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NVIDIA gets big names to embrace DirectTouch tech in Tegra 3 devices (video)

Terrence O'Brien — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 20:13:00 EST

Synaptics, Atmel,N-trig, Raydium, Cypress and Focaltech -- big names in the field of touch-based devices -- have all agreed get on board with NVIDIA's DirectTouch platform. The tech offloads some of the work needed to track and process finger input from the controller to the Tegra 3, improving response and battery life. We were first introduced to the architecture at CES, but wasn't clear that others would embrace it. With two of the biggest makers of touchscreen controllers, Synaptics and Atmel, throwing their weight behind the project, though, things are looking up for NVIDIA-powered tablets. N-trig is even leveraging the processing power to improve the response of capacitive styli by combining DirectTouch with DuoSense (the tech behind the HTC Flyer). For more info check out the PR and video after the break.

Continue reading NVIDIA gets big names to embrace DirectTouch tech in Tegra 3 devices (video)

NVIDIA gets big names to embrace DirectTouch tech in Tegra 3 devices (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Feb 2012 20:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Synaptics Clearpad 7300 multitouch display hands-on (Video)

Daniel Cooper — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:35:00 EST

Synaptics is a touchscreen-interface company that has around 30 customers, but since that list includes the top 15 smartphone makers and the top 15 tablet manufacturers, it does okay for itself. The company rented a quiet booth at the back of CES to show off its impressive new ten-finger touchscreen tech. The Clearpad 7300 is a significantly smaller unit: to demonstrate the company pulled apart a HP touchpad and swapped out the 15-chip daughter board with a single chip -- still recognizing ten inputs at a refresh rate of 100Hz. The company also had a Windows 8 demo unit (it's partnered with Redmond) that allows five-finger touch. It'll allow you to depress a software shift key without toggling and play piano with five fingers at once. We also saw a calibration unit just acting on a piece of glass (held mid-air) that could still register ten interactions. The technology will be arriving towards the end of the year and will be an integral part of all the Windows 8 tablet launch. Head on past the break to see us take the unit for a ride.

Gallery: Clearpad 7300 Hands-On

Sean Buckley contributed to this report.

Continue reading Synaptics Clearpad 7300 multitouch display hands-on (Video)

Synaptics Clearpad 7300 multitouch display hands-on (Video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Synaptics promises better touchscreens with SignalClarity and Design Studio 4

Terrence O'Brien — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST

Look, we recognize that touchscreens have come a long way in the last few years, but there's always room for improvement. Thankfully, Synaptics agrees and is rolling out an update to its ClearPad capacitive panels. At the heart of the improved system is a technology called SignalClarity, which boosts signal-to-noise ratio for better accuracy and finger separation. The new tech will not only lead to a better touchscreen experience, but it could also help drive down costs since manufacturers would be free to use lower cost components that might normally interfere with a capacitive panel. It'll be a little bit before the next-gen ClearPad makes is debut in a consumer product and chances are you won't see Synaptic brand emblazoned across the packaging of your next smartphone. That's ok though, we know it's in there working hard to keep our fingers happy. Check out the PR after the break for more details.

Continue reading Synaptics promises better touchscreens with SignalClarity and Design Studio 4

Synaptics promises better touchscreens with SignalClarity and Design Studio 4 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Darren Murph — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:33:00 EST

It'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.

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Details of Samsung's 'Alex' Chrome OS netbook leaked, Atom N550 in tow

Richard Lai — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 06:19:00 EST

As we approach the expected mid-2011 launch for a few Chrome OS devices, it seems inevitable that some details are bound to slip out ahead of time -- here's looking at you, Acer ZGB and Seaboard. The latest victim outed by a Chromium bug report is the Samsung "Alex," which sports a 1280 x 800 display (probably at 10 inches as previously rumored; like the mockup above), 1.5GHz dual-core Atom N550, SanDisk SSD P4 of unknown capacity, and 2GB RAM. Also listed are a Qualcomm Gobi 2000 3G card, Bluetooth, WiFi, webcam, and a Synaptics touchpad. Well, not long to go now -- perhaps the Alex might even make a cheeky appearance at Google I/O in two weeks' time? Screenshot of the bug report after the break.

[Thanks, Marco]

Continue reading Details of Samsung's 'Alex' Chrome OS netbook leaked, Atom N550 in tow

Details of Samsung's 'Alex' Chrome OS netbook leaked, Atom N550 in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 06:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Chrome OS update finally fixes the Cr-48's touchpad issues

Joanna Stern — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 01:05:00 EST

Google's Chrome OS, and thus the Cr-48, has seen a lot of updates and big fixes since we took a hard look at it back in December, but the wonky touchpad, which we seriously struggled with, hasn't exactly seen much love. That is, until today. The most recent Chrome OS update, which now brings it to version 0.10.156.46, includes new "trackpad and sensitivity settings," and it definitely makes a world of difference. We updated ours just a couple of moments ago and lots of the issues -- namely the jumpy cursor and the flaky scrolling -- have been mended. Thanks to the fresh software, we had a much easier time highlighting text and scrolling down the length of this very website. That said, the touchpad still isn't as responsive as what you get with Apple's MacBooks or Synaptics ClickPad Series 3, and that's because the physical hardware is based on Synaptics' older generation profile sensing technology rather than its newer image sensing panel. Either way, the new software update makes the Cr-48 a lot less frustrating to navigate. Google's also rolled in some new power optimizations, screen indicators, and GChat improvements -- go on and try it out for yourself and let us know what you think in the comments.

New Chrome OS update finally fixes the Cr-48's touchpad issues originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 01:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Synaptics ClearPad 3250 capacitive touchscreen hands-on (video)

Vlad Savov — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 19:22:00 EST

In the grand scheme of things, one millimeter may not seem like a lot, but in the smartphone arms race toward ever-slimmer devices, measurements like that matter. Synaptics, best known for building laptop touchpads, has ventured into the capacitive touchscreen realm with a new panel that promises to save exactly that much space: 1mm. But that's only the start. You see, the thinner display profile is the result of Synaptics melding the touch-sensing layer and the display into one, using what it calls in-cell technology, with the result being something roughly comparable to Samsung's Super AMOLED implementation. The benefit of going with Synaptics, however, is that the company's tech is compatible with all display types, meaning that everything from garden variety LCDs to high-density IPS panels can be infused with a bit of touch sensitivity. Additional benefits include extra brightness, as there is one fewer layer for light to get through, and significantly higher sensitivity than on most current generation touch panels. You can see a pretty compelling demo of that on video just past the break. The ClearPad 3250 should find its way to shipping devices over the next nine months, with its current iteration capable of being fitted to screens up to five inches in size and a subsequent model scaling all the way out to eight inches.

Gallery: Synaptics ClearPad 3250 capacitive touchscreen hands-on

Continue reading Synaptics ClearPad 3250 capacitive touchscreen hands-on (video)

Synaptics ClearPad 3250 capacitive touchscreen hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 19:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Windows PC ClickPad finally improved? Synaptics ClickPad IS Series 3 preview

Joanna Stern — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 16:36:00 EST

You'll find a common complaint throughout most of our Windows laptop / netbook reviews. Nope, it doesn't have to do with CPU performance, boot times, or graphics prowess; it revolves around touchpads, and notably those that have integrated buttons within the pad itself - what have come to be known as ClickPads. While we usually point fingers (oh yes, pun intended!) at the laptop manufacturers responsible for choosing the wonky pads (eh hem, HP and Dell), Synaptics - the maker of those ClickPads - is the one behind the technology. Aware of the finicky multitouch gestures and jumping cursors, Synaptics has been hard at work on its next generation ClickPad IS Series 3, which will be hitting laptops sometime early next year. So, will the new image sensing and ClickEQ technology that's been baked into the new pads finally solve all our complaints and let us put away the laptop mice? Hit the break to find out.

Gallery: Synaptics ClickPad Series 3

Continue reading The Windows PC ClickPad finally improved? Synaptics ClickPad IS Series 3 preview

The Windows PC ClickPad finally improved? Synaptics ClickPad IS Series 3 preview originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 16:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Synaptics shows off multitouch screens for multitouch tablets up to 10.1-inches

Tim Stevens — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:20:00 EST

If there's one thing the world needs it's a few more tablets, tablets with fancy multitouch screens, and that's exactly what Synaptics is helping to spread. The company has announced a suite of touchscreens called the ClearPad 7200 series in sizes up to 10.1-inches, each offering the 10-point multitouch capacitive juju we've come to expect from the company. All support Windows 7 as well as Android and other Linux-based OSes, meaning they could start showing up all over the place. Speaking of, the screens appear to be available to OEMs nowish ahead of products using them coming to retail by the end of the year. No word on cost, but if you were looking to buy a couple-hundred thousand of them Synaptics would surely be happy to make you a deal.

Synaptics shows off multitouch screens for multitouch tablets up to 10.1-inches originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Synaptics intros ClickEQ, multi-finger TouchPad-IS trackpad solutions

Darren Murph — Mon, 31 May 2010 21:00:00 EST

Synaptics has been a serious roll of late, first introducing those luscious multitouch gestures to older trackpads, and last month extending its Gesture Suite to Linux and Chrome OS. Here at Computex, the company is expanding its TouchPad family of solutions, with the multi-finger PC TouchPad-IS range seeing the first update. Aside from being able to recognize four-finger gestures, the new platform prevents accidental activation of the cursor when a user's palm unintentionally contacts the TouchPad, and it also brings the aforementioned multi-finger capabilities of a touchscreen right onto a PC's trackpad. Next up is the new ClickEQ, which is hailed as the "industry's first hinge-less uniform force, uniform click depth ClickPad mechanical design." As you'd expect, this feels an awful lot like the glass trackpad that Apple's freshest MacBooks have, but you won't find us kvetching about getting a similar technology onto run-of-the-mill laptops and netbooks.

Moving on, the company is also introducing new OEM customization capabilities for Synaptics gesture workflow technology, Scrybe, which will allow users to store specific trackpad settings and references so the whole family can control the laptop their own way. Sadly, there's no published ship date for any of these whiz-bang contraptions, but we're cautiously hoping to see it implemented in at least prototype form as we scour the show floor.

Continue reading Synaptics intros ClickEQ, multi-finger TouchPad-IS trackpad solutions

Synaptics intros ClickEQ, multi-finger TouchPad-IS trackpad solutions originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 May 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Synaptics extends multitouch Gesture Suite to Linux, Chrome OS included

Vlad Savov — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 06:06:00 EST

Well, it had to happen at some point. After eons of watching Mac OS and Windows users swiping away nonchalantly on their touchpads, Linux laptop buyers can now also join the multitouch fray. Synaptics has announced official Gesture Suite support for a wide range of Linux-based OS flavors -- Fedora, Ubuntu, RedFlag, SuSE, and Xandros get name-dropped, while future support for Chrome OS is promised -- which will all benefit from its set of multi-fingered touch and swipe responses. The infamous pinch-to-zoom is quite naturally included in the Suite, which will come bundled with new installations of those operating systems. We're not seeing any mention of a downloadable update as yet, but we imagine that'll be corrected in due course, whether by the company itself or the resourceful Linux community. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Synaptics extends multitouch Gesture Suite to Linux, Chrome OS included

Synaptics extends multitouch Gesture Suite to Linux, Chrome OS included originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 06:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Synaptics driver enables multitouch gestures on older trackpads

Donald Melanson — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:38:00 EST

Haven't updated your laptop's trackpad driver lately? Then you may well want to consider doing so, at least if your laptop is equipped with a Synaptics trackpad. As a user on the Hardware Zone forums discovered, the latest Synaptics driver seems to enable multitouch gestures on older laptops that didn't previously support them, including two-finger scrolling, and three-finger click. What's more, while the drivers themselves come from HP, they should work just fine on other laptops with a Synaptics trackpad. Hit up the link below to try it out for yourself.

Synaptics driver enables multitouch gestures on older trackpads originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Synaptics Fuse concept hands-on

Paul Miller — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:13:00 EST

Good news and bad news: the good news is that we got to look at Synaptics' Fuse concept phone, which pairs capacitive touch overload with tilt sensing, squeeze sensing and a fair bit of haptics. The bad news is that Synaptics is holding off on showing the actual UI until MWC in February. So for now we've got a working prototype that demonstrates that the sensors really do work. It's an abstract affair, involving the formation of little 3D spheres that roll around on the screen and can be tweaked, pushed and generally confused by the various input methods. Everything works great, with wonderful touch sensitivity on the back of the "phone" being one of our favorite elements we'd like to see in more devices. One thing that became clear while playing with the phone is that while it's targeted at improving one-handed operation, it's actually impossible to actuate all the various sensors simultaneously with one hand, which we suppose Synaptics should see as a mark of distinction. Check out a couple videos of the demo in action after the break.

Gallery: Synaptics Fuse concept hands-on

Continue reading Synaptics Fuse concept hands-on

Synaptics Fuse concept hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nexus One teardown reveals 802.11n WiFi and FM transmitter

Thomas Ricker — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:07:00 EST

We've already told you everything you need to know about the Nexus One. Still, you might be curious to see Google's self-proclaimed "superphone" splayed wide to reveal a Samsung-branded OLED display, Qualcomm QSD8250 "Snapdragon" 1 GHz ARM processor, and Synaptics touchscreen controller. Of interest is a Broadcom chip labeled Broadcom BCM4329EKUBG. Why? Well, the BCM4329 (albeit, without the "EKUBG" qualifier) is capable of 802.11n (HTC only lists 802.11b/g) WiFi in addition to FM transmitter and receiver. Bet you didn't know that? Picture of the Broadcom chip after the break.

Update: Just noticed that Google does list 802.11n on the specs page although HTC does not.

Continue reading Nexus One teardown reveals 802.11n WiFi and FM transmitter

Nexus One teardown reveals 802.11n WiFi and FM transmitter originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scrybe from Synaptics brings new life to your tired touchpad

Tim Stevens — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 10:21:00 EST

Did your laptop maker not see fit to include any jazzy gesture support into your touchpad? Did you buy early and miss out on the multitouch revolution? Synaptics wants to fill the gap for those portables (and suitably-equipped desktops) with its Scrybe software. It augments Windows' existing touch functionality to add context-specific gestures and motions, and while jog-dial control for media has us most excited, you'll also be able to edit photos, look up word definitions, and plenty more -- even if you don't have a 10-finger capable device. The plan is for the company to make partnerships with various manufacturers so that this software becomes standard issue stuff, but you can get a taste of it today thanks to a roughly 10MB beta preview downloadable now at the read link. Do let us know what you think.

Scrybe from Synaptics brings new life to your tired touchpad originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 10:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Second Fuse UI video shows wild, dynamically lit 3D interface

Paul Miller — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:23:00 EST

We only got the briefest of glimpses at the new UI approach in Synaptics' collaborative Fuse concept handset, and now TAT (The Astonishing Tribe, the folks behind the original Android UI), has posted a brief clip that gives a better idea of the full UI. It's pretty wild, with some sort of rendering engine that really emphasizes depth, lighting and motion. We're not sure it's the most usable UI on the planet, but it's certainly one of the oddest we've witnessed. Check it out in motion after the break.

Continue reading Second Fuse UI video shows wild, dynamically lit 3D interface

Second Fuse UI video shows wild, dynamically lit 3D interface originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Synaptics Fuse concept handset puts a new squeeze on touchphone interaction

Paul Miller — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:34:00 EST

In case you weren't aware, Synaptics dabbled in the touchscreen handset game way back in 2006 with the Onyx concept, before phones like the LG Prada and Apple's iPhone came along and proved the idea so convincingly. However, Synaptics thinks innovation has stagnated since, and has girded itself once again to attempt another trend-setting concept. This one's a bit more wild: the "Fuse" involves contributions from Alloy, TAT, Immersion and Texas Instruments, and includes squeeze, tilt and haptic interaction. The big idea is to approach single-handed and no-look operation on a touchscreen handset, no small feat to be sure. The result is a pure kitchen sink of sensors, including a touchpad on the back of the phone, touch and pressure sensitive strips along both sides of the phones, dual haptic feedback motors, a 3-axis accelerometer and of course a new-generation Synaptics touchscreen in front. The TI OMAP 3630 processor powers the TAT Cascades 3D UI Engine which attempts to contextualize UI interaction with perspective tilts and fancy motion, and the haptics feeds back to let you know where your finger is on the screen -- an attempt to emulate feeling out the correct nub for keypad orientation on a button phone. We'll have to play with it to find out if Synaptics is really on to something, but even if the Fuse isn't the next best thing, we could certainly see somebody using some of these sensors to improve existing handset interaction. Check out a quick video after the break.

Continue reading Synaptics Fuse concept handset puts a new squeeze on touchphone interaction

Synaptics Fuse concept handset puts a new squeeze on touchphone interaction originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lenovo IdeaPad shown to possess Pineview CPU by FCC photo shoot

Vlad Savov — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:52:00 EST

Remember that Pine Trail fast-tracking we were talking about? Yeah, it's for real. Intel's latest submission to the FCC reveals details of a new member of Lenovo's IdeaPad netbook range, and is the first confirmed sighting of the Pineview processor every netbook diehard has been waiting for. The documentation suggests an S10-3 moniker for the new 10.1-inch 1024 x 600 machine, which is likely to pair up that Atom N450 with 2GB of RAM and 250GB of storage. Click past the break to see the sticker with all the specs on it, and do make your voices heard in the comments below regarding that buttonless touchpad -- a Synaptics ClickPad, perchance?

Continue reading Lenovo IdeaPad shown to possess Pineview CPU by FCC photo shoot

Filed under: Laptops

Lenovo IdeaPad shown to possess Pineview CPU by FCC photo shoot originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Synaptics' ClearPad 3000 touchscreen does 10-finger capacitive multitouch, other forms of dark magics

Paul Miller — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:01:00 EST

After doing a considerable amount of business with its ClearPad 2000 Series capacitive touchscreens, Synaptics is taking on multitouch in a very serious way with its new ClearPad 3000 Series screens. Synaptics' existing screens can be found on the G1 and other modern smartphones, but while they offer a small amount of multitouch, they can become easily confused by anything beyond a simple pinch or swipe gesture -- and are downright dangerous for typing, thanks to a proclivity to average between two simultaneously touched points. The new ClearPad 3000 screens fight that off with new advances in capacitive technology and a new processor which can handle up to 10 simultaneous finger presses -- including some info on the shape and size of each touching finger. The entire screen can actually be tracked pixel-by-pixel, and the new technology allows for up to 8-inch screens without completely destroying battery life. Naturally, these screens will only be as good as the software that uses them (and we still haven't seen anything to top Stantum's resistive touchscreen tech), but Synaptics is doing the best it can to work with phone manufacturers (and others) who are designing interfaces for these screens, to make sure they can use the tech right. The first devices using ClearPad 3000 should hit this fall, so we suppose we'll find out soon enough if it pays off in device usability. There's a video demonstration of the tech after the break.

Gallery: Synaptics' ClearPad 3000 touchscreen does 10-finger capacitive multitouch

Continue reading Synaptics' ClearPad 3000 touchscreen does 10-finger capacitive multitouch, other forms of dark magics

Filed under: Cellphones, Displays

Synaptics' ClearPad 3000 touchscreen does 10-finger capacitive multitouch, other forms of dark magics originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Synaptics shows off new MacBook-style "ClickPad" multitouch trackpads for netbooks

Paul Miller — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:04:00 EST

Synaptics has always been quick to pick up the latest innovation in the multitouch space -- whether its own functionality, or something Apple's brewed up. This latest innovation is squarely in the latter category, with new ClickPad trackpads offering that love-it-or-hate-it buttonless design of the new MacBooks and MacBook Pros (pictured). Synaptics is targeting the new pads at netbooks, which many manufacturers have had trouble fitting regular clickers onto. ClickPads work with Synaptic's latest Gesture Suite 9.1, which includes all the regulars, along with three-finger flick and three-finger press, which lets you start up your computer along with up to six predetermined startup apps. SGS 9.1 is also officially Windows 7 ready, and will be available in OEM systems out of the gate.

Filed under: Laptops, Peripherals

Synaptics shows off new MacBook-style "ClickPad" multitouch trackpads for netbooks originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia launching 'high-end handset' with capacitive touchscreen in Q3?

Thomas Ricker — Fri, 15 May 2009 04:56:00 EST

DigiTimes has a couple of back-to-back rumors from its industry sources that could be of interest to Nokia fans. Yesterday, the Taiwanese rumor rag said that Nokia will adopt a Synaptics touchscreen integrated circuit (which may or may not support multi-touch) solution for an upcoming "high-end handset" due for launch in the 3rd quarter of 2009. To be clear, this is not the N97 which is expected to go on sale in June. Now DigiTimes adds that capacitive touch panel orders from Nokia have been received from Wintek, the same supplier fitting Nokia's 5800 with resistive touchscreens. We're big fans of silky smooth, capacitive glass panels on finger-friendly touchscreen phones so we'll be stoked if these rumors prove true.

Read -- Nokia adopts Synaptics touchscreen IC
Read -- Wintek lands orders from Nokia

Filed under: Handsets, Nokia

Nokia launching 'high-end handset' with capacitive touchscreen in Q3? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 May 2009 04:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia launching 'high-end handset' with capacitive touchscreen in Q3?

Thomas Ricker — Fri, 15 May 2009 04:56:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

Nokia launching 'high-end handset' with capacitive touchscreen in Q3? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 May 2009 04:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Elan turns the tables on Apple, sues for multitouch patent infringement

Tim Stevens — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 07:57:00 EST

Remember all the fun everyone had watching Palm and Apple's legal wordplay regarding multitouch patents? If you missed it, Apple delivered a very thinly veiled threat to Palm, flouting how it had touch-sensitive intellectual rights up the wazoo to protect itself from the competition. Apple, though, may be due for a heaping helping of humble pie, as it's now on the receiving end of a lawsuit from Elan Microelectronics claiming infringement on two patents -- both involving multitouch. Elan, best known for its keypads found in Eee PCs everywhere (along with some other diversions), won a court injunction against Synaptics for infringement on one of those patents, and seems like it may actually have a shot of shaking down the house of Jobs. It's also seeking an injunction against Apple to prevent it from selling the MacBook, iPhone, and iPod Touch until everything gets legally sorted. That seems like a long-shot, but anything could happen. Oh, and Palm corporate officers, try not to look too giddy today, yeah?

Read -- Apple sued over touch-screen rights
Read -- Injunction quote [Warning: requires subscription]

Filed under: Cellphones, Laptops, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Elan turns the tables on Apple, sues for multitouch patent infringement originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Apr 2009 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia ramping orders in preparation for "several" multi-touch phones?

Thomas Ricker — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 04:20:00 EST

While DigiTimes tends to nail rumors focused on Taiwanese companies like Acer and ASUS, its component supplying sources can be hit or miss across other geographies. So take it with the usual lump of NaCl when talkative sources say that Nokia is increasing orders in March as it prepares to "launch several 3G and 3.5G products with multi-touch and multimedia functions in 2009" -- Texas Instruments, Qualcomm, and Synaptics being the chief beneficiaries. Of course, Nokia has been perfectly clear that its 5800 was the just the initial salvo in an onslaught of touchscreen devices to come and led by its flagship N97. Nevertheless, with profits down and the economy mired in the suck, it's nice to have confirmation (as tenuous as it is) that things are on track in Espoo.

Filed under: Handsets, Nokia, Symbian

Nokia ramping orders in preparation for "several" multi-touch phones? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 04:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia ramping orders in preparation for "several" multi-touch phones?

Thomas Ricker — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 04:20:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Nokia ramping orders in preparation for "several" multi-touch phones? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 04:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Onyx - Synaptics' ClearPad concept phone

Peter Rojas — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 10:53:00 EST

This is totally on the concept design tip and so won't ever actually be produced, but check out the Onyx, a prototype handset that Synaptics and Pilotfish put together that uses Synaptics' new ClearPad touch screen. We're still not totally sold on button-less phones -- we crave the tactility -- but the Onyx lets you do stuff like close an app by drawing an "X" over it with your finger, send messages by swiping them off the screen, and answer a call simply by placing the phone against your cheek. Don't expect to ever actually get your hands on the Onyx, but Synaptics is planning to make ClearPad available to manufacturers around the end of the year, so there's a decent chance that phones like it could start showing up within a couple of years.

[Via Core77]

Filed under: Handsets

The Onyx - Synaptics' ClearPad concept phone originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Aug 2006 10:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Onyx - Synaptics' ClearPad concept phone

Peter Rojas — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 10:53:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

The Onyx - Synaptics' ClearPad concept phone originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Aug 2006 10:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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