The PLAUD NotePin is an audio recorder. It is about the size of a large paperclip and looks like a big pill. It has AI features if you pair it with the iOS or Android apps. Once paired, you can transcribe the recordings, or you can summarize them.
It seems convenient to wear. It attaches magnetically to your clothing, or it can clip onto a shirt or anywhere else, like a hat. You can even wear it on your wrist, kind of like a watch. It has its own little band, and it is out there ready for you to use.
To turn on the recording, you press and hold the middle. It starts recording and gives you a little tap. To stop the recording, you once again press the middle, hold it down for a second or so, and it will stop the recording. It gives you two vibrations to let you know that it has finished. Because it is easily accessible, there is no need to unlock your phone. There is no need to go into any apps to start recording. It just records.
Since it captures audio on the device itself, there is no need for an internet connection. The only time you need the internet is once you use the app to have AI transcribe or summarize your audio. This can be done at a later time; it doesn’t have to be while you are recording.
All this sounds cool, and I like the features, but then I realized that it is probably not a good buy for me. I tried to convince myself that it was cool enough to at least try, but then I realized I can get all the functionality this offers on devices I already own. I have an iPhone that can record directly because it has built-in microphones, or I can use my watch to record using apps like Whisper Memos.
Once I get the recording, it transfers to my phone, and the app sends it off to be processed by AI. It gives me the transcript as well as the summary, just like the PLAUD NotePin does. Although the services for Whisper Memos and the PLAUD extended transcription are about the same price annually, I do get to save on purchasing the NotePin, itself (~$169).
I love the concept. I like the size and how it is an all-in-one little device to serve that single purpose, and apparently, it works very well. What I don’t like is that I have to buy, charge and carry another device in addition to my phone and my watch. I really don’t like that it includes only 300 minutes of audio per month. Otherwise, you have to pay the extra subscription cost.
I don’t foresee myself using five hours worth of audio every month, but if you are a student or somebody who has to record meetings all the time, you could easily pass this limit in less than a month. I am going to continue watching this space to see what develops. If these audio recorders turn into something better, like a more fully featured assistant, I might change my mind.
#WearableTech #AI
