GeekSugar

Would You Use A 'CityWall'?

GeekSugar — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 13:00:34 -0700

Folks in Helsinki have put up a large multi-touch display in downtown that acts as a collaborative and playful interface for the community and city's planning. Called "CityWall," the display is periodically organized into themes or events that are taking place in the city such as festivals, carnivals or sports events. Much like the much-talked about Microsoft Surface table, the CityWall was designed to support the navigation of media, specifically annotated photos and videos which are continuously gathered in realtime from public sources such as Flickr and YouTube. I think multi-touch screens offer some exciting possibilities for the workplace and public centers, but I'm not sure if ordinary citizens would use them or not.

Microsoft's 'Surface' Table Explored

GeekSugar — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 08:00:39 -0700

While hanging out in Hollywood for the TCA press tour my gal BuzzSugar got a chance to get up close and personal with Microsoft's newly-announced 'Surface' table, which is a multi-touch table that aims to change the way we interact with digital content. Buzz reports that the device is going to be on display in Starwood Hotels, T-Mobile stores and some other places soon, but it's still several years from home use. Oh course, it has a hefty price tag of $10,000, so you better start saving up.

The table looks like a regular coffee table at first glance, but it has cameras and touch sensitivity (iPhone style, but bigger) and you can do everything from organize photos to watch videos to drag and drop music into your Zune (of course it’s the Zune ...Thanks, Microsoft).

For additional photos and some of the coolest applications Buzz witnessed, read more

In one application, called Video Puzzle, the guy played a video on the table, but all we saw was a blank, black screen. He then dropped several square pieces of clear lucite on the table, and the picture popped up playing through those pieces. You could arrange them however you wanted, with the idea that you would put them together like puzzle pieces to see the full picture.
In another, the guy demonstrated how you could use it to order drinks at a restaurant (when you put your drink down on the table, it drew a ring around it like a virtual coaster). He then pulled up a bill of food and drinks that had been ordered by two people. He then dragged the listing for each item toward one drink on the table or to the other, splitting the bill and showing each person their own total. One that they are using for Starwood Hotels is a music application that would let you find out what music was playing in the lobby. If you wanted to download that song, you could put your Zune down on the table, and it instantly recognizes it and its files, so you can drag and drop songs into it. If you put two Zunes on the table, you can share music between them by dragging and dropping. This is something they think can eventually be expanded to anything with an RFID tag.
Maybe the most immediately useful application is the one for T-Mobile. The scenario he set up was that you’re shopping for cell phones and want to be able to compare and contrast their features. You put phones on the Surface and it immediately recognizes them, creating side-by-side comparison cards of the phones. If you’ve chosen one and you want to buy a plan, you can scroll through a list of plans and pull up descriptive cards on each, which you can rotate so multiple people can see them (that’s a bad description, but he said, “So then you say, what do you think about this one, honey?” and mimicked turning the card at an angle to show someone who was looking over his shoulder.) If you choose your plan, you just draw and drop it into the phone, and the salesperson knows to come ring you up.

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World’s Largest Multi-Touch Screen

GeekSugar — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 09:00:11 -0700

I should have guessed that the unveiling of Microsoft's interactive Surface table would launch a techie showdown of all the touch-screens out there. Particularly considering the iPhone, which comes out June 29, is also a touch screen and has been the talk of geek town since before it was even announced. According to Technabob, HP wowed crowds with their multi-touch display wall at the recent Wall Street Journal D5 Conference. The screen is 16 by 8-feet and allows multiple visitors to simultaneously control audio, video, photos and other multimedia content using their hands to navigate. Just for reference, the Microsoft Surface table has a 30 inch table top. Not that it's a fair competition.

To check out the video of the giant screen, read more

Jeff Han Demonstrates The Power Of Touch Screens

GeekSugar — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 00:53:40 -0800

One of the amazing new features of the iPhone is it's revolutionary multi-touch display that lets you control everything by without buttons. You can glide through albums with Cover Flow, flip through photos and email them with a touch, or zoom in and out on a section of a web page. Check out this video of Jeff Han as he demonstrates how touch driven computer screens will change the way we work and play. By the way, the background tunes are pretty cool so turn up that volume!

Check out Jeff Han Multi-Touch Interaction Research for more info and videos.

Would You Pay $34 For Gloves With Missing Fingers?

GeekSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:30:00 -0800

The price seems a little steep, but at $34, these Etre Touchy Gloves do solve a basic problem: using your iPhone, iPod, computer, or other touch-screen device while wearing gloves. Most gadgets won't respond to a woolly glove, only bare skin. In theory, I like these. And on days that the temperature doesn't dip too low, I guess they're practical - but I still think they're a bit silly-looking.

For the record, I'm still torn on these fingerless gloves, though most of you find them totally geek chic.

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Will the Nook Be Your Next Favorite Gadget?

GeekSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:47:58 -0800

We're still a few weeks away from the launch of the Barnes and Noble Nook ($259), but I have a feeling it could be in the running to become one of my new favorite gadgets! I loved the Kindle when it first hit the shelves, and the Nook is definitely stacking up to its eReader competition. Its sleek design, controls and touch screen just scream for someone to pick it up, while the accessories and designer covers make me drool.

Do you have a favorite gadget you want to brag and boast about? Post it to our My Favorite Gadgets group and tell us why you love it. Your posts may even be featured on GeekSugar! Need more info on how to post to groups? Just check out our handy community posting guide to get started.

Daily Tech: Is Touch Screen DSLR Inevitable?

GeekSugar — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:00:59 -0700

Is a touch screen DSLR inevitable? - Wired
Buckingham Palace announces the Royal Family has joined Twitter. - BBC News
On the road with Autonet in-car WiFi. - CNET
NFL says it will not permit in-game twittering. - Switched
Avoid getting your wireless network hacked. - Unplggd
How to ease your transition to Google Voice. - Lifehacker

BlackBerry Storm in Stores, Features Button-Like Touch Screen

GeekSugar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:00:52 -0800

After hearing some ho-hum reviews about the BlackBerry Storm, I was beginning to think that it wasn't going to give the iPhone a run for its money as predicted. But now that I've watched the Storm in action, there's a feature that I'm already in love with, and I think you physical keyboard fans will love it too.

Unlike the iPhone, which is strictly a glass touch screen, the BlackBerry Storm touch buttons actually depress when you touch them, since the entire backside of the screen is backed by springs. You will feel the screen being pressed and will hear a quiet click, just as you would with a keyboard on a Curve or Bold!

The Storm hits Verizon Wireless stores today and costs $199 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement.

This Week On Geeksugar - World’s Largest Multi-Touch Screen

GeekSugar — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 12:00:40 -0700

I should have guessed that the unveiling of Microsoft's interactive Surface table would launch a techie showdown of all the touch-screens out there. I didn't know it would be this big. World’s Largest Multi-Touch Screen
You only have one more day to find your dad or father figure a delightful Father's Day treat. Of course, the good news is most dads are geeks. Father's Day Gift Guide: Part 2 (Reader's Choice)
If you're a Google user, you can now go ballistic and pimp your Google Calendar with Google's Calendar gallery. The new gallery will allow anyone with a Google account to add various events and reminders to their calendars. Geek Tip: Using Google Calendar Gallery
We already know that everyone and their mother ends up putting their new albums on their computer and MP3 player after purchasing them, so why not buy them on a pretty USB drive you can use later instead of a CD that will likely get scratched? Get White Stripes Album Via USB Device
There are some accessories that really do make me feel sexy - new cute heels, a sleek clutch, even new gadgets - but the Sexy Underwear Cell Phone Strap from Strapyaworld are a little more than I can handle. Totally Geeky or Geek Chic? Sexy Cell Phone Charm
A recent AT&T study found that women are catching up with men when it comes to cell phone usage, but men still spend more time on their cell phones than women. Who Talks More On Cell Phones: Men Or Women?
Apparently, Japan is faced with a rapidly aging and shrinking population right now and in an effort to combat the alarming rates, employers are offering workers "baby bonuses" in the form of cash and cell phones. Cells And Cash Offered In Exchange For Parenthood

Geek Tip: Another iPhone Typing Shortcut

GeekSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:30:48 -0800

I'm starting to think Apple might be reading my mind - every time I find something I don't like about my iPhone, I realize they've already thought of a solution. Similar to learning how to quickly scroll to the top of the screen on my iPhone, I wish I would have known about this quick shortcut months ago.

If you're typing a URL into Safari on your phone, there's a convenient ".com" button on the keyboard - great when the suffix to the site you're trying to visit is .com. Not so great when it's a .net or .org site and you have to type it out - or so I thought! Turns out, you just have to touch and hold the ".com" button for a few seconds and a pop-up window appears, displaying .edu, .net, and .org suffix options. Brilliant!

I love learning new tricks for my iPhone, so if you have any to share, please tell me in the comments below.