Hasta La Gadget!

Lenovo’s getting a little jump on the wave of Windows 7 machines due to hit next month with a multitouch update to the X200 convertible and a new multitouch version of the T400s. The new X200 Tablet is pretty much what you’d expect, bringing some newer, faster Core 2 Duo processors into the mix along with a two-finger capacitive multitouch screen, but we’re a little more intrigued by the multitouch T400s update, since the screen is actually a little nicer and can register up to four fingers. To take advantage of all this new functionality, Lenovo’s bundling in a new app called SimpleTap, which brings up an icon-based control panel for settings like volume, screen brightness, and other system functions, as well as quick app and web bookmark launchers. It’s pretty cool stuff, but it’ll cost you: the multitouch T400s will start at $1,999, while the multitouch X200 will open at $1,729. (There’s also a new X200 outdoor screen option for $1,779.) Check a video of SimpleTap after the break, as well as the full press release.

Continue reading Lenovo introduces multitouch ThinkPad X200 Tablet and T400s laptop

Filed under: Laptops

Lenovo introduces multitouch ThinkPad X200 Tablet and T400s laptop originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Atmel may still be hedging its bets by offering some resistive touchscreen devices of its own, but it looks like it isn’t making any secrets about its belief that capacitive touch is where the real action is, as fully evidenced by the firm’s wonderfully dramatic video announcing its new maXTouch technology. In addition to kick-starting “a whole new era” (period), the new platform promises to support the development of capacitive touchscreens larger 10 inches, complete with full support for zooming, rotating, handwriting, shape recognition and other advanced functionality. What’s more, the first device in the line (the mXT224) promises to blow a few minds by supporting not just finger touch, but input from a stylus, fingernails, or even gloves. The entire line of devices also fully support unlimited, simultaneous touches, and supposedly boast a refresh rate and signal-to-noise ratio that’s 66% better than its nearest competitor. Of course, there’s no indication as to when we can expect to see the first products using the new touchscreens just yet, but the mXT224 model is available right now for any companies interested, and Atmel says additional models will be rolling out in the fourth quarter of this year and throughout 2010.

Read – Atmel maXTouch press release
Read– maXTouch video and product site

Filed under: Displays

Atmel maXTouch technology promises bigger, better capacitive touchscreens originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Medion has never really been our go-to manufacturer for new hotness, but we’re really digging this new X9613 all-in-one model it’s showing off. Even better than the sexy, the computer is fronting a 24-inch multitouch display, a miniature SideShow screen, a gloriously large physical volume knob, and a bunch of convenient media controls along the bottom. Internals aren’t bad either, with a Core 2 Quad Q9000 processor and GeForce GT240M graphics. The price range, unfortunately, is rather steep at 1,499 to 1,900 Euro (about $2,142 to $2,714 US). Lucky for us, US prices are usually quite a bit lower than straight-up conversion, though there’s no promised roll-out just yet to bank on. Video hands-on is after the break.

Continue reading Medion’s 24-inch X9613 multitouch all-in-one PC actually looks pretty hot

Filed under: Desktops

Medion’s 24-inch X9613 multitouch all-in-one PC actually looks pretty hot originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seeing the gold build of Windows Mobile 6.5 in action was pretty nifty, but Inquirer‘s recent video actually managed to unveil a few juicy tidbits about version 7 as well — a platform that’s shaping up to be that massive, ground-up rewrite of WinMo we’ve all been hoping for for years (as far as we can tell). The lack of multitouch is a sore point for some in 6.5 — not just because of the goodness of the multitouch gestures themselves, but because it’s indicative of a broader failure on Microsoft’s part to recognize that touch-based mobile UIs have been wholly reinvented since the days of Windows Mobile 2003. Redmond looks to be cognizant of that, though with a mention in the video that 7 will “exploit the hardware” and “introduce multitouch,” going on to say that it’ll be able to go toe-to-toe with “competitor devices” — ostensibly a reference to some combination of webOS, Android, and the iPhone. The video also mentions that 6.5 will end up being a “breadth play” while 7 branches out into the premium end of the market — at least to start — and over time, 7 will become Microsoft’s mainstream mobile platform as future versions are released. In other words, Microsoft looks like it could be setting itself up for a two-version cadence going forward — one for the unwashed masses, one for the gadget fiends. You know which category we fall into — and we suspect we know yours, dear readers.

[Via Unwired View]

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Windows Mobile 7 to be a premium, multitouch beast of a platform originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We love us a good multitouch wall experience, sizing up and rotating irrelevant bits of media like the Tom Cruise wannabes we are, but this new multitouch wall unveiled by Schematic at the Cannes Lions advertising festival almost brings the tech into the realm of relevance. The main innovation is the identification of specific users through the swipe of an RFID badge, allowing multiple users to operate the display simultaneously with personalized data and “social” functionality. Schematic’s dream really is a Minority Report-style world of advertising, but until that chilling future is fully realized, we suppose we can handle a few gimmicky multitouch walls and half-developed socializing functionality in the near term. Hit up the read link for video.

Filed under: Displays

Schematic’s Cannes touchwall identifies users via RFID, almost escapes gimmick status originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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