A graphics tablet is a useful tool for a designer, cartoonist, illustrator who creates visuals for Hellspin games, and just a fan of drawing. The choice of such a gadget may seem incredibly difficult to a novice artist because you need to consider many characteristics. Here’s what to consider when choosing a graphics tablet.

Connection Type

Everything is simple here — the connection can be wired and wireless. In the first case, the tablet is connected to the computer via USB cable, in the second case, via Bluetooth.

Device Type

There are two types of graphics tablets: with a screen and without. If the tablet doesn’t have a screen, the device must be connected to the computer to see the drawing process. If you have a screen, you don’t need to connect it.

Each type of tablet has advantages and disadvantages. For a beginner, both can be suitable, it’s just a matter of habit. Consider that in the absence of a screen you will draw on one surface, and the result will be seen on another (computer monitor). If possible, test the gadget before buying, so you can understand which option is more convenient and practical for you.

Workspace Size and Resolution

The size of the working area, as a rule, is smaller than the size of the tablet itself, so when choosing a device, pay attention to this parameter. There are several options — A6, A5, A4, A3, each of which is approximately the same size as the paper format. It’s also important to check the convenience of different formats for you. You shouldnt immediately chase the biggest gadget or limit yourself to a miniature one. A drawing tablet should be comfortable to work with and not restrain your hand movements.

The resolution of the device is measured by LPI (the number of lines per inch). The higher the resolution, the more accurate the drawing will be. A beginner can limit themselves to a lower resolution. If the computer to which the tablet is connected has a low resolution display, LPI 2540 is suitable.

Input Method

It can be pen and touch. The main difference is that a tablet with touch input allows you to zoom with your fingers, but you will still need to use an electronic pen to draw.

Response Speed

The higher the responsiveness of the tablet’s surface, the more accurate and faster the device will respond to commands. If a drawing tablet is bought by a beginner artist, a speed of up to 150 DPS will be enough.  For professional tasks you will need a higher speed (from 200 DPS).

Pen and Its Sensitivity

The final result of drawing largely depends on the convenience and functionality of the pen. Like the tablet itself, it can be wired or wireless. Besides, there are pens with a battery and without a battery — such pens are more convenient for those who don’t always have the opportunity to recharge the device.

The most important characteristic of a pen is its sensitivity. The higher it is, the more accurately you can control the gadget — adjust the color and thickness of lines, draw fine details. If a specialist needs sensitivity from 4096 to 8192 levels, then for a beginner 1024 to 2048 levels will do.

Brand

Wacom One by Wacom 2 Small

A great small A6 tablet that’s a pleasure to work on. Compatible with most drawing and 3D modeling software. With a resolution of 2540 LPI, 2048 levels of sensitivity and a response speed of 133, the Wacom One by Wacom 2 Small can easily handle basic and more advanced tasks.

Huion Kamvas 13

It’s a tablet with a screen — you can draw without connecting the device to a computer. Thanks to its excellent performance, the model is suitable for both beginner and advanced drawing. High resolution of 5080 LPI and sensitivity of 8192 levels will allow even a professional to use this tablet.

The device comes with 10 interchangeable pen nibs. It’s important to always have them on hand to keep the picture quality at an excellent level.

Wacom One 13

Wacom One 13 works with macOS, Linux and Windows. It can also be connected to Android devices (see the official website for a full list of gadgets).

The working area of the gadget is 13.3 inches. The display is matte, with large viewing angles (170 degrees). The picture is sharp, and color reproduction is natural. The pen has a sensitivity of 4096 levels. It’s also sensitive to tilt up to 60 degrees. Working with the pen is easy and convenient. You can draw a line with any slope, pressure, transparency and thickness.

XP-Pen Artist 16 (2nd)

This is a graphics tablet with a diagonal of 16 inches (A4 size), 1920×1080 pixels resolution. The body is thin, lightweight. On the left side there is a panel with express access buttons. The viewing angle of the device is large – 178 degrees. The picture is contrasty, bright, well visible even in bright light. Color rendering is natural – and this is especially important when working with photos.

The device works with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, CorelDRAW, and other editors. So you will be able to use your favorite and familiar software for work. Drawing and retouching is easy with a special stylus that has 8192 sensitivity levels.

Xencelabs Pen Tablet Standard S

Xencelabs Pen Tablet Standard S is a compact desktop drawing tablet. The distinctive feature of this model is the presence of two electronic pens with three customizable buttons and an eraser. The pens are comfortable in your hand and will help you create the most detailed drawings. Also, a special glove reduces friction between the surface of the tablet and your hand and helps you draw smoother lines.

We have been told about good habits since childhood, but not everyone can put them into practice. Lack of motivation, self-sabotage, and the complexity of the habit ritual (running in the morning, getting up early, playing at IviBet to relax and restore your energy) can hinder you. Habit trackers were invented to avoid laziness and distractions: they make it easier to track progress and allow you to praise yourself by visually seeing the results.

There are about a million trackers on the market, and they range from those that help you drink more water or keep track of your daily spending, to those that help you become more efficient and productive. In this review, let’s take a look at the best habit apps that help you implement the useful and remove the harmful habits. Let’s look at the best tools for your productivity in 2023.

TickTick

It’s a habit tracker combined with a planner. It allows you to mark habits in the past, shows modest statistics for each habit separately, and in the settings, you can set the frequency, notifications, color and icon, as well as add a quote and a goal for more motivation.

Brite

Besides the habit tracker, the app has a to-do planner plus notes and a personal diary. Habit settings are for visual lovers: besides repetitions and notifications, there are colored backings, icons, priority checkboxes, and even a Pomodoro timer (only in the Pro plan). Statistics are inside each habit, and progress can be marked in the past.

Singularity

Singularity is a powerful to-do and task planner with a built-in beautiful habit tracker on your phone with nothing extra. When you create a habit, you only need to specify its name and color. And to mark it completed, you just need to click on the circle in the column with the date. Click once — the habit is counted, and the circle is colored. Click twice — the habit is half completed or skipped, and the circle has turned into a colored circle, but the chain has not been broken. There are general statistics for all habits and separate statistics for each habit, and you can even mark habits in the past.

Tick it

One of the most popular habit trackers for Android owners, which positions itself as a goal achievement app. It keeps statistics on the fulfillment of habits, you can give a habit a day off (then the statistics will not consider it unfulfilled).

When creating a habit, you can immediately specify what kind of habit it is: harmful, regular or one-time. Among the available settings: icon, color, days of the habit, time of day and end date if needed. You can also set a goal: either duration or number of repetitions.

Habit

One of the best habit trackers for iOS — it’s bright, minimalistic, and easy to understand. In the free version, there are 3 habits, which the app itself automatically sets the color. In the settings you can set repetition and reminder. There are detailed statistics and the ability to put the progress of habits in the past.

Loop

A free habit tracker on Android with which you can cultivate as many habits as you need. In the habit settings you can specify its purpose (and even prescribe units of measurement), color, motivational question, frequency of repetition and add a reminder. The statistics are detailed. But the design is a bit outdated.

Productive

It asks you to fill out a questionnaire at the start, and then offers to choose the first habit from a list. To add new habits of your own, you will have to either buy a paid tariff or choose ready-made ones and rename them.

For habits, you can configure duration, repetition (several times a day), reminders by time and place plus color and icon. For the duration, the app has a timer that you can turn on when you start a habit, but this tool seems to be more suitable for tasks than for cultivating habits.

Besides the tracker, there’s a challenge among the app’s users, a magazine with useful articles, and statistics, but you can only view them with the Pro plan.

Everyday

A simple and clear habit tracker in a mobile app: you do it — click on the square, miss it — click on it again and it will turn into a triangle. The chain will not be interrupted, so you can not scold yourself for skipping too much. There are statistics, it looks like a huge field from the sapper game, where every day of success is painted over. The more painted without skips, the brighter the chain.

Move on

This habit app is something between a tracker and a Pomodoro timer for tasks. At the start, it offers to schedule tasks and set them to the intervals you want: how many cycles of working time there will be and how long they will last, what the short and long breaks will be. Convenient if you’re used to working with Pomodoro, but not so convenient if you just need to mark a tiny habit lasting only a minute.

To track a habit, you need to start a timer for a specific task, the habit won’t count until the time runs out. This is handy for focusing on the task at hand. And what’s inconvenient is that the app organizes the tasks from the list by their duration: the first one offers the shortest, the last one — the longest. And not in any other way.

The University of Ibadan has received the sum of N1 billion for the funding of the first diaspora research centre in Africa to be situated in the University.

According to a statement jointly signed by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) on Thursday, the endowment facilitated by TETfund will be used to fund Education Centres and facilities for the Nigerians in the diaspora to foster knowledge exchange, fellowship, research, and transnational projects.

The Chairman of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri, made it known in a statement that her commission had already met with the UI management to discuss the framework and implementation strategies of the project which at completion is expected to shape the landmark of research and development in Africa.

“TETFund followed through with the commitment by earmarking 1 billion naira for the establishment of Diaspora Research Centre in University of Ibadan, one of Nigeria’s most prestigious tertiary institutions.

“The Diaspora Research Centre will be the first of its kind in Africa with immense potential to shape the landscape of research and development in the continent,” Mrs Dabiri said.

According to the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, the N1 billion allocation for the Diaspora Research Center in UI under the 2023 budgetary allocation followed the recommendation of NIDCOM. He added that an additional sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira has been earmarked as fund assistance for the Global Research Centre at the University.

“An allocation of 1 Billion Naira was provided in the Fund’s 2023 budgetary allocation under the Special Intervention Initiative of the Fund for the establishment of Diaspora Center for Research and Development.

“The allocation letter was given to the University of Ibadan in May 2023, with a recommendation that the Institution submits implementation plan for the effective take-off of activities.”

Reiterating the relevance of the project to the global research community, Mr Sonny Echono made the following remarks:

“The Centre is proposed to house a rich collection of African Diaspora and Transnational Studies resources, including textbooks, archival documents, audio and video tapes, online resources, microfilms and other related materials.

“It is as well intended to serve as a flagship scientific hub for teaching, research, and other academic activities related to diaspora and transnational studies.

“The proposal indicates that the proposed facility shall be an incubator for hosting experts, practitioners, and policy professionals with interest and experience in research, including hosting fellowship and exchange programmes to produce truly globally impactful diaspora and transnational knowledge.”