Apple Pencil

Urban Sketchers is an "all-volunteer nonprofit dedicated to fostering a global community of artists who practice on-location drawing." The community of artists and visual storytellers was founded in 2007 as a way to promote the educational value of on-location drawing. Launched as an online forum by Seattle-based journalist and illustrator Gabriel Campanario, the group today is enjoying its 10th anniversary.

There have been a few signs that Apple has been working on an iPhone stylus. First an apparent slip by Tim Cook about using an Apple Pencil with an iPhone, and second three different patents filed for a smaller stylus and other Pencil technology. Today, the publication The Investor claims Apple is indeed designing a "digital pen" for release as early as 2019.

Apple has begun selling refurbished Pencils on its online store. The stylus, normally $99, is now available for $85. A savings of $14 if you don't mind buying refurbished.

Refurbished Apple products come with a one-year limited warranty and are covered by Apple's 4-day return policy. Each Pencil ships with a Lighting adapter and extra tip.

The ProBack is a new iPad Pro accessory that makes charging your Apple Pencil easier than using the Lightning connector, especially when you're on the go. The top of the case includes a convenient port to hold and charge your stylus, instead of having it protrude from the bottom of your tablet. As you can see in the video posted above, you can easily slide the Apple Pencil into the side of the designated slot and it will charge as normal. The case also includes a magnetic holder for the cap.

A new report from an unknown Dutch blog about the second-generation Apple Pencil has done little to help the lackluster news coming out of the Apple rumor mill. According to Roman Zavřel, the next-generation Apple Pencil will come equipped with a new magnetic system and pen-like clip for attaching the stylus to your iPad bezel or pocket. The report gives no mention of any other features, making it the most underwhelming rumor of the year.

As we previously discussed, the normally chatty Apple rumor mill has been eerily quiet when it comes to the next-generation iPad. So far noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities and the Japanese website Makotakara are the only credible sources who have offered 2017 iPad predictions.

Belkin's newest product is a simple stand that works like a traditional inkwell for the Apple Pencil. It doesn't do anything fancy, such as charging, but it does provide a fashionable way to store your stylus when it's not in use. There are several Apple Pencil cases and accessories that attach your stylus to your iPad Pro, but most of them are unsightly and are only for transportation. The Belkin Base is a desk accessory that allows you to keep you Pencil nearby and ready for use.