March 25th, 2009
Wacom introduces Intuos4 pen tablet; adds sensitivity, OLED
Tablet-maker Wacom today introduced its next generation of pen tablets, Intuos4, designed for the creative professional and offering improved pen performance and new features.
The improved pen is capable of up to 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity, which enables it to capture very slight pressure applied to the tablet. The experience is similar to working with traditional brushes, markers, and pens, the company says.
The Tip Sensor technology used in the pen and tablet offers what the company calls “near-zero,” or one gram, starting pressure. The pen also features a pressure-sensitive eraser and two side switches that you can use for double-click and right-click functions.
The tablet also gets an update, and now includes a configurable Touch Ring that you can use to control up to four different functions in any application. A button in the center of the ring lets you switch between functions such as zoom, scroll, brush size adjustment, canvas rotation, and layer selection.
The tablet’s new design makes it easier for lefties to use, with the Touch Ring and all of the shortcut and modifier keys on one side (just rotate the tablet 180 degrees).
The tablet’s displays also feature OLEDs, which allow users to see, via the displays, what the keys are currently set to.
The Intuos4 is available now in four sizes: small ($229), medium ($369), large ($499) and extra large ($789). [via Macworld]
Andrew J. Nusca is an associate editor for ZDNet and SmartPlanet.
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