Video: NanoTouch spotted doing a little gaming

Back when we first caught a glimpse of the NanoTouch, we'll freely admit that we thought it might be superb for small-scale gaming. The 2.4-inch LCD, developed by Microsoft and the Hasso Plattner Institute, the tiny screen boasts a capacitive touchscreen on the back (much like the LucidTouch), and is apparently quite sensitive. Check out the video demonstration of the NanoTouch in some gaming action after the break.

[Via Engadget Japanese]

[PuBeLeSs @ Apr 20th 2009 11:11AM]

seems like fun... no

[NHAnimator @ Apr 20th 2009 11:20AM]

Might be fun. But due to screen real estate, online games are limited to 3 players.

[Leo Z. @ Apr 20th 2009 11:12AM]

When I saw the name NanoTouch I thought for sure it was an apple product

[jason w @ Apr 20th 2009 11:15AM]

I like the idea of having the touch on the bottom. Keeps your hands off the action but the screen isnt as large as my Ipod Touch. Im all in with a larger screen and Halo on a hand held but bump the screen size please.

[Manny @ Apr 20th 2009 11:15AM]

That's a really cool device! It looks like it would take some getting used to and the graphics for the device seem pretty good for something that small.

[Peter R. @ Apr 20th 2009 3:51PM]

Color me skeptical, but I don't think that UT 2004 is actually running off of the NanoTouch itself. Instead the NanoTouch is being used as a secondary display, to showcase the abilities of the capacitive touchscreen on the bottom. I hope none of you guys/girls actually miss the two cables plugged in on the side(which one of them appears to be a mini-usb cable).

[CraigJ @ Apr 20th 2009 11:15AM]

How clever of Microsoft to mash two of Apple's product names together.

Memo to Balmer: Your marketing people need a big time raise.

[Look_Around_You @ Apr 20th 2009 11:26AM]

You mean a prefix and a verb, that combined means "small touch"? Now Apple has a patent on parts of the dictionary???


Mac- book- air

Mac, who sells books and breathes air, should be getting that lawsuit ready...

[CraigJ @ Apr 20th 2009 11:40AM]

So, you think it coincidence that they named this NanoTouch, when the iPod Touch and the iPod Nano, are the market leaders in their segment?

Hey, more power to Microsoft for trying to dig out of their hole in this area, but that shows no creativity, and every time someone says the name NanoTouch most people will think of Apple, even if MS drops a few million in advertising.

Shows a serious lack of creativity and perhaps a misguided attempt to co-opt the names of their competitor's products (generally a bad idea, because if it doesn't work you are effectively advertising for the other guy). If they proceed with this name I guarantee you a lot of people will walk into an Apple store and ask "where is the NanoTouch?"

You know, windows is just a noun according to the dictionary. Maybe one of the Linux dirstos should name itself windows. I can't see a problem with that, can you?

[thyomorb @ Apr 20th 2009 11:41AM]

You are being purposefully obtuse. If Chevy introduced a new MustangFocus the lawyers would be champing at their bits.

[CraigJ @ Apr 20th 2009 11:41AM]

Also, the section of law you want to look at it trademark, and possibly copyright, not patent...

[poke @ Apr 20th 2009 11:54AM]

HTC was good enough to allow Apple to use the touch brand which they launched first. You didnt say this when apple took the touch brand did you.

When Apple does it it is ok - but when anyone else does it its not???

[Look_Around_You @ Apr 20th 2009 11:56AM]

"So, you think it coincidence that they named this NanoTouch, when the iPod Touch and the iPod Nano, are the market leaders in their segment?"

Nano = small

Touch = Touch screen

Have Apple trademark it, then you may bitch.

I mean, look at something like Mobile Me. Reminds me of Windows ME and Windows Mobile! Let's get those uncreative bastards!!!!!

"Hey, more power to Microsoft for trying to dig out of their hole in this area, but that shows no creativity, and every time someone says the name NanoTouch most people will think of Apple, even if MS drops a few million in advertising."

The thing is a prototype showcasing an idea. And of course you move off of the "Microsoft cant innovate" mantra to them showing "no creativity" in naming a PROTOTYPE of a device that you cant buy. So what do you think of the idea now that your iFanboy attack off your system?


"You know, windows is just a noun according to the dictionary. Maybe one of the Linux dirstos should name itself windows. I can't see a problem with that, can you?"

Windows is a trademarked name of a product. NanoTouch is not.

Oh yeah iPhone was the name of an existing product, and Apple happily stole.....um, used it for their device, and only paid for the rights afterwards.

Now go settle down.

[Gipionocheiyort @ Apr 20th 2009 11:56AM]

Did I miss the part where they're shipping it and you can buy a product called this at your local Walmart?

It's a prototype....that doesn't mean the name is going to be the same when/if it goes to market.

[CraigJ @ Apr 20th 2009 12:03PM]

either you are being purposely obtuse, or you really are too dim to get the point.

[simon @ Apr 20th 2009 12:41PM]

So you're saying that MS lacked creativity because they may have named it in a way that suggests an association with Apple. Did you perchance miss the whole creativity component of actually CREATING the device?

S16

[MeanSpyvie @ Apr 20th 2009 1:40PM]

Just in case anyone has forgotten, Apple took the name Nano from a small Creative flash player that existed long before the Apple Nano did.

[superhobo @ Apr 20th 2009 2:29PM]

faaaaaaanbooooooooyyyy

[JEREMY @ Apr 20th 2009 2:44PM]

@ thyomorb, your example is not accurate. Proper example in that case would be:

Manufacturer
model
submodel

Apple
iPod
Nano/Touch

Ford
Mustang/focus
GT/RS

Chevy would have to make a model called the GTRS for your argument to hold water not the mustang/focus. Just to be clear.

[Brian @ Apr 20th 2009 3:12PM]

well, it's a small touchscreen. And last time I checked, apple can't patent commonly used words.

[Decoy @ Apr 20th 2009 8:46PM]

@ Mean Spivie - and don't forget the 20G Creative Zen Touch.

So Creative had a 'nano' and a 'touch' as names for their _MP3_PLAYERS_, so what was your point again CraigJ?

[Deuche ex Machina @ Apr 20th 2009 11:19AM]

Funny stuff with the name there. I'm waiting for the ShuffleTouchMcAir myself, produced by Diebold.

[Karan @ Apr 20th 2009 11:19AM]

Thats awesome....is that Quake? This can totally revolutionize handheld gaming market.

[Jar0b_ @ Apr 20th 2009 11:28AM]

UT 2004 ;)

[TareX @ Apr 20th 2009 11:30AM]

Hold out for Tegra. The US dime-sized ship capable of.... well incapable of nothing.

[EntropicDecay @ Apr 20th 2009 2:30PM]

I was gonna make a comment on that being UT 2004, but it appears I have been beat
DENIED!

[Brian @ Apr 20th 2009 3:15PM]

@tarex

Tegra could only run quake 3 last time around.

[dj-kenpo @ Apr 20th 2009 11:20AM]

that's a wicked idea. props to the guys that made this.

[stereobot @ Apr 20th 2009 11:21AM]

Touch pad on the back - might be a bit hard to hold a device so small without accidentally making things happen by touching the pad when you don't mean to.

The screen is so small, how can you game on that??

Don't be surprised if you start seeing Microsoft putting out a line of reading glasses...

[fredwifi @ Apr 20th 2009 11:35AM]

Awww... Rankin - all those late nights, clan matches and belonging...

[M. @ Apr 20th 2009 11:51AM]

Unreal Tournament FTW!

[nikescar @ Apr 20th 2009 11:56AM]

So it's acting as a monitor and controller. It's probably not running the game. Every vid of this thing always has it plugged in.

[Destricto_Ense @ Apr 20th 2009 12:46PM]

OnLive.

[joeybeast @ Apr 20th 2009 12:10PM]

I don't want to go blind.

[Josh @ Apr 20th 2009 12:25PM]

Micro Porn ftw!
What is that you have in your pocket? Just 3 TB of porn on my 2" screen that I can touch in the back to make it feel me

[THEHAWKs @ Apr 20th 2009 12:41PM]

what are the hardware specs on that thing

[Hackettman @ Apr 20th 2009 1:04PM]

Something id put on my keychain..... But sadly for the pricetag itll probably be second thoughts begin to arise.....

[Stu L Tissimus @ Apr 20th 2009 1:05PM]

Uh, is that UT2004?
Running on a little piece of nothing? I have no idea how that's even possible, even with the abysmal framerate. Perhaps there's some wireless VNC action going on here or something?

[zim2411 @ Apr 20th 2009 2:18PM]

yeah, i'm puzzled as well

[Dutchiesmokah @ Apr 20th 2009 2:24PM]

Yep I think you're right with the vnc part except for the wireless part; did you seen the two thick cables!?

[Mike @ Apr 20th 2009 1:44PM]

dont understand how using fingers underneath can be more precise?

[superhobo @ Apr 20th 2009 2:36PM]

You can see the whole screen, for one....

[Mike @ Apr 21st 2009 4:42AM]

it would be precise if you have your finger on it without letting go, but what if you lift your finger away? unless it is like the wacom where it can detect your finger if its close (but not touching).

[Dutchiesmokah @ Apr 20th 2009 2:20PM]

Check this ms page for more nice vids!!
http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/people/baudisch/projects/nanotouch/

Btw. I also think this is only a terminal style device(vnc or whatever), but it is stll nice ;)

[vdex34 @ Apr 20th 2009 2:58PM]

I hope ZuneHD will be better than this, at least with Tegra.

[Rick @ Apr 20th 2009 3:24PM]

So Microsoft developing a product with 'Nano' and 'Touch' in the name? Why no 'i' precursor or 'Pod' somewhere in there as well? Wow.

[Decoy @ Apr 20th 2009 8:52PM]

Creative Labs have products called Nano and Touch.

[Berka @ Apr 20th 2009 4:25PM]

This look very interesting

[yoyofather @ Apr 20th 2009 4:49PM]

great to see it again :-)

[Wwhat @ Apr 21st 2009 1:31AM]

I think someone will discover a good use and implementation of that behind-the-screen interface, but gaming isn't it for sure.