capacitive

mobile
March 21, 2011
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Supersized smartphone popularity surges in 2010, NPD Group claims

By on March 21, 2011 at 1:01 PM.

Supersized smartphone popularity surges in 2010, NPD Group claims

Market research firm The NPD Group on Monday published the latest data surrounding sales of supersized smartphones in the U.S. Using its “Mobile Phone Track,” which tracks smartphone sales in the U.S., NPD has determined that smartphones with screens sized 4 inches and above became tremendously popular in 2010. Devices like Sprint’s HTC EVO 4G and  Verizon Wireless’ Motorola DROID X, which launched in the second quarter of 2010, grew to encompass 24% of the U.S. smartphone market by the fourth quarter last year. The EVO 4G was the most popular supersized smartphone in 2010, followed by the DROID X. Samsung’s Fascinate, Captive and Vibrant rounded out the top-5 in that order, according to NPD Group. The firm’s report also notes that fourth-quarter sales of smartphones with screens between 3.5 and 3.9 inches grew just 2% compared to the same quarter in 2009, and sales of smartphones with screens sized 3.4 inches and below dropped 63% over the same period. Hit the break for the full press release. More →

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Exclusive
January 13, 2011
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Exclusive: BlackBerry Torch 2 gets detailed

By on January 13, 2011 at 1:12 PM.

Exclusive: BlackBerry Torch 2 gets detailed

Research In Motion’s “best BlackBerry ever” — the BlackBerry Torch — definitely wasn’t the most competitive device to hit the smartphone market place. But it looks like RIM is trying to change all that with a new take on its QWERTY, horizontal-slider: the BlackBerry Torch 2. BGR has exclusively obtained a photo of the BlackBerry Torch 2 along with the device’s full specifications. Was the Torch’s 600MHz CPU a bit too underpowered for you? You’re in luck, as we can now confirm that the BlackBerry Torch 2 will feature a 1.2GHz CPU with hardware acceleration. Full specifications after the break! More →

268 Comments
Exclusive
January 13, 2011
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Exclusive: BlackBerry Dakota gets pictured; the touch and type BlackBerry you’ve been waiting for

By on January 13, 2011 at 8:51 AM.

Exclusive: BlackBerry Dakota gets pictured; the touch and type BlackBerry you’ve been waiting for

We just got our hands on a crystal clear photo of the BlackBerry Dakota — you know, the device that’s going to sit right at the head of the BlackBerry family dinner table. What about the specifications for the BlackBerry Dakota? What, you thought we’d skimp out on you? How about the famous original Bold styling, HD video recording, NFC, 3G Mobile hotspot, magnetometer and much, much more! Full specs after the break! More →

404 Comments
Hardware
November 16, 2010
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Hitachi shows off stylus-friendly capacitive touchscreen

By on November 16, 2010 at 11:59 PM.

Hitachi shows off stylus-friendly capacitive touchscreen

Some might say a capacitive touchscreen that also accepts input from a stylus or a gloved finger is the white whale of the cell phone industry. Ok — most people probably wouldn’t say that. But a single touchscreen that can respond just as well to a finger as it can to a stylus is a huge breakthrough in the mobile world. This versatile display could address the U.S. and European markets just as well as it addresses Asian markets, where handwriting recognition and stylus input are requirements for many. At this year’s IFD International conference, Hitachi showed the world that we’re not as far away from these all-purpose displays as one might think. Hitachi’s new touchscreen panels definitely aren’t ready for primetime — look at how shaky those lines are — but seeds have most definitely been planted and the company thinks it should have a ready-for-market product by the end of 2011. Hit the break for a video showing off the new tech. More →

8 Comments
Rumor
October 1, 2010
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Is Apple really working on an iMac-like computer with full touch display?

By on October 1, 2010 at 12:50 PM.

Is Apple really working on an iMac-like computer with full touch display?

DigiTimes is reporting that Apple has started receiving touch panels for testing in next-gen iMacs from company Sintek Photonics. As far as the size of the displays? No, they are not 1 inch squares this time — they are said to be around 20″ in diagonal size and feature the same capacitive touch elements as the displays on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. As as usability is concerned, while everyone on this side tries to figure out how a computing device like this would be used, we’re sure Apple has that covered if they are indeed planning on launching a product such as this. They’re trying to reinvent computing, ok? More →

82 Comments
General
September 2, 2010
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Huawei launches affordable, Android 2.2 Ideos handset

By on September 2, 2010 at 11:45 PM.

Huawei launches affordable, Android 2.2 Ideos handset

Today in Berlin, Huawei announced the official launch of its affordable, accessible Android 2.2 handset, the Ideos. The Ideos handset comes complete with a 2.8-inch capacitive touchscreen display (320 x 240), 528 MHz processor, 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera (no flash), HSDPA 3G, Wi-Fi, 3G hotspot capabilities, and a micro-SD card slot. The device carries the “with Google” moniker (which means no Android skinning of any kind) and Huawei touted that Google was heavily involved in the designing of the Ideos. The company elaborated that Google’s direct involvement with the Ideos would ensure its owners OS updates with minimal delay, Nexus One style. The device will be available in mid-October for right around $175 off-contract; no word yet on whether or not this little guy will be coming Stateside. The phone is obviously meant to make an Android 2.2, touchscreen handset available to the masses… time will tell if the masses choose to oblige Huawei’s efforts.  More →

23 Comments
General
July 21, 2010
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HP webOS tablet to be called the Palmpad, ship with a digital pen?

By on July 21, 2010 at 12:45 AM.

HP webOS tablet to be called the Palmpad, ship with a digital pen?

hp-logo-NEW

According to a USPTO document, HP has recently submitted a trademark application for the term “Palmpad”, a moniker that would be fitting for its first attempt at a webOS tablet. The application form lists the target goods/services as “Computers, computer hardware, computer software, computer peripherals, portable computers, handheld and mobile computers, PDAs, electronic notepads, mobile digital electronic devices”, a category of devices that describes a tablet to a tee. Another circulating rumor suggests that this “Palmpad” may ship with a capacitive touchscreen that supports digital pen input. A carryover from HP’s popular lineup of TabletPCs and Palm’s PalmPilot devices, this pen input would serve to set the webOS tablet apart from its primary competitor, the iPad. Anyone interested heightened by the possibility of inking or perhaps even graffiti on this rumored webOS tablet? More →

32 Comments
Featured
June 30, 2010
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Motorola DROID X review

By on June 30, 2010 at 1:47 PM.

Motorola DROID X review

Motorola-DROID-X-1

Ah, yes 4.3-inches of sensual haptic, multitouch glass strapped to a 1 GHz processor, 8 megapixel camera, and so much more. The Motorola DROID X is the latest and greatest Android handset to be unleashed upon the U.S. market, and it will be making its debut on America’s largest network — Verizon Wireless — on July 15th. We’ve been using, abusing, and confusing our review unit for just over a week, so lets jump right into our review. Buckle up and hit the break. More →

164 Comments
General
June 14, 2010
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EVO 4G shipped with improperly grounded displays?

By on June 14, 2010 at 9:12 AM.

EVO 4G shipped with improperly grounded displays?

htc-evo-4g

Apart from scattered complaints that the glass display on the HTC EVO has a tendency to separate from the devices housing, word from xda-developers is that the EVO likely suffers from the same poorly grounded capacitive display issues on another popular HTC device, the Droid Incredible. What this means that is if an EVO with an improperly grounded display is placed on a flat surface, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to operate. But complete the connection by placing a finger on the side of the display and — voilà! — the issue goes away. We should be perfectly clear and say that not all devices suffer from this issue, but from what we’ve read it seems that this is a real problem that needs to be jointly addressed by HTC and Sprint. How is your EVO’s display functioning?

[Via Good and EVO] More →

106 Comments
General
June 11, 2010
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Motorola Droid X hams it up for the camera once again

By on June 11, 2010 at 5:03 PM.

Motorola Droid X hams it up for the camera once again

droid-x-leak-a

Well hello again, sexy. Courtesy of Gadget University, we now have some wonderful new images of the Motorola Droid X (known aliases: Extreme, Xtreme and Shadow) to get us through the weekend. Apart from noting that the device is solidly built, it was noted that the 4.3″ WVGA display (some still contend it’s 4.1″) is not AMOLED, but it’s said to be quite the stunner likely feature IPS technology. It’s also been confirmed that the Droid X will feature a new version of MOTOBLUR, although the lads at Gadget University say it’s “not as bad as what you may think.” Unfortunately we didn’t get treated to a few sample pics from the 8 megapixel camera or even some if its 720p video, but us beggars can’t really be choosers, now can we? Skip over the break to check out some more photos.

Thanks, Edvard! More →

57 Comments
Rumor
June 1, 2010
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Is this the AT&T HTC Aria?

By on June 1, 2010 at 6:59 AM.

Is this the AT&T HTC Aria?

htc-aria

While it could just as easily be a Photoshop job involving a Droid Incredible and an EVO 4G, let’s assume for a moment that what we’re looking at is the AT&T-bound HTC Aria. Shot up by one of AndroidGuy’s “pretty solid” tipsters while situated next to a business card to give us an idea of the overall size of the device, it’s said that the Aria will be the “smallest Android device” yet with a display under 3″. Other alleged specs are said to include a 5 megapixel camera, optical trackpad, microUSB port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Of course previous rumors would see the Aria come complete with a sliding QWERTY keypad, but as we said above, let’s assume this is legit. Nothing fancy, but at least it runs Android 2.1 with Sense UI and shows more promise that AT&T’s current Android offering which consists of nothing more than the Motorola BACKFLIP. Dying to know more? Apparently it’s due for an official outing on June 7th. A poor choice of days, we know. More →

29 Comments
General
May 20, 2010
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Samsung: OLED shortage will continue as demand swells

By on May 20, 2010 at 10:55 AM.

Samsung: OLED shortage will continue as demand swells

samsung-logo-w5001

Speaking at the Reuters Global Technology Summit on Thursday, Lee Wong-jong, VP of marketing for Samsung, said that the global shortage of OLED displays will continue in foreseeable future as demand has greatly outpaced supply. Said Lee, ”demand for high-end displays is very strong and we may continue to fail to meet all customer requirements, even after expanding capacity by seven-fold, until next year.” Such delays are part of the reason Verizon is having great difficulties meeting sales quotas with the HTC Droid Incredible. Last week Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam said the failure of Samsung and other part suppliers to deliver crucial components were the reason the Droid Incredible has yet to outsell the Motorola DROID. To combat this, Samsung recently committed $2.15 billion through 2012 to create the largest fleet of AMOLED displays. But in the meantime, delays will be the new reality as smartphone sales for 2010 are expected to be 50% higher than in 2009. More →

13 Comments
Retail
May 16, 2010
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Rumor puts the myTouch 3G Slide's price at $150

By on May 16, 2010 at 10:50 AM.

Rumor puts the myTouch 3G Slide's price at $150

tmo-mytouch-3g-pricing

With only a few weeks to go before sales officially kick off, retail pricing for T-Mobile’s myTouch 3G Slide has leaked out. Pegged at $399.99 on an Even More Plus plan and $149.99 with an Even More plan after $50 MIR, there’s also an option to pay $23 per month over 20 months (apparently the $3 monthly premium nets you $60 worth of accessories). A part of us wants to be believe that this information is correct and the actual pricing will be a bit lower, but considering its the same price T-Mobile is currently asking for the original and slide-less myTouch 3G, we’re not about to risk holding our breath. The myTouch 3G Slide was initially rumored to land on June 2nd, but some people who claim to be in the know are now calling for a June 16th release. More →

31 Comments