Microsoft buys Surface Pen technology from N-Trig

Microsoft has confirmed it has acquired the technology for the impressive Surface Pro 3 pen from the company that built it.

The computing giant has bought the ‘advanced digital pen technology’ developed by Israeli start-up N-Trig, with whom it has partnered with for many years.

The innovative, £45/$50 Surface Pen, which is used with the Surface Pro 3 and Surface 3 hybrid devices has become one of the major selling points for Microsoft’s newest hardware.

The handwriting, annotating and sketching pen is equipped with pressure sensitivity tech to recognise 256 levels of pressure, so there’ll be darker lines when you push harder. Microsoft also claims the Surface Pen’s digital ink flows are freely as ‘your favourite ballpoint pen.’

One click of the Bluetooth-enabled Surface Pen opens a blank OneNote document, even when the device is locked or asleep, while there are also right click and eraser buttons.

Read more: Microsoft Surface 3 vs Surface Pro 3

Microsoft says it is ‘Investing to Innovate’ with the Surface Pen. While it doesn’t get into specifics, we can only assume there’ll be multiple applications within the new Windows 10 software as time goes on.

“We can’t wait to show you what we’ll deliver for our Surface Fans in the future,”  said Stevie Bathiche, Microsoft Surface’s ‘Distinguished Scientist.’

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“Microsoft Surface Digital pens have a ways to go to be as good as pen and paper on some dimensions, and we’ll get there. But more importantly, adding the ability to capture and share the work you do with a digital pen opens up possibilities that traditional pen and paper just can’t match. Today’s investment is another step that will let us push that innovation forward.”

You can check out the Surface Pen in action in the video below.