WriteSense digital pen tech for capacitive touchscreens announced

Folks with capacitive touchscreen devices like the G1 and the iPhone who miss the glorious days of the stylus should be happy to hear this news. InPlay Technologies has announced that they've developed tech for a new RF pen called WriteSense which eliminates the necessity for a separate digitizer -- it communicates directly with the capacitive touch sensors. Essentially, this will mean smaller and cheaper RF pens, which is probably a good thing since capacitive touchscreens will likely continue their assault on resistive touchscreens (cough, Nokia). The pencil doesn't stand a chance.

[Via Gotta Be Mobile]

[TJ @ Dec 17th 2008 12:31PM]

Sweet photoshop skills.

[Ray @ Dec 17th 2008 12:41PM]

Its no photoshop, its the original unreleased version ment to be used with the Mac hand... look here

http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/29/apple-patent-filings-detail-touchscreen-tablet/

[Flashpoint @ Dec 17th 2008 12:52PM]

I like using my iphone without the stylus because #1 it means I can't lose the stylus, #2 using it only takes one hand.

I think the Blackberry's clicking screen is a good evolution to the touchscreen because it makes a *touch* into a more certain *press*.

As for a tablet Mac, I think a larger iphone like device (the size of a PSP) would definitely make a cool tablet device but typing on it would be a bitch without an underslung keyboard.

[Ryan Trevisol @ Dec 17th 2008 2:58PM]

@ Flashpoint: I have to agree with you there. A lot of people hate the BB Storm screen but I kinda liked it. I could see misspelling things a lot less on it than my iphone.

[Konstantin @ Dec 17th 2008 3:48PM]

I welcome the stylus for my iPhone for the sole reason of not having to take my gloves off in the winter. That's one of my pet peeves with the iPhone when its below zero outside.

[shugg @ Dec 17th 2008 7:04PM]

cheaper.?,these pens have been out for last 9-12 months for iphone,5-9$ online,

[SimbaDogg @ Dec 18th 2008 12:32AM]

i've always said that i love using my winmo phone w/ not a stylus, but a pen or a pencil when i'm sitting in class/at work. its just convenient for me, and a lot more comfy than using my fingers. but i dont wanna group you guys w/ the same iBots that i've ran into in months past...but they always make fun of me for using a stylus/pen for gesturing-clicking-selecting. i'm sure once this is released in mass numbers, these same bullies will ease up on the stylus taunts, and see how comfortable it can be to use a pen style input device. welcome home fellow smartphone users. welcome home

[YpoCaramel @ Dec 17th 2008 12:34PM]

Useful to sketch artists and Chinese character writing. Finger painting my way through a Chinese essay is not as fun as having a pen.

[Anthony @ Dec 17th 2008 12:40PM]

This whole subject is so funny. My wife bought a G1 (upon my recommendation as it sounded perfect based on her needs). She hated it. the capacitive touchscreen was a nightmare (& apparently is the same for anyone w/ fingernails).

She went to a Nokia E71.

I got the Nokia 5800 (resistive) & she loved it!

So, Engadget, GDGT & all those others touting the benefits, nay- requirement, for capacitive to be "modern" there are quite a few out there, I suppose, who want to key the meat of their thumbs off the screen & use their fingertips or nails to input.

I, for one, like the 5800 just fine. The scrolling is different, but works pretty well.

[QuarterSwede @ Dec 17th 2008 12:46PM]

My wife says the same thing about my iPhone. She hates using it because her nails get in the way (cut them I say ... who need 'em?). Personally I hate using resistive screens and styluses. I have to use them at work all day and it just plain sucks. It's almost like Apple designed multi-touch for my needs.

[andy @ Dec 17th 2008 1:01PM]

engadget loves apple and iPhone so any chance to push its features, it will

[nerdtalker @ Dec 17th 2008 1:03PM]

Weird thing is that my TP seems to be both. It's definitely capacitive, but it's also definitely resistive, just requires a bit more pushing.

I agree though, resistive is great if you've got nails.

[Anthony @ Dec 17th 2008 4:42PM]

@nerdtalker: The Touch Pro can't be capacitive. WM doesn't support it. However, I've read (or heard) that the new HD from HTC is very, very good. Maybe the Touch Pro is also in that same vein.

[Ashwin @ Dec 17th 2008 7:48PM]

How would Windows Mobile prevent a phone manufacturer from using a capacitive touchscreen? The worst case scenario would probably be the phone manufacturer having to write drivers.

[MikeWard1701 @ Dec 19th 2008 5:42AM]

@Anthony

The buttons and D-pad area on the Diamond and Pro are capacitive. They're even been shown to support multitouch.

[CraigSmith @ Dec 17th 2008 12:53PM]

This will be perfect for winter time when ones hands are most likely to be gloved. It will sure come in handy when you have to make a decision between taking off a glove, or using the tip of your nose.

[Speeddemon2008 @ Dec 17th 2008 12:54PM]

I want to see someone use there nose out in the cold because they wont take there gloves off for input with the Iphone. that would be funny.

[Craig @ Dec 17th 2008 1:06PM]

Been there done that at football tailgates.

[M @ Dec 17th 2008 1:01PM]

This is probably a dumb question, but why is it that the Nintendo DS has had no problem with both fingers and styluses? Is it the resistive type? If so, then I got to say I like resistive touch screens better. That is the best touchscreen / digitizer that I've used.

[Surur @ Dec 17th 2008 1:36PM]

You never hear about the screen of the DS because it would undermine Engadget's theory that no-one wants resistive touch screens.

[YpoCaramel @ Dec 17th 2008 5:47PM]

Resistive is finger and pen contact, capacitive only takes fingers but can take a big layer of glass and supports multi-touch. I've never found multi-touch as amazing as they say - I'll just um... hit the zoom the zoom out button. Overall I'm fine with resistive or capacitive.

[MikeWard1701 @ Dec 19th 2008 5:53AM]

As mentioned the DS screen is resistive. Its not a digitizer, its just a stylus, any tipped object will work with it, pen/pencil/fingernail/match.

@YpoCaramel

I agree, tried multitouch on the iPhone and I'm not too impressed. I prefer the single touch gestures used with resistive screens, they offer a wider variety of actions through clicks/taps swipes and other motions.

[sinai @ Dec 17th 2008 1:05PM]

i have tons of experience with a wacom tablet, the handwriting comes across unimpressive and sloppier than it is in real life. i'd rather stick with a 0.5mm pen.

[wickedpheonix @ Dec 17th 2008 1:28PM]

maybe from your experience, but from my experience (and many others) with a Tablet PC, Wacom > all.

[Shunnabunich @ Dec 17th 2008 1:09PM]

Aren't there already a couple of iPhone styluses out there? I seem to remember reading a review of two of them on TUAW.

[Orappa @ Dec 17th 2008 1:17PM]

borring

[pikkoz @ Dec 17th 2008 1:21PM]

It's good to see something new about touchscreens.

But what bugs me are those statements about the "so called" superiority fo capacitative touchscreen on resistive ones, i've used various touchscreen device both with resistive or capacitative touchscreen, and i don't see why, they've both pro and cons but not at the degree to declare one better that the other.

Even the multi-touch ,it's really innovative, don't take that in a bad way , but i want to see more implementations , i mean , my old iphone i've used multitouch, where? just to zoom in and out photos and web pages in safari (and in some nifty games) .

[Marin @ Dec 17th 2008 4:40PM]

I agree that the automatic assumption that resistive is worse is kind of ridiculous. Sure, capacitive can lead to some killer UI, but so can resistive if developers work harder. Additionally, capacitive can't do handwriting recognition - a sincere no no in many of the Asian countries where there's no way to reasonably fit their alphabets on the buttons. But yeah, who cares about these huge markets. Engadget knows better.

[KilgoreTrout @ Dec 17th 2008 2:35PM]

The fact is that there are good and bad capacitive screens and good and bad resistive screens.
Nintendo DS and samsung Omnia's are resistive but are excellent because the software apparently was designed keeping in mind the platform it will have to work with, and because they did'nt make the same mistake as HTC made in designing their touch flo crapware , i.e. plopping an ultra heavy program in top of an already bloated OS.
Anyway touch screen tech is OK for handheld devices, (and maybe digiframes) but the future of input intefaces is in voice recognition and voice activation.
I produce a linux based wifi digiframe that has both a capacitive touch screen and a very good voice activation software , and all my clients say that after a few days they use only the voice commands to check e-mails, play music from pc or Nas or directly from the net, sync'ing with their laptops etc.
Give people the possibility of choosing between a good touch screen or a good voice command software and they all will go for the latter.

[ran @ Dec 17th 2008 3:48PM]

Why so negative towards Nokia. They have been in the handset business for the good last few decades—they have obviously been doing something right!

[Levi @ Dec 17th 2008 6:02PM]

Mobile pixel art ftw!!! I'll buy one if there's a decent app store paint program.

[Messymeese @ Dec 17th 2008 8:07PM]

iDoodle2....

[Othello @ Dec 17th 2008 11:04PM]

Why not just use one of the styluses (stylus'? styli?) that work with cap touch screens instead of getting an RF one? They range from $2 to $20, an example of one of the more expensive ones is http://www.tenonedesign.com/stylus.php .

[David Wallin @ Dec 18th 2008 12:08PM]

Being able to use fingers only is great (styluses do get lost), but there are certain tasks where you would want a stylus - like painting or drawing. Fingers are too big and bulky for anything requiring a lot of accuracy.

[David Wallin @ Dec 18th 2008 12:09PM]

Also, what do you mean 'capacitive can't do handwriting recognition'? Since when? There's no reason you can't do handwriting on a capacitive screen. Unless you are referring to the lack of stylus..