When it rains, it pours, huh, Google? Not even a week after announcing the
big multitouch update for its own Nexus One, Google has turned loose a new version of
Google Maps that enables pinch-to-zoom support on the
Droid. Of course, it was no secret that Android 2.0 had the framework in place to support this kind of stuff -- Moto enabled it all by its lonesome on the Euro-spec
Milestone -- but it looks like this could be the watershed moment where multitouch finally becomes a must-have feature on Android devices across the board, as Moto CEO Sanjay Jha recently
suggested would happen. The new version 3.4's available as a software update in the Market right now, so grab it if you've got your Droid handy.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
posted February 5th 2010 1:43PM
@ECH XScape browser for Android has that exact feature. The browser is pretty lousy otherwise, but I would love to see such zooming scheme implemented in other places. Heck, I wouldn't even need pinch zooming then.
I am glad Android is pushing "Pinch Zoom" these days so people can get over that fact. It always had "Multi-Touch" for the record :)
Still blows my mind that because of Apple and the iPhone everyone automatically called the Pinch-Zoom gesture "Multi-Touch" and if it didn't have that gesture it didn't have "Multi-Touch".
I can't be alone in my thinking :) Anyways....now that that is over
@InnocentEd Pinch-zoom is the most visible form of mult-touch. It's not like lay people will realise that they're actually using multi-touch when they do regular typing. Lack of multi-touch typing was why the Storm sucked.
@sfox8
Dude, how about not driving and trying to use the maps at the same time (unless it's operating hands free in navigation mode). Jeez...
@JeremyDallasTX
I'd vote for this comment twice if I could. Just tell it where you'd like to go and listen to it. Don't fiddle with the damn device. Drive or get the f' off the road before you hurt someone.
I guess the gloves are off. About damn time, I say! It was a stupid gentlemen's agreement to begin with, and it was pointless of Google to not give us multitouch after they effectively broke the agreement by releasing Android.
Now for chording in the keyboard.
Here's for hoping the 2.1 release for the Droid will be Huge.
Everything the N1 has
Global Multitouch
Keyboard Chording
Flash
@ECH
Unfortunately, there is no software upgrade that can make the Droid not look like an ugly brick.
@Air Force One
"Ugly Brick"?
To me it resembles the shape and proportions of my TI-85 graphing calculator. Maybe that's an ugly brick to you, but to millions of engineering grads out there it brings back fond memories of the glory days in Diffy-Q.
http://www.livephysics.com/shop/images/shop/B00005QT8A.jpg
Remember this phone was not designed to appeal to geeks... not pussies.
@Air Force One
Its all anyone is gonna be able to say about the Droid soon. Sure it does everything but, but, its not sexy blah blah blah. C'mon now. Its no brick either. Slightly thicker that the iphone with a full qwerty ftw! Looks sleek and feels like a quality phone. Not plasticy. ;)
Sent from Droid, bitches! =P
@ECH
Yes, ugly brick. The slideout keyboard makes it an ugly brick. That's what you get with hybrid devices. Not saying the Droid isn't a fantastic device, it's just hella ugly to me.
I suppose it's great for kids and teenagers in school, tho.
@xFenixKnightx
Actually, I considered the Droid early on and, to me, it IS plasticy, and cheap feeling.
I picked one up at Best Buy, and put it right back down. Felt cheap and like something I wouldn't take care of. Honestly, It's an Android device I would get to take to the lake or something so I wouldn't be upset if I dropped it in the water. Again, not saying your device is subpar(except as it pertains to form factor), although I DO also prefer the AMOLED screen over the Droid's LCD. Another thing a software update won't fix on the Droid.
@Air Force One
Droid, plasticy, cheap? Whast are you smoking? Lol Then again if you picked up a dead phone at Best Buy that doesnt do it justice. Its all good though man to each his own. Bottom line is if youre rocking an iphone, Droid or N1 youre good to go. Real talk.
@ECH I had a G1 and now the Nexus One, and I think the DROID looks awesome. I would have picked one up had their been a T-Mobile friendly version.
@Air Force One
I don't know how something almost entirely made of metal and glass can be described as "plasticy"
I think this pretty much confirms that Droid should be getting 2.1 anyday now. Awesomeness!!!
This phone kicks soooo much arse! =)
@sfox8
YMMV. I use pinch zoom pretty much exclusively because I want to see specific parts of a map, not some arbitrary magnification I'll get from double tapping.
Koalatown? Where in the city is that?
Omitted from this story:
The Android SDK 2.0 and later includes a multitouch API. You get separate events for each "pointer" -- read: finger. It's not as elegant to work with as the API on iPhone (or, for that matter, similar APIs on Windows and other locations), but with some effort, it does the job.
Oh, yes, and I can share that because there's no NDA on Android's developer tools. ;)
My guess is that one reason multi-touch may be missing from this implementation is because you can actually reduce accuracy by implementing multi-touch, once the on-screen keyboard starts to get cramped (which it is in portrait mode). Of course, given the delays to the Maps support, it could simply be a matter of time, or someone doing enough testing and coding around this that they're satisfied.
I will say, multi-touch development can be challenging. But yes, I'm optimistic this situation will improve.
Anyway, there are apps *right now* you can use on Android 2.0. Claiming that only Maps supports this is somewhat misleading.
@xFenixKnightx Have you noticed they improved the mobile site. It is just as good as the app now. Sometimes I can't tell if I am in the app or the mobile site.
I figured it out: Google wanted to put multi-touch on their US phones, but they needed popular attention and support from the media (of which I consider Engadet to be a peripheral, but significant player in at least the tech field) in order to do so. That way they can avoid a highly publicized court battle with Apple.
I think pinch-to-zoom is really being over-hyped.
sure its a cool feature. but it requires 2 hands to operate it, whereas double-tap only requires 1.
multitouch for other things like the keyboard I can understand, but I've been using swype (with very low expectations) and it blew me away, and i've been using it for over a month, so multitouch won't really help me out with that either.
@senseless228 Thumb + forefinger of same hand for me. It's not overhyped because when I hand my phone to someone, that's immediately the gesture they try when zooming and are frustrated when it doesn't work. I used an iPhone for 9 months, and I am similarly not used to the non pinch-to-zoom action. Very appreciative Google finally came out with it for Maps.
@senseless228 Just pinched to zoom with one hand.
@iCello so you're holding it in the air with one hand while pinching to zoom with the exact same hand you're holding it with? please show me how you do this in an easy way.
Just did a side by side comparison of my DROID and iPod Touch. Both are smooth (maybe apple's a little more because of res differences). There is one distinct difference. The touch's zoom center can be changed while pinching by dragging your fingers around the screen. Google's implementation relies on you picking the right center in the beginning.
I DO have to say, as someone who uses the google maps while driving, the droid's + and - zoom keys are WAY more convenient that pinch-to-zoom.
but this is a welcome update
my eris is still stuck at 1.6, so no update for me :(
Ok honestly, the most important part is that the KEYBOARD gets multitouch.
I finally realized why everyone's like "OMG ON SCREEN KEYBOARD BLOWZZZZ"
1) No multitouch means you can't type as fast as you can on the iPhone. when you speed type, you will tend to not let go of the previous key before you press the next.
2) Exposure to resistive phones obviously made people deaf to multitouch and the abilities of the iPhone keyboard.
This is one of the most important things. I opened a Droid and tried to text and it massively failed. The Droid Eris however HAS multi touch in the keyboard at least so I can speed type. Le sigh American consumers....
@dmo580 Smart Keyboard Pro.
Multi touch keyboard on the Market.
Cmon Google! I want TAP and DOUBLE TAP. Pinch is stupid.
Excellent. Now just add it to the browser as well and you'll have a metric asston of happy Droid owners! I already loved my Droid but multi-touch was the one thing I felt was missing after coming from the iPhone.
Finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, when can we have browser mutlitouch?
I just got thee update for my N1 and I have to say. Multi-touch is overrated. Google maps is the only time I use it. Web browsing is much easier with one handed tapping
Slowly but sure, Droid does.
I sorta thought it came with that..
It's sorta odd that they needed a firmware upgrade to get multitouch on that phone.
i want a multitouch browser
@JAG
That ones called "dolphin"
@ECH Or if you are willing to root -- there is the ported Milestone browser which is absolutely awesome. Fast, light and with multitouch. It's the single best reason to root (2nd is overclocking).
Too late Google, too late.... after the whole world was led to believe that Android has no multitouch.
This isn't really multi-touch. You pinch to zoom, and then the map defaults to the closest of its, like, 4.5 tiers of magnification. I used to have an iPhone, and the magnification level stayed where you wanted it to after pinching.
Well done google, I just hope Apple knocks it out of the park with the next iPhone.