Thought all multitouch-capable displays were created equal? Think again --
Android and Me has posted a rather fascinating (if not somewhat depressing) video showing a demo multitouch app created by a game developer who'd grown suspicious after running into all sorts of trouble getting the feature to work the way he wanted on the
Nexus One. First up, the
Droid handles the demo with aplomb -- two thumbs are recognized smoothly and consistently. Next, though, the Nexus One gets confused after a while and starts registering presses at the wrong corners of the on-screen box formed by the placement of the thumbs. There's always hope that this could be fixed with a firmware bump, but that hope looks to be in jeopardy from language posted by a Google engineer in the official Android dev forums: "...this is how the touch screen hardware on the Nexus One works (which is essentially the same screen as on the
G1 and
myTouch). The Droid has a sensor from a different manufacturer, with different behavior. Other phones will likewise have different sensors." In other words, Google seems to think that HTC's just using a lower-quality sensor than Motorola is. That's good news for Droid owners, we suppose -- but with game development on Android still something of a non-starter, hardware issues like this keep fragmenting the user base and preventing big-name developers from jumping in and betting on the platform. Follow the break for video proof of the wackiness.
posted March 3rd 2010 8:31PM
@Lord Vader
:/ You're trying too hard.
Had problems with Nexus touchscreen since day one. Morons at HTC and Google cant fix it........
I haven't tried to reproduce this yet but i have had the screen to some wacky stuff at times and this just explains it. I would assume a software update in the form of new firmware would fix this right up so i'm not worried. I'm still much happier with my Nexus One then I was with my iPhone; although Android REALLY DOES need to become smoother. Even switching between home screens isn't nearly as fluid as the iphone (at the same time it doesn't affect usability).
"Interestingly, there is a hack in the framework (which is enabled on the Droid, but not on the N1) that can be enabled by setting config_filterTouchEvents. With it disabled (the default), I get the axis-flipping problem. Enabling it fixes this, but there are still issues with the points "sticking" when they cross." - Cyanogen
(In the link iNeko posted above)
like how this comes on the heels of lawsuits... good fud job on timing..
@hfm This either invalidates Apple's lawsuit (iPhone Multi-Touch works, this one here doesn't, case dismissed) or, demonstrates that it isn't possible to just use Apple's software implementation on just any old touchscreen.
I've noticed minor quirks on my Nexus One as well. However, they are present on my Droid too. I blame Android not the hardware.
I may be wrong..
@andthemaniam Careful, he can force-choke you through the internet.
I have had the phone since day one and not had a problem. Not ruling out that there is a possible hard/software issue. But as long as it does not actually affect actual use of the phone, I do not really care. So the dots switch up in this app, tell me how this affects actual use?
@alsharifi Already answered above if you bothered to look, but basically it will likely make many games unplayable on the N1. Which'll turn off developers from Android. Etc etc. No it doesn't make the pinch to zoom on Google Maps fail, but that's not the only issue...
@Fanfoot oh I see. Thanks.
"a “fix” for the Nexus One does not look good at this point"
So....Google give your early adopters their money back!
but..... but.... it's a SUPERPHONE! it's branded by google so it MUST be better than the iphone! GOOGLE FTW AMIRITE?
why did you turn comments on :(
Well, I have no problems with my Nexus One, maybe this is a software thing?
Meh. I'm just fine with playing Pobs (which doesn't use multitouch) whenever I feel the need to game on my phone. I didn't buy my phone so I could play games on it all of the time so I really don't care all that much.
I understand that it's not an enormous problem, nor is this necessarily called for, but It has to be said.
Droid does.
Oh well, evey device gets confused sometimes. Even my JesusPhone.
I love my nexus one. Excuse me while I make love to it.
Dang its infested with Apple fanboys in here!! I have zero problems with my N1. Best phone I have ever owned by a million. My old iPhone 3gs can't touch it!!!
@mitsu8 obviously your N1 cant be touched literally lol
Cyanogen on XDADevelopers has found a software fix: "Interestingly, there is a hack in the framework (which is enabled on the Droid, but not on the N1) that can be enabled by setting config_filterTouchEvents. With it disabled (the default), I get the axis-flipping problem. Enabling it fixes this, but there are still issues with the points "sticking" when they cross."
Apparently, enabling this setting makes the Nexus One touchscreen behave the same as the Droids.
It seems like the touch screen is continually brought up as a problem on the N1. Hard to tell if it is hardware or software (keeping in mind they could be talking about firmware when they say "hardware," as opposed to multi-touch software in Android itself). And what's with all the smug iPhone users in this article (makes me want to smack them, but I guess that's how they feel when other smug people make fun of the iPhone)?
@jakey Humm iPhone users normally assume that anyone that makes fun of an iPhone does own one... Never meet a iPhone user that didn't love his iPhone...
One thing that I can say about my iPhone is that it works... Let me say it again my iPhone just works :).
You want HOW MUCH for that beta??
Next!
Joe six pack has no idea that the N1 even exists. The only smartphones they know of are the iPhone, RIM, and the droid. I have no idea why Google decided to have their own "flagship" super phone. Just support Android in general and please make the multi-tasking as great as it is on WebOS. (Btw, I am a happy rooted droid owner)
Debug the software. Droid and nexus have different hardware.
Looks like it's a software bug. Maybe, there's a different way on how to code the test for N1. Anyway, it's still worth checking on that software issue though IMHO. Maybe a firmware fix for N1 or something. Yeah, they both use Android OS but they sure got different firmwares. Let's just wait and see for updates on this one.
Looking to upgrade from my Storm 1 this month. Contemplating between the Milestone, N1 and HD 2, After finding out about this, the decision just got a little easier. BTW does that N1 look awfully small in his hand, considering that's a 3.7 inch display.
Might be it is the feature to avoid any multitouch claims from Apple :) //Treat this as joke :)
p/s: I also have and love the N1
If you ask me I do believe that the Droid is a way better phone than the N1. I think the N1 only thing it got over the Droid is just the speed. But I actually think the Droid looks better than the N1. By the way I dint believe in that beta shit that google always use. I think they could all they products as beta so people don't get on they tellingthem it suck n shit. And if people do that they could clean they hands by saying " is not a problem,remember is a beta product"
Milestone is good
That's too bad for Google.. But hey the Droid Rocks!
Like google has stated, this isn't actually a problem.
I can't think of one example where this causes a problem in multitouch applications.
-game pad -> multiple points are registered correctly
-pinch to zoom -> square correctly increases in size hence zoom works as expected
-rotation -> works up to 90 degrees and applications multitouch can be programmed differently if more is required
Forget multitouch for the moment: is that _really_ what OLED looks like next to a TFT LCD? I'll keep my old screen tech for now thank you very much.
Can anyone confirm this behavior on the HTC Desire or is it just the Nexus 1 that has this issue?
I feel bad for HTC. Their phones are usually great!. I wonder what happened with this phone.
Kinda poopy. But not all sensors are created equally, obviously. Just like batteries, and trackballs, or whatever. But really.. this is goign to effect games - which is likely to be the number one selling point, or not in the top 2. With N1 being the most "powerful" phone thus far, I can see why it may not sell as good as they want, especially since the droid is easier, and cheaper to get.
I wonder if the Passion for Tmo is the same way?
Why is the Droid so beloved while the Nexus One is so hated? This is something I've noticed since the Nexus was released.
I mean, the Nexus One is faster, has a better screen, isn't as ugly, and runs a newer version of Android. Is it just the keyboard that people love so much about the Droid?
If you take a look at the following pdf:
http://twitterurl.net/i/2uc
This explains the difference between self capacitance and mutual capacitance on page 2. In Figure 4 on the same page you can see that the Nexus One obviously uses self capacitance.
That also means the problem is caused by the hardware - by the way the touchscreen is built.
So what we can see in the video is neither a firmware nor or software (appp) problem.
It makes me kinda sad to see that the strongest iPhone competitor on Android side is built with a "cheap" touchscreen.
Btw: At the “Internation Tabletops and Surfaces 2009″ conference a paper by Berard and Laurillau was published that tries to improve the input on such systems. Take a look at it: http://iihm.imag.fr/publs/2009/ITS2009_Berard_DTMultiTouch.pdf On page 2 figure 2 you will also find the ghosting figure.
I have had nothing but problems with my Nexus One. As soon as I can avoid the Google (ETC) 120 days I think and something better comes out (not sure what that will be) I am paying the $200 T-mobile (ETC) and getting rid of it.
-Poor battery life
-Poor touch screen
-Poor 3G reception
yebut. I can put 5 fingers on the Jphone piano app and have it play a chord of all 5 notes. n-one can only register the two touches.
This is only an example of course.
This explains why on my Nexus One I have issues typing where random characters show up, or if I try to us a finger and it barely is touching one side of the screen but I am trying to press somewhere else it gets confused. Or when trying to move an icon from one screen to another it won't move over to the other screen. the touch in general is really gimped, not just multi touch.