Apple Pencil

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on Apple Pencil:

What new features to expect in Apple Pencil 3

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What new features to expect in Apple Pencil 3
It's not challenging to guess that Apple Pencil 3 is on the agenda for the May 7 Apple event.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple Pencil 3 is apparently right around the corner, and leaks indicate the next iPad stylus will offer a number of features not in the previous one. That includes a new “squeeze” gesture and Find My support.

Plus, it might also be a Vision Pro stylus.

Bag bargains on iMacs and Apple accessories while they last

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sale on iMacs and Apple accessories
A couple of 2021 iMacs are in the mix of sale items.
Photo: Apple

Two concurrent Apple sales at Amazon bargain site Woot! run for the next week or so — one on iMacs and Accessories and one for a selection of Apple Accessories. It’s a good chance to stock up on big and small stuff alike.

“An Apple a Day… is really expensive!” the site quips. Both sales run through May 1 at 10 p.m. PT.

Apple Pencil for Vision Pro might be in development

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Apple Pencil for Vision Pro might be in development
Vision Pro users could someday grab an Apple Pencil for fine drawing.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

A version of Apple Pencil stylus that can be used with the Vision Pro AR headset is in testing, according to an unconfirmed report.

And there’s proof that Apple is at least considering the idea — it filed for a patent on methods of using a stylus to create virtual objects while wearing a headset.

Apple Pencil (2nd gen) gets a sweet 11% discount

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Apple Pencil 2 in Hand
Apple Pencil (2nd gen) is a handy iPad accessory to have.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

If you take notes or draw on your iPad, consider investing in an Apple Pencil. It will greatly enhance your experience your note-taking and doodling experience.

While the Apple Pencil (2nd gen) is expensive at $129, Amazon is discounting it by 11% to $115. This makes the useful iPad stylus a bit more affordable.

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Apple Pencil 2 drops to lowest-ever price

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Apple Pencil 2 in hand
Now's your chance to bag a great stylus at its lowest price ever.
Photo:

Apple Pencil is one piece of Cupertino kit for which there are plenty of cheaper third-party alternatives. But why shop around for those often not-as-good choices when you can get the lowest price on Apple Pencil 2?

Right now you can nab one on Amazon for $79. That’s down from the regular price of $129 — $50 off! And the still-capable Apple Pencil (1st generation) is on sale for even less. See below.

Get a solid iPad stylus at half the price of Apple Pencil

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With palm sensitivity, you can rest your palm while drawing or writing.
With palm sensitivity, you can rest your palm while drawing or writing.
Photo: SwitchEasy

If you’re the proud owner of an iPad, you should get yourself a stylus that will help you write and draw well on the tablet. But an Apple Pencil 2 will set you back $129 (if you don’t find a good sale). So how about something just about as good for less than half the price? Enter SwitchEasy’s EasyPencil Pro.

Check out the SwitchEasy Sale in the Cult of Mac Store to get 20% off two versions of the stylus, plus extra tips for writing and drawing.

How to get the latest USB-C Apple Pencil firmware update

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Apple Pencil (USB-C) firmware update
Yes, you might need to think about updating the software on your Apple Pencil.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Just about everything electronic requires firmware — Apple’s iPad stylus is no exception. With software comes updates, and there’s new one for the recently released version of the Apple Pencil with a USB-C port.

Here’s how to check what firmware version your Apple Pencil is currently running, and a suggestion on how to get the new update.

Apple Pencil 2 drops to its best price in this pre-Black Friday deal

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It's not the first time Apple Pencil 2 has been this cheap, but you may never see a lower price.
This is the Apple Pencil 2 deal ahead of Black Friday that you should not miss.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

You can get the incredibly useful Apple Pencil 2 for its lowest price ahead of Black Friday. Amazon is taking $40 off the iPad accessory, dropping its price to $89.

The Apple Pencil 2 works with iPad Air, iPad mini 6, and iPad Pro to make note-taking and drawing a breeze.

Today in Apple history: iPad Pro makes its big debut

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iPad Pro
The iPad Pro was a big step forward for the iPad.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

November 11: Today in Apple history: iPad Pro debutsNovember 11, 2015: Apple’s first iPad Pro goes on sale after months of speculation about the giant-size tablet. With its much larger screen, professional-oriented targeting and dreaded (optional) stylus, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro represents Apple CEO Tim Cook’s cleanest break yet from Steve Jobs’ vision for iOS devices.

And it turned out all the better for it!

New USB-C Apple Pencil is lower in price but not usability [Review] ★★★★

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Apple Pencil (USB-C)★★★★
The first budget Apple Pencil is the iPad stylus students and businesspeople have been looking for.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The just-launched Apple Pencil includes USB-C charging, making it easy to use with the budget iPad. While top quality, the new model doesn’t have all the features of Apple Pencil 2 but costs $50 less.

I tested the stylus with my iPad and found reasons to like it even more than the premium version.

Affordable new Apple Pencil with USB-C goes on sale

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You'll have to charge the inexpensive new Apple Pencil via USB-C cable.
You'll have to charge the inexpensive new Apple Pencil via USB-C cable.
Photo: Apple

Apple put its new budget Apple Pencil with USB-C connectivity on sale Wednesday for all your sketching and note-taking needs. Just $79, it’s now available in 33 countries, including the United States.

That price saves you $50 compared to Apple Pencil 2, but it also buys you fewer features.

Get ready to grab the first budget Apple Pencil

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Apple Pencil (USB-C) with iPad
Apple Pencil (USB-C) with iPad is the lowest-cost stylus made by Apple.
Photo: Apple

Apple just took the wraps off a lower-price version of its iPad stylus. The new Apple Pencil uses a USB-C port for charging so it’s a better fit for use with the budget iPad.

“Apple Pencil has revolutionized note taking, sketching, and illustrating, unleashing endless possibilities for productivity and creativity,” said Bob Borchers, Apple VP of Worldwide Product Marketing. “Combined with the versatility of iPad, the new Apple Pencil unlocks another great option to experience the magic of digital handwriting, annotation, marking up documents, and more.”

The new version is $50 less than Apple Pencil 2, the premium model. But it lacks some of the features of the top-of-the-line version.

Apple shows how it empowers small-business success

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With National Small Business Week upon us, Apple celebrates how it helps entrepreneurs.
With National Small Business Week upon us, Apple celebrates how it helps entrepreneurs.
Image: Apple

With National Small Business Week starting Sunday, Apple profiled three small businesses Wednesday, describing how they harness Apple products to grow.

In addition, the company will feature “Grow Your Business with Apple” Today at Apple sessions next week in select U.S. cities.

You won’t find a better time to buy Apple Pencil 2

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Apple-Pencil-close-up
Get Apple Pencil 2 at well below the usual price. If you hurry.
Photo: Daniel Korpai/Unsplash

Digital artists, or those who would like to be, can pick up an Apple Pencil 2 for a whopping $40 off the usual price. That’s a 31% discount.

I use this stylus with my iPad all the time, and there’s no better tool for painting on your tablet. It’s also great for taking notes and sketching out ideas.

Future Apple Pencil may include built-in color sensors

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Future Apple Pencil may include built-in color sensors
Apple patented a stylus that can be used to easily match any color.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Someday, you might be able to pull a color out of the real world just by touching your Apple Pencil to it. Apple patented a version of its iPad stylus with color sensors in the tip.

The device would be a real boon to artists who paint on an iPad.

Find the iPad case you’ve been searching for with Zugu

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Zugu Case: Need a great iPad case? Look no further.
Need a great iPad case? Look no further.
Image: Zugu Case

It’s not easy to find the perfect iPad case, whether you’re walking around with a little iPad mini 6, a standard 10.2-inch iPad or the latest 12.9-inch iPad Pro. But it gets a lot easier if you know about Zugu Case. The company’s practical and attractive cases are among the highest-rated and best-reviewed iPad cases in the world for a reason.

So cease your searching. You just found the Zugu iPad case you didn’t know you were looking for.

Apple apparently canceled $49 Apple Pencil launch with iPhone support at the last minute

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Apple Pencil 2 in Hand
Was Apple indeed working on a $49 Apple Pencil for iPhone?
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

A sketchy rumor claims Apple planned to introduce a $49 Apple Pencil with iPhone compatibility. The company wanted to launch the budget Apple Pencil alongside new iPhones in September.

For unclear reasons, though, Apple changed its mind at the last minute and canceled the product’s launch.

Stick this stylish sleeve for Apple Pencil anywhere

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Strong adhesive lets you stick the sleeve anywhere.
Strong adhesive lets you stick the sleeve anywhere.
Photo: Elago

Even if you have an Apple Pencil 2 that sticks magnetically to the edge of your iPad, that’s not a super-secure storage option for the stylus because it could get knocked off. And it’s not an option at all for the original Apple Pencil. So it’s a good idea to have another, much more secure way to carry your stylus.

That’s where the Elago Apple Pencil Holder comes in. Strong adhesive lets you stick it anywhere.

And right now you can pick it up for just $10.99 in the Cult of Mac Store.

Apple’s new products leave us slightly perplexed [The CultCast]

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The CultCast 565 Apple podcast: Not too bad for an Apple product launch event that never actually happened, I guess.
Not too bad for an Apple product launch event that never actually happened, I guess.
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: For once, Apple’s new products leave us scratching our heads more than reaching for our wallets. We let loose our first impressions of this week’s new iPads, the surprisingly affordable Apple TV 4K, that ridiculous Apple Pencil dongle and more.

Also on The CultCast:

  • Is the new Magic Keyboard Folio really all that magical? Some features sound great, but we don’t think it will turn your iPad into a laptop — at least not one you can use on your lap!
  • Apple might’ve burned a cool million on the #TakeNote Twitter hashflag for the event that never happened.
  • Logitech knows how to make a stylus right.
  • What’s up with that USB-C to Apple Pencil Adapter? Like everyone else in the Apple universe, we’re not diggin’ the dongle.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

Our sponsor: Squarespace

Special thanks to this week’s sponsor, Squarespace. Get all the tools you need to set up your very own website and commence selling anything online. Start your free website trial today at squarespace.com/cultcast (no credit card required). Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain with code cultcast at checkout.

Absurd Apple Pencil dongle sends fans into spiral of grief

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Yes, you'll need a dongle to charge an Apple Pencil with your shiny new iPad. Deal with it.
Yes, you'll need a dongle to charge an Apple Pencil with your shiny new iPad. Deal with it.
Photo: Ben White/Unsplash License

The decision to make the all-new iPad compatible with the original Apple Pencil looks likely to go down as one of Apple’s most ridiculous design decisions.

Since the new entry-level iPad utilizes USB-C rather than Lightning, you can’t plug the Apple Pencil into the tablet to charge the stylus. And Apple’s “fix” — the $9 USB-C to Apple Pencil Adapter that will come packaged with old-school Apple Pencils — sent some Apple fans into an accelerated version of the five stages of grief.

iPad 10 could support more-capable Apple Pencil 2 [Updated]

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Like everything else, the new Apple Pencil is better.
iPad 10 will apparently include support for the improved Apple Pencil 2, which helps confirm that the tablet is in for a major redesign.
Photo: Andrea Nepori

A slipup by a retail employee revealed that the upcoming iPad 10 will support the Apple Pencil 2. That’s a change from the current version of Apple’s most affordable tablet, which is compatible with the original version of the stylus with fewer features.

Update: No, it does not. There are many changes in the iPad 10, but it still supports Apple Pencil 1.

The next budget iPad is expected to launch any day now. This is only the latest leak revealing info about it.

Get 20% off screen protector that makes writing on iPad feel like paper

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Write or draw like it's real paper with this iPad screen protector.
Write or draw like it's real paper with this iPad screen protector.
Photo: SwitchEasy

If you’re like me, you love your iPad for its many uses and its portability. And an Apple Pencil is fun to use for both writing and drawing on the tablet. But wouldn’t it be more rewarding if it felt more like writing and drawing on real paper?

This may be why I still use an old-school notebook for most of my notes and doodles. But now the SwitchEasy PaperLike iPad Screen Protectors offers an inexpensive way to make the iPad screen feel more like paper when you use Pencil.

And better yet, you can get the screen protector at 20% off in the Cult of Mac Store from October 14 through October 21. That’s a savings of $6.

Get a magnetic iPad stylus for about half Apple Pencil 2’s price

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Palm sensitivity lets you rest your palm as you write or draw without messing anything up.
Palm sensitivity lets you rest your palm as you write or draw without messing anything up.
Photo: SwitchEasy

Buying an iPad doesn’t usually mean just buying an iPad. Many people want useful accessories, like a stylus that lets them write and draw more precisely than they can with their fingers. But Apple Pencil 2 usually goes for a fairly steep $129.

If you’d like to get an advanced stylus with most of Apple Pencil 2’s features for much less, you have options. A good one is the SwitchEasy EasyPencil Pro.

You can get the fourth-gen version of it in the Cult of Mac Store for just over half the cost of Apple Pencil 2, plus a supply of extra tips for different uses. Or you can nab the third-gen EasyPencil for a little less. See more information below.