Microsoft and FiftyThree are teaming up to offer more digital handwriting functionality on OneNote.
The Redmond giant announced today that its digital note-taking software for iOS and Windows 10 now supports FiftyThree’s Pencil stylus.
“Simply pair your Pencil with your iPad and then select it from your stylus options in OneNote,” wrote Ian Mikutel, OneNote Ink product manager. “You’ll immediately notice the added feedback of the Pencil is great for a variety of inking scenarios, and the ability to easily flip the Pencil and erase in a familiar way, making it a top selling stylus for iPad.”
OneNote also now lets users send notes, checklists, sketches, and files from FiftyThree’s iPad Paper app directly to OneNote. You can access this feature by tapping on the “Share” icon in the Paper app and selecting “Save to OneNote.”
Founded four years by a team that includes several veterans of Microsoft — including CEO Georg Petschnigg, who worked on Microsoft’s failed Courier project — FiftyThree unveiled its $50 Pencil stylus back in November 2013. It features pressure-sensing technology and is meant to be used with the company’s award-winning sketchbook app, Paper, which won Apple’s 2012 iPad App of the Year. FiftyThree employs 28 in Seattle and another 42 in New York City.
Microsoft also announced today that OneNote supports “Ink Shape Recognition” on iOS and Windows 10, in addition to support for Apple Pencil, the Surface 4 Pen, and the Pen Tip kit — the latter two are available on Oct. 26.
Last month, Apple unveiled its own $99 Apple Pencil that works as a stylus with the company’s new iPad Pro. The device features similar functionality to FiftyThree’s pencil and works with apps like Mail, Notes, and Microsoft Office — Apple actually invited Microsoft on stage at its big event last month for a demo.
