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Lenovo's new Titanium Yoga laptop will feature Sensel's force-sensing tech
Sensel has announced that the first product to use its force-sensing technology will be Lenovo’s thinnest-ever ThinkPad, the X1 Titanium Yoga laptop.
Sensel's touchpad tech could bring realistic haptics to Windows laptops
Sensel wants to bring its shape-shifting touchpad to laptops.
Ten years in, a look at the iPad killers that weren't
The PlayBook’s chances of outselling the iPad, or literally any other tablet for that matter, were nil. As we saw with the Galaxy Tab, tablets running Android 2.0 and up basically just acted like jumbo smartphones.
Samsung updates Galaxy Buds with Bixby voice controls
Thanks to a recent firmware update, Samsung's Galaxy Buds now work with the company's Bixby voice assistant. In addition to having hands-free control of music and audio, users can now use voice controls to request a battery status update, change to a different equalizer setting and lock the earbud touchpads. Unfortunately, the new firmware only supports English and Korean commands, and you'll still have to use the earbuds with a Galaxy phone or Android device.
ASUS stuffed a screen into the ZenBook Pro 15's touchpad
Remember Razer's Switchblade UI? Remember Windows SideShow? If you ever dreamt of a computer with its own secondary display, then ASUS' New ZenBook Pro is the device for you. In place of a traditional touchpad, the company is adding the ScreenPad, a 5.5-inch touchscreen that can even run its own apps. That's the headline feature, at least, of the company's latest flagship laptop aimed at creative professionals.
The Sensel Morph trackpad is a digital creative's dream
Our computers have become indispensable creation tools, but let's face it: The decades-old keyboard-and-mouse combo aren't the best way to edit video, draw or play music. That's where the Sensel Morph comes in. It's a pressure-sensitive touchpad that lets you swap in multiple overlays and instantly switch gears between video editing, painting, music creation, gaming, coding and other tasks. There are already a number of media controllers out there, and I've tested a couple, including the Palette Gear and the Loupedeck. But after using the Sensel Morph for a couple of days, I have to say that it really stands out from the pack. It's the most clever and versatile device I've tested, and though it's a bit expensive at $299, plus more for extra overlays, it's worth it for artists, musicians and editors, especially if you wear more than one of those hats.
Microsoft’s object-detecting playmat brings toys to life
From Amiibos to Skylanders, game companies have led the 'toys to life' charge to translate real-world objects into digital worlds. But those have only transferred proprietary products. Microsoft researchers have developed a prototype smart playmat called Project Zanzibar that can scan in everyday items, even those that don't have a shred of computer tech.
Windows 10's virtual trackpad turns tablets into mice
Microsoft has begun testing out a new virtual trackpad feature in Windows 10, allowing users to turn their tablets into mice while using external displays. Chances are it'll form part of the OS's "Creators Update" arriving next spring, with the feature now live in the latest Windows 10 Insider Preview release (build 14965, if you're interested). The virtual trackpad is exactly what it sounds like: A square boundary with left and right mouse buttons sitting below it, performing the function you'd expect but using a device's touchscreen to receive inputs.
ICYMI: Drawing in VR, new space plane and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-30134{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-30134, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-30134{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-30134").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: SpaceX showed off the plan for its new Crew Dragon capsule to ferry astronauts between earth and the International Space Station, and it's gorgeous. A famous Disney animator is drawing in the virtual realm. And a new kind of piano has an updated, pinchable keyboard that creates all kinds of different sounds. Musicians, take note! (See what we did there?)
Samsung patented a laptop-smartphone dock with dual OSes
Combination laptop-tablet not enough? Want even more gadget overlap? Then try ASUS' still incoming Windows laptop/Android phone hybrid. We (half) joke, because Samsung's patented something along those very lines. In the Korean manufacturer's case, a docking area between the keyboard and the display would be where your phablet would call home. The laptop dock itself would be pretty much only that: all the processing and thinking would be done on the phone, which would run Android until it docks, where Windows would burst onto the bigger screen. Your phone, while charging, could also double up as the touchpad while in laptop mode.
NYT: New Apple TV will get a bigger remote
Tired of losing your Apple TV's slim remote in the couch cushions? The New York Times reports that an updated version of the device will finally get a redesigned remote. The new control is described as being thicker, while also adding a touchpad for scrolling around, adding up to a size that's similar to the remote Amazon ships with its Echo wireless speaker. The Apple TV remote achieves the goal of stripping out everything it can for a minimalist design -- that's a launch unit from 2007 pictured above, you can take a peek at the current model after the break -- but with the number of apps and options available, it could probably use another button or two. Rumors have indicated the new model will arrive during Apple's WWDC event packing an app store and internet TV subscription packages, which probably also plays into any design changes.
Dish Network will have 4K this summer for every UHD TV
Dish Network is ready to tread new ground with its internet-only Sling TV service, but what about folks who want the highest quality video and are willing to pay for it? It will join the 4K party this summer with an upgraded Joey extender that not only tosses Ultra HD video around, but is also so slim it can be wall-mounted behind compatible TVs. The dual-core ARM processor inside is even powerful enough that it can toss up two HD streams side by side. Sure, Dish is coming in later than competitors Comcast and DirecTV, but so far those two are only working with a limited set of TVs, like Samsung and LG. The 4K Joey works with any UHD TV with HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2.
Coming soon: laptops with fingerprint sensors built into the touchpad
At some point -- probably when the iPhone 5s came out -- fingerprint sensors became cool. Yes, they've been used on business laptops for years, but it's only recently that we've started to see them in stuff consumers would buy -- things like smartphones and tablets. Now, it seems, we're coming full circle. Synaptics, the leading maker of laptop trackpads, just announced something called the SecurePad, a touchpad with a fingerprint sensor built into the upper-left corner. Unlike existing fingerprint scanners for laptops, which require users to swipe their fingers over the sensor, this one uses capacitive touch, similar to the fingerprint modules used in devices like the iPad mini 3 and Galaxy S5. The result should hopefully be a more reliable experience than you would have gotten on older-gen laptops, but as we've seen with newer products, even touch-based fingerprint scanners can be a mixed bag.
HP calls time, will shut down webOS support on January 15th, 2015
Still hauling that Palm Pre around without a care in the world? Sorry to say but there's a nasty surprise coming your way just after the holidays. HP has quietly announced that it'll pull the plug on the catalog and cloud services that support webOS devices from January 15th of next year. That doesn't mean that your hardware will shut down, but living with the gear is going to get considerably harder. Firstly, you won't be able to purchase, download and restore apps, and you won't be able to restore your phone from a backup either. Setting up a new device has also gone the way of all things, and if you lose your password, you won't be getting it back. This is probably the excuse you need to buy a new phone, but don't worry, because as long as we remember webOS in our hearts, it'll never truly die, okay?
Borderlands 2 Vita update loots stability, control improvements
If the Vita's on-the-go version of Borderlands 2 has been a little unstable for you, a new update hopes to land a critical hit on those problems, in addition to adding control-related adjustments. Concerning the patch, SCEA Third Party Production Director Gio Corsi wrote that developer Iron Galaxy Studios had worked with Sony to "improve stability and performance throughout the game, including addressing known issues with audio playback." Vault hunters need to be comfortable while grinding away at quests and slaughtering wildlife though, a truth addressed by the update in its allowance for inverted gyroscope controls. Actions mapped to the Vita's touchpad can also now be assigned to "much smaller zones" to help avoid accidental melee swings or grenade lobbing. The adjustable touch-triggered buttons might accommodate one of Senior Reporter Jess Conditt's issues with the Vita port, but she still found the pre-patch version to be a "great game on a wonderful handheld device." [Image: PlayStation]
Palm and webOS product auction reminds us of the forgotten Foleo
It's funny how, as time passes, we grow fonder of gadgets that were once disregarded. Nerd nostalgia has a knack of trumping common sense and draining wallets, which is why we're almost hesitant to bring this auction of Palm and webOS gear to your attention. Featuring the collection of a former webOS employee, you'll find everything from t-shirts, posters and other branded paraphernalia, through to a mint-condition Palm VII PDA, 4G TouchPads and a range of mobiles, including many from the long-forgotten Pre series. The prize piece, however, has to be the boxed, unused Palm Foleo complete with an hour of phone time with one of the product's OG engineers, who also "has apps for you," apparently. All money raised from the auction is going to a charitable cause, which totally justifies whatever exaggerated sum Palm's nigh-mythical flop ends up going for.
Unofficial Android update brings Bluetooth support to the HP TouchPad
HP might have abandoned ship long ago, but some developers are still trying to make the TouchPad happen. While successfully running Android on the discontinued tablet (which shipped with the ill-fated webOS) is old hat at this point, there are still a few obstacles standing in the way of achieving full functionality. For TouchPad owners yearning for Bluetooth support, hope has arrived in the form of developer James Sullins' unofficial Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2 build. If you've already modified your tablet to work with Android, installing Sullins' Bluetooth addition seems to be a pretty straightforward process. Those of you who've stuck with your TouchPad this long (we commend your device loyalty) can download the update at the source link below.
The Daily Roundup for 07.03.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Tobii and Synaptics team on eye-tracking Ultrabook concept
While Tobii has a peripheral that brings eye tracking to Windows PCs of all sorts, there's little doubt that an integrated approach would be more elegant. The company agrees: it's partnering with Synaptics on a concept Ultrabook (seen above) that combines both Gaze UI and Synaptics' pressure-sensitive ForcePad in a showcase of new input methods. The partners haven't said just what new tricks they'll demonstrate, if any, but it's clear that there won't be a size penalty when the concept is as slim as the laptops in stores today. Synaptics and Tobii plan to tour the PC throughout the industry during the summer and the fall, and they're no doubt hoping that a few vendors use the concept as inspiration.
MSI's MouseBook is a laptop whose trackpad doubles as a standalone mouse
The problem with laptop trackpads: they're usually not very good. But would turning the touchpad into a mouse solve the problem? Perhaps. That's what MSI seems to be attempting with its MouseBook concept. In essence, it's a laptop with a trackpad that can pop out and then be used as a standalone mouse. As you can see in the photo above, there's a release switch for removing the pad. Once it's out, you can move it across your desk as you would a mouse, as opposed to just using it as an external trackpad. It connects over Bluetooth and, as you'd expect, it recharges when it's inside the laptop. What we find most intriguing, perhaps, is the fact that when you remove the trackpad, a flat surface rises up to fill the space so that you're not left with a gaping hole in your palm rest. Since this is just an experiment at this point, MSI can't say if it will ever make its way into a real product. If you're curious, though, we've got a walkthrough video after the break, showing everything except, uh, how it works -- MSI still doesn't have a fully functioning unit to show off.%Gallery-190243%
