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There have been several suggestions (you can do the research yourself), but it's not our job to design Apple's stuff for them. The whole "ya well lets see u do better" argument is tragic, frankly.

There haven't been. If you have or have read of some better idea, post it here. Otherwise you are just up to your usual.
 
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Mudslinging aside, I think there's definitely room for improvement for the Apple Pencil.

If Apple didn't implement it, more often than not they decided it wasn't the right time. Whether that decision is correct is another matter, but point being, I'm pretty sure an improved Pencil with better charging mechanics, battery life and ergonomics will be available at some point in the future.

(and just so to pre-empt others, yes this must surely be a plot by Tim Cook's Apple to milk more money and pay less taxes blah blah blah)
 
There have been several suggestions (you can do the research yourself), but it's not our job to design Apple's stuff for them. The whole "ya well lets see u do better" argument is tragic, frankly.

Most suggestions don't realize the internals of the two pencils are vastly different.
 
As zhenya says, Apple did include a charging adapter. Anyone who buys a Pencil would also have an iPad, and a charger cord and brick comes with the iPad.

Yes, but anyone who draws like me or uses the Ipad and Apple Pencil simultaneously, knows they bother drain battery about the same. So I can't charge both the Ipad Pro and the AP at the same time with only one charging cord and brick, can I? So I needed to get another one. Like I said, it was worth it for me. I usually charge both overnight, since I usually am drawing at night on the Ipad Pro.
 
Yes, but anyone who draws like me or uses the Ipad and Apple Pencil simultaneously, knows they bother drain battery about the same. So I can't charge both the Ipad Pro and the AP at the same time with only one charging cord and brick, can I? So I needed to get another one. Like I said, it was worth it for me. I usually charge both overnight, since I usually am drawing at night on the Ipad Pro.

So people like you who need to charge both at the same time go and get another set of adapter and cable. People who don't use the Pencil so extensively don't end up with an extra set destined to sit around being wasted. Makes sense to me.
 
There haven't been.
Yes there have. I'm not going to google stuff for you.

If you have or have read of some better idea, post it here.
Back to the "let's see u do better" argument. It's still not our job to design Apple's stuff for them. A wireless charging solution or a swivelling charger would be a much better idea. Beyond that, Apple needs to do their homework and come up with a better design, and you need to stop apologizing for horrid design.

Otherwise you are just up to your usual.
Please refrain from personal attacks. These snide comments (along with Rudy's hilariously inaccurate comment about my personal finances) don't add anything to the discussion and will just get you added to ignore lists.
 
Yes there have. I'm not going to google stuff for you.


Back to the "let's see u do better" argument. It's still not our job to design Apple's stuff for them. A wireless charging solution or a swivelling charger would be a much better idea. Beyond that, Apple needs to do their homework and come up with a better design, and you need to stop apologizing for horrid design.


Please refrain from personal attacks. These snide comments (along with Rudy's hilariously inaccurate comment about my personal finances) don't add anything to the discussion and will just get you added to ignore lists.

It's easy to be a critic. Wireless charging is dog slow and a swivel design wouldn't improve anything while adding additional failure points. Keep thinking.
 
I don't mind the lack of eraser either personally, but the pencil charging mechanism could stand to be improved. saying *any* other design would require more parts is a little bold. How's this one: make it magnetically clip to the smart connector to charge and transport just like the keyboard that manages to do it and was released at the exact same time. ;)
So what happens if I use a case with my iPad Pro which blocks the smart connector (as pretty much any case with a folding cover will)?

This means the Apple Pencil needs to sport a smart connector of its own, potentially marring its otherwise smooth surface.

The smart connector also appears to power devices more slowly than the Lightning port, so you are sacrificing charging speed there and then.

It looks like a way worse solution however I look at it, and chances are, Apple thought of it and came to the same conclusion as well.
 
It's easy to be a critic. Wireless charging is dog slow and a swivel design wouldn't improve anything while adding additional failure points. Keep thinking.
Show me your sources for these counter-arguments. :)

The current charging mechanism is a major failure point as is, unless you're using it on a completely flat surface. Keep thinking indeed.

And it should be easy to be a critic. That's what forums are for.
 
So what happens if I use a case with my iPad Pro which blocks the smart connector (as pretty much any case with a folding cover will)?

This means the Apple Pencil needs to sport a smart connector of its own, potentially marring its otherwise smooth surface.

The smart connector also appears to power devices more slowly than the Lightning port, so you are sacrificing charging speed there and then.

It looks like a way worse solution however I look at it, and chances are, Apple thought of it and came to the same conclusion as well.

I would fully expect they'd happily design and sell custom cases for those that wanted it. ;) I think all the technical issues could be overcome, but I'm sure we could debate forever. I just think it's a little much to say "this is the only good solution and anything else is bad."
 
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I would fully expect they'd happily design and sell custom cases for those that wanted it. ;) I think all the technical issues could be overcome, but I'm sure we could debate forever. I just think it's a little much to say "this is the only good solution and anything else is bad."
I think it's more that for all the criticism, people haven't shown a better charging alternative.

Let's begin with the end in mind. As stated above, the conditions were likely that the Apple Pencil had to be readily rechargeable regardless of where you were and without the need for additional accessories. The Lightning port fits all the points. To me, it's simple, obvious and elegant and why knock it when it clearly works?
 
I LOVE the Apple Pencil and I have to say it works fantastic!

However...
  • I don't get 12 hours on a single charge, I get about 4-5 tops.
  • Personally, I would love to see an eraser.
  • I don't mind the current charging method, but I'd rather have the AAAA battery (like the Surface Pen - I finally changed the battery about a year and a half after buying the SP4 with heavy use).
  • Constantly charging the Pencil does become annoying.
For me, there could be improvements, but it's not a deterrent if the changes aren't made.
 
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I LOVE the Apple Pencil and I have to say it works fantastic!

However...
  • I don't get 12 hours on a single charge, I get about 4-5 tops.
  • Personally, I would love to see an eraser.
  • I don't mind the current charging method, but I'd rather have the AAAA battery (like the Surface Pen - I finally changed the battery about a year and a half after buying the SP4 with heavy use).
  • Constantly charging the Pencil does become annoying.
For me, there could be improvements, but it's not a deterrent if the changes aren't made.

The AAAA in your Surface Pen lasts so long in large part because of the lower power consumption of their design as compared to the Apple Pencil which has many more internal sensors. A AAAA might last longer than the rechargeable battery they used, but I'd still expect you'd be changing the battery every few weeks or so.
 
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Doesn't mean they're going to gimp functionality to match an art pencil. They're selling a tech product - it wouldn't make sense for them to provide exactly the same physical limitations for no apparent reason. They're going to make it feel familiar, but they shouldn't make it exactly match the limitations of a traditional pencil. What would be the point then?

Oh it was definitely on purpose. That's a pretty bad argument.
But they did gimp functionality to match an art pencil.
The point would probably be. It is their product, they make it how they want it to be and people have the choice to buy it or not.
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The amount of apologizing for Apple's bad decisions and general brand loyalty on these forums is quite astounding sometimes. Guess I forgot I was on macrumors after all.

b-b-but you're not using it right

Same people that defended the antenna of the iPhone 4, the scratching of the iPhone 5, the bending of the iPhone 6, and the dust problems of the iPhone 6s. Now having a pencil that literally sticks out the side is being hailed as good design. You really can't win with these people.
I don't believe many people are going to continue to bad products that they can't stand using or they believe is a bad design. So this forum, almost completely Apple product based, it isn't surprising that a majority of the people that buy those products and are also on these forums like what they bought.

On the other hand, it seems you may just need to find a different product for your needs rather than pointing the finger at a company because they aren't producing products in the way that you want them to do it.

And then just to take up for whatever company makes things, most of the time if something breaks, people broke it and the product, whoever it is made by and whereever it is from and however it looks isn't the problem. The owner or user is the problem.
Most of the time.
 
But they did gimp functionality to match an art pencil.
The point would probably be. It is their product, they make it how they want it to be and people have the choice to buy it or not.
[doublepost=1473180477][/doublepost]
I don't believe many people are going to continue to bad products that they can't stand using or they believe is a bad design. So this forum, almost completely Apple product based, it isn't surprising that a majority of the people that buy those products and are also on these forums like what they bought.

On the other hand, it seems you may just need to find a different product for your needs rather than pointing the finger at a company because they aren't producing products in the way that you want them to do it.

And then just to take up for whatever company makes things, most of the time if something breaks, people broke it and the product, whoever it is made by and whereever it is from and however it looks isn't the problem. The owner or user is the problem.
Most of the time.
That's a very bad way of looking at this. Just because you purchase a product doesn't mean you completely forfeit your right to have any kind of opinion on it. If that were the case, we wouldn't have had the luxury of a flush headphone jack, we wouldn't have larger screens, we wouldn't have all the various iOS functionality that was borne by jailbreak tweaks, and we most definitely wouldn't have the App Store, which are all things that exist because of consumer demand, mostly by people who already own the product and would just like to see a better job being done with it.

I never said I "can't stand using" Apple Pencil, so that attempt at a strawman went nowhere. I voted with my wallet that the iPad is the best product for me to accomplish what I want. I could have bought a Surface 3 for less money than this iPad, but I believe the iPad and the Pencil to be superior to the offerings of the Surface 3. It does not mean that I will now just shut up, accept things as they are, and hail corporate for the rest of my device ownership. Forums exist for a reason, and a huge part of that reason is to point out flaws in the products and hope to generate enough pressure to make the companies work a little harder and think of a better solution.
 
That's a very bad way of looking at this. Just because you purchase a product doesn't mean you completely forfeit your right to have any kind of opinion on it. If that were the case, we wouldn't have had the luxury of a flush headphone jack, we wouldn't have larger screens, we wouldn't have all the various iOS functionality that was borne by jailbreak tweaks, and we most definitely wouldn't have the App Store, which are all things that exist because of consumer demand, mostly by people who already own the product and would just like to see a better job being done with it.

I never said I "can't stand using" Apple Pencil, so that attempt at a strawman went nowhere. I voted with my wallet that the iPad is the best product for me to accomplish what I want. I could have bought a Surface 3 for less money than this iPad, but I believe the iPad and the Pencil to be superior to the offerings of the Surface 3. It does not mean that I will now just shut up, accept things as they are, and hail corporate for the rest of my device ownership. Forums exist for a reason, and a huge part of that reason is to point out flaws in the products and hope to generate enough pressure to make the companies work a little harder and think of a better solution.

When I say people I am generalizing.
Also you don't have to leave your opinion at the door.
And it is my way of looking at it, regardless of your perception. Sure you can have an opinion on something but when a product is producing more negative feeling towards it. It may be time to look elsewhere. Again generalizing and many times when I say 'you' or 'people' (not you people) it is a generalization.

I dont want you to be quiet, keep that passion up, whatever it is about.
I have the choice to not read your comments or to read them.

With the design of the product, a flaw to you and me isn't a flaw to everyone so a company, whoever it is) has to choose to make the best product they can think of at that particular moment to appease as many people as possible at that given moment to continue making as much profit as possible to continue research to make something newer and better, at a later date.

I'll guess 2017 as an Apple Pencil 2 release.
 
And it is my way of looking at it, regardless of your perception. Sure you can have an opinion on something but when a product is producing more negative feeling towards it. It may be time to look elsewhere. Again generalizing and many times when I say 'you' or 'people' (not you people) it is a generalization.
People are generally more likely to log in and post about something if it's negative. That's just the nature of it. Most of the time, if my phone's working properly, then I stay happy and I keep purchasing the new products from that company. But if something sucks about it, that's usually when I'll log in and post my opinion about the problem I encountered.

That being said, there are obviously many great things about the Pencil, and they easily outweigh the negatives. I definitely could live with the current charging mechanism, but I'd like to see it improved.

With the design of the product, a flaw to you and me isn't a flaw to everyone so a company, whoever it is) has to choose to make the best product they can think of at that particular moment to appease as many people as possible at that given moment to continue making as much profit as possible to continue research to make something newer and better, at a later date.

I'll guess 2017 as an Apple Pencil 2 release.
So...what's the argument again? I kind of forgot :p

Even if they release a Pencil 2 with a better charger, I don't think I care enough about this charger issue to spend another 130 dollars to 'fix' it :/
 
The AAAA in your Surface Pen lasts so long in large part because of the lower power consumption of their design as compared to the Apple Pencil which has many more internal sensors. A AAAA might last longer than the rechargeable battery they used, but I'd still expect you'd be changing the battery every few weeks or so.

If it was half as efficient as the Surface Pen, it would still be better (especially if we got an eraser). Just my opinion though - I have to charge the pencil far too often and it does get annoying.
 
Art pencils don't have erasers.
Would an eraser on an art pencil be shunned by artists, or would they simply be ignored?

(the pencils, not the artists)
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Show me your sources for these counter-arguments. :)

The current charging mechanism is a major failure point as is, unless you're using it on a completely flat surface. Keep thinking indeed.

And it should be easy to be a critic. That's what forums are for.
I've been watching the back and forth, and when I saw the 'Turn the iPad Pro into a hatchet with the Apple Pencil," I thought (I'm an engineer), "What the heck is this? Do they want to have a bunch of warranty claims on the iPad/Pencil?"

Then I saw the coupler...
apple-pencil-charging-adapter.png

Now it makes sense... Coupler for overnight, and iPad hatchet for quick charges.

One more thing to lose, and I'll probably turn my iPhone 7 lightning cable into the Pencil only cord by taping the lightning cord to the coupler. I guess, along with an eraser, a way to use a lightning cord without the coupler needs to be implemented, and the quick and easy iPad hatchet charging.
 
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Would an eraser on an art pencil be shunned by artists, or would they simply be ignored?

(the pencils, not the artists)
[doublepost=1473208796][/doublepost]
I've been watching the back and forth, and when I saw the 'Turn the iPad Pro into a hatchet with the Apple Pencil," I thought (I'm an engineer), "What the heck is this? Do they want to have a bunch of warranty claims on the iPad/Pencil?"

Then I saw the coupler...
apple-pencil-charging-adapter.png

Now it makes sense... Coupler for overnight, and iPad hatchet for quick charges.

One more thing to lose, and I'll probably turn my iPhone 7 lightning cable into the Pencil only cord by taping the lightning cord to the coupler. I guess, along with an eraser, a way to use a lightning cord without the coupler needs to be implemented, and the quick and easy iPad hatchet charging.

Not sure, I was simply trying to explain why the pencil was designed the way it was (shape, size, no eraser). I imagine some would use it and some wouldn't.
 
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Not sure, I was simply trying to explain why the pencil was designed the way it was (shape, size, no eraser). I imagine some would use it and some wouldn't.
Yeah, and eraser with the lightning connector there would be a bad thing, especially when we have the howling class out there. Someone damages something with the cap off, and there we go...
 
Would an eraser on an art pencil be shunned by artists, or would they simply be ignored?

Practically speaking, an artist would want to use high quality erasers that, because of physical properties, such as being soft, don't fit well on the end of a pencil. So no serious art pencil maker would make a pencil with a low quality eraser that would be both shunned and ignored. Actually, even for just writing, my Mom bought me these high quality writing pencils that had no eraser at the end, and separate good quality erasers. I can tell you I could erase a lot faster and cleaner than my friends with their tiny cheap erasers at the ends of their pencils.

This is to say, the reasons why artists pencils don't have erasers on the end have no relevance to the digital realm, where the physical properties of the erasing material isn't a concern. So I don't agree with the view that Apple didn't include an eraser at the end because artists pencils don't have them -- that's a stupid reason for not having an eraser. There could have been a lot of other factors that led to this decision, but just aping the artist pencil would be a stupid way to design a digital instrument.
 
If it was half as efficient as the Surface Pen, it would still be better (especially if we got an eraser). Just my opinion though - I have to charge the pencil far too often and it does get annoying.

I agree that it requires a lot of charging, especially if you carry it around in a bag all day where it never gets to go to sleep for very long. Still, the performance is so much better than my Surface that I'll gladly put up with it.

Magnetically attach the side of the iPad and charge by either smart connector or inductive.

Addressed earlier. Inductive charging is extremely slow. The value of the lighting charging is that you can get a significant amount of use from a very short charge. It may be awkward, but you don't need to do it for more than a few minutes at a time, generally. It's a convenience for when you are actively using the device.
 
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