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macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
63,278
30,339


Synaptics has announced a concept phone based on new "ClearPad" technology.

ClearPad is a thin, high resolution capactitive touch screen that can be placed over any viewable surface. This allows for sensitive touch input over existing screen technology.

ClearPad is based on Synaptics' proprietary sensing technology, and will offer unique capabilities such as two finger input, proximity sensing, text entry and high resolution finger input that can dramatically improve and enhance the user experience with a touch screen.

The technology is expected to be available for manufacturers by the end of the year.

This is interesting to Apple users due to the number of rumors and patents surrounding a full-screen touch-control video iPod. Specifically, there has been discussion about Multi-touch sensitive displays, use of Gestures, touch interface patents, and the touch screen video iPod rumors. These rumors have spawned many concept designs depicting the unreleased iPod. Apple has an existing relationship with Synaptics who provided click wheels for Apple's iPods.

 

steve_hill4

macrumors 68000
May 15, 2005
1,856
0
NG9, England
getBytesLoaded said:
Finally, some real news. Anyone else notice that the rumor sites have been dry lately?
I have a feeling the will get a lot juicier soon. We're hopefully in for a few months of big Apple announcements and upgrades.
 

getBytesLoaded

macrumors newbie
Jun 6, 2006
12
0
Minneapolis, MN
You Betcha

steve_hill4 said:
I have a feeling the will get a lot juicier soon. We're hopefully in for a few months of big Apple announcements and upgrades.

Let's hope so -- I've been resisting the temptation to buy a new cell contract all year.
 

storage

macrumors 6502
Jun 4, 2005
275
0
I can't stand this anymore :(. I'm in the market for a new computer (be it a notebook or a desktop), a new mediaplayer and a new cellphone.

Can't wait!
 

dizastor

macrumors 6502a
Dec 27, 2001
625
26
Los Angeles
ClearPad Technology sounds like either an acne or feminine hygiene product.

That being said. The onyx concept phone looks too big for normal use, unless that use is to club someone over the head.
 

zap2

macrumors 604
Mar 8, 2005
7,252
8
Washington D.C
This is gold, by the end of this year Apple could have it... MWSF '07.. Touch Screen iPods, iPhone ,iTMS with feature films, with some fance new intel chip...

And before that Merom MacBook and MacBook Pro, Conroe iMac and a new iPod nano....


Happy times


Also my phone plan is...i'm waiting for an iPhone, because after playing with the razr and Chocolate at the verizon store... they UI sucks. I was very disappointer with possible phones updates, when Apple makes a Phone, i'll swicth over to who ever the give the phone to.
 

narco

macrumors 65816
Dec 9, 2003
1,155
0
California.
Doubtful that an iPhone will go with Sprint, but at least I can hope for higher capacity iPods to fit all those videos -- right? RIGHT?

Fishes,
narco.
 

nsjoker

macrumors regular
Apr 13, 2005
154
0
Miami, Fl
isn't this just touch screen technology that we've had for years.. but only on the outside now?? seems like a breakthrough, but not really. :rolleyes:
 

Catt

macrumors member
May 21, 2003
95
0
London, UK
I have something very similar on my 3 year laptop - called a Synaptics cPad.

Its basically a touchpad over an LCD screen, you can programme it to launch new applications, write notes on it, use at as a touch sensitive calculater etc:

http://uk.computers.toshiba-europe....p?service=UK&WHITEPAPER_ID=0000000e89cPAD_123

http://uk.computers.toshiba-europe....p?service=UK&WHITEPAPER_ID=0000000e75cPAD_123

Picture:
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/2003/07/23/directx_9_to_go/page7.html

This new piece of kit is obviously more advanced, second or third generation. But I find the cPad on my laptop really very useful.

For a laptop this kind of technology is very useful, having a programmable LCD screen for mouse movement but that can also run programmes. In a phone I am more sceptical because I personally need tactile feedback when using buttons.
 

lazyrighteye

Contributor
Jan 16, 2002
4,091
6,304
Denver, CO
Calm Before the Storm?

getBytesLoaded said:
Finally, some real news. Anyone else notice that the rumor sites have been dry lately?

Yep. And (as stated yesterday) this all feels like the calm before the storm (to me).
With the influx of new cell phones and mp3 players flooding the market (most claiming to be legit iPod killers), I can't help but think Apple's about ready to drop the BOMB on us all - making the before mentioned offerings already seem dated.
 

Core Trio

macrumors regular
May 16, 2006
175
0
New Jersey
its really great how all those touch screen ipod rumors that hardly anyone thought was true at first continues to make more and more sense with each news bit of new technology that will make it happen. I hope this comes out soon, my 4G monochrome ipod is dying a slow, but painful, death.
 

andrew050703

macrumors regular
Feb 27, 2006
150
0
Portsmouth, U.K
So touchscreen technology we've seen for years? i hope it smudges/scratches less than my xda, but i'll definately get an iphone if it comes to UK contract services. whatever they churn out, it'll kill the zune hands down :D
 

brepublican

macrumors 6502a
Jul 22, 2005
812
0
NY
The idea is good, but to do it justice, you need Apple to step in. Their concept phone leaves much to be desired. Still, its a great concept, and Apple, here's you cue
 

@win

macrumors newbie
Aug 4, 2006
1
0
Strange; this revelation. If Apple is doing business on this with Synaptics I'm surprised that the latter are showing a concept phone with touchscreen and music player functionality. Apple would like to surprise people by introducing something with these features with a bang. So Apple wouldn't like this. Or maybe it's got something to do with negotiations going on in the background and Synaptics wants to tease, please or punish Apple for not using their technology? There was a rumor before that this kind of iPod would be almost ready but that Apple wasn't satisfied with the quality of the touch screen and therefore had to look for another technology or manufacturer. And how can this screen use two finger input and proximity sensing in an interface if Apple has got this patented? Questions, questions!
 
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