TouchSmarter: Touch Screen Gadgets

No Tags

Rumor: Apple’s latest gadget would be a touch-screen tablet.
Outcome: Apple’s iPad ended up looking a whole lot like what we saw in the patent applications.

An early Apple tablet patent, and what we got today.
(Credit: CNET/US PTO/Apple)

Rumor: The tablet operating system would be based on the iPhone OS
Outcome: Very real. The iPad shares the iPhone’s software development kit, or SDK, and can even run the same applications. It simply scales apps that have been designed for the smaller screen up to its 1024×768-pixel resolution.

Rumor: The tablet would be called the iSlate.
Outcome: False. Apple seems to have just been covering its bases with the iSlate trademark application and domain grab. This is kind of like buying alternate top-level domains when starting a Web site. That said, Apple could bring this name to a future product–be it hardware or software.

Rumor: The tablet would be called the iPad.
Outcome: Ding ding ding. Despite initial observations that Apple could be in for a legal battle, due to Fujitsu owning the iPad trademark, that’s what Apple ended up going with. This could end up being problematic. Bloomberg reports that Apple’s decision to go ahead with the iPad name, despite Fujitsu’s trademark ownership, could lead to big legal battle. It could also have a similar outcome to the iPhone trademark battle it had with Cisco Systems.

Still, kudos go to iLounge for getting the name, along with a handful of other details, correct in September of last year.

Rumor: The tablet would include textbooks.
Outcome: Real, but almost entirely skipped over in Apple’s big unveiling. Part of the reason for that could have been the big slip by McGraw-Hill Chairman and CEO Terry McGraw, who the night before had told CNBC that 95 percent of his company’s content was ready to go for the Apple tablet.

Nonetheless, textbooks will be sold through Apple’s new iBooks store, though details are scarce about whether Apple has worked the kind of pricing magic with which Amazon.com has been so aggressive in trying to get similar content available for its Kindle e-book reader.

Apple now has a bookstore, though details about textbook offerings and magazines are slim.
(Credit: Apple)

Rumor: Apple was gunning to get book prices between $12.99 and $14.99.
Outcome: True. Book prices on the iBooks store fall well within that range, including new releases. It remains to be seen how competitive Apple’s offering is with those of Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and others.
(Credit: Apple)

Rumor: The tablet would be powered with a chip from Apple’s in-house manufacturing facilities instead of Intel.
Outcome: Very true. The iPad packs a 1GHz chip called the A4 that is Apple-branded. Steve Jobs said it has the processor, graphics processing unit, and input/output memory controller on one chip. (Find out more about the A4 chip)

Rumor roundup scorecard: The iPad edition | Apple – CNET News.

Microsoft Surface

The Microsoft Surface technology is playing a key role in beefing up the security at the SuperBowl this year. With a slew of technology partners, a “command and Control platform” is being built owing to the Sharepoint, E-Sponder and Microsoft Surface.

One would wonder about how could such a technology aid in security related issues. The post at ArsTechnica described the role of the Surface as follows:

The tabletop computer will display a Microsoft Virtual Earth map of the area with real-time information about events, incidents, and tasks for the Tampa Incident Command staff. In this way, the security staff will be able to more easily manage the nearly a quarter of a million people in Tampa for Super Bowl-related activities. They’ll be able to zoom in and display a 3D image of the city, including detailed views of buildings and streets and real-time resource tracking.

No Tags addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.surfacerama.com%2F2009%2F02%2F02%2Fmicrosoft-surface-aids-in-beefing-up-the-security-at-the-superbowl-xliii%2F'; addthis_title = 'Microsoft+Surface+aids+in+beefing+up+the+security+at+the+SuperBowl+XLIII'; addthis_pub = '';

The rumors of a pre-eminent Windows 7 beta release 2 are put to rest following the official confirmation from the man In-charge of the project. Steve Sinofsky, posted a blog saying that Windows 7 was a major hit among the developers and software testers, who related their experience with the brand new OS as “Super Happy”. He clarified that the blog post had nothing to do with the shipping date and the plasible change in plans from the Redmond giant.

He precisely put up a compendium of the litany of terms used just to inhibit any peradventures:

• Pre-Beta – This release at the PDC introduced the developer community to Windows 7 and represents the platform complete release and disclosure of the features.
• Beta – This release provided a couple of million folks the opportunity to use feature complete Windows 7 while also providing the telemetry and feedback necessary for us to validate the quality, reliability, compatibility, and experience of Windows 7. As we said, we are working with our partners across the ecosystem to make sure that testing and validation and development of Windows 7-based products begins to enter final phases as we move through the Beta.
• Release Candidate (RC) – This release will be Windows 7 as we intend to ship it. We will continue to listen to feedback and telemetry with the focus on addressing only the most critical issues that arise. We will be very clear in communicating any changes that have a visible impact on the product. This release allows the whole ecosystem to reach a known state together and make sure that we are all ready together for the Release to Manufacturing. Once we get to RC, the whole ecosystem is in “dress rehearsal” mode for the next steps.
• Release to Manufacturing (RTM) – This release is the final Windows 7 as we intend to make available to PC makers and for retail and volume license products.
• General Availability (GA) – This is a business milestone and represents when you can buy Windows 7 pre-installed on PCs or as full packaged product.

What is to be seen is that if they can really keep up their word this time around. The release of this neophytic version was not hyped following the response they’ve garnered with the Vista. Now, Microsoft is seeing Windows 7 as their saviour as they wish to dust off their bruises and build up their reputation once again. This would be crucial, with Bill Gates no more in there to save them they will have to bank hopes on 7, and untill now it hasn’t let them down.

No Tags addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.surfacerama.com%2F2009%2F02%2F02%2Fsteve-sinofsky-no-second-beta-for-windows-7%2F'; addthis_title = 'Steve+Sinofsky%3A+No+Second+Beta+for+Windows+7'; addthis_pub = '';

No Tags addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.surfacerama.com%2F2008%2F10%2F06%2Fcoming-soon-the-windows-cloud%2F'; addthis_title = 'Coming+Soon%3A+The+WiNdOwS+ClOuD+%21'; addthis_pub = '';

Review: All-In-One HP PC Not So Touch Smart – Smarthouse

HP has joined the touch bandwagon by releasing a PC that has a touch-sensitive screen, allowing you to use your fingers to scroll through menus and files. But despite looking good on paper, and on TV commercials aired on primetime, the TouchSmart failed to impress us.

Sure, the TouchSmart software is easy to use and can give you a ‘hands-on’ experience while taking a look at photos and videos. But when it came to using the touch screen on Windows Vista, we were plagued with small icons that were hard to press and unresponsive icons that needed to be tapped over and over.

Fortunately, HP has included a wireless keyboard and mouse with the package, making it easier for consumers to use the IQ508a for Windows-based programs.

The unit sports a piano black finish and is on the heavy side as all of its major components are installed behind the touchscreen. Up front, users can find a 22-inch screen, built-in speakers, webcamera, and a ‘Home’ key that automatically launches the TouchSmart function.

Don’t let this happen to your iPhone | Technology | Los Angeles Times

Then I dropped my iPhone — it slipped! — from about three feet, and it hit the sidewalk. Apple’s design gurus had miscalculated — one fall and the screen shattered across the top corner. Little bits of glass began to chip away.

The Apple store had bad news. The only way to replace a cracked iPhone screen is to buy a whole new iPhone.

How many of you have had to replace an iPhone (or iPod Touch) due to screen damage/dropping?

All-screen clamshell concept phone: A glimpse of the future | Computerworld Blogs

A new concept design by designer James Piatt shows what this might look like. It’s a compelling idea, and one that I believe is inevitable, simply because of the appeal of having the largest possible screen and the necessity of fitting inside a pocket.

N-trig Announces Availability of Multi-touch Gestures Software Development Kit

KFAR SABA, Israel & AUSTIN, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–N-trig, the provider of DuoSenseâ„¢ technology combining pen and zero-pressure touch for mobile and fixed computers into a single device, announced today that it is offering a software development kit (SDK) for multi-touch gestures to independent service vendors (ISVs) and industry partners. With its revolutionary approach to Hands-on computingâ„¢, N-trig’s SDK can be downloaded on any tablet PC with DuoSense technology.

The multi-touch gestures SDK enables ISVs to add multi-touch functions to current or future applications, providing a more hands-on experience for the user. N-trig’s multi-touch currently enables functions such as rotating, zooming in and out, panning, and pinching. However, this is only the beginning of multi-touch manipulation, and N-trig is continuing to develop its technology and will be releasing more multi-touch features in the future.

“True multi-touch functionality is the future for computing devices,” said Amihai Ben-David, CEO of N-trig. “By providing a platform that offers multi-touch gestures, we are giving ISVs an opportunity to develop new applications. Many major computer companies have recently announced multi-touch technology, and our SDK will enable even more advances in what people are able to do with their computing devices.”

With its multi-touch gestures SDK, N-trig is setting the stage for ISVs to develop new and exciting technologies and encouraging them to develop applications for future platforms as well. N-trig is the only company that provides pen, touch, and multi-touch capabilities for tablet PCs, and its DuoSense digitizers support Microsoft’s Windows XP and Vista as well as future versions of Windows 7.

For more information, please visit http://www.n-trig.com/Content.aspx?Page=SupportSDK

Electronista | HP plans touchscreen notebook in 18 months

HP intends to have a notebook with a touchscreen display on the market within the next 18 months, the company has told the Wall Street Journal. The company was one of the first to introduce a mainstream, touchscreen desktop in the TouchSmart series but now says that it sees enough interest in the format to be one of the first with a portable PC offering a heavily touch-driven interface. The company has already introduced a tablet PC for the mainstream through the tx series but still depends on a stylus inside a conventional interface and would like to change the interface to a more natural one for future devices.

“We see touch as the almost preferred method for nontechnical users,” says HP’s Personal Systems Group CTO Phil McKinney.

The company has already hinted these plans but has now set a timetable that would put the release of the future notebook design before 2010, confirming that HP will use a custom interface rather than wait for the release of Microsoft’s Windows 7, which will make touch input a standard feature.

Apple is believed to have helped spur this interest in touchscreen devices through the iPhone but itself has remained silent on a touch interface for its computers, choosing instead to use multi-touch trackpads with more complex gestures.