keep saying variations of this but I don't get it at all.. As a digital artist who primary uses pencil and ink when doing traditional art.. Why do people want an eraser on the back? It's actually a lot quicker to use the UI if its designed properly than spin the pen around as your secondary hand is by the controls while you're drawing with the primary one..

The side buttons are actually much more of a draw to me than an eraser ever would be - you could set one to switch to the eraser and you'd not have to spin the pen or move your hands.. If you wanted to. (On my Wacom pens I have a eye dropper button and a brush properties one on the side.)

I set the eraser on my Wacom pens to do silly stuff like Save File!

BTW I'm not saying anyone's wrong or my way is right or anything, just trying to understand why people seem to value an eraser so much. Artists don't use the eraser on the end of the pencil anyway but reach for a better, bigger one.. (Art pencils generally don't have erasers on!)

.. I think I just figured it out - note taking? I can see why the eraser could be a bit more useful then.

Well. I am not an artist. But I know artist pen or brush does not have an eraser on it. And it is impossible to erase certain types of strokes like oil stroke.

I say such stylus should have an eraser because not only artist would buy it. But if this one is, like Apple Pencil, specifically designed for artist and the target customer is artists, then that is also OK.

Unlike brush or conventional pencil, such thing is generally much more expensive. I still hold my desire to buy an iPad to support my study is simply because even I use pen and paper like crazy, the total 3 year consumption cost is still way lower than a top tier iPad Pro 12.9.

Of course, only my $0.02. No intention to debate with anyone. Just try to stay humble.

 

[2010mini]

no eraser?
[doublepost=1464133743][/doublepost]

People keep saying variations of this but I don't get it at all.. As a digital artist who primary uses pencil and ink when doing traditional art.. Why do people want an eraser on the back? It's actually a lot quicker to use the UI if its designed properly than spin the pen around as your secondary hand is by the controls while you're drawing with the primary one..

The side buttons are actually much more of a draw to me than an eraser ever would be - you could set one to switch to the eraser and you'd not have to spin the pen or move your hands.. If you wanted to. (On my Wacom pens I have a eye dropper button and a brush properties one on the side.)

I set the eraser on my Wacom pens to do silly stuff like Save File!

BTW I'm not saying anyone's wrong or my way is right or anything, just trying to understand why people seem to value an eraser so much. Artists don't use the eraser on the end of the pencil anyway but reach for a better, bigger one.. (Art pencils generally don't have erasers on!)

.. I think I just figured it out - note taking? I can see why the eraser could be a bit more useful then.

As an artist i want the "feel" of using a pencil.

 

[Pakaku]

Fair enough - but realistically where else is the stylus going to charge but at the tip? I guess they could make a cradle and smart connector type thing, this way is nice and convenient.

An eraser attachment that plugged onto a lightning port on the pen, which could be plugged into the ipad to charge the pen, would be really awesome.

 

[Onexy]

If this doesn't work with the iPad Pros built in technology it will suck. I've tried all the bluetooth styluses over the years. They all have terrible perspective, precision and response problems.

 

[Digital Skunk]

When the entire line-up is updated to eventually work with the Apple Pencil I wonder if the market for styluses on iOS will be ruined?

Same here.

I hope that Apple doesn't stop with just the iPads. The Adonit I have works with the iPad Mini and iPhone 6 Plus that I use, so if Apple brings the pencil to every iOS device then these companies will have to find new and compelling reasons for users to buy.

Reasons other than price that is.

 

[Renzatic]

When the entire line-up is updated to eventually work with the Apple Pencil I wonder if the market for styluses on iOS will be ruined?

Eventually. But right now, the vast majority of iPads out there are non-pro devices. There's still money to be made.

 

[satchmo]

If the MacWorld review is accurate, performance on anything lower than an iPad Air 2 is sluggish.

There are a lot of iPad Air,2,and 3,4 and iPad mini that could use a stylus but only if it's not slow and has latency issues.

 

[bensisko]

If the MacWorld review is accurate, performance on anything lower than an iPad Air 2 is sluggish.

There are a lot of iPad Air,2,and 3,4 and iPad mini that could use a stylus but only if it's not slow and has latency issues.

It's a HUGE problem. I picked one up and the parallax issues are still VERY annoying. It's pretty much on par with previous entries - this is no 'revolutionary' pen.

Performance is poor on both my Air and my Mini 4. I had high hopes but this thing falls flat.
[doublepost=1464316658][/doublepost]

If this doesn't work with the iPad Pros built in technology it will suck. I've tried all the bluetooth styluses over the years. They all have terrible perspective, precision and response problems.

This one is no different.