In January, we posted several Pulse demo videos that show different features of the smartpen and how it works.

While filming these videos, we had a few extra minutes to spare and made a goofy vignette comparing a Pulse smartpen with a regular pen (played by Zac, our multi-talented graphic designer). Probably not ready for prime time - but we thought we’d pass it along.

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Greetings,

I would like to thank the thousands of readers, writers, bloggers, callers, developers, scribers and buyers for your support and interest in our Pulse smartpen and platform.

We have been overwhelmed with requests for information and preorders for Pulse that have far exceeded our early projections.

As this demand has accelerated in the past month, we have continued working towards our first shipment date of March 31st, and have struggled to determine how to address preorders that far exceed our early production ramp. We noted Amazon’s approach to handling shipment for their high-demand Kindle e-book, and ongoing Wii shortages, and have compared this to our own challenge, as a new company, to address our backlog.

In retrospect, our hiatus in our communication is long overdue. I apologize for this. As I considered posting a blog entry numerous times, new concerns regarding growing demand arose, as well as meeting our growing backlog. Perhaps we were overly cautious in not wanting to send an ambiguous message.

The time for ambiguity is past.

I am delighted to announce that we will begin shipping in limited volume on March 31st, as targeted.

To address our backlog, we will open the Livescribe Store only to our preorder list of customers, enabling you to immediately place a credit card order on Monday. At that time, we will provide you with an estimated shipment date based upon when you first preordered your smartpen. If you are already on our preorder list, look for an email on Monday, March 31st with instructions on how to complete your order.

Thanks again for you patience! We look forward to welcoming you to the Livescribe community.

Best regards,

Jim

Good news! We’ve heard your request for a smaller journal option with your Pulse smartpen, so we’ve accelerated our production efforts to offer a hard-bound leather journal (5.5 x 8.25 inches) for customers that prefer something smaller than a college-sized notebook. These journals, along with college ruled notebooks and other Pulse accessories, will be available for sale on www.livescribe.com in March.

Here’s a sneak preview of what the journal looks like:

Livescribe journals will be offered as a 2-pack for $24.95. There will be a lined and unlined version.

Thanks for your feedback!

Nancy Gayed
Director of Product Management

Thanks to everyone for their fantastic ideas. From the construction project manager to the flight instructor to the stock trader to the claims adjuster what we see is that the uses of the Pulse smartpen are endless. Your entries demonstrated just how impactful Pulse can be in the context of work, personal productivity, and even relationships.

With over 100 responses, it was difficult to choose just two winners. Congratulations to Jarrod and Ana. Jarrod, you made us laugh and humor goes a long way over here. Ana, having gone to law school I feel your pain and hope the Pulse smartpen will help you in your second semester.

Thanks again for your thoughtful ideas.

Sasha
Chief Operating Officer

Jarrod says:
Every time I sense a new lovers’ quarrel emerging between my girlfriend and me, I’d start taking notes.
You think I said what? Well, let’s just see what the notes say.
What’s that, honey? You think I wrote it down wrong? Hmm… if only we could somehow replay the-HA!
Livescribe Smartpen: Never lose another argument.

Ana says:
I just finished my first semester at Harvard Law School, and for so many reasons, the LiveScribe Pen sounds like my wish come true.
A growing number of profs at the law school have started implementing no-laptop policies in the classroom because they envision an “ideal” where students-instead of trying to transcribe their classes-actually listen and reflect on what is being said in class, while participating in the discussion too. However, the sad truth is that law school topics are so complicated that most students don’t feel like this is really an option if they don’t want to be ultra-confused by the end of the semester, so they try to take transcripts on their notebooks anyway.
I was one of those law students. I spent UNGODLY amounts of time in office hours this fall semester asking professors to basically repeat portions of their lectures because I simply didn’t “get that part” down on paper. I mean, not only are these professors complete geniuses in their field-and therefore operating at a MUCH higher level than their law students-but most of them talk really quickly too!!! Bad, BAD combo for students stuck with traditional pens and paper.
The LiveScribe Pen seems like my wish come true. It would let me have the best of both worlds: I could listen and participate in class while taking the “major” notes (which is the “ideal” image in the law professor’s minds), and then I could review the parts in which I was confused and get the important details that I missed later on after class. Now, I won’t HAVE to go to office hours every single week and bug my professors simply because I “missed some words” that made all of my notes incomprehensible!!!
If only LiveScribe had come out before my first semester …

Today marks a significant milestone in Livescribe’s history with the official unveiling of the Pulse smartpen by our CEO and Founder, Jim Marggraff, at the DEMO conference in Palm Springs. If you are interested in seeing Pulse in action, you can watch Jim’s demonstration broadcast live via www.demo.com at 4:30PM PST today.

For those who may be disappointed that you can’t yet place your order, please accept our sincerest apologies. We had hoped to begin taking orders on this date, but we felt it would be best to spend a few more weeks putting the finishing touches on the product and incorporating your feedback as well as the results of our user testing. Rest assured, we are committed to delivering Pulse to your doorsteps in March.

We also want to let you know that anyone who preordered the Pulse smartpen will be given “first dibs” when we start taking orders. We’ll be sending you an email with instructions to complete your purchase in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, please take a look at the new interactive Pulse demo, new product movies, and detailed specs on our site. We hope you agree it’s worth the wait.

Thanks for your patience - we truly appreciate your suggestions as we put the finishing touches on Pulse.

Best,
Byron