Wacom Bamboo Spark turns ink on paper into digital notes
Wacom has just announced the Bamboo Spark, a pen and notepad solution that turns handwritten notes into digital files. Users that prefer a physical writing experience on real paper can take notes or doodle just like they're used to, but don't need to worry about keeping and organizing the paper afterwords. Bamboo Spark features a real ink pen that communicates with a "smart folio" with an Electro-Magnetic Resonance board, tracking pen strokes and sending them to an iOS or Android device via Bluetooth.
Users can write on most A5-sized paper (5.83 x 8.27 inches), and notes are stored on the accompanying Bamboo Spark app. When they want to start writing, they just need to press the button on the pen. The app can store up to 100 pages of notes in offline mode, and notes can be exported to Bamboo Paper, Evernote, or Dropbox.
Wacom Bamboo Spark at IFA 2015
Battery life offers up to 8 hours of use, and the Spark folio is charged via USB connection. The pen does require special ink, however, but Wacom says a cartridge should last about 3 months, and refills can be ordered from their online shop, with a pack of three priced at $10.
The Bamboo Spark should be available from October, priced at $160. Buyers have a choice of three variants for the folio: one with a gadget pocket that offers space for a smartphone, pen, business cards, and paper; a neoprene tablet sleeve, with room for a tablet and/or smartphone and paper; and one specifically designed for an iPad Air 2 with a snap-fit closure.