Thursday, January 31, 2013

Stephen Silver's Message



Stephen Silver is well known for creating Kim Possible and a host of cartoons that I enjoyed watching when I was a kid.  Here's what he has to say to people asking artwork/design for free.  I guess I will be saying the same thing from now on.

With all due respect, no.  I won't do it for free.

-Creative-Uncommon

Friday, January 18, 2013

Artist Tech #1: Pogo Connect


Artists who are always travelling require them to bring some accessories so they can create and submit content to the digital space.  Some still use a sketch pad and digital camera, others carry their Wacom Tablets and stylus with their laptops and recently people just carry their tablets.

Digital Tablets are the "now" thing.  iPad being the popular among the rest, lacks stylus support.  Until Ten One Design thought of a solution.


Ten One Design initially called it "Blue Tiger Project."  I did not hear about this until they were almost done with the project last year.  Seems that Pogo Connect has filled that pressure-sensitivity void for artists that mostly use their fingers to draw on the iPad.  Capacitive styli are not enough anymore.  That rubbery nib/tip is not and was not ideal for drawing to begin with.  

The Pogo Connect features a pressure-sensitive sensor and tip that allows the user to manipulate and control lines and flow of the tool used in a drawing/note-taking app.  This allows for more diverse results of line width and values in coloring.  It is connected using Bluetooth 4.0 and only features some apps in the iPad.  I bet those apps are the ones that you are currently using for drawing using your fingers.  



The most popular app that it supports is Paper by Fifty Three, Inc.  The company updated the app to have native Pogo Connect support from the get go.  Adobe Photoshop Touch supports the Pogo as well.  Pairing should be done inside each apps so the pressure-sensitivity could work.  It's awesome an awesome tool, but after watching this review, the tip looks like it is similar to the Bamboo Stylus for the iPad, only wider.  Here's a quick video of Terry White from Adobe doing a demo of the pen:  


My reaction would be the same as his, if I had my hands on a review product. 

If you're that person who uses the iPad for more than just "media consumption" and you actually do artwork with it, this might be something to consider.  It is still an investment considering the somewhat steep price for just a stylus.

You can own the Pogo Connect for $79.95.  You can also get the 2-Pack standard extra tips for another $9.95.  

Video: Terry White's Pogo Connect Quick Demo
Source: Ten One Design - Pogo Connect