HP Unveils Chromebooks Compatible With the Universal Stylus Initiative

HP will begin shipping its first Universal Stylus Initiative-enabled Chromebooks later this month.

HP will offer the 12-inch HP Chromebook x360 12b for $359 and the 14-inch HP Chromebook x360 14b for $379. They come with up to full 1080p displays, and B&O-powered audio on the 14b model.

The Universal Stylus Initiative (USI) was unveiled today the first 12 companies with products using the USI 1.0 Stylus and Device Specification — the first open standard active stylus protocol available on the market.

USI 1.0 replaces propriety approaches with a single solution allowing a stylus to be used across a wide range of touch-enabled devices, including phones, tablets, computing and entertainment platforms. Independent hardware vendors (IHVs), original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and the software ecosystem can develop a new generation of active styluses that provide consumers a consistent, customizable and interoperable experience across make, model and form-factor.

The USI 1.0 Specification defines a standard signaling mechanism and communication protocol between a stylus and a touch-enabled device. The 1.0 Specification features a two-way protocol designed from the ground up to support a set of base features including multiple, simultaneous styluses as well as extensibility for per-vendor customization and future usages.

Users will be able to use a single USI stylus across all of their USI-enabled devices and any USI stylus shipped with devices will work with other USI-enabled devices, even those from different manufacturers. Additionally, the USI 1.0 Specification also provides the capability to use multiple styluses from different manufacturers on a single device

Essentially, the USI standard—supported by a dozen companies from Google, HP, Intel, and a host of stylus makers. HP will make its own pen, the HP Rechargeable USI Pen, which is expected to be available in November for a starting price of $69.99.

HP Chromebook x360 (12b-ca0010nr) basic specs