Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Playsurface touchscreen computing table hands-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/24/playsurface-touchscreen-computing-table-hands-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/24/playsurface-touchscreen-computing-table-hands-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/24/playsurface-touchscreen-computing-table-hands-on-video/#comments Image

Let's be honest -- the first time we saw the Microsoft Surface in action, we all dreamt of getting our grubby fingers on our very own unit. Five years later, we're no closer to the dream of a touchscreen coffee tablet in every living room. Templeman Automation, thankfully, shares that dream. Earlier this month, we caught word of the company's Playsurface, a Kickstarter project aimed at bringing low cost touchscreen computing to the tabletops of eager early adopters who just can't quite justify the $8,000 price tag on Microsoft's similarly named product.

We were excited at the prospect of finally getting to play with the product when TechCrunch opened up the gates to the hardware portion of its Disrupt conference. Unfortunately, as we quickly found out, things wouldn't be quite so easy -- the show was held at Pier 94, a space with overabundant natural light courtesy of rows and rows of skylights. As it turns out, the sun doesn't play too well with the infrared light that helps power Playsurface's touchscreen functionality. The table's creators were nice enough to pop by our offices to let us take the living room gadget for a test drive.

Gallery: Playsurface hands-on

Continue reading Playsurface touchscreen computing table hands-on (video)

Playsurface touchscreen computing table hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 May 2012 15:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kicstartermicrosoft surfaceMicrosoftSurfaceplaysurfacesurfacetechcrunchtechcrunch disruptTechcrunchDisruptTempleman AutomationTemplemanAutomationvideoThu, 24 May 2012 15:24:00 EST<![CDATA[New shear touch technology lets you skip a double-tap, push your device around (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/11/shear-touch-technology-lets-you-skip-a-double-tap/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/11/shear-touch-technology-lets-you-skip-a-double-tap/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/11/shear-touch-technology-lets-you-skip-a-double-tap/#comments Shear touch on Engadget's site

Most every touchscreen in the market today can only register your finger input as coordinates; that's fine for most uses, but it leads to a lot of double-taps and occasionally convoluted gestures. A pair of researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, Chris Harrison and Scott Hudson, have suggested that shear touch might be a smarter solution. Instead of gliding over fixed glass, your finger could handle secondary tasks by pushing in a specific direction, or simply pushing harder, on a sliding display. Among the many examples of what shear touch could do, the research duo has raised the possibility of skipping through music by pushing left and right, or scrolling more slowly through your favorite website with a forceful dragging motion. The academic paper is still far away from producing a shipping device, although a Microsoft doctoral fellowship's partial contribution to funding the study indicates one direction the technology might go. You can take a peek at the future in a video after the jump -- just don't expect a tablet-based Van Gogh this soon.

[Thanks, Chris]

Continue reading New shear touch technology lets you skip a double-tap, push your device around (video)

New shear touch technology lets you skip a double-tap, push your device around (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 May 2012 01:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Carnegie MellonCarnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegieMellonCarnegieMellonUniversityMicrosoftMicrosoft SurfaceMicrosoftSurfaceresearchsciencesurfacetouchscreentouchscreensvideoFri, 11 May 2012 01:13:00 EST<![CDATA[The Distro Interview: Microsoft Principal Researcher Bill Buxton]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/23/the-distro-interview-microsoft-principal-researcher-bill-buxton/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/23/the-distro-interview-microsoft-principal-researcher-bill-buxton/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/23/the-distro-interview-microsoft-principal-researcher-bill-buxton/#comments The Distro Interview: Microsoft Principal Researcher Bill Buxton

Bill Buxton has spent most of his career getting between humans and computers. While his initial focus was on music and digital instruments, that eventually led to an interest in human-computer interaction, and pioneering work with multitouch systems and other user interfaces. He worked with the famed hotbed of innovation Xerox PARC in the late 1980s and early 90s, and was later Chief Scientist for software firm Alias Wavefront before claiming the same title at SGI Inc. when that company acquired the former in 1995. After a time running his own Toronto-based design and consulting firm, he moved on to Microsoft Research in 2005, where he continues to serve as the organization's Principal Researcher.

We recently had a chance to pick his brain and get his thoughts on a range of issues, including state of design at Microsoft, the future of natural user interfaces, and whether we're really entering a "post-PC" era.

Continue reading The Distro Interview: Microsoft Principal Researcher Bill Buxton

The Distro Interview: Microsoft Principal Researcher Bill Buxton originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill buxtonBillBuxtonbuxtondesigndistro interviewDistroInterviewinterviewmicrosoftmicrosoft researchmicrosoft surfaceMicrosoftResearchMicrosoftSurfaceMSRnatural uinatural user interfaceNaturalUiNaturalUserInterfaceNUIsurfaceMon, 23 Apr 2012 14:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Sifteo and Surface team up for magical marriage of meaninglessness]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/20/sifteo-and-surface-create-simple-game/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/20/sifteo-and-surface-create-simple-game/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/20/sifteo-and-surface-create-simple-game/#comments Sifteo and Surface

Sifteo and Surface are definitely two of the cooler, but more useless gadgets we've had the pleasure of handling over the years. So, what happens when you get these questionably useful toys (both literally and figuratively) together? Well, a whole lot of nothing particularly important. By combining the proximity sensors on the Cubes with the object recognition of the SUR40 the devs were able to whip up a simple game that has you recreating patterns of colored cubes. Sound a little dull? We won't lie, it's not the most thrilling thing on Earth, but there's a video of it none-the-less awaiting you after the break.

Continue reading Sifteo and Surface team up for magical marriage of meaninglessness

Sifteo and Surface team up for magical marriage of meaninglessness originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 18:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoft surfaceMicrosoftSurfacesamsungsifteosifteo cubesSifteoCubessur40surfacetabletoytoysvideoFri, 20 Apr 2012 18:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Ideum's MT65 Presenter: a $17,500, 65-inch, multi-touch display for your own museum]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/ideums-mt65-presenter-a-17-500-65-inch-multi-touch-display/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/ideums-mt65-presenter-a-17-500-65-inch-multi-touch-display/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/ideums-mt65-presenter-a-17-500-65-inch-multi-touch-display/#comments
Ideum's 65-inch MT65 Presenter is a multi-touch 3D display designed for public spaces, so large that Surface 2.0's looking a bit sheepish right now. The aforementioned tempered-glass mega-screen has a sensor that'll identify 32 individual points of touch (to think: we thought five-and-ten finger touch was impressive) and a PC with a 2.2GHz Core i7 CPU, 256GB SSD and GeForce GTX 460 nestled inside the four-inch "vandal proof" aluminum frame. There's also a Carl Zeiss-lensed HD webcam with a stereo microphone for those moments when you want to see your beloved's face in eye-popping detail. Today's release of the unit is running Windows 7, but the company has announced that in March you'll also be able to get Linux editions of this and its MT55 Platform unit too. The $17,500 you'll spend also gets you access to the GestureWorks SDK for rolling-your-own tactile apps: museum curators with some budget to blow should head on past the break to read the PR before working out how to justify having one in your office to your boss.

Continue reading Ideum's MT65 Presenter: a $17,500, 65-inch, multi-touch display for your own museum

Ideum's MT65 Presenter: a $17,500, 65-inch, multi-touch display for your own museum originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>65-inchCarl ZeissCarlZeissGestureworksIdeumIdeum GestureworksIdeum MT65Ideum MT65 PresenterIdeumGestureworksIdeumMt65IdeumMt65PresenterMT65MT65 PresenterMt65PresenterMulti Touch DisplayMulti Touch ScreenMulti Touch TableMultiTouchDisplayMultiTouchScreenMultiTouchTableSurfaceTue, 17 Jan 2012 09:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Surface 2.0 now shipping, packing PixelSense and Gorilla Glass]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/16/surface-2-0-now-shipping-packing-pixelsense-and-gorilla-glass/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/16/surface-2-0-now-shipping-packing-pixelsense-and-gorilla-glass/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/16/surface-2-0-now-shipping-packing-pixelsense-and-gorilla-glass/#comments Surface 2.0Samsung's SUR40 has been a long time coming. The 40-inch next-gen Surface was unveiled at CES 2011, but it's only just now starting to ship, following the 2012 edition of that gadget show. It finally went up for pre-order in mid-November for $8,400, but at the time we still had no clear date for shipments. Those of you waiting impatiently to get your table-PC can rest easy however, as the AMD-based Win7 machine should already be en route to your doorstep -- provided you coughed up the cash one of course. We guess it was just a matter of finally getting that sensor-in-pixel tech worked out. Head on after the break for the full PR.

Continue reading Surface 2.0 now shipping, packing PixelSense and Gorilla Glass

Surface 2.0 now shipping, packing PixelSense and Gorilla Glass originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftmicrosoft SurfaceMicrosoft Surface 2.0MicrosoftSurfaceMicrosoftSurface2.0now shippingNowShippingsamsungsamsung sur40SamsungSur40shippingsurfacesurface 2.0Surface2.0Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung 'Optical Sensor in Pixel' LCDs rolling out, ready for Surface 2.0]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/samsung-optical-sensor-in-pixel-lcds-rolling-out-ready-for-su/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/samsung-optical-sensor-in-pixel-lcds-rolling-out-ready-for-su/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/samsung-optical-sensor-in-pixel-lcds-rolling-out-ready-for-su/#comments Samsung SUR40
With Samsung's Microsoft Surface product, the SUR40, already available for pre-order, the company says its 1080p 40-inch "Optical Sensor in Pixel" LCD panels have gone into mass production. Those optical sensors help to more accurately interpret multi-touch input without interrupting display signals, offering a more fluid, interactive experience. Tempered glass overlaying the display supports 176 pounds of load and up to 50 touch points at once, which should be more than enough for a Pacific Giant Octopus or any jerk that leans on your $8K table. While the SUR40 is certainly a showcase device for these panels, it isn't the only practical application -- Samsung says it's thin enough and light enough to wall-mount, and hopes to see it used by stock brokers, financial analysts and schools.

Continue reading Samsung 'Optical Sensor in Pixel' LCDs rolling out, ready for Surface 2.0

Samsung 'Optical Sensor in Pixel' LCDs rolling out, ready for Surface 2.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 19:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kiosklcdMicrosoftMicrosoft Surfaceoptical sensor in pixelOpticalSensorInPixelsamsungSamsung Electronicssamsung sur 40SamsungSur40sur40surfacesurface 2.0Surface2.0touchscreenFri, 02 Dec 2011 19:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface available for pre-order in 23 countries, expected to ship in 2012]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/17/samsung-sur40-for-microsoft-surface-available-for-pre-order-in-2/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/17/samsung-sur40-for-microsoft-surface-available-for-pre-order-in-2/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/17/samsung-sur40-for-microsoft-surface-available-for-pre-order-in-2/#comments Microsoft's Surface hasn't exactly exploded on the sales figure front, but with next-gen model pricing estimated at $7,600 $8,400 and limited availability, we're not surprised that the table of the future hasn't begun popping up in hotels and retails stores the world over. That may slowly change, however, with one of the most recent models -- Samsung's SUR40 -- finally coming up for pre-order today. Enterprise customers (or deep-pocketed individuals) can reach out to dedicated sales reps in any of 23 countries to place an order, including the U.S. and Canada, parts of Asia, and most of Europe. An exact ship date has yet to be released, but don't expect the 40-inch 1080p multitouch table to start popping up until early next year. Want to start touching and tapping today? Check out our hands-on with an early SUR40 from CES.

Update: Microsoft wrote in to let us know that pricing has jumped a bit -- to $8,400 -- since this year's earlier estimate. International pricing will vary by country.

Continue reading Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface available for pre-order in 23 countries, expected to ship in 2012

Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface available for pre-order in 23 countries, expected to ship in 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 10:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1080pamdmicrosoftmicrosoft surfaceMicrosoftSurfacepre-orderpreorderSamsungsamsung sur 40Samsung SUR40samsung sur40 for microsoft surfaceSamsungSur40SamsungSur40ForMicrosoftSurfacesur 40SUR40surfacesurface 2surface 2.0Surface2Surface2.0Thu, 17 Nov 2011 10:18:00 EST<![CDATA[NEC 52-inch table disguised as boring office furniture]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/09/nec-52-inch-table-disguised-as-boring-office-furniture/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/09/nec-52-inch-table-disguised-as-boring-office-furniture/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/09/nec-52-inch-table-disguised-as-boring-office-furniture/#comments The problem with Microsoft Surface is that it looks too much like fun. NEC has the right idea: affix some trolley wheels, brush some aluminum, give it a sedate name like "X-info Table" and then maybe, just maybe, traditional businesses will start buying into the idea. The specs, however, are easily sufficient to handle a few rounds of office Pinball HD (as in the photo above): a Core i7 CPU running Windows 7 on the 52-inch full HD screen, 6GB of RAM, three USB ports, support for multiple sub-displays, and a scanning function. There's no price yet, but you can probably expect to pay more for the 350-pound frame than for the computer itself.

NEC 52-inch table disguised as boring office furniture originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>52-inchbusinessenterpriseheavyMicrosoft SurfaceMicrosoftSurfaceNECNEC X-info TableNecX-infoTableofficeoffice gamesOfficeGamesSurfacetableWindows 7Windows7X-infoX-info TableX-infoTableWed, 09 Nov 2011 11:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Research celebrates 20 years of crazy innovation]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/28/microsoft-research-celebrates-20-years-of-crazy-innovation/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/28/microsoft-research-celebrates-20-years-of-crazy-innovation/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/28/microsoft-research-celebrates-20-years-of-crazy-innovation/#comments Microsoft Research was founded way back in 1991 as a way of turning cutting edge concepts into products. Over the years, the division has been behind some of the most exciting ideas that have come out of Redmond, from fluffy mice to HIV / AIDS research. The department is celebrating its 20th anniversary by highlighting some of its favorite projects over the next four weeks, so we're beating it to the punch with some of picks. Check out our list below.

Continue reading Microsoft Research celebrates 20 years of crazy innovation

Microsoft Research celebrates 20 years of crazy innovation originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 01:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20 years20th anniversary20thAnniversary20Yearsanniversarye booke bookse readere readerse-booke-bookse-readere-readersmicrosoftmicrosoft researchMicrosoftResearchredmondresearchsurfaceWed, 28 Sep 2011 01:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Windows 8 ain't fussy: runs on Macs, Surface, 128MB RAM, banana peel (videos)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/16/windows-8-aint-fussy-runs-on-macs-surface-128mb-ram-banana/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/16/windows-8-aint-fussy-runs-on-macs-surface-128mb-ram-banana/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/16/windows-8-aint-fussy-runs-on-macs-surface-128mb-ram-banana/#comments Downloaders of the Windows 8 Developer Preview have been proving their mettle the best way they know how: by getting it to run on systems it was never really intended for. Brent and the folks at Codesnack win the Real Utility trophy for their successful Boot Camp installs. Josh Blake gets the Damn I Look Good By Candlelight trophy for making the OS run on the MS Surface in his living room. Meanwhile, Marcin Grygiel has awarded himself the I'm HARDCORE!!! title for somehow getting it to run on a PC with just 128MB. Treat yourself to some intimate video evidence after the break.

[Thanks, Prashanth]

Continue reading Windows 8 ain't fussy: runs on Macs, Surface, 128MB RAM, banana peel (videos)

Windows 8 ain't fussy: runs on Macs, Surface, 128MB RAM, banana peel (videos) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>128MBBoot CampBootCampdevdeveloperDeveloper PreviewDeveloperPreviewMS SurfaceMsSurfaceridiculousSurfaceWin8WindowsWindows 8Windows 8 developer programWindows8Windows8DeveloperProgramFri, 16 Sep 2011 19:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Nsquared's Seamless Computing, Surface + Kinect + Slate + Phone = amazing interface (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/30/nsquareds-seamless-computing-surface-kinect-slate-phone/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/30/nsquareds-seamless-computing-surface-kinect-slate-phone/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/30/nsquareds-seamless-computing-surface-kinect-slate-phone/#comments
Sydney's nsquared is calling it "Seamless Computing" -- software which unifies Windows Phone 7, Surface, Windows 7 Slate and Kinect. Begin designing a new home on your phone and then place it on the Surface to share between all the devices, then pick up the Slate to make some modifications before walking through a 3D model of the building, navigating with Kinect's gesture interface. Software like AirPlay and Touch to Share already give you a taste for this sort of tech, but the experience that Dr. Neil Roodyn demonstrates in the video below is far more immersive -- not to mention unspeakably cool.

Continue reading Nsquared's Seamless Computing, Surface + Kinect + Slate + Phone = amazing interface (video)

Nsquared's Seamless Computing, Surface + Kinect + Slate + Phone = amazing interface (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Continuous ClientContinuousClientDr Neil RoodynDrNeilRoodynKinectMicrosoft KinectMicrosoft SurfaceMicrosoftKinectMicrosoftSurfacensquaredSeamless ComputingSeamlessComputingSurfacevideoWindows 7Windows 7 SlateWindows 7 TabletWindows PhoneWindows Phone 7Windows7Windows7SlateWindows7TabletWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Meet Patty, Microsoft's Surface 2.0 stress test robot]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/19/meet-patty-microsofts-surface-2-0-stress-test-robot/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/19/meet-patty-microsofts-surface-2-0-stress-test-robot/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/19/meet-patty-microsofts-surface-2-0-stress-test-robot/#comments Locked behind a gated fence and unseen by the public until now, lives Patty, Microsoft's Surface 2.0 stress test robot. Designed to see just how much Gates' touchscreen can take, this lady bot uses 80 compressed air-driven probes, six motors and a robotic moving head to apply maximum stress to the display. It works as such: by giving Patty a command, engineers can move probes across the screen at 25 inches per second -- mimicking the movement of fingers, hands and whatever else it might encounter IRL. With so much multitasking, it's no wonder she comes with a giant red emergency stop button -- just in case. See Patty do her thing by hitting the source link below.

Meet Patty, Microsoft's Surface 2.0 stress test robot originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 02:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gesturegesturesmicrosoftmicrosoft surfaceMicrosoftSurfacemultitaskingmultitasking gestureMultitaskingGesturepattyrobotstres testsstress teststress test robotstress testsStressTestRobotStresTestssurfacesurface 2.0Surface2.0Fri, 19 Aug 2011 02:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Surface-controlled robots to boldly go where rescuers have gone before (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/11/microsoft-surface-controlled-robots-to-boldly-go-where-rescuers/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/11/microsoft-surface-controlled-robots-to-boldly-go-where-rescuers/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/11/microsoft-surface-controlled-robots-to-boldly-go-where-rescuers/#comments Ready to get hands-on in the danger zone -- from afar? That's precisely what an enterprising team of University of Massachusetts Lowell researchers are working to achieve with a little Redmond-supplied assistance. The Robotics Lab project, dubbed the Dynamically Resizing Ergonomic and Multi-touch (DREAM) Controller, makes use of Microsoft's Surface and Robotics Developer Studio to deploy and coordinate gesture-controlled search-and-rescue bots for potentially hazardous emergency response situations. Developed by Prof. Holly Yanco and Mark Micire, the tech's Natural User Interface maps a virtual joystick to a user's fingertips, delegating movement control to one hand and vision to the other -- much like an Xbox controller. The project's been under development for some time, having already aided rescue efforts during Hurricane Katrina, and with future refinements, could sufficiently lower the element of risk for first responders. Head past the break for a video demonstration of this life-saving research.

Continue reading Microsoft Surface-controlled robots to boldly go where rescuers have gone before (video)

Microsoft Surface-controlled robots to boldly go where rescuers have gone before (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DREAM ControllerDreamControlleremergency respondersemergency responseEmergencyRespondersEmergencyResponseGesture ControlGestureControlgesturesHolly YancoHollyYancoMark MicireMarkMicireMicrosoftMicrosoft ResearchMicrosoft Robotics Developer StudioMicrosoft SurfaceMicrosoftResearchMicrosoftRoboticsDeveloperStudioMicrosoftSurfaceresearchresearchersrobotRobotics Developer StudioRobotics LabRoboticsDeveloperStudioRoboticsLabrobotsSurfaceUMLUniversity of Massachusetts LowellUniversityOfMassachusettsLowellvideoThu, 11 Aug 2011 18:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Project MGS table reads your iPhone's media, gets you hands-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/06/project-mgs-table-reads-your-iphones-media-gets-you-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/06/project-mgs-table-reads-your-iphones-media-gets-you-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/06/project-mgs-table-reads-your-iphones-media-gets-you-hands-on/#comments We know what you're thinking -- an iPhone interfacing with a Surface? The gods must be crazy. Well, it isn't and they're not, so relax. This custom-built, multitouch table of Apple interactivity comes from Computer Science undergrads Artem Vovk and Shuo Yang at the Technische Universität Darmstadt in Germany. Aptly titled Project MGS (Media Gathering System), the system enables wireless transfer of your iPhone's media to the infrared camera-equipped tabletop for some Java-based, gesture controlling fun. How does it know the phone's on there? Simple -- the table locates a barcode affixed to the back of your device and, after that, it's just you and all the pinch-zooming, media-playing mayhem you can muster up. The project also supports file transfers between iOS devices, a feature destined for display in future videos. For now, the tech only plays nice with Apple-flavored mobile devices, but the pair promises it can easily make way for future Android connectivity. Hit the break for the full demonstration and its folksy backing track.

[Thanks, Shuo]

Continue reading Project MGS table reads your iPhone's media, gets you hands-on (video)

Project MGS table reads your iPhone's media, gets you hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jul 2011 01:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AndroidApple iOSApple iPhoneAppleIosAppleIphonegesture controlsGestureControlGestureControlsiOSMicrosoft SurfaceMicrosoftSurfacemulti-touchMultiTouchMultiTouchTableProject Media Gathering SystemProject MGSProjectMediaGatheringSystemProjectMgsSurfaceTechnische Universität DarmstadtTechnischeUniversitätDarmstadtvideoWed, 06 Jul 2011 01:19:00 EST<![CDATA[InFocus Mondopad is a 55-inch multitouch display with an identity crisis (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/09/infocus-mondopad-is-a-55-inch-multitouch-display-with-an-identi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/09/infocus-mondopad-is-a-55-inch-multitouch-display-with-an-identi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/09/infocus-mondopad-is-a-55-inch-multitouch-display-with-an-identi/#comments
What do you get when you mix buzzwords like "cloud" and "tablet" with an enourmous multi-touch monitor? The InFocus Mondopad, that's what. The company anticipates that this 55-inch 1080p high-definition panel "wall tablet", equipped with WiFi and a 720p webam / soundbar, will bring pad-like functionality to your next presentation in a big way. The proprietary software mimics the feel of a mobile OS -- only bigger and blander looking -- with basic apps like a whiteboard and web browser, as well as support for Office, JPG, and PDF files. Also inside is Intel's vPro tech, enabling remote access and file sharing with mobile devices -- or having dual-screen sessions with a 58-inch iPhone table, for instance. Pre-ordering one will run you $5,949 for delivery in July and VoIP service through Vidtel will cost $49 a month per connection. No word yet on whether a more portable version is the works, but you'll find some PR and a video walkthrough after the break.

Update: We've been informed by InFocus that the Mondopad is running Windows 7 along with pre-loaded apps.

Continue reading InFocus Mondopad is a 55-inch multitouch display with an identity crisis (video)

InFocus Mondopad is a 55-inch multitouch display with an identity crisis (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 09:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hd monitorhd webcamHdMonitorHdWebcamIn FocusInFocusmondo padMondoPadmulti touchMultiTouchskypesound barSoundBarsurfacetablettabletsvideovideo chatvideo conferencevideo conferencingVideoChatVideoConferenceVideoConferencingvidtelvoipweb camWebCamThu, 09 Jun 2011 09:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Climbing robot can scale walls on a supersonic stream of air, won't leave fingerprints behind]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/25/climbing-robot-can-scale-walls-on-a-supersonic-stream-of-air-wo/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/25/climbing-robot-can-scale-walls-on-a-supersonic-stream-of-air-wo/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/25/climbing-robot-can-scale-walls-on-a-supersonic-stream-of-air-wo/#comments
There are plenty of wall climbing robots roaming the Earth, but few can scale heights as gracefully as this little guy can. Developed by researchers at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, this bot can wind its way across any glass, metal or cloth terrain, without even touching its pods to the surface. The secret lies in Bernoulli's Principle, which states that as the speed of a fluid increases, its pressure decreases. This phenomenon also applies to streams of air, which, when moving at high speeds around of a circular gripper, can create a vacuum strong enough to hold things without actually touching them. In this case, air shoots out of the robot's feet at more than 2,000 miles per hour, creating enough pressure to lift the craft, while holding it close to the wall. The technology isn't new, but rarely can it support the weight of an entire device -- let alone the extra cargo that this climber's non-contact adhesive pads can hold. Researchers say the supersonic grippers will be available in "some months" and will probably cost "a few hundred dollars." As for the bot itself, Canterbury's engineers envision it being used for industrial inspections -- though the more we think about it, the more we realize just how dirty our windows are. Video after the break.

Continue reading Climbing robot can scale walls on a supersonic stream of air, won't leave fingerprints behind

Climbing robot can scale walls on a supersonic stream of air, won't leave fingerprints behind originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 May 2011 12:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adhesiveadhesive padAdhesivePadairbernoullibernoullis principleBernoullisPrinciplebrickClimbingclimbing robotClimbingRobotGlassgrippernew zealandNewZealandnon-contact adhesive padNon-contactAdhesivePadpadphysicspodpressureresearchrobotstreamsuctionsupersonicsurfaceuniversity of canterburyUniversityOfCanterburyvacuumvideowallweightWed, 25 May 2011 12:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Pioneer's Discussion Table takes on Surface in Japan this July]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/pioneers-discussion-table-takes-on-surface-in-japan-this-july/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/pioneers-discussion-table-takes-on-surface-in-japan-this-july/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/pioneers-discussion-table-takes-on-surface-in-japan-this-july/#comments Pioneer Discussion Table Microsoft hasn't exactly set the market ablaze with Surface, but Pioneer still wants its share of the extremely limited action. The company's Surface competitor, the WWS-DT101 Discussion Table, we spotted back in December is finally coming to market this July... in Japan anyway. Up top is a 52-inch, 1920 × 1080, multitouch glass slab powered by a Core i7 processor and 6GB of RAM. On the software side you're looking at Windows 7 and a proprietary interface called SCHEDA that has the ability to wirelessly pull content from laptops, tablets, smartphones and cameras. It also has a built-in scanner for quickly turning dead tree documents into manipulatable "cards," and teleconferencing capabilities. There's no set price, but we expect it fall in the same range as Surface -- somewhere between unaffordable and unreasonable.

Pioneer's Discussion Table takes on Surface in Japan this July originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 May 2011 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>discussion tableDiscussionTablemultitouchpioneerpioneer discussion tablePioneerDiscussionTablesurfacetabletable pcTablePcwws-dt101Wed, 11 May 2011 15:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft's Rock and Rails touchscreen lets you massage your photos with both hands]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/microsofts-rock-and-rails-touchscreen-lets-you-massage-your-pho/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/microsofts-rock-and-rails-touchscreen-lets-you-massage-your-pho/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/microsofts-rock-and-rails-touchscreen-lets-you-massage-your-pho/#comments If you ever get tired of poking away at your smartphone's screen like a doorbell, you're not alone. The forward-looking folks over at Microsoft Research have been working away at a new touchscreen system designed pick up on more natural, whole-hand movements, effectively allowing users to break free from the finger-based paradigm that governs most tactile devices. Developed in coordination with engineers at Microsoft Surface, the company's Rock and Rails interface can detect three basic hand gestures: a balled fist, which holds items on the screen, an extended hand that can align objects (see the cell marked "d," on the right) and a curved paw, around which users can pivot images (see cell b). This taxonomy opens up new ways for users to crop, re-size or generally play around with their UI elements, though it remains unclear whether the display will trickle down to the consumer level anytime soon. For now, it appears to operate exclusively on the Surface, but more details should surface when the system's developers release a paper on their project, later this year. Hit the source links to see a video of the thing in action.

Microsoft's Rock and Rails touchscreen lets you massage your photos with both hands originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 May 2011 00:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cropshandimagesinterfaceMicrosoftMicrosoft Researchmicrosoft rock and railsMicrosoft SurfaceMicrosoftResearchMicrosoftRockAndRailsMicrosoftSurfaceresearchrock railsrock and railsRockAndRailsRockRailsscreensurfacetactiletouchscreenUIWed, 11 May 2011 00:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Surface SDK gets input simulator, opens doors to indie devs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/04/surface-sdk-gets-input-simulator-opens-doors-to-indie-devs/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/04/surface-sdk-gets-input-simulator-opens-doors-to-indie-devs/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/04/surface-sdk-gets-input-simulator-opens-doors-to-indie-devs/#commentsMicrosoft Surface Input Simulator There's one big, table-shaped obstacle to developing apps for Microsoft's Surface: you kind of have to own one. A new Surface 2 SDK, landing this summer, will sidestep that problem with an input simulator so devs can test their code on any Windows 7 PC. You can tap fingers, place tags, or paint "blobs" for your virtual SUR 40 to interact with, and even fake multitouch gestures by "stamping" a finger in one spot then moving a second one. If the Surface you're programming for happens to be movable (though we're not sure who would put a $7,600 computer on hinges) you can also alter the tilt of the display to trigger UI changes. You'll still need access to one of these behemoths to make sure your wares work in the really real world, but at least the preliminary work can be done on any old laptop or desktop. Frankly, this is something we'd have thought would be included from day one -- as they say, better late than never.

Surface SDK gets input simulator, opens doors to indie devs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 May 2011 22:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>developmentmicrosoftmicrosoft surfaceMicrosoftSurfacemultitouchsdkSUR40surfacesurface 2surface 2 sdksurface 2.0surface input simulatorSurface2Surface2.0Surface2SdkSurfaceInputSimulatorWed, 04 May 2011 22:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft's home of the future lulls teens to sleep with tweets (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/03/microsofts-home-of-the-future-lulls-teens-to-sleep-with-tweets/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/03/microsofts-home-of-the-future-lulls-teens-to-sleep-with-tweets/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/03/microsofts-home-of-the-future-lulls-teens-to-sleep-with-tweets/#commentsMicrosoft Home Microsoft Home is a sort of "world of tomorrow" for the computer nerd set where Surface takes the place of video phones and dinner pills. The only difference is that, unlike those World's Fair staples, Redmond's vision of the not-so-distant future isn't open to the public. This is a private testing ground where researchers can try out concepts, like a watch that records health data and syncs it with your home network or a media center that can analyze video and identify products and locations featured on screen. You might not be able to swing by the campus and visit, but you can catch a glimpse of suburban life in 2025 -- populated by touchscreen wireless charging trays and interactive walls -- in the video after the break. We'll take it all, except the wallpaper -- we don't need #winning tweets floating overhead while we try to get some shut-eye.

[Thanks, Vygantas]

Continue reading Microsoft's home of the future lulls teens to sleep with tweets (video)

Microsoft's home of the future lulls teens to sleep with tweets (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 May 2011 11:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>digital wallpaperDigitalWallpaperfuturehome of the futureHomeOfTheFutureinteractive wallpaperInteractiveWallpapermicrosoftmicrosoft homeMicrosoftHomesurfacetwittervideowireless chargingWirelessChargingTue, 03 May 2011 11:22:00 EST<![CDATA[MTbiggie is a DIY Surface for the masses (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/11/mtbiggie-is-a-diy-surface-for-the-masses/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/11/mtbiggie-is-a-diy-surface-for-the-masses/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/11/mtbiggie-is-a-diy-surface-for-the-masses/#commentsMTbiggie Practical or not, there is no denying the nerd-gasm inducing wow factor of Microsoft's Surface. Of course, Surface is expensive -- like, unless you're a millionaire you're probably not buying one for personal use expensive. There are some DIY solutions out there, but designer and developer Seth Sandler has come up with the cheapest and easiest yet. Built from about $400 worth of material (some of which you probably have lying about your home / apartment / dungeon), the MTbiggie brings big-screen multitouch to the masses. Like the hacker's previous homebrew multitouch device, the MTmini, there's nothing particularly difficult to find here. All you need is a couple of chairs, a mirror, a projector, an infrared webcam (which you can easily hack together with some old film negatives and cardboard), a big sheet of paper and an equally large piece of clear acrylic. Just set it all up according to the instructions in the video below and in no time you be finger painting and playing Angry Birds on a screen that dwarfs your iPad -- and possibly your kitchen table, too.

Continue reading MTbiggie is a DIY Surface for the masses (video)

MTbiggie is a DIY Surface for the masses (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 20:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>diyhackhacknmodmtbiggiemultitouchprojectorseth sandlerSethSandlersurfacevideowebcamMon, 11 Apr 2011 20:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Research teases Windows Phones controlling Surfaces and crazy desktop UIs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/25/microsoft-research-teases-windows-phones-controlling-surfaces-an/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/25/microsoft-research-teases-windows-phones-controlling-surfaces-an/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/25/microsoft-research-teases-windows-phones-controlling-surfaces-an/#comments Hey, look, at this point, we just want ourselves some good, old-fashioned copy and paste -- but we'll give Microsoft some credit for looking a year (or two, or ten) beyond that watermark at what could be coming down the pike for human-machine interaction -- and specifically, how phones could play a role. In a presentation and promotional video pulled together this week, Microsoft Research boss Craig Mundie shows how you could tilt your smartphone to control a bubbly, colorful look into your personal life on your desktop machine and how you could snap a photo and then drop the handset onto a Surface for instant transfer (perhaps a bit like HP's Touch to Share), among other gems. Of course, this is all pure research at this point -- it's any guess whether these comments could make the jump to production, and if so, when -- but it's fun to watch. Follow the break for video.

[Thanks, Jake]

Continue reading Microsoft Research teases Windows Phones controlling Surfaces and crazy desktop UIs

Microsoft Research teases Windows Phones controlling Surfaces and crazy desktop UIs originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 04:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>craig mundieCraigMundiemicrosoftmicrosoft researchMicrosoftResearchresearchsurfacevideowindows phonewindows phone 7WindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7wp7Fri, 25 Feb 2011 04:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft's Surface becomes the world's biggest remote control for the AR.Drone (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/27/microsofts-surface-becomes-the-worlds-biggest-remote-control-f/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/27/microsofts-surface-becomes-the-worlds-biggest-remote-control-f/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/27/microsofts-surface-becomes-the-worlds-biggest-remote-control-f/#comments Whether it's sheer boredom or the pursuit for something awesome, we really don't care -- the motivation behind writing software to allow Microsoft's Surface to control Parrot's AR.Drone is as immaterial as the wireless connection between the two devices. Jump past the break for video of this pair of much-loved niche machines getting their groove on.

Continue reading Microsoft's Surface becomes the world's biggest remote control for the AR.Drone (video)

Microsoft's Surface becomes the world's biggest remote control for the AR.Drone (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 07:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ar dronear.droneArDronedevelopmentfrancefrenchhackhackingmicrosoftmicrosoft surfaceMicrosoftSurfacemodmoddingparrotparrot ar droneParrotArDronequadrocopterquadrotorresearchsoftwaresurfacevideoThu, 27 Jan 2011 07:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Amnesia Razorfish Connect lets your smartphone share your Surface]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/26/amnesia-razorfish-connect-lets-your-smartphone-share-your-surfac/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/26/amnesia-razorfish-connect-lets-your-smartphone-share-your-surfac/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/26/amnesia-razorfish-connect-lets-your-smartphone-share-your-surfac/#comments It's practicality may be a bit questionable until folks actually start using Surfaces in their homes, but Amnesia Razorfish has now produced a rather unique way to share content between your smartphone and Microsoft's would-be household device. The basic idea is fairly simple: just place your smartphone (or tablet) on the Surface, and then simply drag photos and other documents directly onto the device (where you can also, incidentally, preview them instantly). Exactly how that's done isn't clear, but the company says the so-called "Connect" system "utilizes a range of technologies including WiFi, Bluetooth, proximity detection, unique ID and phone accelerometer, depending on the type of phone and location." Somewhat ironically, the system only works with iOS devices at the moment, but Amnesia Razorfish says it's hard at work on bringing it to Android, Windows Phone, and BlackBerry as well. Head on past the break for the video.

Update: The lead developer on Amnesia Connect just chimed in to let us know that the system doesn't actually use Bluetooth, and that it relies on a parallel Tcp- and Udp-Socket connection to get the screen syncing "as close as possible to realtime." Any devices simply need to join the open WiFi network created by the Surface and then launch the app.

Continue reading Amnesia Razorfish Connect lets your smartphone share your Surface

Amnesia Razorfish Connect lets your smartphone share your Surface originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amnesia connectamnesia razorfishamnesia razorfish connectAmnesiaConnectAmnesiaRazorfishAmnesiaRazorfishConnectiosmicrosoftmicrosoft surfaceMicrosoftSurfacesmartphonesmartphonessurfacevideoWed, 26 Jan 2011 20:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface hands-on with video! (update)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/07/samsung-sur40-for-microsoft-surface-hands-on-with-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/07/samsung-sur40-for-microsoft-surface-hands-on-with-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/07/samsung-sur40-for-microsoft-surface-hands-on-with-video/#comments Microsoft offered a brief glimpse of its revised Surface earlier this week at the Ballmer keynote, but now we've had a chance to check the Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface (as its officially termed) for ourselves. The "2.0 experience" firmware is early and a bit buggy right now (especially with finger input), but there's plenty of time fix that up before its launch later this year. The hardware itself is much thinner, with a 4-inch profile that can now be placed vertically against the wall (although we suggest using the stylish legs when possible). The 40-inch 1920 x 1080 gorilla glass display was crisp as all out, but since we could get close and scrutinize, you'll definitely notice the pixels. The first demo we got to see is also probably the most impressive, wherein a paper with "I can see" written on it is scanned and read very clearly (a dev monitor was hooked up to show what Surface could "see"). Meanwhile, we couldn't help but touch every point to watch the ripple effect emanate from our fingers.

Apps are arranged in a row that you can sift through or rotate 180 degrees for someone facing opposite. We kept accidentally opening apps when we tried to scroll through, which is annoying but again, we were reminded it's early firmware. Some of the apps we have seen before with the original Surface -- some changes are required to make compatible, but we're told it's a fairly smooth transition process. Some highlights from what we saw:
  • Bing, which for now only does image search (maps and local to come). The screen right now is a bit too sensitive and would detect sleeves as much as it would our fingers (you can see typos galore in the gallery). Images are scattered about a new results widget, and you can move around a bit from there or pull out individual ones to rotate and scan.
  • A Red Bull with a printed code on the bottom that launches on-screen prompts for videos that you can smoothly rotate and scale on the fly, and a RBC Royal Bank that'll make you feel really guilty about that cup of coffee from this morning.
  • Oldies like Social Stream, Garibaldi Panorama, and Galactic Alliance.
Another plus for the SUR40? It's cheaper than its predecessor -- but at $7,600, it's still not ready for consumer market. We've got a ton of pics below and video after the break!

Update: We've added our full impressions and cleaned up the footage after the break. Enjoy!

Gallery: Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface hands-on

Continue reading Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface hands-on with video! (update)

Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface hands-on with video! (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cesces 2011ces2011hands-onmicrosoftmicrosoft surfaceMicrosoftSurfacesamsung sur 40samsung sur40 for microsoft surfaceSamsungSur40SamsungSur40ForMicrosoftSurfacesur 40Sur40surfacesurface 2surface 2.0Surface2Surface2.0videoFri, 07 Jan 2011 14:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft and Samsung unveil SUR40, the 'Surface 2.0 Experience' you still can't buy (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/06/microsoft-and-samsung-unveil-sur40-the-surface-2-0-experience/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/06/microsoft-and-samsung-unveil-sur40-the-surface-2-0-experience/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/06/microsoft-and-samsung-unveil-sur40-the-surface-2-0-experience/#commentsMicrosoft and Samsung unveil SUR40, the It's been years since Microsoft first wowed us with Surface, years that we've been looking at cool applications for the smart tables, but still Microsoft thinks you aren't ready. Or aren't rich enough, anyway. Samsung has unveiled the "SUR40 with Microsoft Surface," a third-party implementation and what's being called the "2.0 Experience." On the outside things look a bit different, with a variety of pedestals that the thing can be mounted to, including one with two wood panels that flow up to cradle the display. But, if you like, the 40-inch, 1080p screen and the 2.9GHz AMD Athlon II X2 processor and Radeon HD 6700M behind it is now wall-mountable, meaning it really isn't technically a smart table at all. Up top the interface looks more polished and refined, and naturally Windows Phone 7 support has been added, as you can see in the video below. It all looks rather good, we think, but it's all rather focused on businesses as ever.

Continue reading Microsoft and Samsung unveil SUR40, the 'Surface 2.0 Experience' you still can't buy (video)

Microsoft and Samsung unveil SUR40, the 'Surface 2.0 Experience' you still can't buy (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 09:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1080pamdcesces 2011ces2011microsoftsamsungsur40surfacesurface 2.0surface experienceSurface2.0SurfaceExperiencewall-mountablewindows phone 7WindowsPhone7Thu, 06 Jan 2011 09:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft shows off next generation of Surface, has per-pixel touch detection]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/05/microsoft-shows-off-next-generation-of-surface-has-per-pixel-to/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/05/microsoft-shows-off-next-generation-of-surface-has-per-pixel-to/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/05/microsoft-shows-off-next-generation-of-surface-has-per-pixel-to/#comments Microsoft's Surface still isn't for consumers, but it's getting a whole lot wilder. We just saw the next generation of Surface, which has infrared "pixel sense" detection in each pixel, meaning instead of multiple single points of touch, the screen can image your entire hand in all its detail. This should allow for some pretty wild UI improvements, but Microsoft's primary demo was the tried-and-true rippling water effect. The technology was developed in conjunction with Samsung, and measures four inches thick -- it's obviously not going into your next tablet. Under the hood is an AMD CPU / GPU combo. The wildest part, however, is pictured above: placing a piece of paper with writing on it on top of the screen / sensor lets you "scan" the contents of that piece of paper. Microsoft showed us a demo of a bank application that lets you swipe a mailer up against the screen and have it be detected and read by the screen. As for a release, there's no word on when this is coming out, but Microsoft says it will be cheaper than the current generation of Surface when it does. We asked about the potential for this sort of technology in smaller form factors, and were told it only scales down to around 24-inches, and we really get the feeling that Microsoft doesn't have any plans to bring Surface to Joe Consumer any time soon.

Gallery: Microsoft shows off next generation of Surface

Microsoft shows off next generation of Surface, has per-pixel touch detection originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 17:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewscesces 2011ces2011microsoftmicrosoft surfaceMicrosoftSurfacesurfacesurface 2Surface2touchscreenWed, 05 Jan 2011 17:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft lands its largest ever Surface order... from a karaoke bar (update: new video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/14/microsoft-lands-its-largest-ever-surface-order-from-a-karaoke/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/14/microsoft-lands-its-largest-ever-surface-order-from-a-karaoke/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/14/microsoft-lands-its-largest-ever-surface-order-from-a-karaoke/#comments There's not much to see right now, but it appears that Red MR is well on its way to becoming one of the most advanced (and probably the most amusing) karaoke bars in the world. Ahead of its Hong Kong debut this Saturday, said company has already installed six Surfaces in its two bars, and is aiming to fit more to fill up all 80 rooms -- and that number could go up to 300 in the near future -- once Microsoft has ramped up production. With Red MR's customized software (still under wraps), customers will be able to pick songs, order food, watch TV, and play games on the Surface while listening to a drunk rendition of My Heart Will Go On. Oh, and there'll also be a few Kinects dotted around the bars, but it's not exactly clear whether they'll be in the rooms as well. Anyhow, we'll be flying out to Hong Kong to check it out later this week, so stay tuned. For now, you can watch a demo of the Surface's Liar's Dice game after the break.

Update: Our friends over at M.I.C Gadget found a video from Apple Daily that teases the karaoke UI. Have a look after the jump.

Continue reading Microsoft lands its largest ever Surface order... from a karaoke bar (update: new video)

Microsoft lands its largest ever Surface order... from a karaoke bar (update: new video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>azurechinahong kongHongKongkaraokekaraoke barKaraokeBarkinectmicrosoftmicrosoft azuremicrosoft surfaceMicrosoftAzureMicrosoftSurfacemultitouchmultitouch tableMultitouchTablered mrRedMrsurfacevideowindows azurewindows phone 7WindowsAzureWindowsPhone7xboxxbox 360xbox kinectXbox360XboxKinectTue, 14 Dec 2010 12:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Pioneer's Discussion Table is the Surface competitor your business can't live without (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/08/pioneers-discussion-table-is-the-surface-competitor-your-busine/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/08/pioneers-discussion-table-is-the-surface-competitor-your-busine/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/08/pioneers-discussion-table-is-the-surface-competitor-your-busine/#commentsPioneer's Discussion Table is the Surface competitor your business can't live without We'd all like our tables to be a little smarter, and anyone who works for a company would surely like their meetings to have a bit more intelligence, too. Pioneer is hoping to kill two birds with one rather sizeable piece of furniture: the Discussion Table, due sometime next year. Interestingly it's simply a Core i7-based PC running Windows Embedded Standard 7, with minimal custom coding on top of that. Users can bring their mobile PCs nearby and share documents to the table or remote desktop right into their machines from it, showing their docs and displays in scalable and rotatable windows. The Windows underpinnings handles the multitouch details, also offering what must surely be the biggest virtual keyboard ever seen in the wild. The Table has a single-sheet scanner built in the side and even offers TransferJet, so that everyone can download pictures of Boss's drunken holiday party antics wirelessly.

Continue reading Pioneer's Discussion Table is the Surface competitor your business can't live without (video)

Pioneer's Discussion Table is the Surface competitor your business can't live without (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessconferencecore i7CoreI7discussion tableDiscussionTableintelmultitouchpioneersurfacetransferjetvideowindows 7 embeddedWindows7EmbeddedWed, 08 Dec 2010 18:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Table Connect for iPhone demonstrated on video, makes us want (update: it's fake)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/03/table-connect-for-iphone-demonstrated-on-video-makes-us-want/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/03/table-connect-for-iphone-demonstrated-on-video-makes-us-want/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/03/table-connect-for-iphone-demonstrated-on-video-makes-us-want/#comments Sure, showing an image and boasting wildly is one thing, but it's another thing entirely to see something as outlandish as this functioning on video. The gurus behind the Table Connect for iPhone have returned, using a jailbroken iPhone, a dedicated app (for now) and a freshly washed hand to demonstrate what iOS looks like on a 58-inch multitouch table. We've got to say -- for early software, it sure is snappy. Of course, practicality is still in question, but who ever cared about that? Head on past the break and mash play.

Update: That's right, what you see here is nothing more than a table. A regular, no-frills table. More than a year after we first reported on this big old fake, LOA design took to the stage at TED to show off how they duped the internet. If you care to see how they did it, feel free to hit up the video after the break.

[Thanks, Bodgan and George]

Continue reading Table Connect for iPhone demonstrated on video, makes us want (update: it's fake)

Table Connect for iPhone demonstrated on video, makes us want (update: it's fake) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applediyiphoneiphone accessoryiphone tableIphoneAccessoryIphoneTablemultitouchsurfacetabletable connecttable connect for iphoneTableConnectTableConnectForIphonevideoWed, 03 Nov 2010 15:52:00 EST<![CDATA[58-inch Table Connect for iPhone multitouch surface easily dwarfs your iPad (update: it's fake)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/29/58-inch-table-connect-for-iphone-multitouch-surface-easily-dwarf/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/29/58-inch-table-connect-for-iphone-multitouch-surface-easily-dwarf/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/29/58-inch-table-connect-for-iphone-multitouch-surface-easily-dwarf/#comments Think Hyundai's 70-inch multitouch table concept is hot stuff? Have a gander at this. The Table Connect for iPhone is dangerously close to completion, with a full-on mockup shown above. Put simply, this 58-inch multitouch surface accepts iPhone 4 connections via a 30-pin Dock Connector, and with a bit of magic, the table becomes your iPhone. The crew is currently wrapping up an alpha software release, and while a jailbroken iPhone is obviously necessary to get things going, the end result is bound to be impressive. Or at least hilarious. Here's hoping these eventually go on sale, but for now, feel free to hit the source link for one more shot and a slew of diagrams.

Update: That's right, what you see here is nothing more than a table. A regular, no-frills table. More than a year after we first reported on this big old fake, LOA design took to the stage at TED to show off how they duped the internet. If you care to see how they did it, feel free to hit up the video after the break.

[Thanks, George]

Continue reading 58-inch Table Connect for iPhone multitouch surface easily dwarfs your iPad (update: it's fake)

58-inch Table Connect for iPhone multitouch surface easily dwarfs your iPad (update: it's fake) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Oct 2010 10:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applediyiphoneiphone accessoryiphone tableIphoneAccessoryIphoneTablemultitouchsurfacetabletable connecttable connect for iphoneTableConnectTableConnectForIphoneFri, 29 Oct 2010 10:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft LightSpace brings Surface (plus shadows) to any table (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/04/microsoft-lightspace-brings-surface-plus-shadows-to-any-table/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/04/microsoft-lightspace-brings-surface-plus-shadows-to-any-table/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/04/microsoft-lightspace-brings-surface-plus-shadows-to-any-table/#commentsMicrosoft LightSpace brings Surface (plus shadows) to any table (video) It's hard not to love the crazy stuff happening at Microsoft Research, but it's also hard to imagine when any of it is going to actually start changing the way we interact with our PCs. Surface was bested by SecondLight as the coolest tech we can't buy, and now here comes another successor: LightSpace. This gets rid of the expensive table in favor of a (surely not cheap) series of projectors hanging from the ceiling paired to a 3D camera. The camera detects the relative position of things and instructs a projector to apply a Surface-like interface onto any flat surface. From there a user can literally grab any file they like and carry it over to another surface, where it will be displayed. It's all demonstrated quite handily in the video below, and while the system does look a wee bit rough at the moment, the potential is surely there. Just like it was with SecondLight, and Surface, and Courier...

Continue reading Microsoft LightSpace brings Surface (plus shadows) to any table (video)

Microsoft LightSpace brings Surface (plus shadows) to any table (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d camera3dCameralightspacemicrosoftmicrosoft researchMicrosoftResearchprojectionsurfacevideoMon, 04 Oct 2010 13:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Principal Researcher Bill Buxton: Surface will be in homes within three years]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/13/microsoft-principal-researcher-bill-buxton-surface-will-be-in-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/13/microsoft-principal-researcher-bill-buxton-surface-will-be-in-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/13/microsoft-principal-researcher-bill-buxton-surface-will-be-in-h/#comments Microsoft's Principal Researcher recently sat down for a very long interview with The Globe and Mail. The next big thing in tech, he says, is something like Microsoft's already available (but super expensive) Surface. So what does the next version of the Surface look like? Well, it's going to be much thinner -- "no thicker than a sheet of glass," but most importantly, it will cost much much less. The man who helped design what ultimately became Surface says that soon enough, the cameras will be embedded within the device itself, making it a low-cost, in home product rather than the niche product it is today. Buxton also said in the interview that he thinks we'll begin seeing home implementation within the next three years. We sure hope that he's correct.

Microsoft Principal Researcher Bill Buxton: Surface will be in homes within three years originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill buxtonBillBuxtonmicrosoftsurfacetechnologythe futureTheFutureMon, 13 Sep 2010 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Vodafone's Microsoft Surface: like Go Fish for phones]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/03/vodafones-microsoft-surface-like-go-fish-for-phones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/03/vodafones-microsoft-surface-like-go-fish-for-phones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/03/vodafones-microsoft-surface-like-go-fish-for-phones/#comments Microsoft worked with Vodafone late last year to deploy Surfaces to a few dozen stores in several European countries (much as AT&T has done in the US), and one of those units happens to be set up at the carrier's IFA booth this week. The basic idea here is that each available model appears as a card that can be twirled, resized, and flung around the screen. When the software first starts, the cards start in a deck from which you can "deal" onto the table -- but when we first approached it, the Surface had obviously already been played with because the cards were in complete disarray. Not too helpful when you're a befuddled buyer trying to browse models and make a choice from a dizzying selection of handsets, but that doesn't mean it's not cool -- if nothing else, parents, it's something to babysit the kiddies for a few minutes while you go about your business in the store. Follow the break for video of the Surface in action.

Gallery: Vodafone's Microsoft Surface: like Go Fish for phones

Continue reading Vodafone's Microsoft Surface: like Go Fish for phones

Vodafone's Microsoft Surface: like Go Fish for phones originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hands-onifaifa 2010Ifa2010microsoftmicrosoft surfaceMicrosoftSurfacesurfacevideovodafoneFri, 03 Sep 2010 16:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Multi-robot command center built around Microsoft Surface (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/28/multi-robot-command-center-built-around-microsoft-surface-video/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/28/multi-robot-command-center-built-around-microsoft-surface-video/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/28/multi-robot-command-center-built-around-microsoft-surface-video/#comments While we've given up on ever winning an online match of StarCraft II, that doesn't mean top-down unit control schemes are only for nerds in their mom's basement with their cheap rush tactics and Cheeto fingers and obscene triple digit APMs (we're not bitter or anything). In fact, we kind of like the look of this robot control interface, developed at UMass Lowell by Mark Micire as part of his PhD research. The multitouch UI puts Microsoft Surface to good use, with gestures and contextual commands that make operating an unruly group of robots look easy, and a console-inspired touch control setup for operating a single bot from a first person perspective as well. There are a couple videos after the break, the first is Mike operating an army of virtual robots, using Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio to simulate his soldiers and environment, but the second shows his first person UI guiding a real robot through a maze, in what amounts to a very, very expensive version of that Windows 95 maze screensaver.

Continue reading Multi-robot command center built around Microsoft Surface (video)

Multi-robot command center built around Microsoft Surface (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Aug 2010 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>command centerCommandCenterinterfaceinterface designInterfaceDesignmark micireMarkMiciremicrosoftMicrosoft Robot Developer Studiomicrosoft robotics developer studiomicrosoft robotics studiomicrosoft surfaceMicrosoftRobotDeveloperStudioMicrosoftRoboticsDeveloperStudioMicrosoftRoboticsStudioMicrosoftSurfacerobot developer studioRobotDeveloperStudiosurfaceuiumass lowellUmassLowellvideoSat, 28 Aug 2010 17:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft hints at touchless Surface combining camera and transparent OLED (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/29/microsoft-hints-at-touchless-surface-combining-camera-and-transp/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/29/microsoft-hints-at-touchless-surface-combining-camera-and-transp/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/29/microsoft-hints-at-touchless-surface-combining-camera-and-transp/#comments We've always wondered whether Microsoft's multitouch table would actually ever arrive, dreaming of Minority Report hijinx all the while, but after seeing what the company's Applied Sciences Group is currently cooking up -- a touchless telepresence display -- we'd rather drop that antiquated pinch-to-zoom stuff in favor of what might be Surface's next generation. Starting with one of Samsung's prototype transparent OLED panels, Microsoft dropped a sub-two-inch camera behind the glass, creating a 3D gesture control interface that tracks your every move by literally seeing through the display. Combined with that proprietary wedge-shaped lens we saw earlier this month and some good ol' Johnny Chung Lee headtracking by the man himself, we're looking at one hell of a screen. Don't you dare read another word without seeing the prototype in a trifecta of videos after the break.

Continue reading Microsoft hints at touchless Surface combining camera and transparent OLED (video)

Microsoft hints at touchless Surface combining camera and transparent OLED (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Applied Sciences GroupAppliedSciencesGroupface trackingfacetrackinggesturegesture controlGesture recognitionGestureControlGestureRecognitionhead trackingheadtrackinglensMicrosoftMicrosoft Applied Sciences GroupMicrosoft SurfaceMicrosoftAppliedSciencesGroupMicrosoftSurfacemotion sensingmotion trackingMotionSensingMotionTrackingOLEDprototypesamsungsurfacetelepresencetouchlesstransparent oledTransparentOledvideowedgeTue, 29 Jun 2010 10:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Settlers of Catan in development for Microsoft Surface, still can't help you trade sheep for wood (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/23/settlers-of-catan-in-development-for-microsoft-surface-still-ca/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/23/settlers-of-catan-in-development-for-microsoft-surface-still-ca/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/23/settlers-of-catan-in-development-for-microsoft-surface-still-ca/#comments It's a pretty well-known fact that The Settlers of Catan / Die Siedler von Catan is fantastic fun, and though the original board game has seen a few digital incarnations, all the cutthroat hexagonal colonization sim ever really needed was a giant screen with multitouch. MayFair Games let Vectorform build this version for Microsoft Surface, which is on display at the Origin Games Fair this week; CNET reports the final version will be available this August. Good luck finding enough resources to trade for the table to play it on. Video after the break, more details at our source links.

Continue reading Settlers of Catan in development for Microsoft Surface, still can't help you trade sheep for wood (video)

Settlers of Catan in development for Microsoft Surface, still can't help you trade sheep for wood (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Jun 2010 01:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>board gameboard gamesBoardGameBoardGamesDie Siedlerdie siedler von katanDieSiedlerDieSiedlerVonKatanMayfair gamesMayfairGamesMicrosoft SurfaceMicrosoftSurfacemulti-touchMultiTouchmultitouch tableMultitouchTableSettlers of CatanSettlersOfCatanSurfacetabletoptabletop gamesTabletopGamesvectorformWed, 23 Jun 2010 01:02:00 EST<![CDATA[GestureTek intros 42-inch multitouch GestTable, your HDTV suddenly turns jealous]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/09/gesturetek-intros-42-inch-multitouch-gesttable-your-hdtv-sudden/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/09/gesturetek-intros-42-inch-multitouch-gesttable-your-hdtv-sudden/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/09/gesturetek-intros-42-inch-multitouch-gesttable-your-hdtv-sudden/#comments Still looking to snap up your own Surface? Ain't got the cheddar to buy that one that comes free with a yacht? In all honesty, we're in no position to make promises about the affordability of this one, but GestureTek is gearing up to offer the world yet another option with the curiously titled GestTable. This 42-inch beast of a table contains a multitouch LCD with a lovely 1080p resolution, which means that you could theoretically watch the next installation of the Batman series on the same surface that's holding your cup of joe. Not that we'd recommend that, but hey.... In related news, the company is introducing the new 70-inch GestDisplay, a massive freestanding multitouch panel aimed primarily at businesses looking to give prospective customers a way to interact with the wares they're about to inevitably buy. As we alluded to earlier, there's nary a mention of price, but feel free to dip into the nitty-gritty just past the break.

Continue reading GestureTek intros 42-inch multitouch GestTable, your HDTV suddenly turns jealous

GestureTek intros 42-inch multitouch GestTable, your HDTV suddenly turns jealous originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GestDisplayGestTableGesturetekInfoCommInfoComm 2010Infocomm2010microsoftMicrosoft SurfaceMicrosoftSurfacemultitouchsurfacetabletouchtouchscreenwindows touchWindowsTouchWed, 09 Jun 2010 15:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Evoluce 47-inch HD multitouch display gets off-screen gesture control]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/13/evoluce-47-inch-hd-multitouch-display-gets-off-screen-gesture-co/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/13/evoluce-47-inch-hd-multitouch-display-gets-off-screen-gesture-co/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/13/evoluce-47-inch-hd-multitouch-display-gets-off-screen-gesture-co/#comments
Evoluce, the manufacturers of that mammoth 47-inch full HD touchscreen, are out of control! Apparently, they've decided that unlimited simultaneous touch inputs (and thus unlimited simultaneous phalanges) was not enough, so they've gone an' added gesture support -- up to half a meter from the device. Apparently this bad boy supports Windows 7, although if you want your interface du jour to put the "unlimited" in "multitouch" you'll most likely have to roll your own. Interested? Wealthy? Check out some righteous video and PR after the break.

Continue reading Evoluce 47-inch HD multitouch display gets off-screen gesture control

Evoluce 47-inch HD multitouch display gets off-screen gesture control originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 May 2010 13:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1080p47-inchdisplaydisplaysevoluceevoluce oneEvoluceOnefull hdFullHdgesture controlGestureControlhands-onintegrated-through-screen-opticsitsomultitouchsurfacetouchtouchscreenvideoWindows 7Windows7Thu, 13 May 2010 13:49:00 EST