multitouch

Breaking: New Google Nexus One Update Adds Multitouch, Improves 3G

February 2

Huzzah! While the iPhone got its new OS today, Google’s Android team wasn’t going to sit around and watch Apple take the show would they? A new update to the Nexus One that fixes 3G issues, includes Google Goggles by default, and a new version of Google Maps that adds suggestions and dedicated night mode. But the big feature? Multitouch on the Nexus One in Maps, Gallery, and Browser. Simply. Awesome. [Google]

UPDATE: In order to get this delicious update, go to Settings > About phone > System Updates. Google is gradually sending out the OTA updates over the course of this week, so you may not get it yet, but go ahead and check! Oh and report here on what you have to say!

Sony Ericsson Aspen: Windows Mobile 6.5.3 Debut

February 2

What has people buzzing around the business-like Aspen is not its specs (far from the contrary): a full-QWERTY keypad, 2.4″ QVGA dispaly, 3.2 megapixel camera, 3.5mm headphone jack, microSD, Wi-Fi, A-GPS, support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and SPB Mobile Shell sitting on top of Windows Mobile 6.5.3. But it’s exactly that. Yes, it’s Windows Mobile 6.5.3 that has people buzzing, and what it brings. Microsoft has finally put in mind that fingers are the future on handsets, and now the UI is more finger-friendly — meaning no more crappy styluses. It also brings support for capacitive touchscreens (huzzah!), and can act as a platform to bring multitouch. As for radio bands, you’ll have quad-band GSM/EDGE with either HSPA 900/2100 or 850/900/2100 radios (depending on the region). Coming in Q2 of 2010.

As for the Aspen itself, it is part of Sony Ericsson’s GreenHeart portfolio; handsets that are eco-friendly. It comes in either black or white, and with things like the charger and the box being made out of eco-frendly material. One more slide and Sony Ericsson site link after the break.

MSi X600 Notebook Review

January 23

MSi released the X600 as the larger cousin of the X340, a line of ultraportables that are slim, inexpensive, and look very good for their price range. To phrase it all up in a simple sentence, the X-Series line is a “poor man’s Macbook Air”. Although the price is much lower than its main competitors, the X600 has power and affordability that has yet to be matched by other ultra-sleek computers. That of course, does not mean everything is “happy go lucky”. Nevertheless, the X600 packs a serious punch.

Nexus One hardware costs $174.15 to build, multitouch included

January 9

Way to go Google. Or sort of. According to iSuppli, the Nexus One costs $174.15 to build. The 2 -year contract makes the Nexus One price ring up to $179.99, and the unsubsidized? $529.99. Which makes me wonder: why the heck does the unsubsidized model costs so much? Not giving money every month to a carrier might be why, but come on? To break it all down, here’s exactly what Google spends money on to make each Nexus One:

1GHz Snapdragon ($30.50)
AMOLED display ($23.50)
Memory ($20.40) from Samsung
Bluetooth and 802.11n WiFi transceiver costs $8.20
$12.50 on a 5 megapixel camera
Interestingly, Google has spent $17.50 on what’s described as “capacitive multitouch touchscreen assembly” from Synaptics.

So basically every person who buys a Nexus One pays for multitouch, but doesn’t get it? Google, I want my multitouch now.

People pay for it Google. Loosen up already.

[Via iSuppli]

Lenovo Ideapad U1 Hybrid: Part Laptop, Part Tablet

January 4

Introducing the 3.8-pound IdeaPad U1 Hybrid. It’s a 11.6-inch laptop with a retractable multitouch screen. Pretty catchy huh? It has a CULV Intel Core 2 Duo processor and Windows 7 Home Premium. But here’s the really “hybrid” part: When you pull the tablet out of the laptop’s chassis, a Qualcomm Snapdragon comes to life, thus creating a multitouch slate with a 16GB SSD that runs Lenovo’s Skylight Linux interface. Dual processors, dual OSes, and dual functions? This is the hybrid of all hybrids, and it’s coming in June for $999.

[Via LAPTOPMAG]

The Nexus One lacks multitouch (in some needed places)

December 18

According to tnkgirl, while given permission to play around with a Nexus One, but not given permission to take pictures of one, she claims that: “no multitouch support in the browser or in Google Maps,”. Which really sounds like a bummer, but then you have to remember that maybe it wasn’t a final production unit. She also says it works on T-Mobile 3G and is unlocked, but doesn’t work on AT&T 3G with EDGE. She also found “gold contacts” on the bottom which are possibly for a dock accessory. Oh, and here’s the rest of what she said about the Nexus One:

- It’s much nicer looking in person than in pictures- There’s a 4 GB micro-SD card installed
- The battery capacity is 1400 mAh
- The screen appears to be OLED (same size/resolution as the Motorola Droid
- 3G works on T-Mobile USA :)
- I can confirm that there’s no 3G on AT&T (EGDE only)
- It’s definitely unlocked
- It’s super snappy! Faster than the Droid..
- There’s no multitouch support in the browser or in Google Maps
- There’s no dedicated camera key, but it’s the same camera interface as the Droid- The trackball can be used to focus (like on other HTC devices
- Low-light performance is decent, but the flash is weak
- Calls are routed the normal way, not using data (VoIP), and sound fine
- The home screen is divided into 5 panes (like the Sense interface on the HTC Hero
- It’s using a micro-USB connector for data/power
- There are some gold contacts at the bottom edge, for a dock perhaps?
- Did I mention it’s fast?

Now hopefully she was just using a pre-production, multitouch-disabled Nexus One.

[Via tnkgirl mobile]

Microsoft Courier interface now explained better

November 4

11-04-09agenda

Pictures leaked to Gizmodo now explain the Microsoft Courier tablet in more detail than before. According to the pic above, the interface seems to be called “Smart Agenda”. Essentially, the tablet is like a journal that you can store info on; that info is searchable in the form of time,tags, and location. Other features include a ton of multitouch gestures and a special pen that has handwriting recognition, a digital eraser, as well as other things that could make the Courier one of the gadgets that is almost as exciting as the Apple Tablet. At the same time it could vanish just like the Apple Tablet could -- Steve Ballmer, can you release this thing, please?

[via Gizmodo]

Motorola MILESTONE official: Multitouch, but no Google Nav

November 2

All of you must now be familair with the Motorola DROID, but Android-eager Europeans will also get the DROID, but with a different name. The Motorola MILESTONE is the exact same handset as the DROID, but with 2 important differences. One, it has multitouch; how come we here in the US don’t get multitouch? Wouldn’t the DROID be even more of a threat to the iPhone (which is its target) if it had it? And for the second feature, it’s missing Google Maps Navigator; but the Europeans will get MOTONAV in its place. Italy and Germany will get the MILESTONE first. The carriers will be: The Phone House, O2 and Vodafone, with Germany getting it on November 9th.

[Motorola MILESTONE]