touchscreen

BlackBerry Storm customers complain

Despite a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign, the new BlackBerry Storm has gotten off to a shaky start, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The Storm, which is Research In Motion's first touch-screen device, was supposed to be Verizon Wireless's iPhone killer. Verizon is the exclusive carrier for the Storm. Apple's iPhone is sold exclusively by AT&T. Verizon and RIM had supposedly been working on the device even before AT&T launched the original iPhone two and a half years ago.

The Storm launched in November, in time for the holiday-shopping season. And while it sold well initially with about 500,000 shipping the first month, the Journal reports that many customers who bought the device are complaining of buggy software and hardware glitches.

Specifically, consumers say that the software used to type on the touch screen, which requires you to press down on the face of the phone, is sluggish. I have used the device on and off since it was launched November 21, and I'd agree that it is clunky.

Other examples: the accelerometer that senses and changes the view on the screen when it's turned on its side is slow. And sometimes the "sure press" screen is difficult to use because it registers the wrong character.

Verizon and RIM rushed the device to market, perhaps before it was really ready, according to the Journal article. The newspaper notes that Jim Balsillie, RIM's co-CEO said the companies reached the Black Friday deadline "by the skin of their teeth," after they had missed a planned October debut. … Read more

MP3 Insider 128: 2008 gives up the ghost

In the final MP3 Insider of 2008, Donald and Jasmine discuss Dr. Dre's super stylish in-ear headphones, a way-too-pricey iPod dock from DLO, some touch-screen alternatives to the iPod Touch, and a gaggle of gear for the Creative Zen family.

Plus, find out how to follow Jasmine and Donald while they cruise around CES 2009.

Listen now: Download today's podcast… Read more

Touch-screen Sony Walkman? Don't hold your breath

According to a post on the Sony Insider blog, Sony is gearing up to release a touch-screen Walkman to contend with Apple's iPod Touch (get in line Sony). The blog's author, who cites no sources and saw fit to post his own product mock-up, claims the new Walkman includes a 3-inch OLED screen, Wi-Fi, a Web browser, YouTube browser, and an integrated Amazon MP3 download store. Apparently, the device will be unveiled at CES in January. We couldn't reach any of our sources at Sony for comment.

I want to give the Sony Insider the benefit of … Read more

Rumor: New touch-screen BlackBerrys on the way

Research In Motion's latest phone, the BlackBerry Storm, is only about a week old, and the blogosphere is already churning up the next set of BlackBerry rumors.

First on the list, The Boy Genius blog reported Friday that RIM is preparing a 3G GSM version of the touch-screen BlackBerry Storm. Currently, the Storm, which was released last week for Verizon Wireless' network, only works on CDMA-based 3G, or third-generation, networks.

But now, The Boy Genius is reporting that RIM is making an HSDPA version of the phone, which means that it could operate on AT&T in the … Read more

Asus all-in-one PC: Touch screen, preorder, England only

Touch screens are coming to Eee PC Netbooks next year, but you only need to wait until next month if you require a touch screen on an Asus all-in-one PC--and live in England. British retailer Play.com is taking preorders for the Eee All-in-One Touch-Screen PC. It's priced at ?399.99 ($681) with a ship date of November 20. The system features a 15.6-inch display and features specs similar to those found on Eee PC Netbooks, including a 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, a Webcam, and Windows XP. It features a … Read more

Iriver Spinn proves PVP innovation is expensive

In the ultracompetitive MP3 player marketplace, Korean DAP manufacturer Iriver can always be counted on for two things: innovative design and feature-packed devices. The Iriver Spinn is no exception with its Spinn System Toggle Wheel, touch-screen display, and laundry list of features. At $249.99 for the 4GB model and $289.99 for the 8GB, the Spinn is perhaps the priciest flash player on the market today (by comparison, the 8GB iPod Touch costs about $229), and it's not the simplest to use, but its slick, high-quality build and variety of features may appeal to those looking for a … Read more

RefurbDepot.com has the OZ-290H 1.5 MB Equivalent organizer, Large Touch-screen Display for $15.95, after $54 savings.

RefurbDepot.com has OZ-290H 1.5 MB Equivalent organizer, Large Touch-screen Display for $15.95, after $54 savings. >> Regular price is $69.95 >> Sale price is $15.95 >> Savings $54 (77.20%) >> Click here for deal

Nokia to unveil touch-screen phone

Nokia is preparing to enter the touch-screen cell phone market next week, with the debut of its first finger-sensitive phone, according to a Reuters report.

The European handset makeris planning to take the wraps off its touch-screen phone, code-named "Tube," during an event Thursday in London for analysts and the media, according to Reuters, which cites two unnamed sources. (For more, including a photo, see "Hold the phone: Nokia's Tube is the Nokia 5300!")

The Tube will join a field that has been getting crowded since Apple debuted its popular iPhone a little over a … Read more

Apple applies for touch-screen Mac patent

Rumors of Apple working on a touch-screen Mac have been circulating for years, and will only grow with the revelation that the company is hoping to patent similar technology.

A number of Mac sites on Thursday are pointing to a U.S. patent application granted for what would appear to be the mythical Mac tablet. AppleInsider has a description of the device discussed in the application, which appears to bring a lot of the iPhone's multitouch functionality to a slate-like tablet computer.

Given Apple' focus on multitouch user interfaces over the past year, there has been a fair amount … Read more

For travelers, Microsoft 'Surfaces' in Sheraton hotels

BURLINGAME, Calif.--In Vegas, club goers are flirting with each other across it. Here at a San Francisco Bay Area hotel, pre-teens are playing it like a jukebox.

It's Microsoft's Surface, a sit-down, touch-screen computer that's making a wider public debut across the country. While Apple has popularized mobile touch-screen computers, Microsoft is trying to make them fixtures of bars and hotels.

On Wednesday, five Sheraton hotels, including locations here and in New York, Boston, and Seattle, started testing the interactive table with their hotel guests. The machines let people use two fingers instead of a mouse … Read more