Oct 25

Stanford builds super-stretchy skin sensor out of carbon nanotubes (video)

Posted in: multitouch, research, science, Today's Chili, touch, video
An artificial skin that senses pressure, pinches and touch sounds like a macguffin from The Outer Limits (the episode “Valerie 23” if we recall correctly), but that’s what a team from Stanford University has cooked up on the back of its pick-up truck. Sensors made of silicon films with a matrix of liquid carbon nanotubes ensure the material snaps back to its original shape no matter how frequently it’s pulled about. When compressed, the electrical conductivity of the skin changes, and by measuring where and by how much, it knows the location and pressure of where you jab your fingers. The team wants to combine this super stretchy film with a much more sensitive sensor and if it can do it, then the technology could end up as an artificial skin for burn victims, covering prosthetic limbs or even replacing your multitouch display — just be careful, you might hurt Siri if you pinch-to-zoom her too hard.

Continue reading Stanford builds super-stretchy skin sensor out of carbon nanotubes (video)

Stanford builds super-stretchy skin sensor out of carbon nanotubes (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 24

Lenovo announces multitouch-friendly C325 all-in-one desktop

Posted in: AMD, lenovo, multitouch, PC, radeon, Today's Chili, touchscreen, Windows
There’s no shortage of multitouch-friendly all-in-one desktops to choose from these days, but you can now add one more to the list: Lenovo’s new C325. This one packs a 20-inch 1600 x 900 display (also available sans multitouch in the basic configuration), along with a dual-core AMD E450 processor, integrated Radeon HD 6320 graphics, up to 8GB of RAM, a maximum 1TB hard drive, and a built-in DVD burner (no Blu-ray option, unfortunately), among other standard fare. It’s also available in your choice of black or white, with prices starting at $699. Check out the gallery below for a closer look.

Gallery: Lenovo C325 all-in-one

Continue reading Lenovo announces multitouch-friendly C325 all-in-one desktop

Lenovo announces multitouch-friendly C325 all-in-one desktop originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 18

Microsoft’s PocketTouch prototype is like x-ray vision for your fingers (video)

Posted in: capacitive, Microsoft, multitouch, prototype, research, science, sensor, smartphone, Today's Chili, touch, video
Is it more gauche to pull out your phone in the middle of a date, or to draw a bunch of crop circles on your pants? That’s the question we were asking ourselves after coming across PocketTouch — a new Microsoft Research prototype that lets you manipulate your handset without ever removing it from your pocket. Developed by researchers Scott Saponas, Chris Harrison and Hrvoje Benko, the device essentially consists of a customized, multitouch capacitive sensor hooked on to the back of a smartphone. This sensor is capable of picking up gestures through fabric, allowing users to execute a wide array of eyes-free, gesture-based functions (including simple swipes and alphanumeric text) without ever having to actually whip out their phones. To do this, the team implemented what it calls an “orientation-defining unlock gesture,” which helps the prototype get its bearings, before testing the capacitive sensors across different fabrics. According to Microsoft, the outcome “exceeded expectations,” though there’s no word on when or if this Goliath of a device could ever hit the mainstream. Head past the break to see a video of a man playing tic-tac-toe on his pants.

Continue reading Microsoft’s PocketTouch prototype is like x-ray vision for your fingers (video)

Microsoft’s PocketTouch prototype is like x-ray vision for your fingers (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 05:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 14

Maide Control iPad app lets you build and view 3D models with your bare, sweaty hands (video)

Posted in: app, application, ipad, itunes, Mac, mouse, multitouch, tablet, Today's Chili, touch, video, Windows, Wireless
Looking for a hands-on 3D controller that won’t require any five-fingered peripherals? Check out Maide Control — a new app that allows users to manipulate 3D CAD data from the comfort of their iPad displays. Available for $4.99 on iTunes, this app will wirelessly sync an iPad with any compatible 3D program, thereby enabling modelers to mold and view their designs using an array of multitouch gestures. You can also use Maide Control to showcase models on larger displays (say, at a company presentation), or to connect multiple iPads to the same render, in case you’re working on a more collaborative project. For now, the app only supports Google SketchUp and Rhino on Windows only, though the company plans to incorporate other 3D apps and Mac support in the near future. Wiggle past the break to see a pair of demo videos, or hit up the source link below to download the app directly from iTunes.

Continue reading Maide Control iPad app lets you build and view 3D models with your bare, sweaty hands (video)

Maide Control iPad app lets you build and view 3D models with your bare, sweaty hands (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 08:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 13

CyanogenMod for TouchPad alpha released, is surprisingly functional (video)

Posted in: Android, demo, diy, gingerbread, GoogleAndroid, hack, hacking, Hacks, HP, mod, multitouch, slate, tablet, Today's Chili, touchpad, video, webos, wifi





Tired of seeing TouchPad Android demos that you can’t quite get your hands on? Buck up buttercup, CyanogenMod 7.1.0’s unique flavor of Gingerbread has finally made its way to HP’s disowned slate; but beware — they’re calling this one the “lower your expectations” edition for a reason. A new video and forum update belabors the point that the alpha is an early, buggy build that is not intended for the general public. However, if you’re brave enough to install CyanogenMod anyway, you’ll wind up with a neat assortment of usable features, including multiboot support, ten-point multitouch, functional WiFi, camera support for video chat, limited GPU acceleration and a ton of other features that are either working now, or are near completion. The team says there are too many nonfunctional features to properly list at the moment, but advise brave testers to expect app incompatibility and poorly optimized power consumption. Ready to throw caution to the wind? Hit the source link below, as it’s chock full of cautionary tales, installation instructions, and download links.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

CyanogenMod for TouchPad alpha released, is surprisingly functional (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 04:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 28

Toshiba adds 23-inch DX735 to its multitouch all-in-one family

Posted in: BestBuy, CoreI5, CoreI7, multitouch, Today's Chili, Toshiba
Toshiba DX735

Of all the “TV-like” all-in-one PCs we’ve seen, this Toshiba is perhaps the most convincing. Something about its glossy black, consumer electronic packaging and Onkyo soundbar just screams (tiny) HDTV. But, behind that 23-inch 1080p, multitouch panel is a Windows 7 PC powered by a Core i5 or i7 and 4GB of RAM. You also get a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, a 1TB hard drive, a DVD drive and a lone USB 3.0 port. There’s also an HDMI in jack for use with a game console or cable box — not bad for the oddly specific starting price of $957. When the DX735 starts shipping exclusively from Best Buy on October 2nd you’ll also have the option of adding on a TV tuner for a truly all-in-one entertainment solution. Check out the gallery below, as well as the PR after the break.

Gallery: Toshiba DX735 multitouch all-in-one

Continue reading Toshiba adds 23-inch DX735 to its multitouch all-in-one family

Toshiba adds 23-inch DX735 to its multitouch all-in-one family originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 03:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 19

Logitech Wireless Touchpad for Windows

Posted in: Accessories and Peripherals, logitech, multitouch, Today's Chili, Windows

Logitech’s fugly trackpad is the perfect match for your Windows PC

The target market for Logitech’s Windows-only Wireless Touchpad is a strange one. It consists of people who are sufficiently Apple-aware to want a wireless multitouch trackpad, who have $50 lying around to buy one, and yet — inexplicably — haven’t actually bought a Mac.

Despite this odd start, Logitech seems to have got everything else right: The styling is sufficiently ugly and cheap-looking to match any PC, the battery life is a very respectable four months (on 2 AA cells) and it can be used with one, two, three or four fingers simultaneously. It also has a couple of buttons at the bottom, like a traditional laptop trackpad (in contrast to Apple’s whole-pad clicks) and it uses Logitech’s excellent 2.4GHz receiver.

These receivers are great. They’re tiny, and they make all your Logitech input devices appear as USB mice/pads/keyboards to the computer. They’re also way more reliable (and responsive) than Bluetooth peripherals.

If you can stomach putting this ugly chunk of plastic on your desk, you can have one right now, for the aforementioned $50.

Wireless Touchpad product page [Logitech]

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Sep 13

Logitech Wireless Touchpad hits Windows PCs this month for $50

Posted in: logitech, multitouch, Today's Chili, touchpad, Windows, windows 7, Windows7
Windows 8 may be embracing touch in a big way, but Logitech now also has a little something for those looking to make their Windows 7 PC a bit more multitouch-friendly. The company’s just introduced a standalone trackpad of its own, dubbed the Wireless Touchpad, which will let you use a variety of two, three of four-finger gestures to scroll, navigate and switch between applications — or simply control a cursor, of course. To cut the cord, the device uses a Logitech Unifying USB receiver, which will also accommodate up to five other compatible devices. Look for this one to be available sometime this month for $50.

Continue reading Logitech Wireless Touchpad hits Windows PCs this month for $50

Logitech Wireless Touchpad hits Windows PCs this month for $50 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceLogitech Blog, Logitech  | Email this | Comments

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Sep 13

Windows 8 details: new features, UI enhancements and everything in between

Posted in: apps, AppStore, arm, cloud, Microsoft, multitouch, nfc, operating system, OperatingSystem, os, Software, Today's Chili, Windows, windows 8, Windows8

Today, Windows Division prexy Steven Sinofsky treated Build 2011 attendees to a walkthrough of the various tweaks, subtle or otherwise, Microsoft’s made to Windows 8. Staying true to its roots, the new OS implements the familiar keyboard commands users have become accustomed to over the years — you know, like CMD and Ctrl+F. And as for its update to Internet Explorer, MS has imbued its tenth iteration with the ability to switch between the much-hyped Metro-style UI and plain old desktop view — all according to your whimsy. Of course, Redmond’s instituted other sweeping changes across the platform, and you can check some of the highlights after the break.

Gallery: Windows 8 details roundup

Continue reading Windows 8 details: new features, UI enhancements and everything in between

Windows 8 details: new features, UI enhancements and everything in between originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 06

HP TouchPad gets multitouch drivers for Android courtesy of Team-Touchdroid

Posted in: Android, gingerbread, hack, hacking, Hacks, multitouch, Today's Chili, touchpad, webos

TouchPad mania has been in full effect since the slate went on blue-light special a few weeks ago. Yet, with the future of webOS in flux, crowds have clamored to get Google’s green bots on the woebegone tablet. Last week, Team-Touchdroid gave the TouchPad a slice of Gingerbread, and now it’s delivered full 10-point multitouch as well. Of course, the video below only shows it doing the trick on a testing app, but it’s a good start. Shouldn’t be long now before you TouchPad owners can get touchy-feely with any Android app your hearts desire.

Continue reading HP TouchPad gets multitouch drivers for Android courtesy of Team-Touchdroid

HP TouchPad gets multitouch drivers for Android courtesy of Team-Touchdroid originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 16:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Liliputing  |  sourcefnj001 (Youtube)  | Email this | Comments

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