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Amazon has Acquired Touchco - A Multi-Touch Company

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Apr 12, 2001
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NY Times reports that Amazon has acquired the multi-touch company Touchco. Touchco is a startup company that was recently profiled in the New York Times for producing cheap, pressure sensitive, multi-touch panels:
In contrast, Touchco uses a technology called interpolating force-sensitive resistance, or I.F.S.R. This technology uses force-sensitive resistors, which become more conductive as you apply different levels of pressure, and then constantly scan and detect different inputs.
Click to expand...
The Touchco website mysteriously shut down over the new year and all its YouTube videos set to private. We received a number of emails from those speculating who might have bought out the startup.

As it turns out, Amazon will merge Touchco with its Kindle group and is expected to try to add features to the Kindle to better compete with the newly announced Apple iPad. There is some question about whether Amazon will continue to stick to e-ink or switch to a color display better suited for multimedia.

Article Link: Amazon has Acquired Touchco - A Multi-Touch Company
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2010/02/04/amazon-has-acquired-touchco-a-multi-touch-company/
MacRumors said:
force-sensitive resistors, which become more conductive as you apply different levels of pressure, and then constantly scan and detect different inputs.
Click to expand...

Much like pinch and zoom, it could be "the harder you push, the faster it zooms," and perhaps be excellent for video games. The harder you press, the ____ the video game controller does. Sounds like it could be really cool if they harness it to the best of it's ability with the right software.
 
An interesting turn of events! Another content provider getting into hardware control...

Imagine if a record label had owned a method of delivering their content, like Sony. Could be interesting, and full of other corporate backers.
 
I guess, now in order for the iPad (v 2.0) to become magical and revolutionary all we need is for Google and Microsoft to join the race.
 
Only good things can come from this competition. I seriously doubt Amazon would move from e-ink, though...the easy-on-the-eyes reading is half the point of the thing.
 
Go Amazon, Go Google. More competition. More innovation. Lower prices.

Kindle should just work its e-ink niche but make the Kindle touch with no mechanical keyboard.
 
It seems like Amazon is pretty far behind if they're just-now acquiring the basic technologies that would make-up the hardware underpinnings of their new device.

I hope they stick with the e-ink thing. I doubt they'll catch up to Apple in the color/media realm, but I think there's certainly a demand for the improved readability that goes along with the e-ink technology. It might be a bit niche, but come-on, it's Amazon, it's not like they're going to compete well head-to-head in hardware with the "big-boys."
 
I am not sure it is a good idea for Amazon to pursue becoming even more of a hardware company, but I guess if Apple could also become a successful retail operator they could expand their technology hardware offerings.
 
GorillaPaws said:
It seems like Amazon is pretty far behind if they're just-now acquiring the basic technologies that would make-up the hardware underpinnings of their new device.

I hope they stick with the e-ink thing. I doubt they'll catch up to Apple in the color/media realm, but I think there's certainly a demand for the improved readability that goes along with the e-ink technology. It might be a bit niche, but come-on, it's Amazon, it's not like they're going to compete well head-to-head in hardware with the "big-boys."
Click to expand...

I would agree this really still leaves them quite far behind.

Nobody else has really demonstrated a comparable UI for a mobile device at this point, and that is the biggest challenge. Getting a touch interface is important. Working that into the software UI is the really big hurdle.
 
jlasoon said:
This is exactly what I was thinking. Why the hell would Amazon even want to compete.
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My free advice to Jeff Bezos - if you insist on selling hardware, get the kindle as cheap as possible, even if that means it's a single-function device. Get it to the point where you can throw 'em into the box when someone spends a bunch of money on your site. Make them ubiquitous, like cheap calculators. Sell the razor blades, not the razors.
 
marksman said:
I am not sure it is a good idea for Amazon to pursue becoming even more of a hardware company, but I guess if Apple could also become a successful retail operator they could expand their technology hardware offerings.
Click to expand...

Amazon need to stick to their shopping business. Anything they've created so far has only been a niche at best.
 
marksman said:
I am not sure it is a good idea for Amazon to pursue becoming even more of a hardware company, but I guess if Apple could also become a successful retail operator they could expand their technology hardware offerings.
Click to expand...

Why not?
If they can capture an audience; let's say an audience that doesn't want to spend $500+ for a gadget to read their ebooks or recipes. I think they have that.
Being able to zoom in and out, hi light and so on can only benefit those users.
JAT
 
MorphingDragon said:
Amazon need to stick to their shopping business. Anything they've created so far has only been a niche at best.
Click to expand...

You know, Apple was kind of the niche company of the past. I see no reason why Amazon shouldn't seek to improve their Kindle to make it a better product.

People talk here as if only Apple makes good and worthy things, when there are many out there who also make just as good products.
 
HarryPot said:
You know, Apple was kind of the niche company of the past. I see no reason why Amazon shouldn't seek to improve their Kindle to make it a better product.
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Easy to use Computers in a single box were a Niche?

My Goodness what have I been taking.

HarryPot said:
People talk here as if only Apple makes good and worthy things, when there are many out there who also make just as good products.
Click to expand...

Says who?
 
Hopefully they'll continue to offer an e-ink model, and perhaps add a Pixel Qi model and/or Mirasol model, but I think it would be crazy to sacrifice readability for color.
 
This is good news, now it is only a matter of time until someone buys my Multi-Rub portfolio of patents... too bad there is so much prior art though :mad:
 
From a different perspective...

What if you consider Apple and Amazon competing from a totally different perspective? Let's say they don't offer competitive devices... rather competitive online shopping experiences!!!

Crazy? Maybe so, maybe no!

Consider this Apple patent application from 2006:

http://www.virtualworldsnews.com/2008/04/apples-patent-f.html


Some points to consider if Apple chooses to compete across the board in online shopping-- it is 3 years later and:

1) Apple has 2 (soon to be 3) proven online stores that sell digital media

2) Apple has millions of customers and millions of credit cards on file for painless shopping.

3) Apple has millions of devices that are a touch away from instant conection to their online stores (anywhere, anytime)

4) the offline distribution of physical goods can be handled by 3rd-party fulfillment houses (Amazon uses these for goods they do not stock themselves)

5) Based on Market Value, Apple could acquire Amazon with its cash reserves. Although, this is not the way Apple [typically] enters a market.

It might explain the need for that North Carolina Server Farm!


I have recently come to believe that the iPhone, iPod Touch and now the iPad are not so much about making calls, playing music, surfing or running apps...

... I tell myself: It's about the shoppng, stupid!

*
 
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