The real killer app for the Livescribe smartpen will be released on Monday Nov. 24th when the Mac version of livescribe desktop will become available. I just bought a smartpen and, while not nearly as capable as a tablet pc, it is a LOT cheaper and a LOT lighter. I am surprised that it hasn’t been talked about much on jkontherun. Now that it will work on my mac I will be able to make pencasts where ever I am and upload them to the livescibe server. Then I can record the flash versions with the soon to be released Mac version of Camtasia and include handwriting and drawings in my screencasts. Not quite a Mac tablet, but for $200 not a bad start.

I dont actually use this feature on One Note, however, I bought the Pulse Pen two weeks ago and use the feature. It works perfectly on the pen and is a great feature. For those people that still use a pad to take notes, the Pen is a great addition.

That feature is the absolute best feature of OneNote in my opinion. I use it and the same feature with video recordings. For the past 5 years I have been syncing my handwritten notes with my client interviews and conferences. I find that it allows me to concentrate more on what is being said than on transcribing it. If the Livescribe Pulse pen can someday sync with ON 2007, that will be the killer app for the pen IMHO.

I’m just holding out hope that the version of OneNote Mobile for Windows Mobile 7 (or Android?) has half the features the desktop client has, ideally with the ability to (selectively) sync with your main notebooks instead of having a mobile-only area. Then a searching ability, non-neutered media support, better text format control, the list goes on and on.

Or maybe I just need to get an OQO and a watch phone :)

Even cooler would be the computer using the information in the audio file to help in the handwriting recognition.

I love this feature and use it frequently while reviewing meeting notes. Countless times each week I wish I had a Tablet PC while I was in school, as I truly believe it would have revolutionized my studying. The ability to record lectures and take synchronized notes would have been a tremendous asset. especially with the ability to embed the professor’s PowerPoint slides and other materials into the notes. I find myself more than a little envious of today’s students!

(Also posted this comment on FriendFeed)

The LiveScribe Pulse (IIRC) pen can do this also — record audio while you’re taking notes on paper. And when you tap on a particular part of your notes, it will playback the audio that was recorded at that time. I am curious to try the Pulse (it’s available at Target), but it’s a little expensive…