It's been at least 6 months since this issue has been posted and it has yet to be addressed. Customers really are disrespected.

This topic was one of the most highly viewed forum posts on the previous forum. Good to see that it's starting off the new forum as well. We are patient, however it's also hard to see how serious livescribe is about fixing this after 6 months and 4 opportunities (releases) to correct it.

Paul

Thank you Jeff for confirming this issue is still being considered.

Would you please enlighten us to what the problem is?
Surely from a technical point of view its dead easy to disable or allow the user to choose to disable.
Is there some sort of commercial argument for it being there? Advertising revenue or Adobe component licencing terms or something.

I urge all customers who aren't happy with this feature to 'petition' LiveScribe to change it by way of adding their voice to this thread.

Thanks.

Ok, appreciate there may be something confidential involved.
Good luck with championing our cause and please let us know when you are able to say more.

Thanks,
Alex.

This needs to be addressed if you wish your product to be utilised in education in UK. I purchased three of these pens for my children and even negotiated with the Principle in her Academy to allow my daughter to use this product in her lessons and the first time she sends the pdf to her teacher it  was commented upon about the top and tail adverts for adobe and livescribe. It distracts from the main point about this fantastic product!

Jonathan Starkey

It's annoying to have to go through that extra click to delete the completely pointless and ugly advertisement messages.

Each extra thing that I have to do to make the product useful for me deletes from the time I save by using it. 

This advertisement, although I can get rid of it, also holds me back from recommending the product to my co-workers. For three reasons:

1 - it illustrates an unwillingness to listen to customers

2 - it is ugly

3 - to set up the process of automatic deletion of the ads is tricky - I do not want to do it for all my co-workers.

Of these, the first point is the most important one to me.

Can you share with us how you are deleting?
I guess you are opening the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro or something and removing the background image?
I did have a play with doing this but it is rather tedious.

No, I have made an mac OS X automator action that I drop the PDF on, and the ads are then automatically deleted. It's a quick extra step, but it's an extra step nevertheless.

It is a bit complicated to set it up though. One has to be on very friendly footing with the computer to get it working.

The same complicated setup can be used to add livescribe dot patterns to other PDF files (for printing and annotating) and then to merge that PDF with the one that livescribe connect outputs (to save the annotated PDF with the voice annotations on the computer). An even more complicated procedure puts the PDF inside livescribe desktop if one prefers that.

One has to buy a Mac too ;-)

While I laud you for your efforts, we shouldn't have to go to such lengths to work around this issue.
LiveScribe should be reactive and listening to the feedback of its 'fan base'. After all, its the likes of us keen customers that makes or breaks a nascent product.
Many, many clever and innovative hardware products have stumbled and fallen over the years because of weak software support, slow release cycles, misunderstanding of customer usage and needs and lack of developer community support (I hear that last one is another sore subject!)

I did share it actually, the OS X automator action is available in the "old" forum. It didn't take that much time to create - two or three hours during one evening.

It's here:

http://www.livescribe.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11228&page=4

Although, I do not know what Livescribe thinks about it, since they apparently want the advertisement to be there.

I cannot come up with any reason why the advertisement is there though. But it disturbs me that they actively are making their product less useful to me, without adding any benefit to anyone. I am worried that they will now spend time on some other way of adding that advertisement.

(Although, as I wrote, it's a bit tricky to get the automator action to work, so I guess very few people have the technical skills and time to spend on it, needed to make it work.)

Dear Happy Camper.

Livescribe Forum will not allow me to access link. Please email to jcstarkey@me.com.

Thx,

Jonathan Starkey

Happy Camper,

I am now that annoyed that Livescribe have blocked access to your link that I am going to have a chat with the Chair of the Select Committee for Science & Technology Committee for UK Parliament.

Jonathan Starkey

I think it's actually a reasonable re-direct from the old to the new forum. Disable javascript and possibly also meta-refresh in your browser to access it (I forgot to write that).

I agree that it is great product by the way! They have done a lot of things right in the design. But, to become a superb product, it takes a few tiny but important additional steps, IMHO. Removing those advertisements is one of them, as I see it.

Thx Jeff. But too little too late.

I want an official response and resolution to the software issue I have encountered. No ifs buts or whatever. Technically there is no reason why it cannot happen. I have already been in touch with Public Relations and will escalate the issue. I apologise in advance if it appears I have no patience but I simply do not have patience with talented people. The product is FANTASTIC! Drop the adverts, you don't need them. It sells itself.

Jonathan Starkey

I agree with Jonathan on this issue, customers have shown patience when none should have been required on their part.  Fix it.

I was hoping that normal rational arguments would be enough to get this fixed....

However, now that my automator action is posted, I'd like to add that basically the same script can be used to overlay one of the printable notebooks (without lines) on a PDF printout for annotating.

I basically agree with your point - the product clearly is not advertised as adware - I just do not know much about the law regarding this.

I couldn't agree more.  Using premium evernote account and premium connect, i am very unhappy that I am unable to share pdf based notes with clients due to unwanted advertising.  

Very shoddy 

Here is some more information with those battling with this issue. I've tried two different techniques now on windows to solve this.

1. Using Adobe Pro, insert a blank pdf as a layer on top of the base pdf. Ensure that the blank pdf that you insert has an opaque background.
2. The same thing can be achieved with the windows version of pdftk using the command "pdftk inputpencast.pdf multistamp blank.pdf output pencastnobackground.pdf"

Key thing that I found was to ensure that you have a blank pdf that has an opaque background. While it's certainly easier if you use an automation script, it can be done straight from the command line in windows.

The automaton script doesn't work for me (Mac OS Lion). What are the other ways to get rid/ to change header and footer? Livescribe, when the users will get the control of it?

@Evgeny. If you can get the automation script to work then great, but it's not required. You can do it from the command line.

1. Download and install pdftk http://www.pdflabs.com/tools/pdftk-the-pdf-toolkit/ 
2. Then download blank.pdf from the post
3. At a command line type it "pdftk pencast.pdf multistamp blank.pdf output pencastnofooter.pdf"

where

• pencast.pdf is your source file
• blank.pdf is the one attached to this post
• pencastnofooter.pdf is the resulting output file.

You might need to include the path to each file.

Credit to Happy Camper for the original idea around this.

The automator action just basically executes that command line that Paul presents. But it is more convenient to drop the PDF on the automator action than to use the command line.

To use the automator action, ZPDFTK must be installed, like Paul writes.

You first need to unzip the zip file. Then you need to launch automator, open the automator action in automator - change the path in the script, as written in my post above, and then save the automator action again.

In my zip file, there is also a PDF file that is transparent in the middle, and only blocks the parts of the page that contains the advertisements.

--

Using the same command line with ZPDFTK as Paul uses, one can also...

- add a livescribe printable notebook to a PDF file (to print-and-annotate).

- add any pdf file on top of a pencast pdf .

Still, no comment from Livescribe. 

To me, this complete lack of interest in what customers want and need is a really bad sign, overall.

I'm enthusiastic about my Livescribe setup and am happy to respond to the interest it generates at business meetings, etc.  I'm not happy to have the need to advertise Livescribe's products pushed upon me.  It is one of a select number of gadgets I use every day and I don't accept silly, unprofessional messages being posted form any other device - especially one I've paid over £200 to set up.  

It's great that other posters have devoted their time to post workarounds, but come on Livescribe - realise how this is making you look to your user base.

Apparently Jeff was going to make an announcement and is probably a little embarrassed by the whole issue. Using the print then save to pdf on Mac OS Lion does seem to remove the adverts but still . . . what happens for a pencast?

The point is there are goods being sold in UK and EU not advising customers prior to purchase that there are adverts built in to the interface. 

Need an indication of that announcement now Jeff.

Thanks everyone for contributing to my original posting. I'm glad we've got a lively conversation going here.
The only thing missing is feedback from Livescribe and I think its time we heard back from Jeff.

Jeff, I guess you're monitoring this topic. Are you able to comment? Can you re-assure us that Livescribe is listening and is willing to adapt to the needs of its customers?

Thanks, Alex.

Thanks for your reply Jeff. It is appreciated and I hope we're not stressing you out too much! There's obviously something there that can't be disclosed and we need to let you sort it out. 
I believe we've managed to make our voices heard and hopefully Livescribe has learned something from that.
Right guys, what's the next topic to get on their case about? ;-)

Jeff - from where I am, it is really really hard to figure out what your problem is. It's not a programming problem - the code that puts advertisements on our Livescribe PDF pencasts can be erased in a matter of minutes.

Everyone here knows that you could switch it of by pressing a button - right now.

That is why people here wonder what is going on - for days, weeks, months....

... and again: silence.

Maybe the "work" is still going on.... However, as I wrote, there is nothing to work on. It's a five-minute-fix that is basically effortless (just delete or comment out one or a few lines of code).

Just taking a break from the cricket sounds to wish everyone a happy new year, and I hope that someone at Livescribe made it their New Year's Resolution to actually listen to customers.

I'm a new customer who just received his pen today, and I was satisfied until I tried to export a note out of Livescribe Desktop.  The header and footer you've added just looks like trash.  This pitiful advertising isn't inspiring anyone to buy your product, and it prevents people like me who would otherwise gladly recommend your product from doing so.  I don't know what you're thinking, and I don't know how the decision to alienate your customers has been allowed to stand for so long.

Any news on this? A lot of us have been patiently waiting a long time for what seems to be a very simple (and reasonable) fix to the software, and it's very disheartening to download update after update without having it addressed.  I love my Livescribe pen, but frankly I can't use it for its intended purpose as long as the ads are there.

Jeff, thanks for the occasional updates. Please help impress upon the rest of the Livescribe team that those ads are doing more harm than good. You guys have an amazing product that sells itself, but the first thing to come out of the mouth of almost every person who has seen one of my PDFs is "...but it's possible to remove that footer, right?"  Seriously, just showing someone the PDF of your handwriting sells this pen, but that footer kills their enthusiasm and costs you sales!

Looking forward to a fix!

For anyone out there on OS X that wants a really quick way to get rid of the footer without an Automator action.

You can use Livescibe's print function, and the hit PDF in the bottom right of the print dialog box.

(You will be glad to know that Livescribe does not try to add stupid adverts and hyperlinks to your printed documents)

Admittedly this does not help if you want the attached audio but otherwise it is much quicker than an automator action for normal PDF's.

For windows users your going to need to find a PDF printer or similar, sorry.

I would not count on the footer ever being removed. This is the final reply I got from Livescribe in the matter. They have since then refused to answer any of my follow-up questions:

"... your request to remove them is a feature not available at this time. It is your choice to use this export feature of Livescribe desktop."

They basically told me to shut up, and not use the function at all.

Now, also consider that features suggested appear as "under consideration" but rarely (never?) as implemented. 

Basically, it appears that Livescribe does not care what their customers think about their product, or whether they can use it at all. They apparently will not implement any feature suggested by any custumer, no matter how minimal the effort woudl be for them.

So my advice for anyone who has not yet bought a pen who reads this: Make sure the pen does EXACTLY what you need before you buy it. (When that is true, then the pen can be truly excellent - but things that are "almost" possible will remain that way.)

@Étienne

It would seem that they either didn't make a new years resolution or perhaps new years resolutions were just made to be broken :)

Well we're not going to shut up!!
We're going to stay campainging on this one until they listen and respond properly to paying customers. This is not just about the footers now. This is about the whole attitude of the company to our many polite, patient and very valid requests.
:-(

I no longer recommend the Livescribe pen to people. In fact, when asked about it I recommend that people not buy it.

The irony is that I continued to be an advocate for Livescribe despite the footers in the PDF because I was under the impression that the problem would be resolved. I don't believe that to be true any longer. I still get asked about my pen a lot, but at this point I tell people not to waste their money.

It's too bad because fundamentally I love the product, but the footer makes it impossible to use in a professional environment.

Hopefully Livescribe marketing will realize how counterproductive this is. Think about it - how long would Microsoft Office continue to be dominant in a professional environment if every document included a "This document created in Microsoft Office" footer at the bottom?  It would be one thing if the Livescribe were somehow a free, ad-supported product, but it's not. I payed $200 to purchase it and the ability share what's recorded on the pen is a core function of the product.

Jeff, please tell me I'm wrong about the direction this is going!  If not, I'm sorry to say that you guys have lost an enthusiastic customer and (dare I say) evangelist for your product.

@Thomas - Thanks for the suggestion.  As you point out, this doesn't help if you need the PDF to include audio.  Unfortunately, having audio included with notes is one of the big selling points of the product.

Jeff that's great news thanks. You've got a lot of people waiting keenly for that now.

Are you able to share with us the commercial issue that has dragged this out so long and alienated customers and potential customers? Hopefully some lessons have been learned at LiveScribe about customer relations and product direction.

Alex.

Jeff,

This is great news!  Thanks for representing the voice of the customer on this issue.

Dale

Really good news - although a shame it didn't come before some of lost a slice of our enthusiasm for the product.

I'll be grateful when the change is made.  Thanks.

Any updates?  I had been hoping to start using my new Echo to post notes for my calculus section by now.

I just took a quick glance at the Pencast PDF generated by the windows version of Livescribe Desktop, and it looks good.  I hope the Mac version produces an identical file.  Thanks for listening, and I'm a little happier with my pen today.

Hi all,

Fantastic! How much more professional that looks :-)

As the original poster of this thread (v1.1 as there was a v1.0 eight months ago on this same topic), I'd like to thank all for participating and supporting the cause. I know to some, it must seem trivial but to others, it was a vital issue that determined their continued use of the product and trust in LiveScribe.

The issue became more than just a feature annoyance but a campaign to get ourselves heard. Jeff must be praised for seeing this through at last. I'm sure he's worked on our behalf but has struggled against some sort of commercial/management resistance that he can't disclose.

Enough said. Hopefully LiveScribe has taken all this onboard and learned a valuable lesson in allowing the customer to particpate in developing the product.

Thanks,
Alex
UK  

This is great news and will make my Livescribe pen much more useful in a professional environment!  Can't wait to start sharing notes with people.

Jeff, thanks for sticking with us and helping make it happen from your end.  I think it took longer than we would have liked, but it got done.  Thanks!

Dale

The advertisements really are gone now. I am surprised - in a good way.

Well done Jeff!

I don't see the footer any more, but the header is still there.  Is there any way to get rid of it?  If not, does this mean I cannot write in the top margin and export to PDF with legible results?

Thanks, Jeff; I tried uninstalling LD/LC insofar as I deleted their folders in Applications, but I still get the header.  I am using MacOS Preview to open these PDFs (since they're not pencasts, just frozen text); is that the reason I'm seeing the header?  If not, how deep do I need to dig to uninstall LD and LC completely?

I have seen a header similar to what Phil has described. However, it only appears on my iPad. Does not appear on my laptop. The identical pdf was viewed both times.

I can't remember the exact message in the header. However, it was something "for the best viewing download the latest version of adobe from here..."

So, I think there is some script in the pdf that if it doesn't detect the latest version reveals this header. So, it appears on my ipad which is running a third party pdf viewer but doesn't appear on the full version of adobe that I'm running on my laptop.

FYI, the header is still present for me as well, using LivescribeDesktop 2.8.3 (58580) on Mac OSX, using "Preview.app". On the iPad, you can see the header with the built in PDF viewer in DropBox, or in iBooks.

The header is actually useful. It tells everyone that there are voice notes in the PDF  that needs a different player to be heard. It is only visible if you use a player that does NOT support playing the pencast.

I might consider this useful if the header only occurred in documents that contained audio notes, but I'm pretty sure I was seeing it on documents with no audio component, which just makes the header more confusing.  I haven't had time to go back and check, though; I'm just cutting my losses for now and going back to the old scanner.  :\

Please Livescribe, please get this sorted. I mean come on, its been long enough now.

I have been waiting patiently since last year to be able to share notes without having to explain that unbelievably ugly header.

I am also using Livescribe Desktop 2.8.3 (58580) on MacSOX. All my PDFs Have a "To hear and view this pencast PDF ..." header.

I never record audio so it is nothing to do with using a viewer that doesn't support audio. It has everything to do with the fact that there is still a ridiculous header on my PDF.

This is just getting silly now. Please Livescribe, please let me know what is going on with sorting this :-(

I am in no way affiliated with any of the vendors involved and have no inside information, but I think it's reasonable to assume that the remaining header is part of some arrangement with Adobe, who may well have provided some form of collaboration or support in the development of Livescribe's pencast technologies; I can see how this might be a delicate issue, which makes  me even more grateful for all of Jeff's diligence.

The most unfortunate part of all of this in my mind is that while the advertisement itself is annoying, poor design choices actually make the issue a showstopper.  If the advertisements had launched as a pair of clean, unobtrusively-placed (say, where the paper controls are printed so that they could not overlap with user content) "Powered by Acrobat" and "Created with Livescribe" buttons or watermarks, with hyperlinks and recognizable logos (and preferably with more professional-looking palette choices), I wouldn't be nearly as concerned as I am about the current design or even the previous one.  However, when I find that my handwriting is jumbled up with brightly colored background text which conveys erroneous unsolicited technical advice, I conclude that distributing such a document would reflect poorly on me.

If these headers simply can't be disabled, it still seems like improved wording and layout could at least make them tolerable.  Personally I don't think it's too late for a win-win of some kind, but things seem to be difficult lately for reasons unknown.

@Jeff. I am using the Preview.App default application on MAC OSX. I am using Livescribe Desktop 2.8.3 (58580) to create the PDF (Via Livescribe Connect). I completely reinstalled the Livescribe software and tried with a fresh installation with the same results.

I also get exactly the same result if I send the page to Evernote.

From what you are saying (and from messages from other OSX users) I would guess that it is a Mac OS issue.

You mention that you can not replicate the issue and that you are using the standard Adobe Reader application, but have you tried on OSX? My bet (and this is purely a guess) is that no one on OSX uses Adobe's Reader Application. Everyone would just use the default Preview.app application.

I have created an animated GIF (attached to this post) showing the process I am following.

Paul

Apologies to Thomas Purchas. I totally missed his helpful post from January 17th 2012 where he suggested just using the "Print" option on OSX and choosing PDF. This does indeed create a PDF without the header.

Of course there shouldn't be a need for a workaround. The export to PDF should just work :-(

Having spent a good half hour scanning all these comments, I feel Livescibe may have shot themselves in the foot! I was considering getting my boss to invest in this product but it would not be acceptable to send out documents with adverts for other companies attached. One needs to be able to take a product out of the box and use it with confidence. On the face of everything I have seen and read about this pen it is fantastic. It as the potential to be a great tool with many uses, unfortunately Livescribe have not been proactive in listening to their client base. I will not be pressuring my boss now for this product.

Jeff, you must have been banging your head against the wall quite a bit. What with company politics, annoyed clients and product support developers, you did a very good job being piggy in the middle. Well done.