Amazon has Acquired Touchco - A Multi-Touch Company
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.
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.
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26 months ago
force-sensitive resistors, which become more conductive as you apply different levels of pressure, and then constantly scan and detect different inputs.
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.
26 months ago
Touchco is moving their offices to Cupertino California. That's where Amazon's Kindle Hardware group called Lab126 is. Wonder if anyone around there knows anything about Touch products?
I see Amazon doing some serious poaching soon.
I see Amazon doing some serious poaching soon.
26 months ago
Touchco is moving their offices to Cupertino California. That's where Amazon's Kindle Hardware group called Lab126 is. Wonder if anyone around there knows anything about Touch products?
I see Amazon doing some serious poaching soon.
More likely employees who are forced to move anyway might prefer to move to Apple
26 months ago
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.
Imagine if a record label had owned a method of delivering their content, like Sony. Could be interesting, and full of other corporate backers.
26 months ago
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.
26 months ago
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.
26 months ago
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.
Kindle should just work its e-ink niche but make the Kindle touch with no mechanical keyboard.
26 months ago
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 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."
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