It hasn't been very long and now a gadget without an App store is inconceivable. Livescribe just announced the beta launch of its online Application Store, providing consumers with the ability to download more than 30 paid and free applications, which extend the functionality of the Pulse smartpen beyond its core feature of recording and linking audio to handwriting.

What would a Smartpen App do? Can it fart in 100 variations or blow out candles like iPhone apps can do?
There are actually already quite useful Pulse apps. For example, consumers can now read and hear a translated phrase in Spanish, French, German, Japanese or even Korean, access fun facts on a variety of topics from past World Series winners to U.S. Presidents; get help studying geometry, organic chemistry, or Hebrew chanting; play more than a dozen games like Blackjack, Video Poker or Hangman; listen to classical music pieces or even play a guitar – right from the 'pentip' of their Pulse smartpen.

Of course Livescribe offers a SDK to develop apps for the Pulse pen.

Livescribe released the 2.0 version of its mobile computing platform today, including software upgrades for both the smartpen and the Livescribe Desktop software – which allows consumers to save, organize and share their notes and recordings from their computer, as well as download and install applications.
You can check out the Livescribe Smartpen App store here.

The Livescribe Pulse smartpen is available in two models: 2GB, storing more than 200 hours of audio for $169.95 and 4GB, storing more than 400 hours of audio for $199.95. Buy on Amazon.