New software is available for Livescribe's Echo smartpen.

Echo Desktop is the successor to Livescribe Desktop. It's said to provide a more modern and streamlined approach to storing and organising notes, using PDF-based files and native Windows and Mac sharing methods.

Among other things, this means Echo Desktop uses the same format as Livescribe+, the company's iOS software for the Livescribe 3 smartpen.

Echo Desktop is described as an optional upgrade, though Livescribe Desktop is only being supported until the end of 2014.

The new software requires Windows 7 or later, or OS X 10.8.5 or later.

"The changes we've made in Echo Desktop will provide a better experience for our customers by using a broadly adopted PDF format, and allow us to deliver a more consistent experience across our Echo and Livescribe 3 smartpens with standardised, stable technology," said Livescribe SVP of engineering Brett Halle.

"Livescribe PDF files are easier to share, and take advantage of standard formats like .m4a audio and InkML handwriting information."

Also new from Livescribe is support for Anoto's LivePDF service, which allows Echo or wifi (formerly Sky) smartpen users to print documents from any Windows application to a colour laser printer, and then annotate them - even collaboratively - with a smartpen.