JeffHan
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Microsoft seals Perceptive Pixel deal, welcomes PPI team to the Office Division
In case you haven't noticed, Microsoft's been in a blissful shopping mood lately -- and while we already knew the company had snatched up the creator of that enormous 82-inch touchscreen, today's the day a more formal introduction is taking place. Via its Official Microsoft Blog, the Redmond-based outfit is suitably welcoming the Perceptive Pixel team aboard the Office Division, also announcing that PPI's Founder, Jeff Han, will be joining as a "general manager" and reporting to Kurt DelBene. Naturally, we're still wondering what exactly the acquisition will bring to the table, but if Perceptive Pixel's previous doings are any indication of what's to come, we can expect some more delightful novelties to come out of Microsoft's HQ in the hopefully-not-so-distant future.
Perceptive Pixel shows world's largest projected capacitive display at SIGGRAPH, we go hands-on (video)
Perceptive Pixel wasn't kidding around when it launched the planet's biggest projected capacitive display here at SIGGRAPH -- all 82 inches of it were here on display, and naturally, we stopped by to give it a look. While 82-inch panels aren't anything new, this one's particularly special. You see, the company actually procures the panels from Samsung, and then it rips the guts out while bonding its own network of sensors directly to it; most large-screen touch devices simply pop a touch layer on top of whatever TV shows up in the labs, but this integrated approach takes sensitivity to a whole 'nother level. For those unfamiliar with the term 'projected capacitive,' we're surmising that it's actually far less foreign than you think -- it's a technology used in a handful of smartphones, from Samsung's Moment to Apple's iPhone. 3M was also showing off a PC tech preview back at CES, and after using it here on the show floor, there's no question that it's the future for larger-screen devices. To quote CEO Jeff Han: "once consumers get a taste of this on the mobile front, they start demanding it elsewhere." %Gallery-130284%
Perceptive Pixel unveils an 82-inch multi-touch LCD, TV news anchors overcome by giddy hands
Perceptive Pixel has been no stranger to massive multi-touch screens ever since it got over being so Frustrated. At this year's SIGGRAPH the company is showing off a whopping 82-inch projected capacitive LCD -- and you thought MondoPad was huge. Apparently, the "slim" 6-inch deep, optically bonded display is "the world's largest" of its type, although Perceptive does make an 88-inch DLP model if you need a bit more real estate. On-screen content is displayed in 1080p HD resolution at 120Hz, and with an unlimited multi-touch response time of less than 1ms, it's ready for all the situations Wolf Blitzer's digits can handle. We'll hopefully be checking it out on the show floor, but for now you'll find more details past the break.
Photoboard is updated and upscaled for the iPad
If you always wanted a 'magic wall' for your iPad, Photoboard HD (US$2.99) is probably as close as your are going to get. This app originally appeared on the iPhone and iPod touch and lets you manipulate photos by scaling and rotating them to create interesting collages. The new iPad version has higher resolution (natch) and photos look pretty stunning on it. Obviously inspired by the breakthrough work of Jeff Han, and widely seen on CNN, Photoboard HD is fun to play with, but I'm searching hard for a practical use. Certainly you can re-arrange photos and make for some interesting groupings, but beyond that you're pretty much done. It would be nice to see more options for framing the pictures, and more backgrounds, including ones I choose myself. As it is, the app is a nice demo of the graphic power of the iPad, but most photographers would probably rather create their collages in Photoshop. I liked the idea of this app, but it needs more customizable features, and a definite purpose. There are some screen shots in the gallery below, but at a reduced size the screen shots don't do justice to the quality of the images: %Gallery-90093%
First Look: iLava for iPhone/iPod touch
The lava lamp was an icon of 70s pop culture, and that same idea has made it into the 21st century, right on the iPhone. iLava [iTunes link] imitates both a lava lamp, and the demo that Jeff Han gave us at the TED conference. The iLava application is completely multi-touch, meaning that anything you touch will have an action. Touch the lava, move it around. When you tap and hold your finger in a specific area, you'll add heat and see the lava rise. You can also stretch the lava apart, or pinch multiple pieces of lava together. Shake or tilt the iPhone to move the lamp, just as you could a real lava lamp. If you're looking for a cool iPhone application that could bring a few minutes of enjoyment, then look no further than iLava. You can download it from the iTunes App Store for $0.99US. Update: The developer of iLava contacted us to let us know that this application is essentially the same thing that Jeff Han used at the TED conference. Both applications use the same codebase, and was developed by Llya Rosenberg (the same name mentioned in the demo video) over the past few years. Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
Neiman Marcus to sell Perceptive Pixel's Interactive Media Wall: yours for $100k
You may know Jeff Han, you've probably seen his company Perceptive Pixel's Interactive Media Wall / Multi-touch Collaboration Wall (or whatever they're calling it these days -- if not, peep it here), but the missing link to this stuff is taking it home. Well, the wait is apparently over, and for once it's Neiman Marcus we've got to thank. While you're shopping for the latest must-have fall fashions, be sure to stop by the newly anointed Futuristic Displays That Don't Belong at Neiman Marcus Shop to pick up your 8 x 3-foot multi-touch display for a cool $100,000 US, only ten times the price of Microsoft's forthcoming Surface. Don't worry, your family will appreciate your investment; trust us, we really think they'd far prefer it to, say, Christmas presents, a home to live in, or dinner at some point in 2008.[Via thegadgetsite]
