Hardware maker Plaud has launched a new AI note-taking tool called Plaude NotePin S, as well as a desktop app that helps you take notes for digital meetings, ahead of this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
The company first launched its pin-style note taker in 2024, which my former colleague Brian Heater really liked it. The new pin brings a physical button that lets you start and stop recording. Additionally, while recording, you can press the button to highlight a certain point, just like you can do on the newly launched Plaud Note Pro.
One cool thing about the $179 Plaud NotePin S is that you get a clip, a lanyard, a magnetic pin, and a wristband in the package. This means you can wear the device however you want. The company is also adding Apple Find My support for PIN, so you can easily search for the device if you can’t find it.
The basic specifications of the device remain the same as the previous generation. There is 64GB of built-in storage with a battery capacity of 20 hours of continuous recording. The device has two MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) mics that can capture clear audio within 9.8 feet. Users will benefit from 300 minutes of transcription per month for free and
Compared to the Note Pro, this device has a shorter recording range and lower battery life. But it is smaller and can be carried with any of the accessories mentioned above. The company said the pin is suitable for people who are constantly on the go.
This is Plaud’s fourth device, and the company has sold more than 1.5 million devices so far. With these devices, the emphasis has been on in-person meetings. However, Plaud also wants to take on note-takers like Granola, Fathom and Fireflies with a new desktop client that works across all meeting apps. The company said the app can detect when a meeting is active and prompt you to capture the transcript.
The Mac app takes notes using system audio to capture the meeting, then structures the transcript into notes using AI. Last year, the company introduced multimodal inputs for note-taking with its app that allows users to add images and typed notes as well as audio transcription. Plaud also brings this functionality to its desktop app.
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Ivan covers global consumer technology developments at TechCrunch. He is based in India and has previously worked for publications such as the Huffington Post and The Next Web.
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