MOTO touchscreen comparison recruits robotic implements for heightened precision (video)

So you saw that the first MOTO smartphone touchscreen comparison was done with a fleshy humanoid controlling the testing finger and discounted it as scientifically flawed? Well, MOTO's back and this time the arm of judgment is operated by a coldly mechanical and ruthlessly precise robot -- a machine in itself, we'll assume the robot is intrinsically immune to developing fanboy tendencies. Joining the iPhone, Droid Eris, Droid, and Nexus One of the earlier test are Palm's Pre and RIM's BlackBerry Storm 2, whose results you can see at the source link below. The full test methodology is also explained there, including a list of the drawing apps used, which were selected with a view to minimizing smoothing algorithms that may prejudice the outcome. We're not gonna tell you who won, you have eyes of your own after all, and will just direct you after the break for the full robot-on-smartphone video action.

[krooooog Posted Mar 24th 2010 3:24PM]

@luisandres58
I installed 4 different drawing apps and got some pretty different results with each one using my finger and a straightedge. That's why I am confused as to why MOTO used a different app for Droid than for N1 and Eris....

[lecti Posted Mar 24th 2010 2:59PM]

Well, I guess that settles that.

[Seb6554 Posted Mar 24th 2010 3:29PM]

Funny how the Droid seems to be using a different app then all the others. Why is the background black and the lines white?
Im gonna go and blame it on the app they're using for the Droid =)
They should've made they're own app for fair testing...

[thanhpluv Posted Mar 24th 2010 3:50PM]

iPhone is obviously the best. Look like Apple's patent is useful once lol

[samin100 Posted Mar 24th 2010 4:23PM]

c'mon guys!

where's the EVO?

[jakey Posted Mar 24th 2010 4:53PM]

Putting aside how relevant this is to actual usage (maybe a different test, like the grid test will yield different results), I'm wondering what is the difference in the hardware.

The screens shouldn't really vary that much in cost. It's not like the other phones are that much cheaper than the iPhone in cost to make.

Basically, I'm just wondering if the iPhone already has smoothing in its driver or OS, which might explain the differences, or if it is really the hardware. Maybe the iPhone has a higher sensitivity threshold than the other phones, assuming there is a certain pressure where each will start failing. Then it may be more illustrative to plot the different pressures when it starts to fail for each phone. It may not be that different.

[MOTOSF Posted Mar 24th 2010 4:55PM]

HI Engadget crowd...
Check out the source post at labs.moto.com for more insight, more background, more results, more on the methodology, the drawing apps, the robot.
http://labs.moto.com/robot_touchscreen_analysis/

[Maroonfree Posted Mar 24th 2010 8:08PM]

Heck yes Droid has jagged lines, there will be none of that fruity iphone straight lined nonsense!

[JAG Posted Mar 24th 2010 8:21PM]

DROID did it in the next pic
http://img.skitch.com/20100324-ga698dhuwr5anq24d89586u3ba.png

[SDreamer Posted Mar 24th 2010 8:40PM]

I think the most probably reason why there is such a huge difference from Apple and the rest is the patents. I'd say Apple's tech is much better, but it's patented, so the others have to do work arounds, which is probably causing these things.

[Ldubbz Posted Mar 25th 2010 5:09AM]

Swype.

If you have used or seen someone use Swype on a Droid, you know that the accuracy of its touchscreen is top notch. It would just be an impossible thing to use otherwise.

To me, I see the results on the Droid as a perfect indicator that something is awry in their testing that they may not even be aware of. Anything from the OS, to the Gorilla glass, to the internal magnets (for the dock stations) could be producing those results, but I really dont know. But there is no way that the Eris or Storm 2 screen, let alone the iPhone sreen is that much more 'accurate' than the Droid screen.

Buying into that to me just shows reverse vampire fanboyism, the worst kind...

People are quick to forget that Motorola has been building phones for a lot longer than everyone else on that list and they know a thing or two. Hell, my old Moto 720 was the first color phone period. Not to mention that iSuppli has already stated that the Droid is actually more expensive to build than even the Nexus One, so the parts being used are up to snuff.

[MadSkillz Posted Mar 25th 2010 7:55PM]

@Ldubbz Sounds like sour grapes.

I'm sure people said that the first time they did it with a human drawing slowly across the screen. I'm willing to bet it was Fandroids complaining the loudest. So they did it again, with a robot at that. The closest thing to that Droid h hand thingy in the commercial. The robot cemented the results from the first test.

Get over it. You guys are so focused on hating on the iPhone that you don't see the video for what is shows plain as day.

Now if the screen works good enough for you. Cool. But don't berate the test. The did a very fair test of all the devices.

[Waltah Posted Mar 25th 2010 8:59AM]

small print: "all robots manufactured in Cupertino, Ca."

[stanhelp Posted Mar 25th 2010 1:57PM]

Okay, very scientific test:
Controls: I'm using my washed finger, clean screen, Motorola droid (2.01), elevation 7232 feet, humidity 44%, with three different drawing programs.
Results: My lines closely matched the Apple iPhone human results.
Conclusion: They may have tested this with a defective phone or they are wrong.

[bbqbspareribs Posted Mar 25th 2010 5:32PM]

I bet the Zune HD would've done pretty well.

[jawman Posted Apr 7th 2010 4:17PM]

what the article fails to mention but would be very informative and beneficial to the story is what type of touch screen each phone has.