Synaptics Dual Mode Touchpad adds media controls

The humble touchpad, that workhorse of laptop navigation, is about to get a makeover. Synaptics has unveiled what it calls a Dual Mode touchpad, designed specifically to work with media PCs. In normal mode it works just like any other touchpad, but flick a switch, and the pad is illuminated with a series of blue LEDs indicating media functions, which can be accessed with a tap. These include a volume control, fast forward and rewind controls, and application launchers. While this seems like it could be useful, it looks like customization options are relatively limited (we'd like to swap out some of those icons and apps), and you apparently have to toggle back to cursor mode for standard navigation. However, as practically the first attempt in years to do anything new with a touchpad, it definitely looks like a step in the right direction (and after all, it does have blue LEDs). The Dual Mode touchpad is currently available on the Medion MD96500 laptop, now shipping in Europe.

[Hummeriah @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I wish this was a story about the Xbox 360!!!

[Scoobydoo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

HUH? Toshiba had this in their notebooks, called the cPAd, and if I am not mistaken that too was a Synaptics device. How Synaptics can now call this "new" is beyond me...

From back in early 2002:

The cPad� is the first secondary display designed for use in a notebook computer. cPad consists of a 240x160 EL LCD display with Synaptics' capacitive touch screen, and is integrated into a notebook where users would normally find a touch pad interface device. In addition to normal cursor navigation, cPad allows users to directly interact with the display to control secondary applications. Currently, those applications include programs such as the calculator, application launcher, signature input, and clock and date.

[PDubNYC @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I just wish they would bring back track balls like I had on my Powerbook 180 back in the day. Best control device ever, in my opinion. I guess I should add that I would like it on the powerbooks, not some WinBook or something as I am sure someone, somewhere uses them in their laptops.

[hobgoblin @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

i second that return of the trackball.
i have never realy understood why the ball got replaced with the pad...

place the buttons properly and you can even operate the ball with your thumb and whatever number of buttons with the other fingers...

one could even put in a full scroll wheel there for one of the other fingers to use. and maybe mirror the setup for left hand use :P

but i guess that a pad is simpler/cheaper to design into the laptop...

[Matt Thurston @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

No mechanical parts+low Z height make touchpads ideal for notebooks. A track ball requires 60-75% of its height to be in the notebook. There just isn't the real estate these days.

[Russ @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

get some e-paper into the touchpad, and let us customise it that way. i think i'd get some of my MSN emoticons on there.. or little icons for the weapons in quake (that light up when u have that weapon).

[Dylan Horkin @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I don't know the EE physics behind touchpads (I heard it was resistance or something), but what about a cheap B&W LCD screen, and then putting the equivalent of a touchpad on top?