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[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.

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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[PSA: Interactive Starry Night now available for the iPad (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/30/starry-night-app/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/30/starry-night-app/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/30/starry-night-app/#comments Image
Greek Artist Petros Vrellis is a big admirer of Vincent Van Gogh, which prompted him to produce an interactive version of Starry Night. It took him a patience-sapping six months to produce the original PC version, where finger swipes redirect the painter's famous daubs into a light and sound show. Of course, there was such a clamor from users all desperate to have a go, that he managed to produce an iPad app in a little under a month. Now you can pick it up from the App Store at the source link, or head on past the break to see this new version in action (you really do have to see it).

Continue reading PSA: Interactive Starry Night now available for the iPad (video)

PSA: Interactive Starry Night now available for the iPad (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Mar 2012 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ArtInteractiveiPadMulti TouchMulti-TouchMultiTouchMuseumPetros VrellisPetrosVrellisStarry NightStarryNightVan GoghVanGoghvideoVincent Van GoghVincentVanGoghFri, 30 Mar 2012 09:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Van Gogh's Starry Night modded into beautiful interactive light and sound show (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/14/interactive-starry-night/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/14/interactive-starry-night/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/14/interactive-starry-night/#comments
This is one of those little projects you wish you could just play with the second you've seen it. Greek Artist Petros Vrellis coded an interactive light and sound show into Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night -- that you can control with your fingers. With a swipe of a single digit (or hand) you can pull the particles of the artists paint daubs to redirect the swirling mass of night sky in any direction, making music as you do so. After the break we've got video that you really, really should watch -- and afterward start begging the creator to get this onto people's iPads as soon as he can manage it.

Continue reading Van Gogh's Starry Night modded into beautiful interactive light and sound show (video)

Van Gogh's Starry Night modded into beautiful interactive light and sound show (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ArtInteractiveMulti TouchMulti-TouchMultiTouchMuseumPetros VrellisPetrosVrellisVan GoghVanGoghvideoVincent Van GoghVincentVanGoghTue, 14 Feb 2012 11:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Perceptive Pixel shows world's largest projected capacitive display at SIGGRAPH, we go hands-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/09/perceptive-pixel-shows-worlds-largest-projected-capacitive-disp/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/09/perceptive-pixel-shows-worlds-largest-projected-capacitive-disp/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/09/perceptive-pixel-shows-worlds-largest-projected-capacitive-disp/#comments
Perceptive Pixel wasn't kidding around when it launched the planet's biggest projected capacitive display here at SIGGRAPH -- all 82 inches of it were here on display, and naturally, we stopped by to give it a look. While 82-inch panels aren't anything new, this one's particularly special. You see, the company actually procures the panels from Samsung, and then it rips the guts out while bonding its own network of sensors directly to it; most large-screen touch devices simply pop a touch layer on top of whatever TV shows up in the labs, but this integrated approach takes sensitivity to a whole 'nother level. For those unfamiliar with the term 'projected capacitive,' we're surmising that it's actually far less foreign than you think -- it's a technology used in a handful of smartphones, from Samsung's Moment to Apple's iPhone. 3M was also showing off a PC tech preview back at CES, and after using it here on the show floor, there's no question that it's the future for larger-screen devices. To quote CEO Jeff Han: "once consumers get a taste of this on the mobile front, they start demanding it elsewhere."

Gallery: Perceptive Pixel shows world's largest projected capacitive display at SIGGRAPH

Continue reading Perceptive Pixel shows world's largest projected capacitive display at SIGGRAPH, we go hands-on (video)

Perceptive Pixel shows world's largest projected capacitive display at SIGGRAPH, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 20:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>27-inch82-inchbroadcastingcapacitive touchscreenCapacitiveTouchscreendisplayhands-onhdjeff hanjeff hannJeffHanJeffHannlcdlcd touchscreenLcdTouchscreenmonitormulti touchmulti-touchmulti-touch displayMulti-touchDisplayMultiTouchPerceptive PixelPerceptivePixelpro-capprojected capacitiveProjectedCapacitivesiggraphsiggraph 2011Siggraph2011touch panelTouchPanelvideoworlds largestWorldsLargestTue, 09 Aug 2011 20:06:00 EST<![CDATA[ITRI touchscreen technology lets you pinch-to-zoom boob tubes of any size (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/15/itri-touchscreen-technology-lets-you-pinch-to-zoom-boob-tubes-of/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/15/itri-touchscreen-technology-lets-you-pinch-to-zoom-boob-tubes-of/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/15/itri-touchscreen-technology-lets-you-pinch-to-zoom-boob-tubes-of/#commentsITRI touchscreen technology lets you pinch-to-zoom boob tubes of any size (video)Turning a plain old display into a multi-touch affair isn't exactly a groundbreaking feat, but we're still drooling over the Industrial Technology Research Institute's (ITRI) latest touchscreen enabler. The Taiwan-based outfit recently showed off a new attachment that the folks over at Netbooknews claim can make displays of any size touch-friendly. We're told that the touchy-feely accessory is still in development, which means it probably won't hit our living room anytime soon, but our fingers are tingling just thinking of the possibilities. Hop on past the break to see the thing in action.

Continue reading ITRI touchscreen technology lets you pinch-to-zoom boob tubes of any size (video)

ITRI touchscreen technology lets you pinch-to-zoom boob tubes of any size (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 23:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big screenBigScreenconvertdisplaydisplaysIndustrial Technology Research InstituteIndustrialTechnologyResearchInstituteITRImulti thouchmulti touchmulti-touchMultiThouchMultiTouchpinch to zoompinch-to-zoomPinchToZoomscreenscreensTaiwanTaiwan DisplayTaiwanDisplaytouchscreentouchscreen conversionTouchscreenConversionTVvideoWed, 15 Jun 2011 23:37:00 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[Toshiba's in-cell integrated 7-inch capacitive LCD ditches touch layer, extra girth (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/18/toshibas-in-cell-integrated-7-inch-capacitive-lcd-ditches-touch/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/18/toshibas-in-cell-integrated-7-inch-capacitive-lcd-ditches-touch/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/18/toshibas-in-cell-integrated-7-inch-capacitive-lcd-ditches-touch/#comments Samsung's Super AMOLED may have beat Toshiba to the in-cell capacitive touch punch, but we're still happy to see other LCD panels dropping unnecessary layers. Featured in a GPS mock-up, Toshiba's 7-inch 1024 x 600 R&D display touts 10-point multi-touch over 38,400 sensors -- that's one touch sensor for every four pixels. It may not be the first LCD to abandon the standard touch layer for integrated capacitive support, but we wouldn't shy away from a tablet or embedded screen featuring this 1mm wonder. We'll have to wait though; Toshiba's in-cell tech is still in R&D, with no word when or if we might see it in commercial devices. Check out the video after the break for a quick hands-on.

Gallery: Toshiba's 7-inch integrated capacitive touchscreen concept at SID 2011

Continue reading Toshiba's in-cell integrated 7-inch capacitive LCD ditches touch layer, extra girth (video)

Toshiba's in-cell integrated 7-inch capacitive LCD ditches touch layer, extra girth (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 May 2011 18:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capacitivedisplayhands-onin-cellIn-cell-Touchintegratedlcdmonitormulti touchmultitouchresearch and developmentResearchAndDevelopmentsamsungscreenSIDSID 2011Sid2011slimtftTFT LCDTftLcdthintoshibatoshiba mobile displayToshibaMobileDisplaytouchtouchscreenvideoWed, 18 May 2011 18:10:00 EST<![CDATA[3M's 32-inch display with 10-finger multitouch steps out at CeBIT (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/3ms-32-inch-display-with-10-finger-multitouch-steps-out-at-cebi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/3ms-32-inch-display-with-10-finger-multitouch-steps-out-at-cebi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/3ms-32-inch-display-with-10-finger-multitouch-steps-out-at-cebi/#comments Though there are bigger multitouch screens out there -- and ones that can support more simultaneous touch points -- 3M's brand new C3266PW is the company's largest, said to be suited for industrial-strength installations with multiple simultaneous users (the company is quick to note that the ultra-wide 178-degree viewing angle along both axes is great for that, since folks can crowd around and start touching). They demoed the new unit here at CeBIT in two ways: three of them in a row on a "cascade table" with one high, one slanted, and one low, and another separate unit mounted on a solo kiosk at roughly eye level. The table's set up as a multi-display Windows box running a tech demo with maps, images, and videos that can be flicked between screens, pinched, and zoomed; the kiosk, meanwhile, is running a rudimentary flight simulator designed to demonstrate all ten points of multitouch capability at once with a finger-based aircraft control scheme (not the way you'd really design a game, but a good demo nonetheless).

3M points out that touch response -- the amount of time that it takes the screen to actually recognize that it's been touched -- is an issue in the industry, and it's not something that we really think about as users; if a gesture is laggy, we just assume the processor isn't up to the task or the software sucks. The C3266PW is rated at a relatively brisk 12ms recognition time, and while the company has other products with even quicker ratings, we definitely noticed the lack of lag as we played around (of course, the computers powering the displays have plenty to do with that). We've come to associate good capacitive displays with glossy glass and resistive with matte, but that's really not a fair assessment -- this one has a non-glare "anti-stiction coating" that, as its name implies, makes your fingers glide like butter. It might not be great for a phone, but it works well for a display of this size that's probably going to be used in public installations and potentially handled by hundreds of people a day. Follow the break for 3M's press release and video of both setups!

Gallery: 3M's 32-inch display with 10-finger multitouch steps out at CeBIT

Continue reading 3M's 32-inch display with 10-finger multitouch steps out at CeBIT (video)

3M's 32-inch display with 10-finger multitouch steps out at CeBIT (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 17:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3232 inch32-inch32Inch3mC3266PWcebitcebit 2011Cebit2011displayhands-onmulti touchmulti-touchMultiTouchscreenvideoWed, 02 Mar 2011 17:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Motorola Atrix 4G Laptop Dock demo units have multitouch trackpads -- but yours doesn't]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/23/motorola-atrix-4g-laptop-dock-demo-units-have-multitouch-trackpa/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/23/motorola-atrix-4g-laptop-dock-demo-units-have-multitouch-trackpa/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/23/motorola-atrix-4g-laptop-dock-demo-units-have-multitouch-trackpa/#comments We were crestfallen to discover that our review unit of the Laptop Dock for Moto's Atrix 4G didn't have multitouch capability, making scrolling a rather old-fashioned affair -- and considering that a desktop build of Firefox figures prominently into Webtop's capabilities, scrolling is something you'll be doing quite a bit of. Well, this is where it gets weird: a number of people on xda-developers are discussing the fact that in-store demo units of the Laptop Dock seem to mysteriously have multitouch added in, and at least one poster notes that a Motorola rep that visited his local store a while back had multitouch working as well. That means one of three things: either these units are physically different hardware, they're running a prerelease firmware upgrade, or they've got a feature that was pulled at the last minute, possibly because it didn't work very well. Unfortunately, the latter seems plausible because Motorola has indicated to us that the Laptop Dock's hardware doesn't support multitouch and it's not something we can expect to be added in down the road -- but we can hope.

[Thanks, Caleb]

Motorola Atrix 4G Laptop Dock demo units have multitouch trackpads -- but yours doesn't originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atrixatrix 4gAtrix4gattdocklaptoplaptop dockLaptopDockmotomotorolamulti touchMultiTouchtouchpadtrackpadWed, 23 Feb 2011 11:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony Ericsson Xperia X10's multitouch update rolling out now; X8, X10 Mini, and X10 Mini Pro getting ANT+ support soon]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/01/sony-ericsson-xperia-x10s-multitouch-update-rolling-out-now-x8/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/01/sony-ericsson-xperia-x10s-multitouch-update-rolling-out-now-x8/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/01/sony-ericsson-xperia-x10s-multitouch-update-rolling-out-now-x8/#commentsThat pinch-to-zoom update for the Xperia X10 that Japanese customers got an early lead on is now rolling out around the globe according to a new blog post from the boys and girls at Sony Ericsson. That may not be the most interesting part, though: they're also chatting up a future firmware update that'll enable ANT+ support on the Xperia X8, X10 Mini, and X10 Mini Pro, a capability baked into the chipsets on those devices that Sony Ericsson hadn't previously exploited. Theoretically, that means that heart rate monitors and other wearable fitness gear -- a market where ANT+ has really blossomed -- could connect directly to your phone rather than passing through a computer with an ANT+ dongle first, perfect for analyzing jogs on the go. Of course, workout technology is always more appealing than the workout itself... but if you can solve that problem, Sony Ericsson, let us know. You can find us on the couch over there.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10's multitouch update rolling out now; X8, X10 Mini, and X10 Mini Pro getting ANT+ support soon originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 20:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ericssonfirmwaremulti touchmulti-touchMultiTouchpinch to zoomPinchToZoomsonysony ericssonSonyEricssonupdateupgradex10x10 minix10 mini proX10MiniX10MiniProx8xperiaxperia x10xperia x10 minixperia x10 mini proxperia x8XperiaX10XperiaX10MiniXperiaX10MiniProXperiaX8Tue, 01 Feb 2011 20:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony fires barrage of touchscreen patent applications, only one points at new PSP]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/28/sony-fires-barrage-of-touchscreen-patent-applications-only-one/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/28/sony-fires-barrage-of-touchscreen-patent-applications-only-one/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/28/sony-fires-barrage-of-touchscreen-patent-applications-only-one/#comments Lawyers for Sony Computer Entertainment America must have been mighty busy last October, hatching the wild scheme that came to light this week -- a series of eight intertwining patent applications all describing a single device with an intriguing touchscreen interface. Though it's hard to tell what form the final device might take -- the apps suggest sliders, clamshells and slates -- a few distinct ideas bubble to the surface, and we'll knock them out one by one. First, the inventors seem to be rather particular about having a touchpad that's separate from the main screen -- perhaps even on its back like the rumored PSP2 -- and Sony's trying to patent a way to manipulate objects through the screen as well. Second, there's a lot of mumbo-jumbo about being able to "enhance" or "transform" the user interface in response to different forms of input, which seems to boil down to this: Sony's trying to get some multitouch up in there, especially pinch-to-zoom.

Last but not least, the company's looking to cordon off a section of touchscreen buttons, including a 'paste' command, and patent a "prediction engine" that would dynamically change the onscreen layout based on your past behavior. If most of these ideas sound more at home in a new tablet computer rather than a gaming handheld, then great minds think alike. Still, SCEA is Sony's gaming division -- forlorn Linux computing aside -- so consider us stumped for now.

Sony fires barrage of touchscreen patent applications, only one points at new PSP originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Nov 2010 21:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gesturegesturesmulti touchmulti-touchmultitouchpatentpatent applicationpatent applicationsPatentApplicationPatentApplicationspatentspinch to zoomPinchToZoomprediction enginePredictionEnginePSPPSP 2Psp2SCEASonySony Computer EntertainmentSony Computer Entertainment AmericaSonyComputerEntertainmentSonyComputerEntertainmentAmericatouchscreenSun, 28 Nov 2010 21:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Xperia X10 will get pinch-to-zoom in Q1 2011, with some limitation (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/17/xperia-x10-to-pinch-and-zoom-in-q1-2011-with-some-limitation-v/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/17/xperia-x10-to-pinch-and-zoom-in-q1-2011-with-some-limitation-v/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/17/xperia-x10-to-pinch-and-zoom-in-q1-2011-with-some-limitation-v/#comments There's been a long back-and-forth from Sony Ericsson and the dev community as to whether or not the Xperia X10 was at all capable of multi-touch -- the company stance has been that the hardware just can't do it, but still whispers to the contrary have lingered. Consider those murmurs validated: Sony Ericsson Product Blog has announced that the X10 will, in fact, get multi-touch in the first quarter of next year -- with some caveats. The large asterisk that's destined to clarify the minutiae will tell you that pinch-to-zoom will be enabled for browser and maps, but as the blog post put it, "situations like when the movement of the two fingers cross each other on the X- or Y-axis that could cause strange behavior." Third-party apps should be able to join some functionality, too, with the similar limitations (including when buttons must be pressed simultaneously -- that won't work). In the video demonstration after the break, take note how Angry Birds doesn't quite pinch and zoom smoothly. So yeah, it's not all sunshine, but at least there's something to look forward to.

Continue reading Xperia X10 will get pinch-to-zoom in Q1 2011, with some limitation (video)

Xperia X10 will get pinch-to-zoom in Q1 2011, with some limitation (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 13:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mtmulti touchmulti-touchMultiTouchpinch to zoompinch zoompinch-to-zoomPinchToZoomPinchZoomsesony ericssonSonyEricssonvideox10xperiaxperia x10XperiaX10Wed, 17 Nov 2010 13:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 hacked to support multitouch, sort of]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/09/sony-ericsson-xperia-x10-hacked-to-support-multitouch-sort-of/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/09/sony-ericsson-xperia-x10-hacked-to-support-multitouch-sort-of/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/09/sony-ericsson-xperia-x10-hacked-to-support-multitouch-sort-of/#comments So there's no recent sign of an official multitouch update ever coming to the maligned X10 from Sony Ericsson, but you know how it goes: when a manufacturer fails to step up to the plate, a hacker with a heart of gold (or two) usually does so in its place. So it goes in this case, with folks on xda-developers showing off some very, very rudimentary multitouch capability on video. The hack isn't available to the public yet -- and considering that Sony Ericsson claimed multitouch wasn't technically possible with this device, there's no guarantee it'll become good enough to use -- but it's a promising sign. Follow the break for a video of it working... kind of.

Continue reading Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 hacked to support multitouch, sort of

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 hacked to support multitouch, sort of originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Nov 2010 23:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ericssonhackmobilemulti touchmulti-touchMultiTouchsonysony ericssonSonyEricssontouchscreenx10xperiaxperia x10XperiaX10Tue, 09 Nov 2010 23:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung i5700 Galaxy Spica hacked for multitouch support]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/06/samsung-i5700-galaxy-spica-hacked-for-multitouch-support/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/06/samsung-i5700-galaxy-spica-hacked-for-multitouch-support/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/06/samsung-i5700-galaxy-spica-hacked-for-multitouch-support/#comments Historically, Samsung has worked up a pretty spotty record for properly supporting its Android devices with updates to newer versions of the platform -- just look at the Behold 2 debacle for evidence of that -- but that doesn't mean some enterprising folks out in the field can't make up for that, now, does it? The Galaxy Spica (also known as the i5700) has been blessed with multitouch support in some homebrew drivers that are making their way into homebrew kernels for homebrew ROMs, despite the official line that said phone doesn't support more than one finger at a time. Really drives home the point that "support" can refer both to the hardware's capability and the manufacturer's willingness to maximize it, doesn't it? Follow the break for the hack on video.

[Thanks, OKK77]

Continue reading Samsung i5700 Galaxy Spica hacked for multitouch support

Samsung i5700 Galaxy Spica hacked for multitouch support originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 22:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidgalaxy spicaGalaxySpicagooglehacki5700mobilemulti touchmulti-touchMultiTouchsamsungspicaMon, 06 Sep 2010 22:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Mozilla shares tentative vision for Firefox 4]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/10/mozilla-shares-tentative-vision-for-firefox-4/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/10/mozilla-shares-tentative-vision-for-firefox-4/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/10/mozilla-shares-tentative-vision-for-firefox-4/#comments Our first glimpse of Firefox 4 was limited to a few tasteful mockups; this time, Mozilla's main man Mike Beltzner has revealed the company's plans for its next generation web browser in its entirety. While exact features and dates are sketchy, his presentation reveals Mozilla would like to hold the Firefox 4 beta in June, before unleashing a CSS3, partially HTML5 compliant web browser with multitouch support, background updates, geolocation, Firefox Sync (aka Mozilla Weave) and a greatly streamlined UI this holiday season. The presentation has "PLANS MIGHT CHANGE" written all over it in large red letters, so trust us when we say none of this is for sure, but we like the direction Firefox is going and we'll be happy to see more. Video presentation at our source link, full slideshow after the break.

Continue reading Mozilla shares tentative vision for Firefox 4

Mozilla shares tentative vision for Firefox 4 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 May 2010 22:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>background updatesBackgroundUpdatesbrowserbrowsersCSS3FirefoxFirefox 4Firefox 4.0Firefox SyncFirefox4Firefox4.0FirefoxSyncgeolocationHTML5Mike BeltznerMikeBeltznermozillamozilla FirefoxMozilla WeaveMozillaFirefoxMozillaWeavemulti touchmulti-touchmultitouchUIuser interfaceUserInterfacewebweb browserweb browsersWebBrowserWebBrowsersMon, 10 May 2010 22:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Cypress touchscreens track hovering fingers, make devices even more 'magical' (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/cypress-touchscreens-track-hovering-fingers-make-devices-even-m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/cypress-touchscreens-track-hovering-fingers-make-devices-even-m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/cypress-touchscreens-track-hovering-fingers-make-devices-even-m/#comments If you're reading this from a Samsung i8910 or Palm Pre, you're already holding a Cypress-powered touchscreen, but chances are you've never given it a thought. That's going to change, because this week the company demoed a killer app: TrueTouch screens that can detect fingers hovering over glass, not merely on it, allowing compatible software to finally register mouseover input. In other words, you won't actually need to touch new touchscreens to zoom in on text or perform certain commands. Cypress expects to have the tech ready in Q2, but first it might have some explaining to do -- we're pretty sure Apple successfully patented this very idea in January. Plus, KIRF iPhone? See it in action after the break.

Continue reading Cypress touchscreens track hovering fingers, make devices even more 'magical' (video)

Cypress touchscreens track hovering fingers, make devices even more 'magical' (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 03:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AppleCypressCypress TrueTouchCypressTruetouchdisplaylegalmouseovermulti touchmulti-touchmultitouchproximityproximity screenproximity sensingproximity sensorProximityScreenProximitySensingProximitySensorscreentouchscreentouchscreensTrueTouchvideoFri, 23 Apr 2010 03:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Resistive HTC devices can have (pseudo) multitouch, too]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/20/resistive-htc-devices-can-have-pseudo-multitouch-too/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/20/resistive-htc-devices-can-have-pseudo-multitouch-too/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/20/resistive-htc-devices-can-have-pseudo-multitouch-too/#comments"Multitouch on a resistive screen?" We must be joking, right? Not at all -- if we've learned anything from our encounters with a little firm named Stantum, resistive multitouch is not only possible, but potentially preferable to its capacitive counterpart. Of course, that knowledge doesn't help you any if you're currently stuck with single finger commands, but if your phone is made by HTC and running Windows Mobile, you may one day get to see what two digit input feels like. Adel Al Zubeir figured out that when two fingers are placed on a single-touch screen, the digitizer reads the spot between the two... and with a little bit of math, he cooked up a program that can figure out the relative position of both fingers to allow vaguely useful pinch-to-zoom and other dual-touch gestures. Sadly, you can't just drop this onto your phone to instantly enable the tech a la Cyanogen, but if you develop for WinMo, you can start building functionality into your apps with the beta SDK at our source link. Early proof-of-concept video after the break.

[Thanks, David C.]

Continue reading Resistive HTC devices can have (pseudo) multitouch, too

Resistive HTC devices can have (pseudo) multitouch, too originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Adel Al ZubeirAdelAlZubeirdual touchscreenDualTouchscreenHTCmulti touchmulti-touchmultitouchpinch and zoompinch to zoompinch-to-zoomPinchAndZoomPinchToZoomresistiveResistive Multitouchresistive touchscreenResistiveMultitouchResistiveTouchscreenSDKvideoxda developersxda-developersxda-developers forumXda-developersForumXdaDevelopersTue, 20 Apr 2010 15:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Xperia X10 multitouch issue is hardware-related?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/28/xperia-x10-multitouch-issue-hardware-related/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/28/xperia-x10-multitouch-issue-hardware-related/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/28/xperia-x10-multitouch-issue-hardware-related/#comments Sony Ericsson's flagship Android smartphone, the Xperia X10, has been plagued by laggy performance since we first laid eyes on it, but that won't always be the case; the company has confirmed repeatedly that upgrades (including a newer Android OS version) will come. However, it now seems that multitouch is not in the cards. "There's no multitouch in X10 - and I also can confirm that it's not only related to [software] but also to [hardware]," said product manager Rikard Skogberg at the official company blog. If true, that means the X10 won't get multitouch even when rooted, much less a Nexus One or Milestone-like level of native, official multitouch support. But remember, Sony Ericsson has fancy UI quirks of its own -- though you may never pinch-to-zoom on an X10, at least you can enjoy reticulating Splines.

[Thanks, Björn R.]

Xperia X10 multitouch issue is hardware-related? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Mar 2010 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Androidmulti touchmulti-touchmultitouchRikard SkogbergRikardSkogbergrootrootedsesony ericssonSony Ericsson Xperia X10SonyEricssonSonyEricssonXperiaX10splinesX10XperiaXperia X10XperiaX10Sun, 28 Mar 2010 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Hanvon's multitouch tablet previewed, surfaces in China March 25th with 1080p playback]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/hanvons-multitouch-tablet-previewed-surfaces-in-china-march-25/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/hanvons-multitouch-tablet-previewed-surfaces-in-china-march-25/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/hanvons-multitouch-tablet-previewed-surfaces-in-china-march-25/#comments
 Though cheap Android craptablets were a commodity item at CeBIT 2010, that doesn't mean we didn't find the occasional diamond in the rough. Specifically, the Hanvon Touchpad BC10C, a sleek, multitouch Windows 7 device with specs firmly entrenched in high-end netbook territory. Thanks to our friend jkkmobile, we now know exactly what's powering this thing -- a comparatively juice-gulping 1.3GHz Celeron M ULV 743 CPU and GMA4500 graphics -- and that when it comes to the US and Europe, it'll cost a little more than we thought, hovering around $877. Mind you, that price bump might be worth it when you consider just how smoothly the 10-inch tablet performs (peep 1080p video and Microsoft Surface Globe demos after the break) but also know your YouTube surfing sessions will be limited by a simply sad 3.5 hours of battery life. For when "mobile" isn't an important word in your vocabulary... the BC10C launches in China March 25th.

Continue reading Hanvon's multitouch tablet previewed, surfaces in China March 25th with 1080p playback

Hanvon's multitouch tablet previewed, surfaces in China March 25th with 1080p playback originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bc10cceleron 743celeron mCeleron743CeleronMgma4500hanvonhanvon bc10chanvon touchpadhanvon touchpad bc10cHanvonBc10cHanvonTouchpadHanvonTouchpadBc10cMicrosoft SurfaceMicrosoftSurfacemulti touchmultitouchreviewtouchpadtouchpad bc10cTouchpadBc10culvulv 743Ulv743windows 7windows7Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Nexus One's multitouch confused more easily than Droid's?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/03/nexus-ones-multitouch-confused-more-easily-than-droids/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/03/nexus-ones-multitouch-confused-more-easily-than-droids/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/03/nexus-ones-multitouch-confused-more-easily-than-droids/#comments Thought all multitouch-capable displays were created equal? Think again -- Android and Me has posted a rather fascinating (if not somewhat depressing) video showing a demo multitouch app created by a game developer who'd grown suspicious after running into all sorts of trouble getting the feature to work the way he wanted on the Nexus One. First up, the Droid handles the demo with aplomb -- two thumbs are recognized smoothly and consistently. Next, though, the Nexus One gets confused after a while and starts registering presses at the wrong corners of the on-screen box formed by the placement of the thumbs. There's always hope that this could be fixed with a firmware bump, but that hope looks to be in jeopardy from language posted by a Google engineer in the official Android dev forums: "...this is how the touch screen hardware on the Nexus One works (which is essentially the same screen as on the G1 and myTouch). The Droid has a sensor from a different manufacturer, with different behavior. Other phones will likewise have different sensors." In other words, Google seems to think that HTC's just using a lower-quality sensor than Motorola is. That's good news for Droid owners, we suppose -- but with game development on Android still something of a non-starter, hardware issues like this keep fragmenting the user base and preventing big-name developers from jumping in and betting on the platform. Follow the break for video proof of the wackiness.

Continue reading Nexus One's multitouch confused more easily than Droid's?

Nexus One's multitouch confused more easily than Droid's? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androiddroidgooglehtcmotomotorolamulti touchmulti-touchMultiTouchnexus oneNexusOneWed, 03 Mar 2010 20:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Hanvon TouchPad BC10C and BA10E hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/02/hanvon-touchpad-bc10c-and-ba10e-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/02/hanvon-touchpad-bc10c-and-ba10e-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/02/hanvon-touchpad-bc10c-and-ba10e-hands-on/#comments Remind us to send a thank-you note to Hanvon for taking a break from cranking out e-readers to work on some of the best tablets we've seen at CeBIT yet -- much more advanced that what was shown by the company back in September. While the TouchPad BC10C and BA10E didn't have any special software running on top of Windows 7 Home Premium, both of their 10.1-inch, capacitive multitouch displays were extremely responsive. The BA10E was the more aesthetically-pleasing of the duo, with a smooth grey bezel and a thin, lightweight body that was cool to the touch. If you hadn't guessed already, that beauty comes at a cost to processing speed, with just a 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z530 processor inside. (Although the official specs list Windows XP and stylus input, as you can see in the video it was clearly using Windows 7 and multitouch -- the Atom CPU might also be an error, but the rep on hand couldn't say.) The BC10C, while bulkier, boasts an Intel Celeron chip -- a little more power, but we can't help but wonder how battery life would suffer. Hanvon told us these babies would run for about 500 euros, with release date currently unknown. You know the drill: gallery below, and video after the break.

Gallery: Hanvon TouchPad BC10C and BA10E hands-on

Continue reading Hanvon TouchPad BC10C and BA10E hands-on

Hanvon TouchPad BC10C and BA10E hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ba10ebc10ccebitcebit 2010Cebit2010hands-onhanvonhanvon ba10ehanvon bc10chanvon touchpadhanvon touchpad ba10ehanvon touchpad bc10cHanvonBa10eHanvonBc10cHanvonTouchpadHanvonTouchpadBa10eHanvonTouchpadBc10cmulti touchMultiTouchtouch padTouchPadtouchpad ba10etouchpad bc10cTouchpadBa10eTouchpadBc10cwindows 7Windows7Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple granted patent on capacitive multitouch displays]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/apple-granted-patent-on-capacitive-multitouch-displays/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/apple-granted-patent-on-capacitive-multitouch-displays/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/apple-granted-patent-on-capacitive-multitouch-displays/#comments It's not the mythical pinch-to-zoom patent, but the USPTO just granted a fairly broad Apple patent on capacitive multitouch displays. US Patent #7,663,607 describes a "transparent capacitive sensing medium configured to detect multiple touches" by way of two sandwiched layers of conductive lines hooked up to an appropriate circuit, and also covers a specific type of multitouch display with a similar two-layer capacitive sensor made of glass. Now, there are certainly other types of capacitive sensors out there, so this isn't a total lockdown, but it's certainly one more arrow in Apple's patent quiver, and at the very least it should spur some interesting developments as competitors try to design around it. We'll see how it shakes down.

Apple granted patent on capacitive multitouch displays originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applecapacitivecapacitive multitouchcapacitive multitouch displaycapacitive touchscreenCapacitiveMultitouchCapacitiveMultitouchDisplayCapacitiveTouchscreenlegalmulti touchmultitouchpatenttouchtouch sensortouchscreentouchscreen displayTouchscreenDisplayTouchSensorWed, 17 Feb 2010 11:51:00 EST<![CDATA[ASUS gets official with swivel-screen multitouch Eee PC T101MT]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/14/asus-gets-official-with-swivel-screen-multitouch-eee-pc-t101mt/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/14/asus-gets-official-with-swivel-screen-multitouch-eee-pc-t101mt/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/14/asus-gets-official-with-swivel-screen-multitouch-eee-pc-t101mt/#comments Thanks to the oh-so-revealing pages of the FCC, we already knew that ASUS had yet another multitouch-enabled Eee PC in the works, but there's just nothing quite like the satisfaction of seeing an official portal launched to celebrate the reality of being. The Eee PC T101MT is a swivel-screen netvertible that packs a 10.1-inch resistive multitouch display (1,024 x 600), Windows 7, up to 2GB of DDR2 memory, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, a 160GB or 320GB hard drive, 0.3 megapixel webcam and a 6.5 hour battery. You'll also get a VGA output, a trio of USB 2.0 sockets, Ethernet audio in / out, an SD / SDHC / SDXC card reader (nice!) 500GB of internet-accessible ASUS WebStorage and your choice of white or black. Per usual, there's nary of a mention of a price or release date just yet, but you can check out what fun awaits you in the demonstration video just past the break.

Gallery: ASUS Eee PC M101MT

Continue reading ASUS gets official with swivel-screen multitouch Eee PC T101MT

ASUS gets official with swivel-screen multitouch Eee PC T101MT originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ASUSatomatom N450AtomN450eeeeee pceee pc t101mtEeePcEeePcT101mtlaptopmulti touchmulti-touchMultiTouchN450netbooknetvertiblesdxct101mttablettablet pcTabletPctouch gateTouchGatevideoSun, 14 Feb 2010 16:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Motorola Droid gets official multitouch support -- in Google Maps, anyway]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/05/motorola-droid-gets-official-multitouch-support-in-google-map/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/05/motorola-droid-gets-official-multitouch-support-in-google-map/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/05/motorola-droid-gets-official-multitouch-support-in-google-map/#comments When it rains, it pours, huh, Google? Not even a week after announcing the big multitouch update for its own Nexus One, Google has turned loose a new version of Google Maps that enables pinch-to-zoom support on the Droid. Of course, it was no secret that Android 2.0 had the framework in place to support this kind of stuff -- Moto enabled it all by its lonesome on the Euro-spec Milestone -- but it looks like this could be the watershed moment where multitouch finally becomes a must-have feature on Android devices across the board, as Moto CEO Sanjay Jha recently suggested would happen. The new version 3.4's available as a software update in the Market right now, so grab it if you've got your Droid handy.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Motorola Droid gets official multitouch support -- in Google Maps, anyway originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbreaking newsBreakingNewsdroidgoogle mapsGoogleMapsmapsmotomotorolamulti touchmulti-touchMultiTouchverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwFri, 05 Feb 2010 13:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Nexus One's big update can be had without the wait]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/02/nexus-ones-big-update-can-be-had-without-the-wait/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/02/nexus-ones-big-update-can-be-had-without-the-wait/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/02/nexus-ones-big-update-can-be-had-without-the-wait/#comments Android's devised one of the slickest, most widely-deployed systems for delivering over-the-air operating system updates to smartphones, but there's a problem: you've got to wait until your carrier (or manufacturer) blesses you with them. They're typically deployed in rolling batches so that it's easier for the company to do one final test of the code's veracity and limit potential damage before sending it to a wider audience -- but where there's a will, there's a way, right? As is often the case with these things, some folks have found a way to get the Nexus One's glorious new multitouch code on the phone before Google's willing to give it to you, and for anyone who's done this before, it's a fairly standard-issue procedure: copy the update to the root of your microSD card, reboot into recovery mode, and apply the binary. We've tested the procedure and it works like a champ, so if you're feeling impatient, go ahead and pull the trigger -- we're going to go out on a limb here and say that the risk of bricking is pretty low.

[Thanks, Jeremy]

Nexus One's big update can be had without the wait originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidgooglehackmulti touchmulti-touchMultiTouchnexus oneNexusOneupdateTue, 02 Feb 2010 20:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Multitouch coming to 'majority' of future Motorola devices, says CEO]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/14/multitouch-coming-to-majority-of-future-motorola-devices-says/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/14/multitouch-coming-to-majority-of-future-motorola-devices-says/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/14/multitouch-coming-to-majority-of-future-motorola-devices-says/#commentsNative app multitouch, you say? It's a dream that most US Android users have failed to experience, but Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha has let loose some promising words. In an interview with Laptop, he asserted that the company will be more proactive in getting the two-finger (or more) shuffle into its Google devices -- more specifically he said, "I think you will see us deliver multitouch in the majority of our devices going forward. There's a complex set of factors, not all of them technical." That last bit's pretty ominous, but nothing we haven't surmised before, and frankly, it all sounds a lot better than "we'll consider it." Also discussed in the interview is the inevitability of tablet experimentation, and the (un)likelihood of a Motoblur phone landing in Google's online store. "I think clearly the bias is towards Google Experience devices." Perhaps, but we'll be interested to see what HTC has to say about that.

Multitouch coming to 'majority' of future Motorola devices, says CEO originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 02:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidceodroidjhamotomoto blurMotoBlurmotorolamotorola ceoMotorolaCeomulti touchMultiTouchsanjaysanjay jhaSanjayJhaThu, 14 Jan 2010 02:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Andy Rubin on multitouch in Android: 'I personally don't like two-handed operations']]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/andy-rubin-on-multitouch-in-android-i-personally-dont-like-tw/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/andy-rubin-on-multitouch-in-android-i-personally-dont-like-tw/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/andy-rubin-on-multitouch-in-android-i-personally-dont-like-tw/#comments In a very special CES edition of All Things D today, our own Joshua Topolsky had an opportunity to directly confront Google's Andy Rubin on the nagging multitouch issue -- not necessarily multitouch itself, but the growing disparity in support between American and European devices (the Droid / Milestone being the most famous example):
"You call this a superphone -- 3.7-inch capacitive display, but no keyboard and no multitouch. Yet it has multitouch outside the US. Why not America?"
Andy's reply:
"It's not an America versus outside America kind of thing. It's a decision that is a result of the OEM model. I personally don't like two-handed operations... there is no conspiracy."
That doesn't explain the fact that the European Nexus One seems to have some in-built multitouch enabled -- nor does it explain why any manufacturer would ever opt to exclude it under any circumstances unless there's some outside pressure involved. Surely Rubin's personal preferences don't play into this... right? Right, Google?

Andy Rubin on multitouch in Android: 'I personally don't like two-handed operations' originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all things dAllThingsDandroidandy rubinAndyRubincesces 2010Ces2010mossbergmulti touchmulti-touchMultiTouchnexus oneNexusOnerubinwalt mossbergWaltMossbergFri, 08 Jan 2010 21:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Surprise, surprise: HTC's Euro-spec Nexus One does multitouch]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/07/surprise-surprise-htcs-euro-spec-nexus-one-does-multitouch/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/07/surprise-surprise-htcs-euro-spec-nexus-one-does-multitouch/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/07/surprise-surprise-htcs-euro-spec-nexus-one-does-multitouch/#commentsAlright, Google, we get it: you hate America. That's the only conclusion we can reach for why the company's last two Android version hero devices -- the Droid for 2.0 and the Nexus One for 2.1 -- have mysteriously opted to exclude multitouch support in the phone's in-built apps (despite retaining support in third-party downloads). As we all know, the European Milestone adds that functionality back in, and it seems that the European version of the Nexus One (which'll be offered by Vodafone) is getting the same boost. We say this because a phone being passed around to Germany's Heise has pinch zooming enabled -- very likely the same stuff Voda will have on offer when it starts selling the phone in the coming weeks. That's fine, Google, whatever, we hate gestures anyway. Hate 'em.

Update: According to a Google employee on a Google Mobile help page, the phone shipping to European markets will be no different than the one here in the US. We're not sure we entirely buy that, but we'll get to the bottom of this before long.

[Thanks, Philipp, John]

Surprise, surprise: HTC's Euro-spec Nexus One does multitouch originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 2.1Android2.1cesces 2010Ces2010googlemulti touchmulti-touchMultiTouchnexus oneNexusOneThu, 07 Jan 2010 16:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Rubin on adding multitouch to the Nexus One: 'we'll consider it']]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/05/rubin-on-adding-multitouch-to-the-nexus-one-well-consider-it/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/05/rubin-on-adding-multitouch-to-the-nexus-one-well-consider-it/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/05/rubin-on-adding-multitouch-to-the-nexus-one-well-consider-it/#commentsGoogle and its partners have a track record of being clear as mud about their intentions regarding multitouch -- they're obviously all dancing around the issue, but there's definitely some logic (probably legal logic, but logic nonetheless) behind which devices are getting it in which markets. Notably lacking multitouch, though is the flagship Nexus One -- an odd device for Google to fail to pimp out in every conceivable way, we'd argue. Our man on the ground in Mountain View today pressed Android chief Andy Rubin on the matter today, asking whether we might see multitouch in a future Nexus One software update: "we'll consider it." That's all we could get out of him, suggesting this is still very much a sensitive subject -- but at least we have some confirmation that it's a software limitation alone, so if nothing else, this'll get hacked every which way within a few days of release.

Rubin on adding multitouch to the Nexus One: 'we'll consider it' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidgooglemulti touchmulti-touchMultiTouchnexus oneNexusOneTue, 05 Jan 2010 12:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Aspire Timeline 1820PT convertible twists its way onto Acer's US site]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/06/aspire-timeline-1820pt-convertible-twists-its-way-onto-acers-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/06/aspire-timeline-1820pt-convertible-twists-its-way-onto-acers-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/06/aspire-timeline-1820pt-convertible-twists-its-way-onto-acers-us/#comments Wanting yourself a good old fashioned convertible tablet PC? We've seen Acer's Aspire Timeline 1820PT hit Australia a little under a month ago, and now the US audience is getting its first telltale sign of 1820PT acceptance. The laptop now has itself a product page on the official stateside product page. No price or release date, unfortunately, but at least we know it's on the near horizon.

[Thanks, SaintAndrew]

Aspire Timeline 1820PT convertible twists its way onto Acer's US site originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Dec 2009 11:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1820 p1820 pt1820P1820Ptaceracer aspireacer aspire 1820ptacer aspire timeline 1820ptacer timelineAcerAspireAcerAspire1820ptAcerAspireTimeline1820ptAcerTimelineaspireaspire timelineaspire timeline 1820ptAspireTimelineAspireTimeline1820ptconvertiblelaptopmulti touchMultiTouchnote bookNoteBooktablettimelinewindows 7Windows7Sun, 06 Dec 2009 11:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Dolphin browser for Android adds multitouch support on Droid]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/dolphin-browser-for-android-adds-multitouch-support-on-droid/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/dolphin-browser-for-android-adds-multitouch-support-on-droid/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/dolphin-browser-for-android-adds-multitouch-support-on-droid/#comments We've already seen that the Droid is perfectly capable of implementing multitouch gestures in third-party apps, and the most high-profile (if not the most important, period) implementation of that is in a good web browser where non-stop zooming is a way of life -- especially when browsing sites designed for desktops. Dolphin -- which has been kicking around for a couple months in the Market -- has just added multitouch support on the Droid, which automatically makes it an interesting alternative to Android's mediocre (well, mediocre by WebKit standards, anyhow) built-in fare. Follow the break for a video overview -- or better yet, if you're running Android and you've got a couple fingers to spare, just check it out yourself.

Continue reading Dolphin browser for Android adds multitouch support on Droid

Dolphin browser for Android adds multitouch support on Droid originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbrowserdolphindroidmobilemulti touchMultiTouchwebweb browserWebBrowserSun, 29 Nov 2009 18:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Motorola DROID's built-in apps don't have multitouch support, third-party stuff is another story]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/04/motorola-droids-built-in-apps-dont-have-multitouch-support-th/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/04/motorola-droids-built-in-apps-dont-have-multitouch-support-th/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/04/motorola-droids-built-in-apps-dont-have-multitouch-support-th/#comments Turns out that the DROID does support multitouch after all -- it's just not as baked as the MILESTONE's, and it's certainly not the kind you'll see out of the box. The DROID's European cousin features multitouch right in the phone's core software load (most notably pinch-and-zoom in the browser, which we've seen demoed on video) whereas the DROID itself still features multitouch capability in APIs but doesn't expose it through any built-in app. Translation: the apps you use every day -- Google Maps and the browser, chiefly -- get left out in the cold for some reason that neither Google nor Motorola (nor Verizon) have thus far been willing to adequately justify. Where you can experience the magic of pinch-and-zoom is in third-party apps written to take advantage of Android 2.0's new APIs (Phandroid demos it on a fresh version of Picsay, for instance), but at the end of the day, that's a consolation prize -- we still want a spin-free explanation of why this was all turned off for the base apps. Follow the break for video of Picsay's support for the good stuff in action.

[Image via mobile-review]

Continue reading Motorola DROID's built-in apps don't have multitouch support, third-party stuff is another story

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Motorola DROID's built-in apps don't have multitouch support, third-party stuff is another story originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androiddroidmilestonemotomotorolamulti touchmulti-touchMultiTouchpinch and zoomPinchAndZoomWed, 04 Nov 2009 05:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Motorola DROID's built-in apps don't have multitouch support, third-party stuff is another story]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/04/motorola-droids-built-in-apps-dont-have-multitouch-support-th/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/04/motorola-droids-built-in-apps-dont-have-multitouch-support-th/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/04/motorola-droids-built-in-apps-dont-have-multitouch-support-th/#comments Turns out that the DROID does support multitouch after all -- it's just not as baked as the MILESTONE's, and it's certainly not the kind you'll see out of the box. The DROID's European cousin features multitouch right in the phone's core software load (most notably pinch-and-zoom in the browser, which we've seen demoed on video) whereas the DROID itself still features multitouch capability in APIs but doesn't expose it through any built-in app. Translation: the apps you use every day -- Google Maps and the browser, chiefly -- get left out in the cold for some reason that neither Google nor Motorola (nor Verizon) have thus far been willing to adequately justify. Where you can experience the magic of pinch-and-zoom is in third-party apps written to take advantage of Android 2.0's new APIs (Phandroid demos it on a fresh version of Picsay, for instance), but at the end of the day, that's a consolation prize -- we still want a spin-free explanation of why this was all turned off for the base apps. Follow the break for video of Picsay's support for the good stuff in action.

[Image via mobile-review]

Continue reading Motorola DROID's built-in apps don't have multitouch support, third-party stuff is another story

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Motorola DROID's built-in apps don't have multitouch support, third-party stuff is another story originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androiddroidmilestonemobilemotomotorolamulti touchmulti-touchMultiTouchpinch and zoomPinchAndZoomWed, 04 Nov 2009 05:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Motorola MILESTONE does what DROIDon't]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/02/motorola-milestone-does-what-droidont/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/02/motorola-milestone-does-what-droidont/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/02/motorola-milestone-does-what-droidont/#comments We've already seen the MILESTONE showing off multitouch capability, something the DROID clearly lacks in the States despite the fact that Android 2.0 rocks kernel support for it -- and now we've got another smoking gun: the official spec sheet. A quick glance at Motorola's tech specs for the Euro-flavored handset lists "pinch and zoom" as an interface feature, so yeah, it looks like this'll be in the shipping firmware. There's speculation out there that Apple was somehow involved in making sure that multitouch "fell" down a flight of stairs before reaching US-bound Android devices, but really, it's anyone's guess what's going on here -- and Moto's official statement isn't helping much:
"We work very closely with our carriers and partners to deliver differentiated consumer experiences on our mobile devices. At times, similar devices come to market with different features, depending on the region, carrier preferences and consumer needs."
Nor is Google's:
"The Android 2.0 framework includes support for multi-touch. As with other platform technologies, such as the text-to-speech engine, carriers and OEMs can choose to implement it."
So let the speculation -- and the firmware hacking -- begin.

[Image via mobile-review]

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Motorola MILESTONE does what DROIDon't originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androiddroidmilestonemotomotorolamulti touchmulti-touchMultiTouchpinchpinch and zoompinch to zoomPinchAndZoomPinchToZoomzoomMon, 02 Nov 2009 19:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Motorola MILESTONE does what DROIDon't]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/02/motorola-milestone-does-what-droidont/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/02/motorola-milestone-does-what-droidont/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/02/motorola-milestone-does-what-droidont/#comments We've already seen the MILESTONE showing off multitouch capability, something the DROID clearly lacks in the States despite the fact that Android 2.0 rocks kernel support for it -- and now we've got another smoking gun: the official spec sheet. A quick glance at Motorola's tech specs for the Euro-flavored handset lists "pinch and zoom" as an interface feature, so yeah, it looks like this'll be in the shipping firmware. There's speculation out there that Apple was somehow involved in making sure that multitouch "fell" down a flight of stairs before reaching US-bound Android devices, but really, it's anyone's guess what's going on here -- and Moto's official statement isn't helping much:
"We work very closely with our carriers and partners to deliver differentiated consumer experiences on our mobile devices. At times, similar devices come to market with different features, depending on the region, carrier preferences and consumer needs."
Nor is Google's:
"The Android 2.0 framework includes support for multi-touch. As with other platform technologies, such as the text-to-speech engine, carriers and OEMs can choose to implement it."
So let the speculation -- and the firmware hacking -- begin.

[Via Gearlog, image via mobile-review]

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Motorola MILESTONE does what DROIDon't originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androiddroidmilestonemobilemotomotorolamulti touchmulti-touchMultiTouchpinchpinch and zoompinch to zoomPinchAndZoomPinchToZoomzoomMon, 02 Nov 2009 19:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Aspire 1420p tablet cameos on Acer's US site, at Chinese press event]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/23/aspire-1420p-tablet-cameos-on-acers-us-site-at-chinese-press-e/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/23/aspire-1420p-tablet-cameos-on-acers-us-site-at-chinese-press-e/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/23/aspire-1420p-tablet-cameos-on-acers-us-site-at-chinese-press-e/#comments He's twisting away from the camera because he's shy, obviously. Acer's Aspire 1420p tablet made an appearance today at a Chinese press event, and our regional Engadget correspondents were there to grab as many glimpses as their cameras would allow. What makes it even sweet, though, is knowing this little guy's coming to the states, as a rough product page was found on Acer's US site. From what we read, it's got a 11.6-inch LED-backlit multitouch screen with WXGA resolution, an Intel Celeron processor with integrated graphics, up to 8GB RAM and 320GB HDD, 802.11b/g/Draft-N, Bluetooth, a multi-card reader, webcam, and optional 3G. Some secrets remain, of course, like price and release date -- where's Encyclopedia Brown when you really need him?

[Thanks, Dennis L]

Read - US product page
Read - Engadget Chinese hands-on

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Aspire 1420p tablet cameos on Acer's US site, at Chinese press event originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 02:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1420 p1420Paceracer aspireAcerAspireaspireaspire 1420pAspire1420pmulti touchMultiTouchtabletFri, 23 Oct 2009 02:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Wacom Bamboo multitouch tablet found at Best Buy, unboxed on video]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/16/wacom-bamboo-multitouch-tablet-found-at-best-buy-unboxed-on-vid/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/16/wacom-bamboo-multitouch-tablet-found-at-best-buy-unboxed-on-vid/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/16/wacom-bamboo-multitouch-tablet-found-at-best-buy-unboxed-on-vid/#comments Need even more proof the Wacom Bamboo multitouch tablet is real? Apparently cued by one of our posts (or so he says), "weaksaucetwelve" ran out to his local Best Buy and picked up the device for the previously-heard price of $69 plus tax, and then proceeded to take it home and unbox it on camera. From his experience so far, it only seems to support up to two fingers at a time with OS X Leopard, but otherwise it works great. Video after the break.

Continue reading Wacom Bamboo multitouch tablet found at Best Buy, unboxed on video

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Wacom Bamboo multitouch tablet found at Best Buy, unboxed on video originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bamboobamboo touchBambooTouchmulti touchMultiTouchtablettouch padTouchPadtrack padTrackPadunboxingwacomwacom bamboo touchWacomBambooTouchWed, 16 Sep 2009 21:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Windows Mobile 7 to be a premium, multitouch beast of a platform]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/03/windows-mobile-7-to-be-a-premium-multitouch-beast-of-a-platform/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/03/windows-mobile-7-to-be-a-premium-multitouch-beast-of-a-platform/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/03/windows-mobile-7-to-be-a-premium-multitouch-beast-of-a-platform/#comments Seeing the gold build of Windows Mobile 6.5 in action was pretty nifty, but Inquirer's recent video actually managed to unveil a few juicy tidbits about version 7 as well -- a platform that's shaping up to be that massive, ground-up rewrite of WinMo we've all been hoping for for years (as far as we can tell). The lack of multitouch is a sore point for some in 6.5 -- not just because of the goodness of the multitouch gestures themselves, but because it's indicative of a broader failure on Microsoft's part to recognize that touch-based mobile UIs have been wholly reinvented since the days of Windows Mobile 2003. Redmond looks to be cognizant of that, though with a mention in the video that 7 will "exploit the hardware" and "introduce multitouch," going on to say that it'll be able to go toe-to-toe with "competitor devices" -- ostensibly a reference to some combination of webOS, Android, and the iPhone. The video also mentions that 6.5 will end up being a "breadth play" while 7 branches out into the premium end of the market -- at least to start -- and over time, 7 will become Microsoft's mainstream mobile platform as future versions are released. In other words, Microsoft looks like it could be setting itself up for a two-version cadence going forward -- one for the unwashed masses, one for the gadget fiends. You know which category we fall into -- and we suspect we know yours, dear readers.

[Via Unwired View]

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Windows Mobile 7 to be a premium, multitouch beast of a platform originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftmulti touchmulti-touchMultiTouchwindows mobilewindows mobile 6.5windows mobile 7WindowsMobileWindowsMobile6.5WindowsMobile7winmowinmo6.5winmo7wm6.5wm7Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Windows Mobile 7 to be a premium, multitouch beast of a platform]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/03/windows-mobile-7-to-be-a-premium-multitouch-beast-of-a-platform/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/03/windows-mobile-7-to-be-a-premium-multitouch-beast-of-a-platform/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/03/windows-mobile-7-to-be-a-premium-multitouch-beast-of-a-platform/#comments Seeing the gold build of Windows Mobile 6.5 in action was pretty nifty, but Inquirer's recent video actually managed to unveil a few juicy tidbits about version 7 as well -- a platform that's shaping up to be that massive, ground-up rewrite of WinMo we've all been hoping for for years (as far as we can tell). The lack of multitouch is a sore point for some in 6.5 -- not just because of the goodness of the multitouch gestures themselves, but because it's indicative of a broader failure on Microsoft's part to recognize that touch-based mobile UIs have been wholly reinvented since the days of Windows Mobile 2003. Redmond looks to be cognizant of that, though with a mention in the video that 7 will "exploit the hardware" and "introduce multitouch," going on to say that it'll be able to go toe-to-toe with "competitor devices" -- ostensibly a reference to some combination of webOS, Android, and the iPhone. The video also mentions that 6.5 will end up being a "breadth play" while 7 branches out into the premium end of the market -- at least to start -- and over time, 7 will become Microsoft's mainstream mobile platform as future versions are released. In other words, Microsoft looks like it could be setting itself up for a two-version cadence going forward -- one for the unwashed masses, one for the gadget fiends. You know which category we fall into -- and we suspect we know yours, dear readers.

[Via Unwired View]

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Windows Mobile 7 to be a premium, multitouch beast of a platform originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftmobilemulti touchmulti-touchMultiTouchwindows mobilewindows mobile 6.5windows mobile 7WindowsMobileWindowsMobile6.5WindowsMobile7winmowinmo6.5winmo7wm6.5wm7Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Touch Pack brings Surface experience to Windows 7]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/27/microsoft-touch-pack-brings-surface-experience-to-windows-7/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/27/microsoft-touch-pack-brings-surface-experience-to-windows-7/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/27/microsoft-touch-pack-brings-surface-experience-to-windows-7/#comments Our initial experience with Windows 7's multitouch was decidedly less than stellar, but it looks like Microsoft's taking the initiative to ramp up the usability with the newly-unveiled Touch Pack. It's a software suite consisting of three games and three Surface apps, including a a globe you can pinch and twist around, the ever-popular surface collage for images, and and a zen-inspired lagoon screensaver. OEMs making touchscreen-capable Windows 7 rigs are being offered the pack to use as a pre-installed option, so look for these to arrive around the same time as the new OS, which should be sometime this holiday season. In the meantime, GottaBeMobile's gotten their hands on the app collection early, and you can view their efforts in the video after the break.

Gallery: Microsoft Touch Pack brings Surface experience to Windows 7


Read - Windows 7 Team Blog
Read - GottaBeMobile's hands-on

Continue reading Microsoft Touch Pack brings Surface experience to Windows 7

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Microsoft Touch Pack brings Surface experience to Windows 7 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 May 2009 20:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftmicrosoft surfacemicrosoft touch packMicrosoftSurfaceMicrosoftTouchPackmulti touchMultiTouchsurfacetablettablet pctablet pcsTabletPcTabletPcstouchtouch packtouch screenTouchPackTouchScreenwin 7Win7windowswindows 7windows 7 touchwindows 7 touch packWindows7Windows7TouchWindows7TouchPackWed, 27 May 2009 20:58:00 EST