Apple Pencil

These hacks enable custom Apple Watch faces and 3D Touch gestures on iPad Pro via Apple Pencil

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 24, 2015

watchOS 2, the operating system powering Apple's wearable gizmo, includes support for third-party complications on select watch faces designed to support them.

But as far as watch faces themselves go, users are limited to a handful of built-in styles as Apple's software development kit (SDK) doesn't allow for downloadable watch faces yet.

As it turns out, a quick hack that prolific iOS developer Hamza Sood posted on Twitter back in August (no, it didn't fly under our radar) gets around Apple's limitations and permits unofficial development and installation of custom faces for Apple's wearable device.

And earlier this morning, Sood also posted another hack which brings 3D Touch Peek and Pop gestures to the iPad Pro via the Apple Pencil's pressure sensing technology.

Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard pre-orders available at Staples, shipping November 25th

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 19, 2018

If you missed out on Best Buy's earlier sale of the Apple Pencil, then I have some good news for you. Staples is now accepting pre-orders for both the Apple Pencil and the Smart Keyboard for the iPad Pro.

If you act now, you can expect both items to ship on November 25th, which is next Wednesday. If you choose 1-day shipping, chances are you could receive both items by next Friday. That's a whole lot better than Apple's end-of-December estimates, but you better act fast...

Apple Pencil now in stock at Best Buy online stores with Monday delivery

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated October 16, 2018

The Apple Pencil is now available for online order at Best Buy, and you can get it delivered Monday, if you act fast. There are three delivery options that I see: December 2nd with free shipping, or expedited or express shipping that will have the Apple Pencil at your door by early next week. If you've been looking for an Apple Pencil, you should head over to Best Buy today, and get your order in fast.

Apple Pencil ships with extra tip and Lightning-to-Lightning adapter for USB charging

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 20, 2015

Apple's $99 stylus accessory for the iPad Pro, the Apple Pencil, conveniently comes with a spare tip and includes a special Lightning-to-USB adapter to save users from having to precariously charge their Pencils directly from their iPads.

A spare tip is a nice addition as it gives Pencil customers piece of mind knowing that wearing down the tip won't force them to take their accessory for servicing.

How to check your Apple Pencil battery level

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 18, 2023

How do you know when your Apple Pencil is charged? Or even yet, how do you know what the battery level of your Apple Pencil is?

Even though the Apple Pencil 1st generation and 2nd generation lack a battery status indicator to tell you how much charge you have left, there are ways to learn how much battery life is still there in the device.

This quick tutorial shows you how to check your Apple Pencil's battery status. We will detail methods for both Apple Pencil 1 and Apple Pencil 2.

Apple Pencil packs in the smallest logic board iFixit has ever seen

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 19, 2015

According to a teardown analysis of the Apple Pencil performed by iFixit, Apple's optional Bluetooth stylus accessory for the iPad Pro packs in the smallest logic board that the repair firm has ever seen. Despite its minuscule appearance, Apple's engineers had to fold it in half to fit inside the Pencil's tiny enclosure.

As if that weren't enough, the Apple Pencil is choke full of other radical technological solutions, said iFixit.

How to check your local Apple Store Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil inventory

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 19, 2018

It's been over a week since I've had my iPad Pro, and I've still yet to snag an Apple Pencil or a Smart Keyboard. The prospects of obtaining either of the vital iPad Pro peripherals from Apple's online store doesn't seem good. Shipments are currently slated 4-5 weeks out in most cases, and in store personal pickup doesn't even appear as an option when checking out.

The situation is so bad that eBay scalpers are taking advantage and selling the Apple Pencil for double and sometimes triple the price. Needless to say, it's a frustrating situation for iPad Pro early adopters wishing to make full use of the new hardware.

But not all hope is lost for those of you hoping to snag a reasonably priced Apple Pencil or a Smart Keyboard before late December or early January. I've seen several reports of folks that have been able to walk in store and pick up one or both products, even though Apple's online store was showing out of stock. According to an Apple employee that I recently spoke to, Apple is receiving frequent shipments of both products and selling out almost as fast as it can re-up.

Thankfully, there is a way that you can check your store's local inventory before making the trip. Instead of risking disappointment, use this handy tip before you venture out in order to up the chance of scoring an Apple Pencil, Smart Keyboard, or if you're particularly fortunate, both.

Which has lower latency: Apple Pencil or Microsoft’s Surface Pro 4 stylus?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 4, 2016

Microsoft's fourth-generation Surface Pro offers stylus and keyboard cover accessories just like Apple's newly released iPad Pro. Apple, of course, is adamant that the Pencil is the best stylus on the market because it has virtually no lag or delay.

The Apple Pencil takes full advantage of iOS's predictive touch technology, the iPad Pro's special screen design and sensors in its tip that measure every nuanced stroke, angle and pressure.

After putting the device through its paces, El Mundo writer and photographer Angel Jimenez de Luis concludes that Apple's stylus has a bit lower latency than Microsoft's, and he posted a video showcasing tracking capabilities of both accessories.

Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard deliveries slip to 4-5 weeks, Apple promises ‘regular shipments’

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 13, 2015

If you're in the market for an iPad Pro and are considering purchasing Apple's $99 Pencil or the $169 Smart Keyboard to take full advantage of the tablet's new features for creatives and mobile workers, you're in for some serious waiting as shipping times for these accessories have slipped to 4-5 weeks on the Apple Online Store.

In a statement to Mashable, the company did acknowledge limited supply of the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard in its own retail stores and promised “regular shipments”.

This particular Apple Pencil detail exemplifies what Apple is all about

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 12, 2015

Apple's legendary attention to detail comes into full view yet again with the iPad Pro's optional accessory, the Apple Pencil. As first discovered and shared by The Verge in its iPad Pro review, the Apple-branded stylus—which was designed exclusively for the new iPad—is weighted so it won't roll away on a table top. In fact, it always stops rolling with the word 'Pencil' facing upward on its metal band, which is awesome.

Moxiware unveils handy Apple Pencil charging dock

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 11, 2015

Accessory maker Moxiware today announced an interesting charging dock for the $99 Apple Pencil that keeps your stylus in an upright position while it's docked and charging. This should be good news for critics who ridicule Apple's way of charging the Apple Pencil through the iPad Pro's Lightning port.

The accessory is provided in anodized aluminum or hard wood, each in a cone or cylinder-shaped variant, and is available for pre-order beginning today for $30.

Jony Ive talks Apple Pencil

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 11, 2015

Apple's Chief Design Officer, Jony Ive, sat down with The Telegraph's Rhiannon Williams today to discuss the iPad Pro launch (see our review roundup here) and in particular Apple's optional stylus accessory, the $99 Apple Pencil.

The stylus, Ive said, will feel like “a more natural extension” of the pen and paper experience but achieving that degree of natural behavior “was a significant technological challenge,” he revealed.