Ca-Fi Dashlinq upsizes in-car Android infotainment, arrives in January

Posted on 16/12/2012 by Jon Fingas

There may be a size war brewing among Android-based infotainment system builders. Ca-Fi thought it was sitting pretty with its 6.2-inch unit earlier this year, but we're starting to think it was rankled by similarly-sized devices like Parrot's Asteroid Smart -- that would help explain its upcoming, 7-inch Dashlinq. Along with one-upping a nemesis, the double-DIN system brings multitouch zoom to a heavily customized (if slightly creaky) Android 2.3 interface. Otherwise, we're looking at a familiar, if fairly sophisticated approach: there's a dedicated media DSP, GPS navigation, an SD card slot for local content and internet access through 3G or WiFi. Ca-Fi expects the Dashlinq to arrive in January for €499 ($657), at which point we hope there's at least a momentary truce in the battle for the car's center stack.

Filed under: GPS, Home Entertainment, Transportation

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Via: Android Central

Source: Ca-Fi

Ca-Fi Dashlinq upsizes in-car Android infotainment, arrives in January

Posted on 16/12/2012 by Jon Fingas

Filed under: GPS, Home Entertainment, Transportation

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Via: Android Central

Source: Ca-Fi

Archos FamilyPad Is 13.3-Inches of Android Tablet Love

Posted on 21/11/2012 by shane

If you've ever tried to crowd several people around a small 10-inch or seven-inch Android tablet, you know it can be a challenge. Archos has unveiled a new tablet that is sized for multiple people to...

Dutch court rules that Samsung didn’t infringe on Apple multi-touch patent

Posted on 24/10/2012 by James Trew

Once again, a decision has been made on an Apple versus Samsung patent dispute. This time, it's a Dutch court in the Hague, ruling that Samsung does not infringe on a Cupertino patent relating to certain multi-touch commands that the Korean firm implements in some of its Galaxy phones and tablets. This isn't the first time that the Netherlands-based court has found in favor of Samsung, and Apple had already lost a preliminary injunction on this same patent last year. Reuters also reports that the Hague court's decision comes in the same week that the International Trade Commission is expected to decide about further patent disputes between the two firms, which went in favor of Apple the last time around. At the very least, this long and bumpy ride isn't over yet.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile

Dutch court rules that Samsung didn't infringe on Apple multi-touch patent originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Oct 2012 08:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell announces its first multi-touch monitor, the S2340T, and a wireless trackpad for Windows 8

Posted on 23/10/2012 by Dana Wollman

In addition to trotting out a new Windows 8 Ultrabook and putting its Windows RT tablet up for pre-order, Dell just announced its first multi-touch display along with a wireless trackpad optimized for Win 8. Starting with the 23-inch S2340T, it has 1080p resolution and a 90-degree articulating stand that allows the display to lie nearly face-up. At the base, you'll find various inputs, including USB 3.0, HDMI, DisplayPort and Ethernet. There's also a webcam up top for those of you who plan on giving the new version of Skype a try. Meanwhile, the TP713 (pictured) is a Magic Trackpad-style touchpad designed to support Windows 8 gestures, such as swiping in from the left to toggle through applications. Both are up on Dell's site now, with the monitor priced at $650 and the trackpad going for $70. Both are expected to begin shipping this week.

Filed under: Displays, Peripherals, Dell

Dell announces its first multi-touch monitor, the S2340T, and a wireless trackpad for Windows 8 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft Touch Mouse gets promised Windows 8 support, works like a Charm

Posted on 21/10/2012 by Jon Fingas

Microsoft vowed that its Touch Mouse would get Windows 8 support in time for the software's big release day, and it's being very true to its word by posting the relevant update with less than a week to go. Mouse and Keyboard Center 2.0 saves time for those not graced with a touchscreen by introducing multi-touch swipes that bring up Windows 8's Charm bar, switch between active apps and invoke Semantic Zoom. Will the Touch Mouse update trick you into thinking you have a Surface? No, but it's certainly much easier on the wallet.

Filed under: Peripherals, Software, Microsoft

Microsoft Touch Mouse gets promised Windows 8 support, works like a Charm originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 21 Oct 2012 06:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vizio AIO PCs Get Touchscreen Upgrade for Windows 8

Posted on 12/10/2012 by Technabob

Back during CES 2012, I had a chance to go hands-on with Vizio’s sexy new all-in-one PCs, and I was quite impressed with the industrial design, build quality and overall value at the time. With the impending release of Microsoft Windows 8, Vizio has announced two new AIO PCs with full 1080p touchscreen displays.

vizio aio touch pc 1

This only makes sense, given Microsoft’s touch-friendly user interface that’s the front doorway to Windows 8. What’s really cool is that these are actual capacitive-touch displays, allowing for full 10-finger input. I personally have an HP Touchsmart that used the older infrared sensing tech, and multitouch was limited to just 2 fingers – and not so good at that. This sort of display will provide the type of swiping, stretching and pinching interactions you’re used to on tablets and smartphones.

vizio aio touch pc 1a

The systems are available with 3rd-generation Intel Core CPUs, and NVIDIA Kepler-Class GeForce GPUs for speedy graphic rendering. The 24″ comes with a Core i3-3110M running at 2.4GHz and 4GB RAM and a 500GB hard drive, while the 27″ comes with a speedy quad core i7-3630M, also at 2.4GHz and 8GB RAM. The 27″ system bumps up to a 1TB hard drive and has a small 32GB SSD built-in to cache OS and speed up the system even more. Both have GigE ports and 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi.

vizio aio touch pc 2

Each has dual HDMI inputs for connecting external devices like a PS3, Xbox 360 or a satellite receiver, and a 2.1 sound system with an included 6-watt subwoofer that doubles as the system’s power supply. Best of all, Vizio continues to ship their machines with Microsoft Signature – which ensures that you only get the core operating system and anti-virus software – with no pre-installed crapware you’d just have to remove anyway.

The Vizio All-in-One Touch PCs start at $999 and top out at $1539 (USD), and available in both 24″ and 27″ screen sizes. If you’re looking for an alternative to a pricey iMac, you should definitely check these out. They’re not yet available for pre-order, but should be in time for the 2012 holiday season. You’ll also be able to find select configurations at major retailers including Walmart, Sam’s Club, Amazon.com and MicrosoftStore.com.

Disney Research develops capacitive touch that detects multiple users through their fingertips (video)

Posted on 09/10/2012 by Jon Fingas

Creating a truly multi-user, multi-touch display is a tricky prospect. How do you know who's who short of turning the screen into one giant fingerprint reader? Chris Harrison, Ivan Poupyrev and Munehiko Sato at Disney Research have suggested in a paper that fingerprinting on a capacitive touchscreen isn't far off -- it's just what we need to fingerprint that matters. Rather than look for physical ridges, the scientists' method sweeps through AC frequencies to find the exact electrical impedances of fingertips in contact with the screen. Different bodies, different clothes and even different shoes give everyone a unique signature that lets the screen identify specific people, even when they each have multiple fingers in play. The researchers propose that the technique would work well in collaborative workspaces, personalized devices and security, but let's not forget that this is Disney we're talking about: it's placing a strong emphasis on the prospects for shared screen gaming without the limitations we know today. While any practical use is still some distance away, it's easy to see future tablets and tables that are designed from the start to encourage a little socializing.

Continue reading Disney Research develops capacitive touch that detects multiple users through their fingertips (video)

Filed under: Gaming, Tablets, Science, Alt

Disney Research develops capacitive touch that detects multiple users through their fingertips (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Oct 2012 16:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maingear Nomad 17 Gaming Laptop Offers Lots of Options

Posted on 01/10/2012 by shane

Maingear has announced its latest highly customizable gaming notebook called the Nomad 17. This machine has a wide range of options including numerous third-generation Intel Core processors. The...

Zorro Macsk review: instantly add touchscreen functionality to your 21.5-inch iMac

Posted on 17/09/2012 by Richard Lai

Over the years we've come across a few signs that pointed to the possibility of touchscreen-enabled iMacs, but Steve Jobs had already dismissed this as a possibility for current Mac form factors. Quoting the man at the "Back to the Mac" keynote from two years ago: "It gives great demo, but after a while your arm feels like it's going to fall off. Touch surfaces want to be horizontal."

So perhaps our fantasy's still stuck in the "research project" phase.

Luckily, the more adventurous touchscreen lovers can look to third-party solutions. For MacBooks you have Axiotron's Modbook, except you lose the keyboard and you can't perform the modification yourself. As for iMacs and Cinema Displays, we've been following Troll Touch for its resistive touchscreen replacement panels, but they aren't exactly affordable and most of them have to be installed by the company. Even its user-installable SlipCover series starts from $899, anyway.

This leaves us with the Zorro Macsk, a cheekily named iMac accessory hailing from TMDtouch of Shenzhen, China. The 21.5-inch model is priced at just $199 on Amazon with no modifications required. Plus, it supports multitouch -- a glaring omission from Troll Touch's Mac lineup. So is this truly a bargain? Or is it just a case of "you get what you pay for?" Follow past the break to see how we got on with the Zorro Macsk.

Gallery: Zorro Macsk review