While HP mistakenly claims that its sparkly new (but previously rumored) TouchSmart tx2 is the world's first multi-touch consumer notebook, we're still decidedly stoked about this here convertible tablet. Boasting a 12.1-inch swivel display (LED-backlit) that's just dying to have your prints all over it, the tx2 will come loaded with Windows Vista, a bezel-mounted fingerprint reader, integrated webcam with microphone, Bluetooth / WiFi, stereo speakers, a 5-in-1 multicard reader and a LightScribe SuperMulti DVD burner. HP's also delivering the oh-so-stylish Reaction Imprint exterior, an AMD Turion X2 dual-core processor, the firm's own MediaSmart 2.0 software, a VGA output, Ethernet and at least one USB port from the looks of things. You're supposed to be able to add one of these to your digital shopping cart right now via HP's own webstore or Amazon.com, but both links currently lead to sections of the intarwebz you don't ever, ever want to see. Hold tight -- we've a feeling HP will be getting really official with this one momentarily. Check Laptop's hands-on with the unit in the video after the break.

Read - TouchSmart tx2 microsite
Read - Hands-on with TouchSmart tx2

We've heard some rumors that were pretty far out in left field, but this one is far out. In fact, the only reason we're giving it even an ounce of credence is that it's a perfect market opportunity -- we mean, who isn't dreadfully sick of the plain jane digital photo frames that are impossible to distinguish from one another? At any rate, whispers have it that HP is working up a frame that will double as a slate PC of sorts, giving users a full blown web browser, e-mail client, RSS reader and access to other "widgets and lightweight applications." Predictably, the mythical unit will be marketed as a companion internet device, and we're told that it may even boast an Intel Atom CPU alongside a 10-inch panel and a WiFi radio. We'll find out if you'll really be burning $400 on this so-called conglomerate before the year's end.

Got a touchy-feely idea you'd like to see on HP's TouchSmart PC? Then by golly, it's about time you got to work! HP has recently released its TouchSmart Application Developer Guidelines to third-party developers, enabling anyone with drive, ambition and skill (all three, not just one or two) to create their own "touch-friendly applications that integrate and run within the TouchSmart Software suite." To generate buzz and give you a little motivation, the TouchSmart Community is offering one fortunate dev a trip to CES 2009, where they'll be able to demo their software in front of the gadget world (and us!). For all the details, be sure and give the read link a visit -- crack those knuckles, it's time to code.

We saw Windows 7's multi-touch capability way, way back in the day when Bill Gates was still at the wheel of Microsoft (uh hem, May). That demo was pretty limited to in-application touches and did little to show off the interaction with the OS and Internet browser -- the two places we find ourselves most often. Now we've finally got some video, brief as it is, that gives a better idea of what it might be like to work with arms out-stretched in front of you to manipulate icons and images on a desktop display. At about 4.20 into the video posted after the break, we see the usual panning and gesture controls already available in Vista on what looks to be HP's TouchSmart PC. We then learn that Microsoft's goal is to enable "most applications," out of the box with simple (think: pinch to zoom) multi-touch on day one of the Windows 7 launch. Individual apps can then be optimized to improve performance and offer a greater degree of touch and multi-touch control. As demonstrated in the video, finger flicks applied to Microsoft's optimized Internet Explorer send the scroll whizzing away compared with an un-optimized MS Word document (shown in a zooming gesture above) while gentle upward swipes to Windows 7 taskbar icons expose jump lists normally requiring a right mouse click. Interesting.

[Via NowhereElse]

Who woulda thunk it? All-in-ones are officially back in. Yeah, some would argue that they never really left, but with Sony's latest family of monitor-bound PCs and HP's freshened TouchSmart line upping the ante, we'd say the war is back on. The high(er)-end TouchSmart IQ506 was recently taken for a ride over at DesktopReview, and it didn't take long for them to realize that HP was aiming for something very different with this machine. Rather than catering to the gaming or barebones crowd, this one emphasizes interaction and entertainment, and apparently, it did so in fantastic fashion. Additionally, those folks couldn't resist cracking the casing open and giving us a look inside, so if you've got a thing for untouched PCB and silicon, you know where to look.

[Thanks, Janet]

We got a look at HP's latest and greatest, and it's a mixed bag. For starters, we just can't stand HP's consumer laptops (not to be confused with the company's rapidly improving business lineup), and the HDX16 and HDX18 seem to revel in all that's wrong about HP's consumer approach -- no matter how many million units they move. The glossy trackpad is difficult to use, the overly-glossy screen is bad enough in press shots, and a downright pain in real life, and the glossy, chrome-ish exterior is gaudy and over the top -- did we mention glossy? It's one of those love-it-or-leave-it affairs, and we really could leave it. The new, larger TouchSmart IQ800 (pictured) has a lot more going for it, and the hardware is quite elegant, but it seems to share many of the problems its touchphone brethren face: the software isn't quite there, and therefore almost might as well not be there at all. Everything seems half-baked, and not ready for full-time use. The display felt a little "dull" to the touch, with a somewhat laggy response, web browsing is difficult and pointless, and the music app puts manual labor back into playlist creation. It's a decent "home screen" for a living room PC, there are some neat, beautiful gimmicks that would be fun to show off to house guests, and all the elements are in place for a really great touchable desktop experience -- we really do want to love this thing -- but HP needs to devote a little more cash and QA time to this side project to get it over the "hump."

We know -- there's a certain sect of you out there that just goes bonkers whenever a new mouse and / or keyboard is released. Unfortunately, we'll be catering to the other 99% with this one. Alongside a few new laptops, a new desktop and a pair of digiframes, HP is also unveiling a whole host of input peripherals this evening. Up first is the HDX Laser Mouse, which features five programmable buttons, on-the-fly DPI switching up to 2,400, five individual setting profiles and USB 2.0 connectivity. Next up is the Wireless Comfort Desktop, which includes a spill-resistant Wireless Comfort Keyboard, a Wireless Vector Mouse (800 DPI), a USB wireless receiver and four AA batteries (imagine that!). Last, we've got the Laser Gaming Mouse with VoodooDNA, which cranks the DPI up to 3,200 and includes VoodooDNA GUI software. As for pricing, you're looking at $39.99, $79.99 and $59.99 in order of mention.

The second-gen TouchSmart IQ500s just arrived in July, but HP isn't sitting still -- say hello to the new TouchSmart IQ800 series. Both the new TouchSmart IQ804 and IQ816 feature a 25.5-inch 1920 x 1200 touchscreen with various TouchSmart-specific apps, a TV tuner with remote, integrated webcam, Bluetooth, HP Pocket Media drive bay, and an ambient light to illuminate your keyboard, but the IQ804 confusingly has a higher-clocked 2.16GHz T5850 Core 2 Duo on a 667MHz bus with 2MB of cache while the IQ816 has a 2.10GHz T8100 Core 2 Duo on a 800MHz bus with a 3MB cache -- we'd bet the IQ816 benchmarks faster, regardless of the slightly slower chip. On top of that, the IQ816 also bundles in a Blu-ray drive / dual-layer burner and upgrades the IQ804's GeForce 9300M GS graphics to a GeForce 9600M GS chip. Expect to see the IQ804 on September 21 for $1,899, while you'll have to fork over $2,099 for the IQ816 when it hits on October 12 -- check out a few more shots in the gallery to hold you over till then.

Face it, the whole point of buying a touchscreen anything is, um, touching the thing, so it's usually nice to get a bit of touching in before the sale, just to make certain sure it's throwing off the right touching vibes. Touching. Well, HP's TouchSmart 2, which started shipping late last month from HP's online store, is now ready to get smudged up at a retail store near you, and will be available in $1,299 (IQ504) and $1,499 (IQ506) editions, the latter of which sports a TV-tuner.

Yeah, we realize that the first two words after "HP TouchSmart IQ504 PC" are "coming soon," but apparently the web design humanoid forgot to notice that little "Ships same day" note down there by the Purchase button. That's right kids, HP's latest all-in-one PC (you know, the TouchSmart 2) is all boxed up and ready to be shipped to your home or office. All's that left for you to do is scrounge up $1,249.99 and punch in those gory details e-tailers tend to ask for.

[Thanks, jmacman1]

HP decided to show off its new wares in Berlin -- which is a rather strenuous yacht trip from the Engadget HQ, or so we hear -- but was kind enough to throw up a few pictures of the new gear in action. The TouchSmart 2 is a particularly interesting product in light of Microsoft's newfound emphasis on touchscreens in Windows 7. This could be a sign of things to come, or just a fun little approach to the all-in-one desktop for the here and now, but either way we're rather curious as to what makes a second human necessary in the operation of this unit. What is your purpose, Mr. Blue Shirt man?

HP isn't exactly known for their revolutionary design chops, but they're certainly making some strides toward more creative desktop PC designs. You know the drill, download below, watch it up top, and download the stills for some HP fanboy-quality wallpaper.

[MP4] Download the video

In its zeal to take over your living room, Microsoft announced the HP TouchSmart PC at the Gates keynote -- a desktop machine with a touchscreen interface designed to be an easy to use entertainment hub in the home. We caught wind of this unit back at the end of November, and the thing looks raring to kick the iMac's ass. It's coming loaded with a 19-inch touchscreen, AMD Turion 64 X2 dual core TL-52 processor, 2GB SDRAM, 320GB drive, NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600, WiFi, Bluetooth, integrated 1.3 megapixel camera, integrated FM and ATSC HDTV tuners, a DVD±RW / DVD-RAM burner with LightScribe, Pocket Media Drive bay, wireless keyboard, mouse, stylus, front media reader, and more ports than the Dutch coastline. The TouchSmart will of course be running Windows Vista and be available January 30 to coincide with Vista's street date.