We at Pocket-lint are big fans of the Livescribe smartpens. The Pulse device is ranked as a PL "Hot Product" and we've also been lucky enough to be able to have been able to test out the new Livescribe Connect platform that launches today (23 May).

Livescribe Connect means that your notes and recordings aren't simply confined to the memory of your pen, or the Livescribe Desktop software - by drawing a quick line and writing an instruction you can ping across notes to a number of online portals, or even direct to your PC as an interactive PDF. (The notes send once the pen is connected to your PC via USB).

The choices of connector are as follows; email (using Microsoft Exchange, Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail Plus or AOL), Google Docs, Facebook, Evernote and mobile apps (including iPad); and Livescribers will also have access to MyLivescribe Connector with 500MB of free online storage for their pencasts.

"Livescribe is liberating notes and evolving human communication, collaboration, productivity, and learning," said Jim Marggraff, CEO and founder of Livescribe.  

"Millions of pages of handwritten notes are taken daily in meetings, classes, and brainstorming sessions. These notes have incredible value, but are trapped in the pages of your notebook. 

"With Livescribe Connect, it is easy to make your handwritten notes and spoken information digital, searchable, shareable and accessible any time, anywhere with a simple tap of your smartpen."

Using the newer Echo range of smartpen (expect a full review on the site pretty soon), we've found the platform to be pretty smooth, as per most Liverscribe actions, and the features available at the tip of your pen is now simply astonishing.

As well as Livescribe Connect going live, the company has also announced the availability of the more budget friendly 2GB and 4GB Echo pens in the UK - priced at £99.99 and £149.99 respectively - to live alongside the premium 8GB version (£179.99).

With the 2GB version (and the older Pulse range) you'll get free access to send pencasts to your computer, Evernote, Facebook, MyLivescribe account and mobile devices and with the 4GB and 8GB devices you'll get access to Connect Premium which throws in email and Google Docs compatibility too. Free version users can upgrade to Premium online for $14.99.

Livescribe Connect is available now to download from www.livescribe.com/install.