These have actually been out for a tick, but we just got our special someone a pair of the Dots iPhone-compatible gloves and they're so simultaneously silly and brilliant we thought you'd get a kick out of 'em. Yep, they're just nice wool or knit gloves with metal dots in the fingers that work with capacitive touchscreens -- no crazy
patented Apple "anti-sticky" layer or
ridiculous overdesign involved. Of course, just because they're marketed towards iPhone users doesn't mean they won't work with the Storm or G1 as well -- honestly, we're sort of surprised these little nubs haven't popped up on gloves everywhere. Couple more pics and a quick video after the break.
posted Feb 16th 2009 11:51AM
Maybe I'm completely missing the point, but are these really that necessary?
They're pretty useful for capacitive touchscreens...
If you live somewhere with cold climate, or even just cold winters then it might be. I can totally see these as being very useful here in Toronto, when you need to pick up a call on your iPhone and it's -10C with a -20C windchill.
Silly, simple and also brilliant idea. Now, I just hope to see some leather variants.
Only when your device has terrible HCI design and relies completely on a capacitive touchscreen to do everything.
I live in Wisconsin. It gets more than cold enough here, but those gloves don't look like they're built for very cold temperatures. Also, metal finger buttons would scratch the hell out of my phone. Overall I just think that either A) using smoker's gloves with the mitten finger flap or B) taking off your gloves, would be better solutions than these.
@wrabbit,
Not to sound like a huge loser like I'm bragging or something, but Toronto only gets down to -10C (14F)/-20C winchill (-4F)?
I live in the Poconos in Pennsylvania, and it gets down to ~-10F (-23C), sometimes colder. Not to mention it gets up to 110F (43C) in the summer.
No, it gets lower, I just used these numbers as an example of a temperature in which I would probably want a pair of gloves on when using my ipod touch outside.
@dg: I don't mean to be a party pooper, but taking your phone out of your pocket in those temperatures is a mistake to begin with. The battery will die within a few minutes at that coldness.
Will these work for the Zune button?
I've been looking for a solution to that for a while.
They should
The Zune touchpad uses the same capacative tech as all capacative touchscreens.
I would think so since the Zune uses a capacitive button. I believe it would also work with the iPod click wheel as well as laptop trackpads.
Why? The nice thing about the Zune is the fact that you can use either the touch *or* the actual button itself. No need for something like this...
I live in chilly Toronto and own a pair. First, they are nice enough gloves, but not really made for severe Canadian winters---perhaps for the fall. Second, the dots really work, but tend to be placed in slightly ackward places. Third, you had better have a rubber case on your iPhone, since the metal and wool combo makes for very slippery and potentially droppy situations. Further, ever tried getting a skinny metal iPhone out of a pocket while wearing jeans? Nearly impossible, and thus you end up taking your gloves off to get your iPhone anyway.
That said, they ain't bad, in that novelty way.
It's also ironic that you are arguing about something that would make you look dorky, such as giving your phone a simple voice command, and then here you are more or less advocating these Tacky gloves (pun intended on the tacky...seriously, what are those, thumb tacks?)
Just let it go iPhone fanboys, you're devices are already extremely limiting in dozens of ways, why dress up like a fool just to gain added functionality that comes native in say a WinMo device.
This is just silly, but then again, so are the countless Fart apps which account for a hefty portion of the iPhone's software catalog.
I'd love to see you try to dial any button based cell phone while wearing a pair of thick winter gloves. Never gonna happen.
Now, dialing a touch screen phone with the tap of a little tab built into your fingertip? I don't own a touchscreen phone, but it sounds like that'd be a lot easier.
lol, Kevin, Kevin, Kevin...
See, yet another reason why iPhone users are for the most part, utterly clueless about anything outside of the little world that Jobs built for them.
You see, the last time I had to actually even fumble through my contacts list, be it for a name, a number, or anything was ages ago.
I use Microsoft Voice Command.
If I want to call someone, I simply say:
"Call [then mention the persons name]"
If I want to dial a phone number for someone not in my contacts list, I simply say:
"Dial [then speak the phone number"]
This can all be programmed to a single large button on a phone by holding it down for like 2 seconds, such as on the Touch Pro/Diamond/etc.
Similarly, Vito have a Voice command app such as MS VC for WinMo phones that will activate when the phone turns on based on a simple "magic word", such as "Phone".
So, I could say "Phone, call Jeff"...and it will call Jeff.
Aside from that MS Voice Command will allow me to control numerous basic functions of the phone.
I can launch programs/apps.
I can work with my calendar and reminders.
I can have it play music of my choosing.
I can have it perform simple functions such as take notes for me (though the new Recite app)
the list goes on and on.
You Apple type can stick with these gloves with what are those things, thumb tacks?
Well, whatever.
Why yes! Why would I want calling someone in only two taps when I can just yell awkwardly at my Windows Mobile phone (!) warning anyone around me that I am a super dork!
Brilliance!
Yell?
Who said anything about yelling?
I will venture to say that you have yet to even use Voice Command before.
Also, if you are so inclined, calling someone is only 2 clicks away from many WM devices. You also have, ummm, you know HARDWARE buttons, such as CALL and End Call on most WM devices, once again, something that remains oblivious to iPhone users.
Hamidxa, although I found many of your comments today on Windows related articles very well thought and useful, I have to point out that your comment right here is absolutely useless and pointless. These gloves help iPhone users have better functionality over their phone, and that is what matters the most in this article.
No need to point out how Windows Mobile is cool everywhere on Engadget, don't be like those other iPhone fanboys.
The guy kevin clearly stated that he doesn't use a touchscreen phone, so your reply to him was nonsense.
Easy mate.
Hamidxa, you are shockingly stupid. How well does that voice command work for getting your email? How about replying to email? How about using a web browser? Checking the weather or your stocks? How about playing games? Downloading apps? SMS? Google maps? Calendaring? Yes, I could go on forever, the point is that these are all things you can do on the iPhone while wearing these gloves, something that voice commands would not help with in any conceivable way.
Secondly, this isn't an "iPhone thing". These gloves will work with any device that uses a capacitive touchscreen, so your anti-Apple idiocy is severely misplaced. Please buy a clue, thanks.
hamidxa= pwned real hard in this post
I would hardly call it owned.
This reminds me of an Ali G skit (aka Borat) where he had a meeting with executives at a design firm to pitch his new product.
Ali G walks in and starts by asking them rhetorically: "What is the best thing in the world?"
One big suit replies with "Love".
Another one chimes in with a different response, but Ali G waves them both off, and says "Wrong, Ice Cream".
Then he asks, what is the number one problem with ice cream, and he answers his own question with "it drips and gets on your hands".
So, what was his invention?
"The Ice Cream Glove". Something for the wearer to put on anytime they want to eat ice cream so they don't get their hands sticky.
He estimated that the Ice Cream Glove could generate upwards of 1+ Trillion dollars based on the number of people with hands in the world.
This sounds about as ridiculous as the infamous Ali G Ice Cream Glove...
Sorry all, but Hamidxa is correct. Real world usage example:
Its been pretty cold here in NYC. When I'm wearing my thinner leather gloves I can use the device to a point. However, regardless of what gloves I have on, when I am for example, walking to my car in the cold, it is VERY easy to simply push the voice command button and say "Call Joe". No yelling neccessary. In fact, it doesn't work if I yell.
And to the kid that posted examples of when we could not use MS voice command. Many of those examples were off (i.e. Voice Command does work to some extent in those presented examples). But nonetheless, Hamidxa's point was that Voice Command makes things easier in the cold, and he's right.
Thank you Chris for interjecting a voice of reason into this debate.
Also, since my respond was geared towards Kevin and his challenge of me dialing/calling a person in the cold, I felt that my response was appropriate, in that Voice Command accomplishes this very task remarkably well.
Granted, I can not use Voice Command to edit an excel spreadsheet, but then again, I have no plans of staying out in the cold for that long anyways while using my phone to do tasks that are meant for indoors or at least more accommodating weather.
To those who complained of "Excessive" cellphone news (aka iPhone users):
Are u satisfied?
Who was complaining about Cell Phone news? I haven't seen one bad comment. Are you just making SHIT up?
Oh btw STFU!
No Marc, you see, that's just because YOU'RE AN IDIOT.
Too much cellphone news on Engadget?
http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/16/too-much-cellphone-news-on-engadget/
We need special gloves to work our screens now? Although I commend their ingenuity, this is just another of several reasons why I prefer resistive touchscreens over capacitive ones.
seems impractical, try imagining picture multi-touch-zoom with these on, look at the positioning of those metals on the index and thumb fingers... seems rather painful...
Also its look really uncool.
Of course this would be classified under "featured" but the Android in HD video isn't. Cool.
"Featured" is for content we produce ourselves -- we didn't shoot that Android video. Plus, these work great with the G1. They are just gloves, after all.
I've had this problem with my iPhone, ended up using my tongue!!!
I use my nose!!!
I use John's dick.
feels so good
I like the general path of thought with these, maybe some more research is in order.
"honestly, we're sort of surprised these little nubs haven't popped up on gloves"
Ummm guys, there's a reason you're working for a tech blog and not a fashion blog. BTW, if one needs special gloves instead of regular gloves to make a device work perhaps it's time to stop ragging on resistive touch screens and recognize that they do have some advantages over capacitive screens.
S
I'm pretty sure this is the only disadvantage. Resistive touchscreens suck. I prefer fingertips that aren't permanently sloped from having to mash them down on a non-responsive screen. You either do that or make short violent jabs at your screen, making people think you're imitating a chicken pecking at your phone. And, as others have said, good luck getting any kind of accuracy while wearing gloves with a resistive touchscreen phone. They're impossible enough to use as-is.
John.
MS Voice Command.
Vito Voice.
What's that.
You iPhone fanboys aren't familiar with voice command technology?
Got it.
I got a little nub for ya.
Wait, what?
Being as these are marketed towards gadget users i think they are perfectly covered by Endgadget.
It's a shame that dotsgloves.com has been sold out of these for most of my recent memory.
The reason they aren't marketed for the g1 is because you can do everything you need to on the phone (besides some games, obviously) WITHOUT EVER TOUCHING THE SCREEN. wow, welcome to the world of multiple forms of input.
This is ridiculous that we have to invest into special gloves to be able to use our phones. Well not no more. By accident I found out that I could use my iPhone while wearing my gloves. I'm from Chicago and it was one of those very cold weekends and a water pipe broke so my gloves were wet. My phone was ringing and my hands too cold so I tried to answer the phone and it worked. Later I tried it again making calls and receiving calls while wearing gloves and it worked again. So all I do from now on is wet the tip of my index finger on the glove and go about my business. It does not need to be dripping wet just damp.
"It does not need to be dripping wet just damp."
Thats what SHE said!
These remind me of those gloves Tom Cruise wore in Minority Report.
These gloves are really tacky (pun intended on the tacky...seriously, what are those, thumb tacks?)
You don't like the iphone much do you?
Judging by your previous posts most of them have you bitching about the iphone.
Do you just try and sway everything round to show how much you hate the iphone?
I've had a pair of 180s Tec Touch gloves since winter 2007
http://www.180s.com
The pair I have use silicone gel instead of metal and the entire palm is covered so the device doesn't slip.
Ahhh! That was my idea! Except I just want finger attachments, not full-on gloves.
Oh and I want them to be pointy! And not for the iphone. For the g1. So maybe I'll still produce my idea.
WARNING: If you live outside of the US then forget getting them, these guys have horrible shipping times and customer service. I'm in Canada and I didn't get my order for a month. I repeatedly asked for answers and got no replies from them until I filed a complaint with paypal and they returned my money. They said they shipped it but had not tracking number or receipt to show it.
I had a pair of the 180's that used this same functionality. They don't work well with the iPhone. Not enough resistance between the glove and the screen. These look to be the exact same thing with the dots on the fingers with the exception being they are just a different color.
I am reminded of that Ali G episode where he invents a glove to eat ice cream with.
Would it not be easier to just make your own dots and glue them to your own gloves. The flat end of any painted metal surface (notebook clips) seems to work quite well. Your local Fall-a-part should have something that would work. On the other hand, real men don't need gloves.
The Mrs got me a set of these for Christmas as a surprise stocking filler. No surprise that they arrived in the UK mid January (ordered Nov 25th) and the wrong gloves arrived. She ordered wool i got knit and there seems to be a massive difference in quality especially in warmth.
A couple of things you need to know :
1) the "dots" are metal and the covering is already wearing off and very soon I'm sure they'll be useless
2) since the dots are metal when they get cold ( the kind of weather you want gloves in ) the cold metal is against your fingers, these aren't lined between the stabled "dot" and the inner glove and this hurts after a while as well as being cold.
3) The quality of the knit glove is poor! As gloves go these aren't very good, especially disappointing considering these truly look like any off the shelf glove with the dots stapled into them.
Overall it's a shame and they'll be in the draw soon never to be used again... But for $15 it was an interesting stocking filler!
You and the misses need a responsible spending class. :)
why not just sell the dots? :) (stick them on any gloves)
These gloves are so amazing.
It would really help in cold weather
Shocking!
i live in minnesota and have an iphone, and when im waiting at my school bus stop, it would be nice to be able to change songs without having to take off my gloves
haha these are blasted ugly
are you kiddin me, something this fuckin simple and i couldnt make this, fucking generic gloves with a tip on the end to touch a touch screen, not a bad idea still, i could sell these on tv, but id probably get in legal trouble, MUTHAFUCKASSSS, this shit pisses you off dont it
IF you are going to bash "overly designed gloves" you might want to at least get a recent link and image. Maybe you should get the link from Rolling Stones magazine under Top 10 products to have for 2008 or maybe ask NBC for their review of "top tech items to have". Forbes, and the New York Times also have some great pics too! :)