Wacom Announces $80 'Bamboo Sketch' Stylus for Drawing and Writing on iPhone and iPad

[MacRumors]

Wacom today announced the Bamboo Sketch, a new precision stylus for drawing and sketching on both iPad and iPhone devices through a Bluetooth connection. The company said that the stylus mimics a traditional pen-and-paper writing and drawing experience thanks to two customizable shortcut buttons and two interchangeable pen nibs, in both soft and firm.

The Bamboo Sketch can be used within apps like Bamboo Paper, ArtRage, Autodesk SketchBook, Concepts, and MediaBang Paint, and when it's in use the stylus boasts 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity.

"Visual thinkers who use an iPad or iPhone for their notes and sketches require a pen that offers precision and individualization," said Mike Gay, Senior Vice President of the Wacom Consumer Business Unit. "Bamboo Sketch offers an advanced writing and drawing experience for those whose first instinct is to reach for a pen and paper as soon as inspiration strikes."

To charge the stylus, users will be able to connect the magnetic charging port on the pen to a USB dongle accessory, which can be plugged into any traditional USB 3.0 port. The company said that the Bamboo Sketch stylus can last for up to 15 hours on one charge.

The stylus comes with a carrying case that holds the Bamboo Sketch, two pen nibs, and the USB charger. Wacom said that the Bamboo Sketch will launch online and in select retailers at a price point of $79.95 beginning in June.

Article Link: Wacom Announces $80 'Bamboo Sketch' Stylus for Drawing and Writing on iPhone and iPad

 

[Master-D]

Interesting. Wonder how it compares to the pencil

 

[MadeByApple]

Interesting. Wonder how it compares to the pencil

These solutions are crap. I've been fooled once by bamboo. Never again.

 

[Bbqthis]

When will companies stop wasting R&D money on these products? They will never be able to compete with the Pencil. I wish they could, but the last 7 years have shown otherwise.

 

[Master-D]

These solutions are crap. I've been fooled once by bamboo. Never again.

Maybe. Perhaps they are taking this sector more seriously with the iPad taking sales from their Cintiq line?
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When will companies stop wasting R&D money on these products? They will never be able to compete with the Pencil. I wish they could, but the last 7 years have shown otherwise.

The Apple Pencil has not even been out for 2 years, let alone 7! I agree it's a great device, but it could be improved, customisable buttons being an obvious one

 

[rudychidiac]

No Procreate support, useless to me

 

[Bbqthis]

Maybe. Perhaps they are taking this sector more seriously with the iPad taking sales from their Cintiq line?
[doublepost=1496244733][/doublepost]

The Apple Pencil has not even been out for 2 years, let alone 7! I agree it's a great device, but it could be improved, customisable buttons being an obvious one

The iPad has been around for 7 years and there have been strange styluses since day 1. I actually like that there are no buttons. I would always hit them accidentally when using Cintiqs.

 

[coolfactor]

So the stylus does not charge when in the case? That seems like a missed opportunity.

 

[satchmo]

Only advantage I see is that this will work with non-Pro iPads.

Otherwise, if you own an iPad Pro, get the Apple Pencil.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

Only advantage I see is that this will work with non-Pro iPads.

Otherwise, if you own an iPad Pro, get the Apple Pencil.

I don't have an iPad Pro, but based on experience, I would rather spend the $$$ on an iPad Pro than getting cheap headaches for trying to cut corners.

Also, the supported apps are mainly toy apps. I don't see support for Procreate or Sketchbook

 

[mollyc]

These solutions are crap. I've been fooled once by bamboo. Never again.

Really? I've had a Bamboo Fun for my Mac for 8?? years now. A long time. Still works perfectly. Or do you just mean for iPad type devices?

 

[ginkobiloba]

The competitor to this is the Adonit Pixel. Would be interesting to see a comparison of both ( on a regular iPad of course, otherwise just get Apple's pencil on the Pro )

 

[bensisko]

I agree with the sentiment that this will never be a good solution and I can sum it up in one word - parallax. Even if they can eliminate the lag (which I doubt) you still have the parallax issue. When I'm drawing, precision is key - I need to know that when I place the stylus on the screen, it's going to make a mark where I expect it to and not a quarter of an inch away.

For writing it's still annoying but you can get away with more inaccuracy (personally), but for art this is a HUGE problem with products of this type.

 

[macduke]

These solutions are crap. I've been fooled once by bamboo. Never again.

I was fooled by Adonit and their Adobe Ink bullcrap. It was around $200. They kept saying software updates would fix things but they never did, and then I was outside the return window. I got screwed over so hard. It draws wavy lines and, at least for the first year after launch (when I actually paid attention and cared), didn't have great app support. I'm waiting for the new iPad Pro and I'm buying the Apple Pencil right away. First party solutions will always win out because they designed the hardware to work together.
[doublepost=1496250398][/doublepost]

Maybe. Perhaps they are taking this sector more seriously with the iPad taking sales from their Cintiq line?

If the new iPad Pro or iOS 11 update adds Mac drawing tablet functionality, as rumored, it will eat their lunch when it comes to their smaller tablets. Who in their right mind would spend $1000 on a 13" tablet that is only 1080p with a lower quality, non true-tone display when they could just buy an iPad Pro and have a drawing tablet with a high end tablet basically as a freebie? They still might do well at the larger display sizes, but I'd have to imagine that the smaller, cheaper ones are their bread and butter.

 

[Carlanga]

When will companies stop wasting R&D money on these products? They will never be able to compete with the Pencil. I wish they could, but the last 7 years have shown otherwise.

not at $80, but make it for $29.99 and these would fly off the shelves.

 

[Solomani]

When will companies stop wasting R&D money on these products? They will never be able to compete with the Pencil. I wish they could, but the last 7 years have shown otherwise.

Pencil should eventually be made to support the iPhones, especially the iPhone Plus (which many have opted for in place of a tablet/iPad).

In fact, if Apple wants to see a resurgence in iPad sales, it should also encompass support for all iPads, not just the Pro.

 

[ShufromChina]

Pencil should eventually be made to support the iPhones, especially the iPhone Plus (which many have opted for in place of a tablet/iPad).

In fact, if Apple wants to see a resurgence in iPad sales, it should also encompass support for all iPads, not just the Pro.

That could happen only for future iPads, because the support for Apple Pencil comes from the screen, and the screens for all current non-pro iPads are pretty much set.

 

[Solomani]

That could happen only for future iPads, because the support for Apple Pencil comes from the screen, and the screens for all current non-pro iPads are pretty much set.

Yes, I understand that. I should have been more clear that I was implying (Pencil compatibility) with all future iPads… if Apple ever wants to see a resurgence in iPad sales again. Everyone knows the tablet market has been declining lately.

 

[guzhogi]

I just checked the Wacom website. There's no mention of the Creative Stylus anymore. So I take it that the Bamboo is a replacement for the Creative?

 

[44267547]

I think this interesting that Wacom made this announcement for this stylus today, When rumors have been indicating a refresh of the Apple Pencil 2 has been in the limelight for a while. And all before WWDC next week.

 

[satchmo]

Yes, I understand that. I should have been more clear that I was implying (Pencil compatibility) with all future iPads… if Apple ever wants to see a resurgence in iPad sales again. Everyone knows the tablet market has been declining lately.

And as I've chimed in the past, adding a bundled Pencil/iPad Pro package could spur additional sales.

Understanding it won't be a huge discount (this is Apple after all), but even a $25 savings won't hurt Apple's margins. It will make the Pencil an automatic buy vs maybe later.

And it will grow stylus adoption from both developers and users.

 

[RedTomato]

And as I've chimed in the past, adding a bundled Pencil/iPad Pro package could spur additional sales.

Understanding it won't be a huge discount (this is Apple after all), but even a $25 savings won't hurt Apple's margins. It will make the Pencil an automatic buy vs maybe later.

And it will grow stylus adoption from both developers and users.

Apple would be raking it in if they included the Pencil with each iPad, just from selling replacement Pencils to people who have lost theirs.

I always thought that was their plan from the get go, considering the lack of onboard Pencil storage.

 

[Solomani]

And as I've chimed in the past, adding a bundled Pencil/iPad Pro package could spur additional sales.

Understanding it won't be a huge discount (this is Apple after all), but even a $25 savings won't hurt Apple's margins. It will make the Pencil an automatic buy vs maybe later.

And it will grow stylus adoption from both developers and users.

As an AAPL stock shareholder, I absolutely agree with this. I would like to see Apple "surrender" some profit margins from time to time if it will result in a surge in sales as well as customers who feel they are getting more value for their purchased Apple products. In the end, "big fat profitable margins" don't matter if (relatively) few people are rushing to buy the products.

 

[bensisko]

As much as I love both the Pencil and the iPad Pro, I don't see a "surge" in sales with a bundled Pencil. At best, it may have convinced some to get the Pro over the Air 2. A slight uptick maybe.

 

[Pakaku]

In fact, if Apple wants to see a resurgence in iPad sales, it should also encompass support for all iPads, not just the Pro.

Then why would anyone ever spend extra on a Pro? For the kind of stuff the pencil is expected to be used for, I don't see the Pro having that much of an advantage over a non-pro.