Weird supply chain rumors or no, a new Apple Pencil would be welcome.
Updated June 7, 2017: The iPad Pro came and went and no new Apple Pencil, but the rumors continue.
Who cares about iPad rumors! Let's talk about my favorite accessory: The Apple Pencil. Czech site letem svetem applem (or, in English, Apple Round the World) claims that new Apple Pencil components are in Apple's Chinese supply chain. Spoilers!!!
Except, no: I don't feel all that spoiled. Because of course Apple is going to refine the Pencil for 2017.
The Apple Pencil is one of my favorite accessories that Apple has ever made, and it's practically a requirement if you own an iPad Pro. But it's not without flaws: I've added my own pen clip to the Pencil's body and, until I picked up the 9.7-inch Logitech Create case with carrying loop, used Waterfield's Atelier Gear Case to keep my Pencil from disappearing into my bag.
These are legitimate and widespread complaints, and it makes complete sense to me that Apple would attempt to address them in an update. Whether that results in a physical clip option for the Pencil or adding extra magnets to allow it to snap onto the iPad case will depend, of course, on what Apple feels would work best.
In fairness, the company has already given the original Apple Pencil new life alongside the release of 2017's iPad Pro line, with new carrying case options and a faster draw time thanks to Apple's ProMotion refresh technology. A 21ms improvement in latency is nothing to sneeze at, but there are still other things that could be improved in the Pencil.
New Pencil tips
The default Pencil nib is pretty great for sketching, but it's still slipperier than I'd like for some drawing. A nib option with better friction would be a welcome addition to the Pencil lineup, but what I'd really love is nibs with different shapes and sizes — thicker rounder nibs for blotting, calligraphy-style nibs to truly practice penmanship, and other options for interacting with the screen. Obviously these nibs wouldn't change the size of the digital brush, but they'd help with the physical "feel" of using these tools.
Keep the charging port — but maybe make the cap smarter
I know, I know: People used to Wacom tablets miss having an eraser on the end of their Pencil. I feel for them, but I'm not giving up my ability to charge the Pencil at any time just to have an eraser. Instead, maybe there's a way to make that tiny little cap end a bit smarter — perhaps adding on a capacitive nib, for instance?
Or, heck, maybe we ditch Lightning charging altogehter and have the Pencil snap into the Smart Connector — which also, hey, could be designed to hold it in place.
Take a page from Astropad's multitouch gestures
If an eraser's out of the cards, however, there's another way: Apple could take a cue from Astropad Studio's brilliant new Magic Gestures and create multitouch interactions when the Pencil is present to switch tools or bring up shortcuts. This may also address the vocal minority out there who wants function buttons on the Pencil's body (no thank you).
Offer some customization
I want a rose gold Pencil to match my rose gold iPad. That's all.
What do you want to see from a new Apple Pencil?
Let me know in the comments.
Reader comments
Apple Pencil 2 rumors: Everything you need to know!
I'd like it a little bit shorter. I also have a clip for my Pencil, but it sticks up too much when in a pocket.
I would like to see the charging connector changed so that there would be a ring just below the top. Pull down on the ring, and the top opens up, in two halfs, and the connector is exposed. That would eliminate that cap. This isn't really difficult to design and make. I've already got it worked out. I've got an idea in which we could get both a male and female end, but haven't worked it completely out yet.
At any rate, those are the biggest things I'd like fixed. I would like to know the pressure levels though.
That's precisely what I'm saying. I've played around with it in the notes app and... I can scribble there, if I want. Yay. Type and paste, that's all I want from Notes.
If you need to draw and have some modicum of talent, then maybe you've a legitimate use. Otherwise it'll end up in the drawer within the week. I haven't seen any non-art app that work better with a pencil. Every single person I've know who got one found them a waste of money -- OK, so that's just me and some woman from Accounts at work -- But still!
Some people can write notes out faster than they can type them, plus you may need to draw a diagram in relation to your notes. Outside of that and drawing, the use cases are pretty limited, but that's the case with any stylus
I'm amazed there's any market left for pencils. Surely any artists with disposable incomes got theirs immediately. Everyone else (like me) who bought one because iMore made it sound cool, will happily donate ours to the (no doubt) huge numbers of struggling artists with iPad Pros. If we can find it in the bottom of our bedside drawers.
The only Apple product I've ever regretted buying. Effectively useless for non-artists.
Not sure what you're saying here. Are you saying it's useful for artists but no one else? What's the problem with using it for notes or other things?
Just make it like the Surface Pro / Surface Studio / Surface Book pen. Battery lasts a year, has an eraser, has a button on eraser and on side, wow so cool.
The
Surface Pro pen isn't as good as the Pencil when actually using it. It has more limitations.
I certainly can't think of any!
When we wrote this, the Surface pen didn't support tilt, for example.
Why do we assume there will be a new one? I wouldn't be surprised if they don't do a thing to it, except maybe color.
Sent from the iMore App
Like a Gold Apple pencil ? or Rose gold to match the iPad color ?
First of all, I have to disagree with those saying; "Ooh, I want an eraser!" No, I don't want an eraser. Erasers are clumsy. I've been using Wacom tablets since the late 1970s. Yes, that's the 1970s. When they first came out with the eraser, I was thrilled. But it's crap. Too much trouble. It's far better to tap on the eraser function on the screen than to turn the stylus around, and then back again. I've never understood the appeal. These aren't mechanical pencils. And often, the eraser can't use advanced erase functions the software has to offer. So forget that.
What I've noticed, is that the battery life on the Pencil is hard to rely upon. There are times when I've fully charged it, at least I think I have, since there doesn't seem to be a way to know that, and if I'm wrong, please point that out, when a few hours after having charged for an hour from a USB port, or a 5 watt charger, and not having used it after disconnecting it, I get a message saying that the battery is low. Other times, it goes for a couple of days if I haven't used it. What gives?
Also, it's a bit too long. It needs to be at least 3/4" shorter. When in my shirt pocket, with the clip I've put on it, it sticks out way too far. I can't see a usability reason for the length.
I'm not one for wanting this to stick to the iPad. That also seems clumsy. No matter how powerful that magnet is, the Pencil get knocked off if you rub against something. Then, it's lost. A slot in a case would be good, as would a clip coming with the Pencil so we don't have to buy a cheap pen with a detachable clip that we can remove for the Pencil, would be nice. But that clip needs to be movable on the Pencil, as mine is, as different pockets have different depths, as will different Pencil slots.
I don't find the weighted side to be great, or terrible. If I put the Pencil down, it stays there. If I slide it a bit, it rolls a bit, and then stays there. But if it's put down so that it has some momentum on the roll, it will go over the table side. A clip prevents that, as would a small nub somewhere near the top of the Pencil, where we don't hold it.
I like the idea of different points, with different shapes, textures and possibly even materials. But, I'm not sure the technology Apple uses would allow that. We do get calligraphy now, though it's not ideal.
The cap is not one of their better ideas. I wonder how Jobs would have felt about it. It's too easy to lose. Perhaps a sliding cover akin to what we see on some USB memory sticks could be used. Push it down, and the charge port is exposed. The tip could be bifurcated so that when closed, the port is completely covered, but when opened, the two sides are pushed open by the port.
A number of people are saying to cut the price by half, but that's what most people say when they don't understand what it costs to R&D and manufacture devices. I'm satisfied with the pricing, and if someones' a real professional, their accountant will be able to depreciate this, as they do with their other equipment used for their work.
There is a way to tell the battery life of your pencil. If you swipe down to get the notifications panel then swipe towards the right, you get your today view. That has a section for Bluetooth battery lives. You may need to add it to your screen though. Scroll to the bottom and click edit to add the batteries widget!
It only shows up on the iPad it it currently paired with though. You can also have your watch battery shown in this section too if it is paired to the device :)
It doesn't show the battery window even though it's been selected long ago.
It will only show the battery window when the Pencil is on and connected via Bluetooth. If it's still not appearing, try contacting Apple and make sure you're on the latest iOS version
A metal exterior.
Some type of haptic would be nice that could be turned on with find my iphone!
Oh. Maybe it can have a tiny speaker on it to help you find it when you loose it.
Hope they don't add buttons. That's the worst thing about Wacom tablets. They just get in the way.
What I hope for is better palm rejection. Sometimes if your palm is near the edge it will not be able to read the tilt and you will accidentally get a fat line.
Another improvement better bluetooth. You can't use the pen currently while using Bluetooth headphones. It skips and jumps around. So hope they don't remove the headphone jack.
How about you just buy the one without buttons?
Oh, silly me.... Part of the value system is having these decisions made for you.
Yes. Let us drop that Number 2
(Reads: ha ha ha ha..)
I would like to see the pencil magnetic so can attach to the side of the IPad.
I would like a smaller version - no one uses a pen that big!
Sent from the iMore App
Except plenty of happy iPad Pro users
Please link to your completed survey.
Posted via the iMore App for Android
Please link to your "How to be a troll" Wikihow article.
Very true - it is top heavy as a pencil - compare it to any other stylus/pen/pencil for digital drawing and you will see they fit the hand better (especially when writing with it).
Longer battery life.
W1 chip for owners of multiple Pros (no need to 'plug to pair' - auto pairs with all iPad Pros you own).
There's already an 8 week back order, I'm sure.
Let's just hope there isn't another cringefest video of Ive talking nonsense this time around.
Hey Serenity, since iMore is looking for input into the next version of the website, etc., how about doing what some forums do with political comments with these trolling type comments that just detract from the forum discussion. Maybe move these types of comments to a separate forum area where people can just post all day endless shots at Apple about "thinness," "courage," "fire Tim Cook," etc. to work out whatever issues they have. Then the rest of the folks who are here to intelligently discuss pros and cons from an enthusiast point of view wouldn't have to put up with them.
Meanwhile in response to the actual purpose of the thread, I'd like to see some type of "find my pencil" function where it could also beep the pencil for those of us who misplace things.
I like your thinking - like a 'comment value' type system where low-value comments are whisked aside by the magic of AI etc.
Let's hope iMore doesn't go completely into the drain like MacRumors, where every piece of news, no matter how positive has to be trolled by the Apple bashers.
It's getting there, I don't really know what joy they get out of it
People who have studied the phenomenon will tell you that it's not to experience joy, but rather try and diminish the joy of others. In those cases it's done mainly by insecure folks who feel threatened by the perceived success of others. Thus, since they tend to be very unhappy they go on sites for fans of particular people or products, topics, etc., and want to cause rancor and disrupt what they see as people being satisfied, happy with choices that they can't afford or simply didn't choose, etc. They also tend to be people who feel pushed around, insignificant, etc., so trolling is often a desperate attempt to feel a sense of power by being a keyboard warrior who, like the small, jobless "anarchist" gets to throw a brick "at the man."
I thought I saw you on Android Central!