Livescribe Pulse Smartpen review

The next interesting feature with the Pulse is the ability to link recorded audio to your written words or diagrams. Using the printed controls on the paper you are able to set the pen to record and then speak as you write. The device is then able to recall your dictation in line with the text you wrote, enabling you to add detail to simple point based notes or designs. Once you've finished you simply have to tap on the required sentence and your Pulse's loudspeaker will read your notes back to you with surprising clarity, or you can use the included headset for more detailed playback.

The microphone includes presets for more popular venues such as conference rooms and lecture halls, which genuinely improve the quality when used correctly.

The main features of this pen work perfectly and offer what the company boasts. The clever little gadget doesn't stop there though, it also works as a full featured calculator, offers the more musical user a simple piano - which generates sound based upon a drawn set of keys - and also has the capability to translate text written in English to Swedish, Arabic, Mandarin and Spanish; with the equivalent word spoken by the pen with the correct accent and intonation.

The included software was only a demo but we have it on good authority that more extensive features will soon be available, although whether these features will come at extra cost is unconfirmed.

The software bundled with the pen is adequate, with a basic interface for managing your installed pens and notes. To use the software you have to be running Windows XP, Vista, 7 or Mac OS X 10.5.5 or later. There isn't currently any support for Linux users, though the development kit has been made available in the hope that the community will put together a package. WINE support is also sketchy at best, so we couldn't recommend this to sole-boot Linux users at the present.

Another issue worth noting is the special paper and refills that are needed to use the device. While they're not at all extortionate (a four-pack of 100 page notebooks retails for around £12, the ink refills are around £5 for four) we feel that they might put off more casual users or the more skint students. The paper can be printed freely from the company's website though, although the cost of ink is still a consideration.

For the more image conscious users there are stylish leather bound notebooks and smarter looking pads available too.