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[Engadget Giveaway: win one of four Beats Audio bundles, courtesy of Daybreak!]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/engadget-giveaway-daybreak-att/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/engadget-giveaway-daybreak-att/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/engadget-giveaway-daybreak-att/#comments Image

We must be smack-dab in the middle of audio week, because even GSM giant AT&T is bestowing the fantastic phonic prizes for your possible procurement, with four Beats Bundles up for grabs. What is this bundle of Beats? It's a set of wireless over-ear headphones (on the right) alongside your very own Beatbox portable audio player (left). Of course, AT&T is putting this all together to celebrate the launch of its five-episode web miniseries, "Daybreak," which debuts tonight immediately following the finale of "Touch" on Fox and runs for five weeks. So make sure you hook us up with a comment below and check out the show tonight. Good luck!

Continue reading Engadget Giveaway: win one of four Beats Audio bundles, courtesy of Daybreak!

Engadget Giveaway: win one of four Beats Audio bundles, courtesy of Daybreak! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ATTbeatboxbeatsbeats bundleBeatsBundlecontestdaybreakengadget giveawayEngadgetGiveawaygiveawaymobilepostcrosstouchweb miniseriesWebMiniserieswirelessThu, 31 May 2012 11:01:00 EST<![CDATA[ViewSonic teases 22-inch Android ICS 'tablet,' promises more at Computex]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/25/viewsonic-22-inch-ics-tablet/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/25/viewsonic-22-inch-ics-tablet/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/25/viewsonic-22-inch-ics-tablet/#comments Image

Have we finally found a tablet match for the 5.3-inch Galaxy Note? ViewSonic sent around a teaser for its "Touch and Connect" series prototypes, including a 22-inch "smart business tablet monitor," powered by what appears to be Ice Cream Sandwich. The giant touch-enabled device will be joined by a Windows 8 multi-touch display, new cloud computing solutions, high-end laser projectors and some interactive electronic billboards -- all set to make their debut on June 5th at Computex. More details will no-doubt be forthcoming in Taipei, so do stay tuned. And you may want to hold off on those giant tablet acquisitions in the meantime -- we have less than two weeks to wait for what could just be the largest mainstream tablet to date.

ViewSonic teases 22-inch Android ICS 'tablet,' promises more at Computex originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 May 2012 12:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>computexcomputex 12computex 2012Computex12Computex2012displaydisplaysmulti-touchmultitouchtablettabletstaipeiteaseteasertouchtouch-screentouchscreenViewSonicViewSonic tabletViewsonicTabletFri, 25 May 2012 12:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Insert Coin: Playsurface open-source multitouch computing table]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/09/playsurface-multitouch-table-surface/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/09/playsurface-multitouch-table-surface/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/09/playsurface-multitouch-table-surface/#comments In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line.

Image

A Microsoft Surface in every office? Yeah, fat chance. At $8,000, you may never see Samsung's SUR40 glow in the wild, but budget versions of the backlit HD table have begun popping up, such as the Merel Mtouch, which retails for half the price. Still, four grand is a lot to ask from casual users -- we need a bargain-basement option to help catapult the concept to success. The Playsurface could be one solution, with an open-source design and a much more affordable price tag. The multitouch computing table is the product of Templeman Automation, and its creators have begun promoting their concept on Kickstarter. In its current iteration, the Playsurface will ship in two flavors -- short, to double as a coffee table, and tall for stand-up applications -- with a $1,750 pledge netting backers a complete kit.

Setting out to fulfill the goal of widespread adaptation, the creator is promising one Playsurface kit with a $1,750 pledge, including a Windows computer, a short-throw 1280 x 800-pixel DLP projector and a transparent touch surface, all housed within a self-assembled wood enclosure. There's also an infrared LED strip to aid with input recognition and something called a "Blob Board," which serves as a dedicated hardware processor tasked with touch detection and connects to the computer via USB. A $350 pledge gets you a Blob Board alone, while $650 is matched with a table (sans computer and projector) and $1,250 will net you a full kit, less the computer. There's just shy of four weeks left to go to get your Playsurface pledge in -- hit up the source link to make it happen.

Continue reading Insert Coin: Playsurface open-source multitouch computing table

Insert Coin: Playsurface open-source multitouch computing table originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 11:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coffee tablecoffee tablesCoffeeTableCoffeeTablesdisplaydisplaysenterprisefundfundingfundraisingfundshouseholdinsert coinInsertCoinkickstarterMicrosoft SurfaceMicrosoftSurfacemulti touchmultitouchprototypesamsung sur40samsung surfaceSamsungSur40SamsungSurfacesur40tabletablestouchtouch tabletouch tablestouchscreenTouchTableTouchTablesvideoWed, 09 May 2012 11:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Disney Research's Touché system detects your touch on most things, even water (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/07/disney-research-touche-touch-system/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/07/disney-research-touche-touch-system/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/07/disney-research-touche-touch-system/#comments

Disney Research has announced some new touch interface technology that add extra gesture functionality to existing touchscreens and more exotic items like doorknobs and even the water's surface. Touché works by sensing capacitive signals across a range of frequencies -- whereas typical systems only pick up signal at a single frequency. This Swept Frequency Capacitive Sensing (SFCS) can recognize exactly how we interact with an object or surface, not limited to surface area differences. According to Disney Research, this could include embedding different commands for when a user pinches or grasps a hooked-up object. One proof of concept door knob allows it to be locked or display a "be right back" sign depending on exactly how it's handled. Get the full explanation -- and see some watery fingertip detection -- right after the break.

Continue reading Disney Research's Touché system detects your touch on most things, even water (video)

Disney Research's Touché system detects your touch on most things, even water (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 May 2012 05:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>disneydisney researchDisneyResearchmultiple frequencyMultipleFrequencySFCSSwept Frequency Capacitive SensingSweptFrequencyCapacitiveSensingtouchTouch DetectionTouchDetectiontouchscreenvideoMon, 07 May 2012 05:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Patent application highlights Apple's continued flirtation with haptic feedback]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/03/patent-application-highlights-apples-continued-flirtation-with/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/03/patent-application-highlights-apples-continued-flirtation-with/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/03/patent-application-highlights-apples-continued-flirtation-with/#comments Image

We could all use a little feedback, right? Even Apple. The company has been toying around with the concept of haptic feedback for a while now, at least so far as patent applications are concerned. Another application filed in November or 2010 has surfaced. Of course, what we told you back in 2009 about the tenuous connection between an application and an actual product is as relevant as ever. Still, Apple's concept for a "tiered haptic system" which "may use one or more arrays of shape change elements to provide a wide range of tactile feedback" demonstrates that, at least as of late 2010, Cupertino was still working to rethink the way it sees touchscreens.

Patent application highlights Apple's continued flirtation with haptic feedback originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 May 2012 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applehaptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackpatentpatent applicationPatentApplicationtouchtouchscreenThu, 03 May 2012 19:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Droplet and StackAR bring physical interface to virtual experiences, communicate through light (hands-on)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-droplet-stackar-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-droplet-stackar-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-droplet-stackar-hands-on/#comments Image

Light-based communication seems to wind throughout the MIT Media Lab -- it is a universal language, after all, since many devices output light, be it with a dedicated LED or a standard LCD, and have the capacity to view and interpret it. One such device, coined Droplet, essentially redirects light from one source to another, while also serving as a physical interface for tablet-based tasks. Rob Hemsley, a research assistant at the Media Lab, was on hand to demonstrate two of his projects. Droplet is a compact self-contained module with an integrated RGB LED, a photodiode and a CR1216 lithium coin battery -- which provides roughly one day of power in the gadget's current early prototype status. Today's demo used a computer-connected HDTV and a capacitive-touch-enabled tablet. Using the TV to pull up a custom Google Calendar module, Hemsley held the Droplet up to a defined area on the display, which then output a series of colors, transmitting data to the module. Then, that data was pushed to a tablet after placing the Droplet on the display, pulling up the same calendar appointment and providing a physical interface for adjusting the date and time, which is retained in the cloud and the module itself, which also outputs pulsing light as it counts down to the appointment time.

StackAR, the second project, functions in much the same way, but instead of outputting a countdown indicator, it displays schematics for a LilyPad Arduino when placed on the tablet, identifying connectors based on a pre-selected program. The capacitive display can recognize orientation, letting you drop the controller in any position throughout the surface, then outputting a map to match. Like the Droplet, StackAR can also recognize light input, even letting you program the Arduino directly from the tablet by outputting light, effectively simplifying the interface creation process even further. You can also add software control to the board, which will work in conjunction with the hardware, bringing universal control interfaces to the otherwise space-limited Arduino. Both projects appear to have incredible potential, but they're clearly not ready for production just yet. For now, you can get a better feel for Droplet and StackAR in our hands-on video just past the break.

Gallery: MIT Media Lab: Droplet and StackAR hands-on

Continue reading Droplet and StackAR bring physical interface to virtual experiences, communicate through light (hands-on)

Droplet and StackAR bring physical interface to virtual experiences, communicate through light (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Arduinocalendarcapacitivecapacitive touchcapacitive touchscreenCapacitiveTouchCapacitiveTouchscreencontrolcontrollerdisplaydisplaysdropletgoogleGoogle CalendarGoogleCalendarhands-onLEDLEDsLilypadLilypad ArduinoLilypadArduinomediamedia labMediaLabmitmit media labMitMediaLabperipheralsprogramprogrammingRob HemsleyRobHemsleyStackARtouchvideoTue, 24 Apr 2012 15:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia Reader comes to Series 40 'touch and type' devices]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/30/nokia-reader-comes-to-series-40-touch-and-type-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/30/nokia-reader-comes-to-series-40-touch-and-type-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/30/nokia-reader-comes-to-series-40-touch-and-type-devices/#comments Nokia Reader comes to Series 40 'touch and type' devicesThis week, everyone's favorite Finnish phone fabricator announced the availability of Nokia Reader for Series 40 touch and type devices. Those familiar with the software know that Reader provides a flow of local and international headlines -- customized by you -- directly to your device's home screen. Nokia boasts that users of its C2-02, X3-02, C3-01, Asha 303 and Asha 300 handsets will be able to stay abreast on all the news without having to worry about battery consumption, thanks to Nokia Notifications. If we've piqued your interest, mosey on past the break to see a video of the bits in action then hit the source link to grab the goods.

Continue reading Nokia Reader comes to Series 40 'touch and type' devices

Nokia Reader comes to Series 40 'touch and type' devices originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>300303AshaC2-02C3-01InternetmobilepostminiNewsNokiaNokia Asha 300Nokia Asha 303Nokia C2-02Nokia C3-01Nokia ReaderNokia X3-02NokiaAsha300NokiaAsha303NokiaC2-02NokiaC3-01NokiaReaderNokiaX3-02ReaderRSSS40Series 40Series40Softwaretouchtouch and typeTouchAndTypetypevideoX3-02Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Wacom Intuos5 touch review]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/17/wacom-intuos5-touch-review/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/17/wacom-intuos5-touch-review/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/17/wacom-intuos5-touch-review/#comments
It's no secret Wacom has a firm grasp on what it takes to make great graphic input devices. Fresh off of its introduction of the Inkling last fall, the outfit recently unveiled the latest member of its high-end pen tablet line, the Intous5 touch. Essentially, Wacom took what made the Intuos4 a great addition to any designer or illustrator's workflow and refined it, with this latest iteration sporting a new rubber-coated shell. It also implements touch gestures -- much like those on the fresh Bamboo models -- which can be customized to speed up tasks you need to complete on the regular, preferably without the aid of a mouse.

Sure, a new matte black suit and the ability to navigate Adobe Creative Suite without a pen seem impressive at first glance, but is the new model worth investing northward of $229? Are you better off sticking with the Intuos4 you splurged on a while back? Let's see.

Gallery: Wacom Intuos5 touch

Continue reading Wacom Intuos5 touch review

Wacom Intuos5 touch review originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artCADcustom gesturesCustomGesturesdrawingExpressKeysfeaturedgesturesgraphicsgraphics tabletGraphicsTabletillustrationillustratorintuosIntuos5intuos5 pen tabletIntuos5PenTabletpen tabletPenTabletreviewsketchingtablettouchtouch gesturesTouchGestureswacomwacom intuos 5 pen tabletwacom intuos5Wacom tabletWacomIntuos5WacomIntuos5PenTabletWacomTabletSat, 17 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Glove-based CRTouch project turns old monitors into touchscreens]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/09/glove-based-crtouch-project-turns-old-monitors-into-touchscreens/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/09/glove-based-crtouch-project-turns-old-monitors-into-touchscreens/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/09/glove-based-crtouch-project-turns-old-monitors-into-touchscreens/#comments As anyone who's ever played a game of Duck Hunt is aware, there are ways of directly interacting with CRT monitors that don't require any modifications to the display itself (a la resistive overlays). A group of students from the University of Hasselt in Belgium have now taken that idea further than most, however, and developed a glove-based system that uses a pair of phototransistors in the fingertips to detect the electron beam as it makes its way across the screen. While not quite "multitouch," the student's current setup (dubbed CRTouch) does let them draw on the screen with one finger and call up additional options (like an eraser or color palette) with the second. Head on past the break to check it out in action.

Continue reading Glove-based CRTouch project turns old monitors into touchscreens

Glove-based CRTouch project turns old monitors into touchscreens originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 05:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crtcrtouchgloveglovesmonitortouchtouchscreenUHasseltUniversity of HasseltUniversityOfHasseltvideoFri, 09 Mar 2012 05:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Intel Ivy Bridge touchscreen Ultrabook reference design hands-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/intel-ivy-bridge-touchscreen-ultrabook-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/intel-ivy-bridge-touchscreen-ultrabook-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/intel-ivy-bridge-touchscreen-ultrabook-hands-on/#comments Interested in replacing both your tablet and that clunky notebook with a svelte all-in-one portable? Intel might have just the gadget for you -- an Ivy Bridge Ultrabook with a built-in 13.3-inch 1600 x 900-pixel capacitive-touch LCD. We happened upon such a device in the bowels of Intel's gaming-centric CeBIT booth, and had a chance to go hands-on with the company's one and only (at this show, at least) reference design touchscreen Ultrabook. The device we saw appeared to be no larger or thicker than similar portables, but integrated a gorgeous 13.3-inch touchscreen, along with that elusive 1.5GHz Ivy Bridge processor. Unfortunately Intel was mum on detailed specs, though the prototype we saw did include a pair of USB 3.0 ports, SIM and SD card slots, and an HDMI port. And according to the system info page, the touch feature supports up to 10 individual input points. We're also told that there might be NFC functionality on-board, though the only visible confirmation of this hardware feature was a piece of medical tape with the letters "NFC" inscribed.

The touch functionality worked just as expected -- if you've used touch on a high-end tablet before, you're already familiar with the experience here. We were able to navigate the installed Zinio app with ease, flicking through magazine pages and pinch-and-zooming our way around a cover. You can of course use the touchscreen to adjust system settings, drag-and-drop files or input text with the on-screen keyboard, though we found the trackpad and hardware keyboard to be more practical here. Overall, this appears to be a no-compromise solution -- it will surely add to the manufacturing cost for next-gen Ultrabooks, but if you opt for a touch-equipped model only to find that you prefer traditional input controls, there's not much lost on the feature front. And, if you do happen to enjoy flicking your way around a notebook, you're definitely in for a treat. You'll find our hands-on video just past the break.

Gallery: Intel Ivy Bridge touchscreen Ultrabook hands-on

Continue reading Intel Ivy Bridge touchscreen Ultrabook reference design hands-on (video)

Intel Ivy Bridge touchscreen Ultrabook reference design hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 07:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capacitivecapacitive touchcapacitive touchscreenCapacitiveTouchCapacitiveTouchscreencebitcebit 2012Cebit2012hands-onintelintel ivy bridgeintel reference designintel touchscreenintel ultrabookIntelIvyBridgeIntelReferenceDesignIntelTouchscreenIntelUltrabookivy bridgeIvyBridgelaptoplaptopsnotebooknotebooksprotoprototypereference designReferenceDesigntouchtouchscreentouchscreen laptoptouchscreen notebooktouchscreen ultrabookTouchscreenLaptopTouchscreenNotebookTouchscreenUltrabookultrabookvideoWed, 07 Mar 2012 07:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor mill: Will the new iPad have a tactile display?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/ipad-rumor-tactile-display/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/ipad-rumor-tactile-display/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/ipad-rumor-tactile-display/#comments
Remember Senseg's tactile touchscreen displays? Well, last December the company showed off a screen that used an electrostatic field to simulate friction and textures on the glass. Such technology was a couple of years away from being commercially viable, but there's a tiny glimmer of a chance it might be the new killer iPad feature. Pocket-lint spoke to a company rep who cryptically said that the company wasn't making any statements until "after Apple's announcement." Why would they issue any statement tied to today's Apple news? Could it connect with a remark made back in June 2011 to Trusted Reviews, that Senseg had partnered with a "certain tablet maker based in Cupertino?" Maybe that line in Apple's invitation to today's event is another clue: "We have something you really have to see. And Touch." After all, Siri was announced at the "Let's talk iPhone" event, so it wouldn't be the first time the company places vague hints under our noses. Still, we have but a few hours left to wait until we really know what's coming, so join us for the live announcement later today.

Rumor mill: Will the new iPad have a tactile display? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 06:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AppleCupertinoElectrostaticFriction DisplayFrictionDisplayiPadiPad 3iPad HDIpad3IpadHdRumorRumor MillRumorMillSensegTactileTactile DisplayTactile ScreenTactile TouchScreenTactileDisplayTactileScreenTactileTouchscreenTim CookTimCookTouchWed, 07 Mar 2012 06:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Audi A3 with MMI Touch gesture-based entertainment system hands-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/audi-a3-with-mmi-touch-gesture-system-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/audi-a3-with-mmi-touch-gesture-system-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/audi-a3-with-mmi-touch-gesture-system-hands-on/#comments CeBIT isn't an auto show in the traditional sense, but we are in Germany after all, so we weren't terribly surprised to see Audi roll up with a brand new car. The latest A3 made its worldwide debut today, bringing with it that wheel-based menu navigation interface we saw in its prototype phase. The touchpad sits atop the jog-wheel and shrinks things down considerably compared to the original version found in the 7-series. To keep things nice and safe, Audi devised a system that recognizes letters you draw with your finger, enabling drivers keep their eyes on the road while selecting music, making calls or setting a destination in the GPS. Also, as is apparently the norm these days, there's Facebook and Twitter integration -- the car can even read updates as you drive. If you know, you can't wait until you're parked.

As you might have gathered, the A3 is a connected vehicle, with a SIM slot or Bluetooth connection providing the car's link to the outside world. It offers another curious addition, too: a "Phone Box" signal boosting system. Details are sparse, but we do know there's an external antenna that relays the signal back to the handset. That particular feature is compatible with any phone you care to toss inside, and requires a wired connection only for charging (the box itself is amplified, so anything that sits within the enclosure will reap those boosting benefits). We managed to get the first hands-on demo with the car, and you can see all those new toys in the video and galleries below.

Gallery: Audi A3 gesture-based entertainment system hands-on

Continue reading Audi A3 with MMI Touch gesture-based entertainment system hands-on (video)

Audi A3 with MMI Touch gesture-based entertainment system hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 10:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a3audiaudi a3AudiA3capacitive touchCapacitiveTouchcebitcebit 2012Cebit2012controlshands-onin carin car electronicsIn Car EntertainmentInCarInCarElectronicsInCarEntertainmentinfotainmentmmiMMI touchMmiTouchmobilepostcrosstouchtouchwheelvideoTue, 06 Mar 2012 10:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Experimental controller has 'thumbstick within thumbstick' for blistering sensations (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/experimental-controller-has-thumbstick-within-thumbstick/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/experimental-controller-has-thumbstick-within-thumbstick/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/experimental-controller-has-thumbstick-within-thumbstick/#comments Experimental controller has 'thumbpad within a thumbpad'Just when you thought slingshots were the future, here comes a whole new way to enjoy baddie deletion in Uncharted 7. Each thumbstick on the prototype controller above has a secondary force feedback-enabled nub at its center, which moves independently and creates different sensations by stretching the skin on the pad of your opposable digit. In the video after the break, the designers at the University of Utah show how they've created effects for crawling, collisions, explosions and even fishing. They're apparently hoping to push their technology into next-gen games consoles, but they'll have to join the queue.

Continue reading Experimental controller has 'thumbstick within thumbstick' for blistering sensations (video)

Experimental controller has 'thumbstick within thumbstick' for blistering sensations (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 07:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>controllerforce feedbackForceFeedbackgames consolegames controllerGamesConsoleGamesControllergaminghapticnext-gen games consoleNext-genGamesConsoleprototypesensationtactilethumbthumbpadthumbsticktouchuniversity of utahUniversityOfUtahvideoTue, 06 Mar 2012 07:22:00 EST<![CDATA[MyFord Touch update rolling out now, promises to be 'faster, simpler, better']]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/05/myford-touch-update-rolling-out-now/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/05/myford-touch-update-rolling-out-now/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/05/myford-touch-update-rolling-out-now/#comments MyFord Touch update rolling out now, promises to be 'faster, simpler, better'
It's been a few months since Ford promised us that juicy refresh to its whips' infotainment system, but it looks as if the wait is about to come to an end. The Built Tough manufacturer says it's finally shipping those 2GB USB sticks (plus an SD card if you have Navigation) to proud owners of MyFord Touch-equipped rides. Included in the fresh update -- which promises to be faster, simpler and better -- are things such as easier controls, audio support for tablets, improved Sirius commands and the ability to jam listen to Audible audiobooks. Folks rockin' the Nav add-on will also see bits like updated map views, additional 3D landmarks as well as better graphics. So you should probably be hitting up your mailbox more often than usual to grab your stick as soon as it arrives, and if you'd like to prepare yourself, then head on over to the source where an installation walk-through video awaits.

[Thanks, Letalis]

MyFord Touch update rolling out now, promises to be 'faster, simpler, better' originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 19:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carcarsfordFordSyncinfotainmentinfotainment systemInfotainmentSystemminipostmyfordmyford touchmyford touch updatemyford touch upgrademyford updatemyford upgradeMyfordTouchMyfordTouchUpdateMyfordTouchUpgradeMyfordUpdateMyfordUpgradesoftwaretouchupdateupgradeMon, 05 Mar 2012 19:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Neonode zForce uses infrared LEDs to measure pressure, replace capacitive touch (hands-on)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/02/neonode-zforce-uses-infrared-leds-to-measure-pressure-replace-c/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/02/neonode-zforce-uses-infrared-leds-to-measure-pressure-replace-c/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/02/neonode-zforce-uses-infrared-leds-to-measure-pressure-replace-c/#comments Smartphone fanatics may recall the Neonode N2 -- a rather unique recall-plagued feature phone that ultimately resulted in the demise of the company's handset arm. Neonode is still a major player in the portable device market, but may be more familiar to OEMs that employ its infrared LED-based touch technology, rather than consumers that utilize it in e-readers, with tablets soon joining the mix. zForce offers several advantages over its capacitive-based counterparts -- it's incredibly responsive and accurate, and can now measure the intensity (or pressure) of your touch, and not just position. There's also a built-in proximity sensor that can be added to any device for a few pennies, which is considerably less than traditional offerings. However, because Neonode uses an array of infrared LEDs and photodiodes, a raised bezel is required to accommodate the additional hardware, making it impossible to integrate a flush display.

We went hands-on with an updated smartphone-sized embed of the company's zForce technology that not only works with any object, such as a finger, pen or a paint brush, but also recognizes both the pressure of your implement and also its size, so a larger paint brush has broader strokes than a smaller one, for example. Because the device can operate at 500Hz all the way up to 1,000Hz (refreshing 1,000 times per second), it appears to be incredibly responsive, with an almost unnoticeable delay between the time you touch the pad and when your input is displayed on the screen. A second demo unit, called Stargate, offers dual-layer touch with support for 3D control -- you can literally reach inside the unit to manipulate an object. There's no word on when this latest tech will make its way into devices, or how exactly we'll see it used, but you really need to see it in action to get a feel for how it works -- jump past the break for our video hands-on.

Gallery: Neonode zForce hands-on

Continue reading Neonode zForce uses infrared LEDs to measure pressure, replace capacitive touch (hands-on)

Neonode zForce uses infrared LEDs to measure pressure, replace capacitive touch (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>controlcontrollercontrollerscontrolsdisplaydisplayshands-oninfraredinfrared LEDInfraredLedinput deviceinput devicesInputDeviceInputDevicesLEDLEDsmobile world congressmobile world congress 2012mobilepostcrossMobileWorldCongressMobileWorldCongress2012mwcmwc 12mwc 2012Mwc12Mwc2012neonodeneonode stargateNeonodeStargatenonode zforceNonodeZforcestargatetouchtouchscreentouchscreensvideozforceFri, 02 Mar 2012 10:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Wacom announces Intuos5 graphics tablets, we go hands-on! (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/29/wacom-intuos5-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/29/wacom-intuos5-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/29/wacom-intuos5-hands-on/#comments Wacom announces Intuos5 pen tablets, we go hands-on!It's a couple of months since we spotted paperwork for a mysterious "PTK-450" device at the FCC and now Wacom has finally revealed the gadget that goes with the label. The Intuos5 tablet is available to purchase immediately in Small (4 x 6 inches), Medium (6 x 8) and Large (13 x 8) sizes, priced at £200, £330 and £430 respectively. We're still waiting on confirmation of US pricing, but it'll no doubt be less than what a straight currency conversion suggests (i.e. somewhere below $320, $525 and $680). There's actually a fourth variant to add to the trio, but it's not an XL -- Wacom is hoping to up-sell you to a Cintiq 21UX or Cintiq 24HD if you want something bigger. Instead, the fourth tablet is a version of the Medium that comes without touch sensitivity, bringing the price down to £270 if you're able to live with pen-only input. Opting for this particular model will remove one of the biggest upgrades in this three-year product cycle: the ability of the Intuos5 to sense up to 16 finger-touches simultaneously, rather than just the nib of the pen. But there have been other revisions since the Intuos4 aside from touch, and you only have to read on to discover what those are.

Update: There was a problem with the embedded video -- sorry folks. It's working properly now, along with more gallery pics below.

Update: Just got word on US pricing. $230, $350 and $470 for the touch sensitive models. $300 for the Medium without touch. Also coming to the US is a pen-only version of the Small tablet -- we're not sure how much that'll cost (and Wacom's site seems to be down right now), but it'll be the cheapest upgrade of the bunch.

Gallery: Wacom Intuos5 hands-on


Gallery: Wacom Intuos 5 publicity shots


Gallery: Wacom Intuos5 software screenshots

Continue reading Wacom announces Intuos5 graphics tablets, we go hands-on! (video)

Wacom announces Intuos5 graphics tablets, we go hands-on! (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artCADdrawinggraphicsgraphics tabletGraphicsTablethands-onillustrationillustratorintuosintuos5pen tabletPenTabletsketchingtablettouchvideowacomwacom intuos5WacomIntuos5Wed, 29 Feb 2012 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on with Immersion HD Integrator hi-fi haptics]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/23/hands-on-with-immersion-hd-integrator-hi-fi-haptics/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/23/hands-on-with-immersion-hd-integrator-hi-fi-haptics/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/23/hands-on-with-immersion-hd-integrator-hi-fi-haptics/#comments Hands-on with Immersion HD Integrator hi-fi hapticsIt was just over a year ago when we met with the folks from Immersion, and they showed us a prototype handset packing its HD haptics technology. Since that time, the piezoelectric actuator that makes the tactile magic possible has gone into mass production, and the first commercial device packing such hi-fi haptics, the Pantech Element, hit store shelves. Immersion's got greater aspirations for its tactile tech, however, and its new HD Integrator platform aims to put high fidelity haptics in every handset. We got to sample the HD haptics goods once again and chat with Immersion about the new platform and its technology, so head on past the break to see what the company has in store.

Continue reading Hands-on with Immersion HD Integrator hi-fi haptics

Hands-on with Immersion HD Integrator hi-fi haptics originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>force feedbackForceFeedbackhands-onhaptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackhapticshd integratorHdIntegratorimmersionpiezopiezoelectrictactiletouchvideoThu, 23 Feb 2012 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: Think form factors, not PCs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/19/switched-on-think-form-factors-not-pcs/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/19/switched-on-think-form-factors-not-pcs/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/19/switched-on-think-form-factors-not-pcs/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.


The iPad, launched in 2010, kicked off the post-PC era. The combination of a multitouch display and keyboard-less design enabled mobile computing in a way not done before. On the other hand, maybe the IBM Simon, launched in 1992, kicked off the post-PC era. Widely considered to be the first smartphone, it enabled mobile computing in a way that was not done before. Then again, maybe the Osborne I, launched in 1981, marked the beginning of the post-PC era. After all, it was widely considered to be the first portable computer, enabling mobile computing in a way that was not done before.

Continue reading Switched On: Think form factors, not PCs

Switched On: Think form factors, not PCs originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columndesignIBMinput technologiesInputTechnologiesinterfaceipadMac OSMacOsmobile OSMobileOsOSOsborne IOsborneIpost PC eraPostPcEraproductivityslatesswitched onSwitchedOntabletsToshibatouchWindows 8Windows8Sun, 19 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cryoscope gadget simulates tomorrow's weather today (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/06/cryoscope-gadget-simulates-tomorrows-weather-today-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/06/cryoscope-gadget-simulates-tomorrows-weather-today-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/06/cryoscope-gadget-simulates-tomorrows-weather-today-video/#comments This multi-layered device can't shower you with hail or tan your outdoor-deprived complexion, regrettably. What it can do though, is deliver a direct haptic sensation of how warm or cold it'll be tomorrow, just in case you decide to venture out of your bedroom. An Arduino controller pulls in forecast data from the web and uses it to adjust a Peltier element and a cooling fan, which are housed along with a heat sink inside a neat and tactile aluminum box. The Cryoscope is the handiwork of industrial design student Robb Godshaw, and it's the reason he already knew he'd be wearing a skinny t-shirt and stripey socks in the video after the break.

Continue reading Cryoscope gadget simulates tomorrow's weather today (video)

Cryoscope gadget simulates tomorrow's weather today (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arduinodesignforecasthapticheat sinkHeatSinkindustrial designIndustrialDesignpeltier elementPeltierElementRobb GodshawRobbGodshawrochester institute of technologyRochesterInstituteOfTechnologysensationtemperaturetouchvideoweatherweather forecastWeatherForecastMon, 06 Feb 2012 08:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Parrot reveals Starck-designed Zik Bluetooth touch-activated headset, Zikmu Solo wireless tower speaker (hands-on)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/10/parrot-reveals-starck-designed-zik-bluetooth-touch-enabled-heads/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/10/parrot-reveals-starck-designed-zik-bluetooth-touch-enabled-heads/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/10/parrot-reveals-starck-designed-zik-bluetooth-touch-enabled-heads/#comments
Parrot's AR.Drone 2.0 may have been one of the more joy-inducing wares we've seen here at CES, but that was yesterday. Today, we dare to say that that one of two audio devices just unveiled (and designed by Philippe Starck, we might add) has our jaw dropping, and our ears tingling -- the absolutely gorgeous Zik Bluetooth touch-activated headset, pictured above. The Zik's loaded with goodies -- Bluetooth connectivity, active-noise cancellation, NFC and touch controls on either earcup, not to mention its jawbone and "presence" sensors among a few other notable tidbits like its DSP-enabling app that adds a "concert-type" vibe to its sound. As far as that second device goes, Parrot's introducing a singular stereo version of its Zimku wireless tower speakers, aptly named Zikmu solo. Head past the break to find our brief impressions and a video overview of a pre-production Zik, and hit up the galleries below for some closeup shots of it and the Zikmu solo.

Gallery: Parrot Sik by Starck Bluetooth touch-activated headset (hands-on)

Gallery: Parrot Zikmu Solo wireless stereo speaker

Continue reading Parrot reveals Starck-designed Zik Bluetooth touch-activated headset, Zikmu Solo wireless tower speaker (hands-on)

Parrot reveals Starck-designed Zik Bluetooth touch-activated headset, Zikmu Solo wireless tower speaker (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>active noise cancellationActiveNoiseCancellationancaudiobluetoothcesces 2012Ces2012Ces2012Previewexpensivehands-onheadphonesjawbone sensorJawboneSensormodernmusicnear field communicationNearFieldCommunicationnfcparrotphilippe starckPhilippeStarcksexysoundstarcktouchtouch controlTouchControlvideowirelessZikmuTue, 10 Jan 2012 09:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Intel demos Ultrabooks with multitouch displays, games using an accelerometer]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/intel-demos-ultrabooks-with-multitouch-displays-games-using-an/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/intel-demos-ultrabooks-with-multitouch-displays-games-using-an/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/intel-demos-ultrabooks-with-multitouch-displays-games-using-an/#comments
Well, this was probably inevitable, wasn't it? We're here at Intel's Ultrabook CES keynote, where PC client head honcho Mooly Eden just showed off Ultrabooks with touchscreen displays. No convertible form factors, just yet, but clamshells with multitouch screens -- you know, the kind of thing we marveled over when the TouchSmart tm2 came out two CES' ago. Sounds predictable enough, right? Well, get this: after he was done swiping the display, using pinch to zoom to magnify webpages, he launched a game, and used the accelerometer in the laptop to fly a plane into the horizon. That's right: you'll soon be able to game with your sub-three-pound laptop as you would with a smartphone or tablet. Let's just hope those Ultrabooks eventually stop ballooning back into straight-up notebook territory, eh?

Billy Steele contributed to this report.

Intel demos Ultrabooks with multitouch displays, games using an accelerometer originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accelerometerbreaking newscesces 2012Ces2012gamingIntelMooly EdenMoolyEdenmutlitouchtouchUltrabookUltrabooksMon, 09 Jan 2012 12:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Mogees uses contact microphone and gesture recognition to create music on any surface (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/05/mogees-creates-gesture-based-music/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/05/mogees-creates-gesture-based-music/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/05/mogees-creates-gesture-based-music/#comments The piezoelectric effect is an interesting phenomena. Capable of turning vibrations into electric signals, it's at the heart of the Mogees project from Bruno Zamborlin and Norbert Schnell. Here, a contact microphone is connected to a system that processes sound from unique gestures and then triggers the appropriate instrument in its database -- thereby turning virtually any surface into an experimental jam band. Different gestures may be added to Mogees, which can also recognize the difference between fingers and objects such as coins. The project isn't commercially available, but if you're unfamiliar with the magic of contact microphones, we think the video after the break will be a rather fascinating introduction. Hell, with a similar setup, anyone could be a budding musician. Just don't let it all go to your head if you make the big time.

Continue reading Mogees uses contact microphone and gesture recognition to create music on any surface (video)

Mogees uses contact microphone and gesture recognition to create music on any surface (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bruno ZamborlinBrunoZamborlincontact microphoneContactMicrophonegesturegesturesMogeesmusicmusical instrumentsMusicalInstrumentsNorbert SchnellNorbertSchnellpiezopiezoelectricsoundtouchvideoThu, 05 Jan 2012 23:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Neonode's NN1001 optical touch controller tracks gestures with any object, 'gloved fingers' included]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/04/neonodes-nn1001-optical-touch-controller-tracks-gloved-fingers/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/04/neonodes-nn1001-optical-touch-controller-tracks-gloved-fingers/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/04/neonodes-nn1001-optical-touch-controller-tracks-gloved-fingers/#commentsNeonode's name isn't plastered on your spate of gizmos, but if you've purchased a touchscreen-based device in the past year or so, there's a better-than-average chance that it's technology is tucked within. In the run-up to CES, the outfit is introducing the world's first ultra-low power single-chip optical touch controller, NN1001. This guy was developed in cooperation with Texas Instruments, specifically designed to shave costs and increase performance / functionality for smartphones, tablets, e-readers and automotive applications. The device has a scanning speed of 1,000 Hz (latency down to one millisecond) and consumes less than 1mW at 100Hz; better still, it'll track any high-speed multi-touch gesture with any object (including a finger, gloved finger and passive pens). We're told that it'll work in single or multiple configurations to support screen sizes up to 20 inches, but there's no clear view as to what products are lined up to receive it. That said, we're promised an early look of an automotive application at CES, where it'll head into the public world in the latter half of 2012.

Continue reading Neonode's NN1001 optical touch controller tracks gestures with any object, 'gloved fingers' included

Neonode's NN1001 optical touch controller tracks gestures with any object, 'gloved fingers' included originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cesces 2012Ces2012controllerminipostNeonodeNN1001optical touch controllerOpticalTouchControllerTexas InstrumentsTexasInstrumentsTItouchtouch controllertouch screenTouchControllerTouchScreenWed, 04 Jan 2012 18:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Galaxy Nexus users reporting touchscreen trouble, lower scores in multitouch games (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/18/galaxy-nexus-users-reporting-touchscreen-trouble-lower-scores-i/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/18/galaxy-nexus-users-reporting-touchscreen-trouble-lower-scores-i/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/18/galaxy-nexus-users-reporting-touchscreen-trouble-lower-scores-i/#comments Looks like the honeymoon is ending a little early for some Galaxy Nexus users -- a pair of RootzWiki threads say that the device is struggling to maintain multitouch in some situations. Apparently the bug is repeatable, booting up a multitouch game like Gun Brothers or Shadow Gun will put the lower right hand portion of the smartphone's touchscreen in a finicky mood. We gave the glitch a go on a couple of different handsets, and were indeed thwarted by the touchscreen's tantrum. Turning the Nexus' screen on and off seems to fix the problem -- at least until you jump into your next game -- and the bug only seems to appear when the device is in landscape mode. This is likely a software bug, but until it's fixed, we'll just have to take it one touch at a time. Don't have a Nexus? See the glitch in action after the break.

[Thanks, Jim]

Continue reading Galaxy Nexus users reporting touchscreen trouble, lower scores in multitouch games (video)

Galaxy Nexus users reporting touchscreen trouble, lower scores in multitouch games (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 18 Dec 2011 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bugerrorgalaxy nexusGalaxyNexusglitchmobilepostcrossmultitouchmultitouch errorsmultitouch glitchMultitouchErrorsMultitouchGlitchnexusphonessamsung galaxy nexusSamsungGalaxyNexussmartphonestouchvideoSun, 18 Dec 2011 12:33:00 EST<![CDATA[PingChat! becomes Touch, delivers real-time social collaboration to Android, BlackBerry and iOS (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/05/pingchat-becomes-touch-delivers-real-time-social-collaboration/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/05/pingchat-becomes-touch-delivers-real-time-social-collaboration/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/05/pingchat-becomes-touch-delivers-real-time-social-collaboration/#comments 13 million PingChat! users will soon find their cross-platform instant messaging companion taking on a more social and interactive life. Today, Enflick is announcing a new platform for communication known simply as Touch. In addition to being available as a separate download, existing PingChat! users will be presented with an upgrade that maintains their existing user names and contacts. Rather than working from predefined lists or blasting messages to all contacts, Touch allows users to determine specifically who to share a message or photo with, and also bring new friends and family members into the conversation on-the-fly. The program also shows when someone is typing, and the push-style system allows users to see exactly when messages have been read. The free app will launch today for Android, BlackBerry and iOS users. Sorry, Windows Phone fans, Enflick has no immediate plans for your platform, although it promises to continue to monitor demand. Be sure to check out the full gallery below, along with a quick video and the full PR after the break.

Gallery: Enflick Touch

Continue reading PingChat! becomes Touch, delivers real-time social collaboration to Android, BlackBerry and iOS (video)

PingChat! becomes Touch, delivers real-time social collaboration to Android, BlackBerry and iOS (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidappappleappsblackberrychatcollaborationenflickgoogleinstant messagingInstantMessagingiosmobilepostminipingchatrimsocial networkingSocialNetworkingtouchvideoMon, 05 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazon Kindle Touch review]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/14/kindle-touch-review/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/14/kindle-touch-review/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/14/kindle-touch-review/#comments It was back in back in September that Amazon finally unveiled the Kindle Fire, its long awaited entry into the budget space. The full-color, multimedia slate hit the sweet spot, price-wise, sliding in at a hair under $200 and setting the tech world abuzz. The company made it clear, however, that it still had a horse in the standalone e-reader race -- three horses, in fact. That same event also saw the unveiling of the fourth-generation Kindle and the Kindle Touch, two new devices that take slightly different approaches to the post-keyboard world of e-readers. And, to play it safe, Amazon announced that it would be keeping the Kindle 3 around -- albeit, rebranded as the Kindle Keyboard.

At $79 for the ad-supported version, the Kindle 4 carved out a whole new price point for e-readers. The Kindle Touch meanwhile, marked a belated entrance into touchscreen e-ink devices -- a market that had already been populated by several high-profile competitors: Barnes & Noble's Nook, Kobo and Sony. Why did Amazon hold off so long? According to the company, it was "waiting to get touch right." Without spoiling this review too much, there are indeed some features of this new device that suggest the wait was worth it.

But are these elements enough to dethrone the Nook Simple Touch as the best devoted e-reader out there, especially given that the Nook, too, recently got a refresh of its own? Does Amazon still have what it takes to remain the clear market reader in e-books? And is the $20 premium worth the step up from the fantastically affordable fourth-gen Kindle? The answer to all of this and more can be found after the break.

Gallery: Amazon Kindle Touch unboxing

Gallery: Amazon Kindle Touch review

Continue reading Amazon Kindle Touch review

Amazon Kindle Touch review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3gamazonamazon kindleamazon kindle touchAmazonKindleAmazonKindleTouche booke bookse readere readerse-booke-bookse-readere-readerskindlekindle touchKindleTouchreviewspecial offersSpecialOfferstouchvideowifiMon, 14 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Synaptics shows conceptual trackpad interface with Windows 8, better make it a reality (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/08/synaptics-shows-conceptual-trackpad-interface-with-windows-8-be/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/08/synaptics-shows-conceptual-trackpad-interface-with-windows-8-be/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/08/synaptics-shows-conceptual-trackpad-interface-with-windows-8-be/#commentsIt's pretty obvious from Microsoft's outing of Windows 8 that touch is going to be a real focal point, but on machines that lack a touchscreen, it'll be the trackpad pulling weight. Synaptics, a famed touchpad maker, has just outed a new concept video demonstrating how its products will eventually -- in theory, anyway -- interact with Microsoft's forthcoming desktop OS. We've made no bones about the fact that most Windows-based laptops could use a serious lesson in trackpad awesomeness, and while there's no way to know for sure that the latest Series 7 ClearPad and ClickPad solutions will feel like they need to, the video hosted up after the break sure gives us reason to be optimistic.

Continue reading Synaptics shows conceptual trackpad interface with Windows 8, better make it a reality (video)

Synaptics shows conceptual trackpad interface with Windows 8, better make it a reality (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clearpadClickPadMetroUXmicrosoftseries 7Series7SynapticstouchtouchpadtouchscreentrackpadvideowindowsWindows 8Windows8Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:33:00 EST<![CDATA[New use for an old technology brings touch input to... almost anything]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/03/new-use-for-an-old-technology-brings-touch-input-to-almost-an/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/03/new-use-for-an-old-technology-brings-touch-input-to-almost-an/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/03/new-use-for-an-old-technology-brings-touch-input-to-almost-an/#comments Imagine, if you will, a world where everything from the clothes on your back to the glass in your hand was a touch-enabled device. We're not there yet, but thanks to researchers at the University of Munich and the Hasso Plattner Institute, we're closer to just such a touchy-feely future. Those German scientists are now able to tell when and where your fingertip touches (or gets close to) a wire using time domain reflectometry, or TDR. It works by sending electrical pulses through a wire and measuring the time it takes for the pulses to return. See, the presence of a finger reflects some of the pulse, and by using an oscilloscope and a computer to view and analyze the resulting waveform, researchers can pinpoint where the touch occurs. TDR has been used for years to find faults in underwater cabling, but only recent advances have allowed its application over the short distances used in consumer applications. In its current form, the equipment isn't quite ready for public consumption -- those pulse generators and detectors need to shed a few pounds first -- but given how quickly silicon's shrinking, it shouldn't be long before our truly tactual world is real.

Continue reading New use for an old technology brings touch input to... almost anything

New use for an old technology brings touch input to... almost anything originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hasso plattner instituteHassoPlattnerInstituteresearchsciencetdrtime domain reflectometryTimeDomainReflectometrytouchtouch inputtouch sensorTouchInputTouchSensoruniversity of munichUniversityOfMunichvideoThu, 03 Nov 2011 16:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Stanford builds super-stretchy skin sensor out of carbon nanotubes (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/25/stanford-builds-super-stretchy-skin-sensor-out-of-carbon-nanotub/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/25/stanford-builds-super-stretchy-skin-sensor-out-of-carbon-nanotub/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/25/stanford-builds-super-stretchy-skin-sensor-out-of-carbon-nanotub/#comments
An artificial skin that senses pressure, pinches and touch sounds like a macguffin from The Outer Limits (the episode "Valerie 23" if we recall correctly), but that's what a team from Stanford University has cooked up on the back of its pick-up truck. Sensors made of silicon films with a matrix of liquid carbon nanotubes ensure the material snaps back to its original shape no matter how frequently it's pulled about. When compressed, the electrical conductivity of the skin changes, and by measuring where and by how much, it knows the location and pressure of where you jab your fingers. The team wants to combine this super stretchy film with a much more sensitive sensor and if it can do it, then the technology could end up as an artificial skin for burn victims, covering prosthetic limbs or even replacing your multitouch display -- just be careful, you might hurt Siri if you pinch-to-zoom her too hard.

Continue reading Stanford builds super-stretchy skin sensor out of carbon nanotubes (video)

Stanford builds super-stretchy skin sensor out of carbon nanotubes (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ArtificialArtificial LimbArtificial LimbsArtificial SkinArtificialLimbArtificialLimbsArtificialSkinBenjamin TeeBenjaminTeeCarbonCarbon NanospringsCarbon NanotubesCarbonNanospringsCarbonNanotubesCyborgDarren LipomiDarrenLipomiMichael VosgueritchianMichaelVosgueritchianMultitouchNanospringsNanotubesresearchscienceStanfordStanford UniversityStanfordUniversityTouchTouch SensorTouchSensorvideoZhenan BaoZhenanBaoTue, 25 Oct 2011 13:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft's PocketTouch prototype is like x-ray vision for your fingers (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/18/microsofts-pockettouch-prototype-is-like-x-ray-vision-for-your/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/18/microsofts-pockettouch-prototype-is-like-x-ray-vision-for-your/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/18/microsofts-pockettouch-prototype-is-like-x-ray-vision-for-your/#comments
Is it more gauche to pull out your phone in the middle of a date, or to draw a bunch of crop circles on your pants? That's the question we were asking ourselves after coming across PocketTouch -- a new Microsoft Research prototype that lets you manipulate your handset without ever removing it from your pocket. Developed by researchers Scott Saponas, Chris Harrison and Hrvoje Benko, the device essentially consists of a customized, multitouch capacitive sensor hooked on to the back of a smartphone. This sensor is capable of picking up gestures through fabric, allowing users to execute a wide array of eyes-free, gesture-based functions (including simple swipes and alphanumeric text) without ever having to actually whip out their phones. To do this, the team implemented what it calls an "orientation-defining unlock gesture," which helps the prototype get its bearings, before testing the capacitive sensors across different fabrics. According to Microsoft, the outcome "exceeded expectations," though there's no word on when or if this Goliath of a device could ever hit the mainstream. Head past the break to see a video of a man playing tic-tac-toe on his pants.

Continue reading Microsoft's PocketTouch prototype is like x-ray vision for your fingers (video)

Microsoft's PocketTouch prototype is like x-ray vision for your fingers (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 05:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphanumericcapacitivedevelopmentengineeringinputmicrosoftmicrosoft researchMicrosoftResearchMSmsftmultitouchorientationpocketpockettouchprototyperedmondresearchsciencesensorsmartphonetexttouchvideoTue, 18 Oct 2011 05:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Maide Control iPad app lets you build and view 3D models with your bare, sweaty hands (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/14/maide-control-ipad-app-lets-you-build-and-view-3d-models-with-yo/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/14/maide-control-ipad-app-lets-you-build-and-view-3d-models-with-yo/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/14/maide-control-ipad-app-lets-you-build-and-view-3d-models-with-yo/#comments
Looking for a hands-on 3D controller that won't require any five-fingered peripherals? Check out Maide Control -- a new app that allows users to manipulate 3D CAD data from the comfort of their iPad displays. Available for $4.99 on iTunes, this app will wirelessly sync an iPad with any compatible 3D program, thereby enabling modelers to mold and view their designs using an array of multitouch gestures. You can also use Maide Control to showcase models on larger displays (say, at a company presentation), or to connect multiple iPads to the same render, in case you're working on a more collaborative project. For now, the app only supports Google SketchUp and Rhino on Windows only, though the company plans to incorporate other 3D apps and Mac support in the near future. Wiggle past the break to see a pair of demo videos, or hit up the source link below to download the app directly from iTunes.

Continue reading Maide Control iPad app lets you build and view 3D models with your bare, sweaty hands (video)

Maide Control iPad app lets you build and view 3D models with your bare, sweaty hands (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 08:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3D app3D CAD3dApp3dCadappapplicationCADdesigngesturegoogle sketchupGoogleSketchuphandsipadipad appIpadAppitunesmacmaidemaide controlMaideControlmodelmodelingmousemultitouchpresentationrhinosketchuptablettouchvideowindowswirelessFri, 14 Oct 2011 08:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Swatch Touch watch reacts to your, well, you know]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/30/swatch-touch-watch-reacts-to-your-well-you-know/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/30/swatch-touch-watch-reacts-to-your-well-you-know/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/30/swatch-touch-watch-reacts-to-your-well-you-know/#comments
Admit it, you've either owned or lusted after some sort of quirky Swatch in your lifetime. If not, its new Touch watch may be the one to finally give you a case of GAS. According to T3, the timepiece sports a convex LCD touchscreen, used for swiping or tapping through settings. Aside from displaying the time and date in an eye-caching (nearly unreadable) manner, it features an alarm, a timer, chronograph functionality and keeps track of two timezones. The Swatch Touch is said to hit the UK scene on October 1st, in a choice of six colors for £100 (roughly $157). Looks like Tokyoflash just got itself a worthy foe.

Swatch Touch watch reacts to your, well, you know originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alarmdigital watchDigitalWatchdual timezoneDualTimezoneGadget Acquisition SyndromeGadgetAcquisitionSyndromegasgear Acquisition SyndromeGearAcquisitionSyndromeLCDlcd watchLcdWatchswatchswatch touchSwatchTouchtouchtouchscreenuglywatchwristwatchFri, 30 Sep 2011 15:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazon Kindle family portrait]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/28/amazon-kindle-family-portrait/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/28/amazon-kindle-family-portrait/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/28/amazon-kindle-family-portrait/#comments And golly, don't they look proud. On the left, the new $99 Kindle Touch. On the right, the new $79 Kindle. And, in the middle, the $199 Kindle Fire tablet. So, which would you rather? If you need more help deciding, check out the gallery, which features the third-generation Kindle thrown into the mix.

Gallery: Amazon Kindle family portrait

Amazon Kindle family portrait originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 12:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonandroidfirekindlekindle firekindle touchKindleFireKindleTouchtablettouchvideoWed, 28 Sep 2011 12:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazon launches Kindle Touch and Touch 3G: starts at $99, ships November 21st]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/28/amazon-launches-kindle-touch/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/28/amazon-launches-kindle-touch/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/28/amazon-launches-kindle-touch/#comments Oddly enough, the Kindle Fire already feels like yesterday's news. Why? Because Amazon won't stop launching new products. Jeff Bezos just revealed the Kindle Touch ($99 with ads, $139 without) here in New York City, noting that this guy's using an IR touch system, similar to the latest Nook and Kobo, and there's no keyboard (physical, anyway) to speak of. It's slimmer, smaller and lighter than the existing Kindle, with a muted silver chassis that looks almost nothing like the Kindles of today. The entire user interface has been re-thought out, with "taps" being used in place of buttons. Need another reason to buy? We're told that it's using the company's "most advanced" E Ink display yet, and while no specifics were doled out, "extra long" was the term used to describe battery life. A 3G-enabled model ($149 with free global roaming!) will also be available, with the duo up for pre-order later today and shipments going out on November 21st. Unfortunately, the Touch -- like the Fire -- is a US-only product.

Keep up with the unveiling at our liveblog of the Amazon event.

Update: Orders are live!

Gallery: Amazon launches Kindle Touch e-reader in NYC!

Gallery: Amazon Kindle Touch press shots

Continue reading Amazon launches Kindle Touch and Touch 3G: starts at $99, ships November 21st

Amazon launches Kindle Touch and Touch 3G: starts at $99, ships November 21st originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3gamazonbreaking newse booke bookse readere readerse-booke-bookse-readere-readersgame changerGameChangerkindlekindle touchkindle touch 3gKindleTouchKindleTouch3gtouchWed, 28 Sep 2011 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[RePro3D is a 'touchable' 3D interface that lets you poke pixies (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/16/repro3d-is-a-touchable-3d-interface-that-lets-you-poke-pixies/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/16/repro3d-is-a-touchable-3d-interface-that-lets-you-poke-pixies/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/16/repro3d-is-a-touchable-3d-interface-that-lets-you-poke-pixies/#comments RePro 3D The illusion of 3D is kind of ruined the moment you reach out and try and grab whatever silly thing is supposed to be protruding from the screen. Researchers at Keio University in Tokyo have started to figure out a solution to the problem, and are calling their system RePro3D. By combining a glasses-free 3D display with an infrared tactile interface, they are able to create a holographic model that responds when "touched." The next step for the team is to provide feedback via a wearable device, adding the sensation of touch to the already impressive illusion of interactivity. We do have our concerns about the researcher's motives however. One of the creators, Keitaro Shimizu, told DigInfo, "there are many attractive characters in animations and games, but since those characters only exist within the screen, it feels a little lonely..." We guess getting a girlfriend is out of the question. Check out the video after the break.

Continue reading RePro3D is a 'touchable' 3D interface that lets you poke pixies (video)

RePro3D is a 'touchable' 3D interface that lets you poke pixies (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dglasses-free 3dGlasses-free3dhologramKeio UniversityKeioUniversityKeitaro ShimizuKeitaroShimizurepro3dtactile feedbacktactile interfaceTactileFeedbackTactileInterfacetouchvideoFri, 16 Sep 2011 12:31:00 EST<![CDATA['Phantom sensation' haptic tech recreates the feeling of getting virtually stabbed]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/15/phantom-sensation-haptic-tech-recreates-the-feeling-of-getting/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/15/phantom-sensation-haptic-tech-recreates-the-feeling-of-getting/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/15/phantom-sensation-haptic-tech-recreates-the-feeling-of-getting/#comments When it comes to gaming, the more realistic the better, right? Sure, it's all fun until we start talking about being virtually sliced with a battle axe or pelted with a rocket launcher -- exactly the idea behind a new technology dubbed "phantom sensation." Researchers at the University of Electro-Communications know that to virtually recreate the feeling of touch, they need to apply vibrations to two points of skin. Taking the idea one step further, they applied the stimuli to either side of the body to mimic what it might feel like if the object actually passed through. Using a tweaked Wii, as an item in the game travels through the player's hand, the top sensor vibrates intensely at first, then subsides to zero. At this point, the bottom probe kicks in, going from zero to strong until the object is cleared -- leaving the player feeling slightly violated and virtually gored. Check out the (relatively) painless demonstration video after the break.

Continue reading 'Phantom sensation' haptic tech recreates the feeling of getting virtually stabbed

'Phantom sensation' haptic tech recreates the feeling of getting virtually stabbed originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 06:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>feelinggaminghaptichaptic technologyhaptic touchHapticTechnologyHapticTouchKajimoto research groupKajimotoResearchGroupphantom sensationPhantomSensationtouchUniversity of Electro-CommunicationsUniversityOfElectro-communicationsvideoThu, 15 Sep 2011 06:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Volvo unveils Concept You luxury sedan, dripping with touchscreens (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/13/volvo-unveils-concept-you-luxury-sedan-dripping-with-touchscree/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/13/volvo-unveils-concept-you-luxury-sedan-dripping-with-touchscree/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/13/volvo-unveils-concept-you-luxury-sedan-dripping-with-touchscree/#comments
The Frankfurt Motor Show is underway in Germany, where Volvo has just taken the wraps off the Concept You -- a new luxury sedan that features some pretty nifty, touch-based controls. Directly behind the car's steering wheel lies a monitor that digitally displays your basic driving information, including speed and a map of your trajectory. The wheel also features some sensor enhanced panels, which you can use to adjust your radio or cruise control settings. A touch interface on the center console, meanwhile, uses an infrared sensor to pick up on any hand or eye movements before activating to bring up the system's infotainment control mode, which boasts an unreleased FreshAir subwoofer from Alpine. From here, you can surf the web, swipe through radio stations, check for safety alerts or control your air conditioning, using only your fingers or customized gestures. Plus, there's an extra touchscreen placed between the two rear seats, meaning your kids won't be left out of the action, either. Cruise past the break for an exclusive video of the Concept You's so-called smart pad technology, along with the full PR.

Continue reading Volvo unveils Concept You luxury sedan, dripping with touchscreens (video)

Volvo unveils Concept You luxury sedan, dripping with touchscreens (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air conditioningAirConditioningalpineappcarcockpitconcept youConceptYoucruise controlCruiseControldisplayfrankfurt motor showfrankfurt motor show 2011FrankfurtMotorShowFrankfurtMotorShow2011freshairinfotainmentinfraredinfrared sensorInfraredSensorinterfaceluxurymonitorsafetysedantouchtouch controlTouchControltouchscreenvideovolvovolvo concept youVolvoConceptYouTue, 13 Sep 2011 04:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Touch Vision Interface employs AR to control screens from afar]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/11/touch-vision-interface-employs-ar-to-control-screens-from-afar/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/11/touch-vision-interface-employs-ar-to-control-screens-from-afar/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/11/touch-vision-interface-employs-ar-to-control-screens-from-afar/#comments We're not exactly lacking in ways to interact with a screen from afar, but the folks at Teehan+Lax have now put an augmented reality-enhanced spin on things with their so-called Touch Vision Interface. While the "how" behind it is no doubt complicated (and being kept largely under wraps at the moment), the end result is fairly simple: you just point your smartphone at a screen (or two) and start manipulating it from the point of view provided by the phone's camera. Of course, it's all still in the early stages right now, but group sees a wide range of applications for the system -- even including large outdoor billboards. Check it out in action in the video after the break.

Continue reading Touch Vision Interface employs AR to control screens from afar

Touch Vision Interface employs AR to control screens from afar originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Sep 2011 08:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>araugmented realityAugmentedRealityTeehan LaxTeehan+LaxTeehanLaxtouchtouch interfacetouch vision interfaceTouchInterfaceTouchVisionInterfacevideoSun, 11 Sep 2011 08:39:00 EST<![CDATA[LG PZ850 Pentouch Plasma TV hands-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/02/lg-pz850-pentouch-plasma-tv-hands-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/02/lg-pz850-pentouch-plasma-tv-hands-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/02/lg-pz850-pentouch-plasma-tv-hands-on-video/#comments
Samsung took IFA by storm yesterday with its now-legendary "S Pen" (that Galaxy Note comes bundled), so it's only fair that LG gets its chance in the spotlight with a pen of its own. The company's Pentouch comes with a plasma TV in tow, and lets you do super-slick stuff to your productivity suite -- you can mark up Word docs, handwrite URLs in the browser, highlight elements in your PowerPoint presentations, or even flick one of those little red balls of fluff in Angry Birds. $2,199 will net you a 3D-enabled 60-inch LG PZ850 with Pentouch TV -- a non-3D model is available for $1,699, and there's a 50-inch version as well, priced at a mere $1,099.

You'll need to collect quite a few ingredients before you can get cookin' here, including the TV, the pair of included pens, and a computer to pump content to your TV. If you're planning to use the display with kids, a printer might be a good idea as well, so your little ones will have a platform to preserve all those on-screen sketched masterpieces (this thing puts coloring books to shame). Everything seemed to work as described (note: this isn't a touchscreen, so you'll need to use the pen), though the software did hiccup once while attempting to hand-write the Engadget URL. We see this being more of a hit for enterprise use, since there isn't really any need to mark up photos or tap the screen to launch apps in your living room. Still thinking about taking the plunge? Jump past the break for a video walkthrough (yes, and yet another clip of Angry Birds).

Gallery: LG PZ850 Pentouch Plasma TV hands-on

Continue reading LG PZ850 Pentouch Plasma TV hands-on (video)

LG PZ850 Pentouch Plasma TV hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d tv3dTv50PV49060PV49060PZ850angry birdsAngryBirdshands-onhdpostcrosshdtvifaifa 2011Ifa2011lglg pentouchLgPentouchpenpentouchplasmaPZ850TstylustouchvideoFri, 02 Sep 2011 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[LG goes big with stylus-equipped PenTouch plasma TVs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/01/lg-goes-big-with-stylus-equipped-pentouch-plasma-tvs/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/01/lg-goes-big-with-stylus-equipped-pentouch-plasma-tvs/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/01/lg-goes-big-with-stylus-equipped-pentouch-plasma-tvs/#comments It's a good time to be a stylus fan. Not only has Samsung debuted its handwriting-friendly Series 7 Slate and Galaxy Note tablets, but LG is also bringing the stylus into the living room with its new series of PenTouch plasma TVs. Available in both 50-inch and 60-inch varieties, each TV comes with a pair of Touch Pens that let you either control the TV and included software like a calendar and photo gallery, or simply draw on it to your heart's content. As if that wasn't enough, the top-end 60-inch model is also a 3D TV, and include one pair of active shutter glasses -- it'll run you $2,199, while the non-3D models come in at $1,699 and $1,099. Unfortunately, you'll also have to supply your own Windows PC to take full advantage of that touch-functionality.

Continue reading LG goes big with stylus-equipped PenTouch plasma TVs

LG goes big with stylus-equipped PenTouch plasma TVs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 22:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d tv3dTv50PV49060PV49060PZ850hdpostcrosshdtvifaifa 2011Ifa2011lglg pentouchLgPentouchpenpentouchplasmaPZ850TstylustouchThu, 01 Sep 2011 22:01:00 EST