Atmel maXStylus mXTS100 - digitizer stylus - Compatible? - Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime

UPDATE:
Atmel has posted on their facebook that it *may* not be compatible. However, until one of these are physically tested with a TF201, we cannot know *for certain* what the truth is. ONLY THEN can we 100% confirm/deny it's compatibility.
http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=378757848808058&id=121682197848959
--------------------
EDIT: Didn't find any related posts til now, my bad: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1435094
**Requires Android 4.0**
The skinny:
This thing is due out in the next few months, and should be directly compatible with the Transformer Prime... it will offer active-digitizer-like-performance from Atmel - the guys who made the TF201 touchscreen driver chip.
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
First off, some background....
The ASUS Transformer Prime is shipped with Atmel's MXT768E touchscreen chip - Atmel's flagship latest-n-greatest chip to date.
SOURCE: http://www.chipworks.com/en/technic...con-inside-the-asus-eeepad-transformer-prime/
MXT768E chip details:
http://www.atmel.com/microsite/maxtouch_eseries/mxt768e.asp
Key Features
Narrow stylus identification and tracking
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The maXStylus:
http://www.atmel.com/microsite/stylus/?source=redirect
The Atmel maXStylus mXTS100 is supposedly going to offer digitizer-like power in a highly sophisticated stylus... that's due the first quarter of 2012, and will require Android 4.0
SOURCE: http://androidandme.com/2011/11/new...e-could-be-revolutionized-by-atmel-maxstylus/
According to Atmel...
http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/p...tegory_id=170&family_id=701&subfamily_id=2407
The maXStylus™ mXTS100 active stylus is designed to provide high-performance stylus capability for maXTouch™ E Series touchscreen controller solutions. The mXTS100 and maXTouch controllers together simplify touch system hardware and software while providing a state-of-the-art, inexpensive touch and stylus solution. This configuration simplifies the hardware since it requires only a single indium tin oxide (ITO) sensor that interfaces with maXTouch to detect finger touches and stylus proximity. Through the system driver and serial interface, the system host controller interfaces with the maXTouch chipset for touch and stylus data. The simultaneous touch and stylus capability is called multiSense functionality.
The mXTS100 uses capacitive sensing to detect an active maXTouch sensor presence and responds with its own signals to indicate location, pressure, button click timing and other information. The maXTouch controller receives stylus information through the sensor while also detecting finger touches. After the maXTouch controller detects a stylus presence, special algorithms activate to process the stylus data to provide high linearity, accuracy and resolution. Further processing provides excellent palm rejection, resulting in a smooth and comfortable stylus writing experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is analog to Wacom-only stylii working with Wacom tablets. In this case, it's Atmel-only stylii working with touchscreens powered by Atmel E-series chips... which is inside the Transformer Prime...
We may never see a Wacom digitizer come to the Transformer Prime... but we have a pretty damn good alternative coming down the line... just check out the mXTS100's specs... 1mm resolution, automatic palm recognitiion, 140hz sampling rate...
http://www.atmel.com/microsite/stylus/?source=redirect

I will be keeping my eye on this for sure. I would love to have better accuracy for sketchbook. I use a new trent stylus now and its nice, but this would be optimal.

I have a jot pro for now, and this looks more promising.

That looks awesome!
Any idea how much this is will cost?

I'll be keeping an eye on this one also. Looks interesting.

Was talked about in the existing stylus thread
I would hardly call this a predictions, it is pretty much a forgone conclusion it will come. How many other tablets have ICS of which this requires?
Anyway its the one I'm holding out for.

Lock-N-Load said:
Was talked about in the existing stylus thread
I would hardly call this a predictions, it is pretty much a forgone conclusion it will come. How many other tablets have ICS of which this requires?
Anyway its the one I'm holding out for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was talked numerous times in other thread, but still nice to have a thread dedicated for it.
Also, it was confirmed to come. They are suppose to have small beta testing starting this month. Anyone in this forum able to get their hand on this?
Either way, this means product is mostly finalized and they are just doing sample testings to fix very minor problems and find the optimal pricing for it. Given there is a high demand in fairly limited market at this point(only 4.0 tablets that has Atmel chip), i wouldnt be surprised to see this priced fairly expensive.
I saw the video and besides the slight lag, it looks very promising.
EDIT
Good Job, OP. Please keep updating this thread if new information becomes available.

Posting to keep track of this thread and to say that this looks awesome.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk

So, if this true (and I hope it is) then we we could see greatly improved accuracy from the touch screen but, since I'm new what other benefits does this bring?

Lock-N-Load said:
Was talked about in the existing stylus thread
I would hardly call this a predictions, it is pretty much a forgone conclusion it will come. How many other tablets have ICS of which this requires?
Anyway its the one I'm holding out for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Buried amongst the Targus and Jot stylus posts, this Atmel stylus is a lightyears ahead of them - it deserves it's own topic.
If you look extra carefully, this video shows a 10.1 Tablet with a "Verizon" logo on it, being used with the Atmel stylus with Repligo PDF editor
Either a Xoom or Samsung Tab, can't really tell as I don't own either...

Tech Faded said:
So, if this true (and I hope it is) then we we could see greatly improved accuracy from the touch screen but, since I'm new what other benefits does this bring?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Quoting Atmel:
Provides a highly accurate stylus capability, with 1.0mm/1.5mm/2.0mm stylus tip options and sensitivity to 256 pressure points.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also features palm protection - HUGE benefit
http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/p...tegory_id=170&family_id=701&subfamily_id=2407

This is amazing, I've had eyes on it since before I decided on the prime. Would be a huge benefit to have.

Damn, just got my Jot

d1ez3 said:
Damn, just got my Jot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can return it if you want
I own a Jot pro - even bought the extra little discs to go along with it. I'm keeping mine in the interim as the Jot is still pretty darn good. Once I get the Atmel I'll do a direct comparison and if it's better will be selling my Jot Pro.

robomo said:
you can return it if you want
I own a Jot pro - even bought the extra little discs to go along with it. I'm keeping mine in the interim as the Jot is still pretty darn good. Once I get the Atmel I'll do a direct comparison and if it's better will be selling my Jot Pro.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I might if this thing comes out soon and is as good as they say. Writing with the Jot is better than a regular stylus but it's still not accurate. I also can't seem to get palm detection working

keeping an eye on this. looks like this thing will cost a premium......

drstk said:
keeping an eye on this. looks like this thing will cost a premium......
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably $50+, but worth it for me. I almost returned the Transformer Prime to buy a Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet because it included a digitizer pen. Hand-written notes is one of the biggest benefits to me of a tablet.
Everyone's use is different, but an active digitizer is *heaven* when you're always jotting notes or drawing a lot.
I did/do a LOT of detail sketches, and did them mostly on a Wacom tablet interface before I had my Prime. Having the ability to lift the stylus and still have it register really is an extreme joy... I didn't realize how much I had grown fond of that feeling. It's very subtle, but when you use it for hours a day it is SOOO nice! And the absolute, guaranteed accuracy is sublime. With out it there's a subtle annoyance of always, constantly worrying if your stylus is where you want it...
Even if this thing were $75 I'd buy it...

You may not have to wait ..
I have been lurking for a while now without something to add.
I am new to tablets and the Prime is my first one. I too am challenged buy the capacitive screen writing / drawing details. I have been trying out different stylus types with no great success for me. So I started to investigate for a capacitive ACTIVE stylus and like you have come across the Atmel devices. I believe that may be the solution I’m looking for.
My investigation has found that the Xoom 2 tablet uses the Atmel chips and has an active stylus. I have ordered a Xoom 2 Active stylus from the UK to test my theory out. To test, one will need a Prime with ICS installed. (ICS supposedly fully supports an active stylus). My test stylus will not show till the of this week, the 20th.
I have a challenge for any UK Prime user or any Verizon customer. If you are in the UK, would you please stop by a store with your Prime and try out a Xoom 2 stylus on the Prime? In the US, if you are a Verizon customer, stop by a Verizon store with your Prime and test out the XyBoard 10.1 stylus.
Please report back results.
If this Motorola stylus works then, in the US, we can order from UK or wait for Motorola to release the Xoom in the US sometime this month (1/18 ??). (I understand that the XyBoard 10.1 stylus cannot be purchased separately ).
I do have one other active stylus to check out that may work. I’ll write about that one once we know about the Xoom stylus.
Who is willing to take up this challenge?

cfl.htc.hd said:
You may not have to wait ..
XyBoard 10.1 stylus.
Please report back results.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would definitely be interested as well..
The XyBoard is also at Best Buy, which may also have the stylus on demo possibly.
http://upcomingverizonphones.net/droid-xyboard/
However, the 3mm tip on the XyBoard's stylus is almost 3 times as big as the quoted 1mm Atmel stylus tip:http://www.motorola.com/Consumers/U...ries/Motorola-Stylus-with-Precision-Tip-US-EN
3mm is pretty big, more like a sharpie tip than a ballpoint pen tip.
However, it is nonetheless cool it might be compatible!

cfl.htc.hd said:
You may not have to wait ..
I have been lurking for a while now without something to add.
I am new to tablets and the Prime is my first one. I too am challenged buy the capacitive screen writing / drawing details. I have been trying out different stylus types with no great success for me. So I started to investigate for a capacitive ACTIVE stylus and like you have come across the Atmel devices. I believe that may be the solution I’m looking for.
My investigation has found that the Xoom 2 tablet uses the Atmel chips and has an active stylus. I have ordered a Xoom 2 Active stylus from the UK to test my theory out. To test, one will need a Prime with ICS installed. (ICS supposedly fully supports an active stylus). My test stylus will not show till the of this week, the 20th.
I have a challenge for any UK Prime user or any Verizon customer. If you are in the UK, would you please stop by a store with your Prime and try out a Xoom 2 stylus on the Prime? In the US, if you are a Verizon customer, stop by a Verizon store with your Prime and test out the XyBoard 10.1 stylus.
Please report back results.
If this Motorola stylus works then, in the US, we can order from UK or wait for Motorola to release the Xoom in the US sometime this month (1/18 ??). (I understand that the XyBoard 10.1 stylus cannot be purchased separately ).
I do have one other active stylus to check out that may work. I’ll write about that one once we know about the Xoom stylus.
Who is willing to take up this challenge?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
dont have my prime yet, but i am def interested.

Related

my review of the HTC Flyer

I didn't plan to buy this tablet. I have always said that the iPad is the tablet to have and if your paying $500 then its a no brainer. I played with the flyer for about 20 minutes and realized that it is the most complete tablet to date. If you are into specs then there are better spec'd devices that are not ready for the market.
Pros:
1. Build quality
2. UI is outstanding and sense apps are perfectly optimized for this tablet.
3. Stylus should be an option with useable features for all tablets.
4. Email app is the best.
5. Battery life is just as good as any tablet minus am hour to the iPad.
6. Good size for typing
7. Movies from HTC's service look outstanding
Cons:
1. 7 inch not for everyone
2. No dual core processor
3. No honeycomb yet
4. 5mp camera takes fuzzy pics but seems like its software related
6. When typing in landscape mode I hit the capacitive buttons
It is an outstanding peice of tech and the 1.5 ghz processor seems just as good as a 1 ghz dual core.
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
You can take action screenshots by tapping the screen with the stylus.
I did this entire review on my flyer to include uploading the pics onto Photobucket in the same manner you do on a pc/mac.
Thanks for the write up. it was very informative.
I'm having the same issue as you did. It just seems hard to spend $580+tax for a 7" tablet, when you can get a ipad 2 for $500.
I do like Android better, but bang for buck...tough choice.
stepchild said:
Thanks for the write up. it was very informative.
I'm having the same issue as you did. It just seems hard to spend $580+tax for a 7" tablet, when you can get a ipad 2 for $500.
I do like Android better, but bang for buck...tough choice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is a tough choice, but I would choose the flyer. Ipad is perfect with great apps, but memory is not upgradeable and I use it for watching movies in bed or chilling on the couch and I don't need the big screen. I think this is an alternative to the ipad that actually makes sense. Honeycomb will be a better choice when its ready.
I've been reading all these reviews and was on edge on purchasing it. Went into Best Buy today and tried to demo to settle my qualms about the device, and I was abit disappointed... The only thing I was really looking for was the lag on the homescreen UI and I was hoping it would be snappy but even switching between homescreens would present consistent little hiccups =/. The pen usage was actually pretty decent though! It's not like writing on paper of course, nothing close to that in fact but respectable. All in all I think I passed on the flyer because little hiccups in the interface is a dealbreaker for me ;(.
OmniNut said:
The only thing I was really looking for was the lag on the homescreen UI and I was hoping it would be snappy but even switching between homescreens would present consistent little hiccups =/.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's toobad about your evaluation. I ended up loading ADW because I liked being able to increase columns / rows on the homescreen. At 8x8 you can fit a lot of shortcuts and widgets on a single page. Looking forward to rooting the device and custom roms... But we'll have to see if those appear. A CM build would be awesome.
Go back and try again... It is a nice device with the pen integration. I don't think I could ever recreate the pen experience with a capacitive stylus on the my iPad...
Try it after a fresh reboot.
I have minimal to no lag switching panels, and all are full with Sense widgets or app shortcuts.
stepchild said:
It just seems hard to spend $580+tax for a 7" tablet, when you can get a ipad 2 for $500.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The prices in Europe are even worse... The 32GB Wi-Fi + 3G is 650 euros (~$900), the 16GB Wi-Fi only is only available for pre-order and it's 500 euro (~$650)
lazarus99 said:
The prices in Europe are even worse... The 32GB Wi-Fi + 3G is 650 euros (~$900), the 16GB Wi-Fi only is only available for pre-order and it's 500 euro (~$650)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting. So the folks in the US may be getting the better deal even with the pen sold separately. We can only get the 16 gb wifi version...
I like that the pen is excluded. it gives people the option to spend the money or not.
I would rather have the pen bundled. Otherwise its just another tablet... An overpriced one at that.
kcchen said:
I would rather have the pen bundled. Otherwise its just another tablet... An overpriced one at that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you figure? What Tablet is less than $499. The Galaxy tab was more expensive, The playbook same price non upgradeable memory, Ipad same not up upgradeable, xoom wifi $99 more expensive and crap, LG slate expensive.
Its made of aluminum, best display, functions with a stylus, etc. If you want a cheap tablet get one this is as high end and functional as it gets.
falconeight said:
How do you figure? What Tablet is less than $499. The Galaxy tab was more expensive, The playbook same price non upgradeable memory, Ipad same not up upgradeable, xoom wifi $99 more expensive and crap, LG slate expensive.
Its made of aluminum, best display, functions with a stylus, etc. If you want a cheap tablet get one this is as high end and functional as it gets.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are a lot of options if you just want a Android tablet. The Galaxy Tab, Asus Transformer, Dell Streak and even Huawei Ideos are equal or less than the Flyer without the pen. A lot coming soon also like the Acers.
If I hadn't seen the pen integration accuracy, I would have never considered this device. The tablet in my opinion is perfect tool to go digital in the workplace. Using a stylus with my iPad is inaccurate, clumsy and the keyboard slow. The pen integration takes this device to another level and possibly into the boardroom, which is why I own one today... And love the form-factor, build quality and most of all the pen experience.
The future of this device is yet to be seen. Will other apps support the pen? Or are we dependent upon HTC development? In the next few weeks, I'll be evaluating my satisfaction with the current pen implementation because this may be as good as it gets for this device.
Not hating... Just being realistic.
kcchen said:
There are a lot of options if you just want a Android tablet. The Galaxy Tab, Asus Transformer, Dell Streak and even Huawei Ideos are equal or less than the Flyer without the pen. A lot coming soon also like the Acers.
If I hadn't seen the pen integration accuracy, I would have never considered this device. The tablet in my opinion is perfect tool to go digital in the workplace. Using a stylus with my iPad is inaccurate, clumsy and the keyboard slow. The pen integration takes this device to another level and possibly into the boardroom, which is why I own one today... And love the form-factor, build quality and most of all the pen experience.
The future of this device is yet to be seen. Will other apps support the pen? Or are we dependent upon HTC development? In the next few weeks, I'll be evaluating my satisfaction with the current pen implementation because this may be as good as it gets for this device.
Not hating... Just being realistic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I owned a streak 7 and would never put it in the same category. Just because the battery only lasts 3 hours.
stepchild said:
Thanks for the write up. it was very informative.
I'm having the same issue as you did. It just seems hard to spend $580+tax for a 7" tablet, when you can get a ipad 2 for $500.
I do like Android better, but bang for buck...tough choice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In Singapore the HTC Flyer price is very reasonable. You can get one for S$ 899 including the pen and a leather case for the 32GB + 3G version. Compare to the same version of Ipad 2 which will cost S$989.
To me the difference is that the flyer is extremely portable, the os is for a phone but then again so is ios. It is stable has a great ui and is worth $499.00

Future active stylus may be compatible with Prime

It appears that the Atmel maXStylus will be compatible with the touchscreen controller of the TFP. maXStylus claims to be able to sense a 1mm stylus tip.
"Atmel has announced an active stylus chip that delivers "accuracy and linearity of +/-0.25mm" on a capacitive touch screen from a 1mm diameter stylus tip, claimed the firm. The chip is installed in the stylus and works with touch screens using any of the firm's maXTouch E series touch controllers." - Electronics Weekly
The Prime uses the Atmel MXT768E controller, which should be compatible. It just needs the appropriate software to implement the functionality. "Devices with suitable screens require only a software update and no hardware changes." - Electronics Weekly
It also appears that ICS will have native support for their stylus. "As a co-engineering partner to Microsoft, the mXTS100 supports Windows 8 and the recently launched Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. " - EE Times
I'm a noob, so can't post links, but one can go to Atmel's site and easily find the info.
Now we just need a manufacturer to build them for a reasonable price.
--------------------------------
maXStylus mXTS100 for Handsets and Tablets
The maXStylus mXTS100 provides advanced active stylus capability for touchscreen controllers based on Atmel's maXTouch® E Series and future maXTouch technologies. This union simplifies touch system hardware and software while providing a state-of-the-art, inexpensive touch and stylus solution
Here you go. found a good article discussing it and provides a video of how well it works.
www.gizmag.com/atmel-maxstylus/20470/
I want this soo bad. I could totally replace my aging hp tc4200 tablet pc and my old wacom pad with this lil baby. Fingers crossed it makes it to the market!
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using xda premium
Its really interesting, I'd love to know from Asus if this Stylus willl be supported.
I'd buy that in a heartbeat.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
they say its as simple as adding the software support for it. no hardware changes needed. Of enough people showed interest, it could happen. As it would add another functionality to the Prime.
wow this would be amazing! The only reason I bought a tablet is because the primes keyboard dock gives it that added functionality for productive uses. This would make it even better in that regard.
demandarin said:
they say its as simple as adding the software support for it. no hardware changes needed. Of enough people showed interest, it could happen. As it would add another functionality to the Prime.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So would this mean each app would need its own support for the stylus?
Also I am guessing this isn't useable as a regular capacitive stylus?
Wow this is pretty huge news...it certainly looks like the specs are designed to be comparable with Wacom. It's a great size for a handwriting slate...and maybe if one day we could Shallot windows and onenote...lol getting way ahead of myself... I'm not sure from the write up if it will requires a manufacturer firmware update, or the required software can be included in an app and installed...but very cool.
Let's not let this thread fade too quickly...
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
Well, ASUS made the Supernote app. Maybe they have that stylus in mind already.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
Holy...crap. I hope this sees the light of day! This would make the TFP the best tablet by far. I've always been jealous of HTC's implementation. I'll definitely be keeping up with this and hope we get it! This made my night. Thanks for the post.
My understanding is that the stylus will work throughout the ICS operating system as a capacitive stylus.
It's funny though, Atmel says that the MXT768E should be very accurate with even a 2mm stylus. I haven't had very good luck on my Prime with the three 6mm styli I've tried. It's my first tablet, so maybe my expectations were too high.
Perhaps the existing software can't handle the additional sensor points on the screen properly. Writepad Stylus shows a refresh rate of 30-50 Hz in debug mode, but Atmel's spec states a refresh of 150Hz.
rebtx said:
My understanding is that the stylus will work throughout the ICS operating system as a capacitive stylus.
It's funny though, Atmel says that the MXT768E should be very accurate with even a 2mm stylus. I haven't had very good luck on my Prime with the three 6mm styli I've tried. It's my first tablet, so maybe my expectations were too high.
Perhaps the existing software can't handle the additional sensor points on the screen properly. Writepad Stylus shows a refresh rate of 30-50 Hz in debug mode, but Atmel's spec states a refresh of 150Hz.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think until we see ICS and thus fully supported drivers, we won't see what this thing is capable of. It also sounds like it's not something that ASUS specifically has to support--the stylus should just be supported once ICS hits. Now, as far as compatible software, I have no idea--will any notetaking/drawing app just automagically support the additional precision?
Can't wait to find out more. As someone mentioned earlier, with both a keyboard and a high(enough)-resolution stylus, this thing could be a notetaking beast.
Sent from my Transformer TF201 using Tapatalk
A pressure-sensitive stylus that could work on the Prime's display?
Sounds like a mini-sized Wacom Cintiq on a budget...
Some apps already support pressure sensitive stylus.
Autodesk Sketchbook Pro, Adobe photoshop Touch / idea , Picsay Pro and others are said to support it.
Just thoses 4 ones are more than enough to justify buying a pressure sensitive stylus.
When does this come out?
So I've been trying to find out when this stylus is going to come out and I can't find the answer anywhere. I've tried contacting Amtel, but there's no way to do that and there's nothing online about the release date. I've got the Transformer Prime along with the keyboard attachment and this was going to be my final piece for it. I want to use the photoshop touch app with it because it would be freakin amazing. So how do we get these guys to release it? I'm willing to pay $100 for it if need be.
Motorola Xoom2 Stylus any good for Prime?
Hi guys
while waitiing for my to be finished repairing Prime I was surfing the web and came across the Motorola Xoom2 Stylus.
Don't you think that would be something for the Prime too?
A link to an unboxing of the stylus:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_XKBNxK3EQ
To me it looks as if the Stylus was soft and pointed, so everything I need to take notes with the Prime.
What do you know about this?

[Q] Screen digitizer below standards? No handwriting?

Can anyone enlighten me on the performance of the screen digitizer.
I have been testing several note taking applications on my TFP. Although I have lousy handwriting the TFP makes it even worse. At first I blamed myself and the rather clumsy big tipped stylus and to improve the results I downloaded Touchscreen Tuner. A nice application but minimal improvement.
Then I also noticed it is impossible to draw accurate on the TFP.
A straight horizontal or vertical line is possible but when you try to draw a straight diagonal line it becomes a wave line. Now I really got worried. Maybe my drinking habits had given me this unsteady hand. So I got out a ruler and drew a diagonal line along it. I was relieved that I could continue drinking but what a shock to see the result. Again the diagonal line turned out as a wave line. (See the screen shot)
It turns out the grid of the digitizer is much too widely spaced. I estimate the distance between grid points at about 5 millimeters. And apparently the algorithm to interpolate between the grid points is so insufficient that a contact on the digitizer between two grid points is regarded as a contact with the nearest grid point. The algorithm doesn’t calculate a point in between.
Another way to see this is when you pick up an icon on the home screen and slowly drag it diagonally across the screen. It will not follow your finger or stylus smoothly but it will sway from left to right and stay behind a bit and then catch up again.
A big plus for the TFP for me was the possibility to accurately draw and take notes while working in the field.
As it is advertized and showed by Asus in promotional videos.
That is also what the Notes application was designed for.
Again I am afraid that Asus has (next to GPS, Wifi/BT issues, performance and screen faults) promised us to much goodies to be true.
Does anyone have a solution to this shortcoming or maybe can test if they can reproduce my findings. Maybe it is a malfunction in my TFP.
Please let me know your solutions or findings.
By the way. I also tested a HTC Sensation, a HTC HD and an Ipad 2. On these devices it is perfectly possible to draw a perfectly straight diagonal line.
Seems the behavior is the same on my TFP, except that I tried drawing the diagonal with my finger and it came out a lot straighter than your screenshot. Not nearly as straight as horizontal and vertical lines though, but less waves that what you're showing.
I used a Belkin stylus.
To draw the line I used the edge of a magazin.
I tried to apply equal presure and speed while drawing.
The issue is best seen in a diagonal line under 45 degrees.
There is an app on the market to tune the touchscreen for this and Galaxy Tab, it helps a ton. Touchscreen Tune I think its called.
It is $5 though but with the app, good freewriting application and a decent pen, handwriting is a lot easier.
agentdr8 said:
Seems the behavior is the same on my TFP, except that I tried drawing the diagonal with my finger and it came out a lot straighter than your screenshot. Not nearly as straight as horizontal and vertical lines though, but less waves that what you're showing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It largely depends on the speed you draw it. If you go really fast its pretty straight. Go really slow and its wavy as hell
Maybe I am drunk....
The finer the stylus the wavier the line. Used my finger, no waves.
Use the application mentioned above....
I had a jot pro with a similar problem, except my writing varied greatly based on pressure. If I pressed down hard enough it would write like you would expect, but otherwise it did some crazy stuff. Might just be that particular stylus though
oblomov said:
There is an app on the market to tune the touchscreen for this and Galaxy Tab, it helps a ton. Touchscreen Tune I think its called.
It is $5 though but with the app, good freewriting application and a decent pen, handwriting is a lot easier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Striatum_bdr said:
Use the application mentioned above....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OP mentioned he tried this, no edit to original thread
redandblack1287 said:
I had a jot pro with a similar problem, except my writing varied greatly based on pressure. If I pressed down hard enough it would write like you would expect, but otherwise it did some crazy stuff. Might just be that particular stylus though
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've got the same experience with the Wacom Bamboo Stylus.
I've had no trouble writing in supernote or 7notes (the keyboard part), ditto for Sketchbook Pro except I naturally draw crappy. My handwriting with the Jot is fine though.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
Spidey01 said:
I've had no trouble writing in supernote or 7notes (the keyboard part), ditto for Sketchbook Pro except I naturally draw crappy. My handwriting with the Jot is fine though.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am not asking if people have proper handwriting.
I think the grid spacing is to wide.
But maybe it's my Prime.
Can you post a screenshot of a perfect diagonal line made in Supernote.
This is a well known and well documented issue. It is present on loads of devices. There have been a few threads about this already.
Here is an image from a test that was done quite some time ago.
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
I realize that it's an old picture and really this should have been eliminated by now, but unfortunately it is what it is.
I see what you mean in supernote, tried uploading both an export from supernote and Sketchbook Pro but Tapatalk isn't quite working for it :/
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
I have the same issue and have logged a call with Asus support. I suggest anyone who has this issue also does the same.
I have two primes and they both do this. 32gb champagne gold, both C series serial numbers.
Wow, a bunch of newbies giving advice to each other. Here's what my regular notes look like. Tf101 with adonit jot. Tf101 and 201 have same screen.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/38673648/pictures/writepad_stylus_sample.pdf
If you don't know how to adapt, then don't try.
That was rude.
goodintentions said:
Tf101 and 201 have same screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are wrong on this. Touchscreen definitely has different chip in TF201 (Atmel)!
Also isn't your handwriting done while zoomed in?
So obviously you don't have a TF201.
And obviously the hardware (and also the screen) is totally different.
But if you are willing to help us out and explain to us what we are doing wrong we would be gratefull.
If not then i think you should get back to the TF101 forum.
It is of no use posting an image of what you can do on your TF101.
I can post multiple pictures of the complicated things I can do with pen and papier.
;-)
But that is not the reason why we bought a TF201.
I hope there is someone out there that can help.
dingdonggggg said:
So obviously you don't have a TF201.
And obviously the hardware (and also the screen) is totally different.
But if you are willing to help us out and explain to us what we are doing wrong we would be gratefull.
If not then i think you should get back to the TF101 forum.
It is of no use posting an image of what you can do on your TF101.
I can post multiple pictures of the complicated things I can do with pen and papier.
;-)
But that is not the reason why we bought a TF201.
I hope there is someone out there that can help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What you are doing wrong is you're not adapting. You're trying to use it like pen and paper. When the tf101 first came out, there were many whiners who came to FDA whining that the tf doesn't feel like a laptop.
Imagine people trying to use pen and paper like chisel and hammer on stones. Or imagine people trying to use the desktop like a typewriter.
The jot on tf doesn't feel like pen on paper. Why? Because its not pen on paper. Adapt or move on. Imagine flying an airplane like driving a car. Complain about that.
Added by edit.
The point I was trying to make is this. Yeah, I zoom in when I write. So? It gives me the freedom to draw out more details than I can with pen on paper. I can also change colors at will. Don't have to carry around all the notebooks and stuff. It took me may be 2 note taking sessions to get use to it. I don't even think about it anymore. And I can just print out the pdf of my notes whenever I want.
Stop trying to use this like pen and paper. Zoom in, do whatever you need to to adapt. Our ancestors adapted from chisel and hammer to pen and paper. And now you're trying to use a stylus on tablet like pen and paper? Why not complain that a car doesn't ride like a horse? Or a train doesn't ride like a horse pulled ferry?
Do what you need to to adapt. If you can't adapt, move on. No need to get stressed out by it.
goodintentions said:
What you are doing wrong is you're not adapting. You're trying to use it like pen and paper. When the tf101 first came out, there were many whiners who came to FDA whining that the tf doesn't feel like a laptop.
Imagine people trying to use pen and paper like chisel and hammer on stones. Or imagine people trying to use the desktop like a typewriter.
The jot on tf doesn't feel like pen on paper. Why? Because its not pen on paper. Adapt or move on. Imagine flying an airplane like driving a car. Complain about that.
Added by edit.
The point I was trying to make is this. Yeah, I zoom in when I write. So? It gives me the freedom to draw out more details than I can with pen on paper. I can also change colors at will. Don't have to carry around all the notebooks and stuff. It took me may be 2 note taking sessions to get use to it. I don't even think about it anymore. And I can just print out the pdf of my notes whenever I want.
Stop trying to use this like pen and paper. Zoom in, do whatever you need to to adapt. Our ancestors adapted from chisel and hammer to pen and paper. And now you're trying to use a stylus on tablet like pen and paper? Why not complain that a car doesn't ride like a horse? Or a train doesn't ride like a horse pulled ferry?
Do what you need to to adapt. If you can't adapt, move on. No need to get stressed out by it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your notes look good, would you mind giving some tips or maybe starting another thread with some tips on how to take notes using a stylus and what not. For example, are you writing in portrait mode or landscape? It looks like portrait but I don't know of that's due to formatting. Any tips would be appreciated. I'd like to be able to use mine for notes on occasion even though my livescribe pen handles notes just fine.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk

Samsung NOTE S-PEN has anyone tried it?

I was very curious about this, it looks like it works great on the galaxy note particularly because it has a fine tip rather than the thick ones
I was curious to see if anyone has tried it on their prime or on another tablet and if it works well or not cuz im really interested in getting one if it does?
i dont know about samsung s-pen, but htc ST C400 almost dosn't work on prime ^(
fifasarajevo said:
I was very curious about this, it looks like it works great on the galaxy note particularly because it has a fine tip rather than the thick ones
I was curious to see if anyone has tried it on their prime or on another tablet and if it works well or not cuz im really interested in getting one if it does?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course it doesn't work. Different technologies, the galaxy note uses a wacom digitizer which is pressure sensitive and compactive thus it can us a fine point stylus. While the TFP uses a now standard compactive digitizer it can only use those fat point stylus. But since the TFP's digitizer is made by atmel, Atmel themselves said they were going to release a stylus called maxstylus which is a fine point stylus and is compatible with atmels digitizer.
I was wondering if the "wacom technology" is a software thing or real hardware parts (like on the wacom tablets)
as far as i know the wacom pens send the info to the surface, the surface itself doesn't recognise pressure. If "just" software reads out the capacative infos shouldn't it be possible to get the drivers and drawing software from the note onto the prime?
I'm just thinking out loud here, i have no hard information. but I am very interested, if a port would somehow be possible ^^
Just to address some stuff here...
A Wacom digitizer is a combination of hardware and software technology that exists both in the tablet and the stylus. The sensors in the tablet screens are sensitive to the nibs of digitizer pens.
The Amtel MaxStylus has already been confirmed to not work on the TF201. The chip that is in the TF201 would only support the pen on a 7" screen or smaller.
Wow, that's disappointing.
Will the Prime ever get some stylus love?
BUYMECAR said:
Wow, that's disappointing.
Will the Prime ever get some stylus love?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Take a look at the accessories forum for the TF201...there are recommendations for capacitive styli that may work for you.
soulctcher said:
Take a look at the accessories forum for the TF201...there are recommendations for capacitive styli that may work for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use a Amazon capacitive, less accuracy but works, Samsung isn't a normal stylus that's why they named it "S Pen"

Microsoft Prime copycat coming?

http://www.slashgear.com/microsoft-patent-takes-the-transformer-prime-one-step-further-08217529/
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
Lets hope so. I really like the prime "formfactor" and would like tablets/laptop/ultrabooks to keep using a separate dock so competition gives more chance for that to happen.
Yes!!!! Please!!!
Umm if all it takes to be a copycat is to have a tablet with removeable keyboard then the prime and original transformer are the copycats not microsoft tablets. There were microsoft tablets that had that functionality years ago; albeit they kind of sucked, but they were out there.
http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/04/lenovo-ideapad-u1-hybrid-laptop-by-day-unhinged-tablet-by-nigh/
erikk said:
Umm if all it takes to be a copycat is to have a tablet with removeable keyboard then the prime and original transformer are the copycats not microsoft tablets. There were microsoft tablets that had that functionality years ago; albeit they kind of sucked, but they were out there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, indeed, and actually I disagree that Windows Tablet PCs sucked (or suck). They were (and remain) EXCELLENT for anyone who needs to gather information in the field, take copious notes (e.g., students, salespeople, etc.), and who can benefit from having full Windows apps (e.g., Office 2010) in a highly mobile form factor with alternative means to enter information.
In fact, I think Apple's biggest (and worst) feat was to convince people that active digitizers and pens are a bad thing--they're not, and no capacitive touchscreen can provide anything near the accuracy and precision. Microsoft should be sent to the lowest rung of business hell for how poorly they marketed the Tablet PC platform. I used Tablet PCs for six years as a sales engineer for Ricoh, and you'd have had to pry the things out of my cold, dead hands before I would have given them up.
Modern tablets are good for consumption and very light productivity. But if I were still in a sales position where I took lots of notes, I'd be using a Tablet PC today. And even though I'm not, I'd still kill for a Transformer running Windows 8 with full Office and an active digitizer/pen. That would be heaven.
/rant
I'm just wondering whether or not in the future, ASUS will give us the option of Android or Windows 8.
I'd consider a Windows 8 device like this easily, as long as it's good enough, but without something like getting cygwin (groan) up and running and sticking an Xeon in the back pocket to run that fast enough, I can't really fathom it being as good for my needs as Android -- where I can use the best of Linux and Android to fulfill my needs.
For many power users, a Windows 8+ transformer would probably be the best thing.
I'm still wondering when a future iteration of laptops will make a touch screen manatory and the touchpad like PS/2 ports used to be...hehe.
You can bet that Windows 8, as much as the metro interface blows, will be a seed of change for the future of tablet computing. The main reason is the application support it will gain. Combine that with tablets that have true digitizers and you're looking at the future.
erikk said:
Umm if all it takes to be a copycat is to have a tablet with removeable keyboard then the prime and original transformer are the copycats not microsoft tablets. There were microsoft tablets that had that functionality years ago; albeit they kind of sucked, but they were out there.
http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/04/lenovo-ideapad-u1-hybrid-laptop-by-day-unhinged-tablet-by-nigh/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Picture is an HP tablet .. not microsoft, it was just running a version of XP with touchscreen functions
AFAIK microsoft never made a tablet themselfs.
I know what you mean though, asus aint the first to come up with a tablet design with keyboard dock...
MS never had a decent operating system for touch screen devices untill perhaps windows 8 ??
Who knows.
Those HP tablets didn't have true touch screen capabilities only the use of a Pen (Stylus) what had a battery inside it what would die after a month or two.
They were quite good I used to use one in school as I was slow at writing and keeping up. Every teacher had one and they were quite reliable. They were pretty much just a laptop with a navigation pen (no where near as good as any modern day touchphone or tablet
There's a fallacy here the Apple created and everyone now seems to follow: that a capacitive touch screen is necessarily better for all mobile devices. Sure, it doesn't require a stylus, but it's also very inaccurate and imprecise. Modern mobile OSs are simply designed around their limitations (e.g., large buttons).
Recent Windows Tablet PCs that use active digitizers and pens (most of which do NOT require batteries) offer excellent precision and accuracy, pressure sensitivity, etc. My four-year-old Dell Latitude XT also has a capacitive layer for touch (support 2-finger multitouch), for what it's worth. And, Windows 7 is excellent with such a stylus, offering a responsive screen, tablet-specific shortcuts (e.g., multi-selecting files in Windows Explorer), etc.
I'd say that a Windows 7 Tablet PC with a modern digitizer could easily make for a great experience with just a few improvements, and is a very good experience today. No, it's not optimized for touch, but then again there's far more precision and control with the current stylus-based metaphor. The problem is, Steve Jobs convinced everyone that needing a stylus is a bad thing, and so now we have over-simplified touch-based interfaces that, while seeming more elegant (I mean, we just TOUCH our screens with our FINGERS and they respond!) are actually quite limited functionally.
Now, I see the advantage of touch screens on smartphones. They're too small to make even a good active digitizer and pen functional. And I think those make good use of touch-optimized user interfaces. But tablets are a different story. As I said earlier, Microsoft should be shot for neglecting this form factor for so long--they had a freaking goldmine on their hands, and blew it.
>The problem is, Steve Jobs convinced everyone that needing a stylus is a bad thing
Quit the inane blame game. MS' Tablet PC & convertibles were around long before the iPad. They failed because of MS' mistakes, not because Jobs "dupes" users. I note you didn't mention how much that Latitude XT cost, or its battery life, or how heavy it was. Or, more to point, how useful it was to the normal user who just want to browse the web, do light wordprocessing, and watch movies (no social back in those days).
Here's a refresher (for the system reviewed below): $3640, 3.12 lbs, 3-4 hrs use.
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4323
Resistive touch tech has its strong points. Its weak point is that you need a pointed stick, and fingers (which aren't pointed) are more convenient to use. As you yourself pointed out, having capacitive touch doesn't exclude more precise input methods, eg HTC Flyer and Thinkpad Tablet. That those differentiations didn't take was because there is no mainstream demand for precise input on mobile devices. All mobile OS UIs, including Win8's Metro, are designed for fingers.
BTW, for those who can't be bothered to read the article, the patent is applied not for the detachable screen, but for the dedicated SoC in the dock. So, you'd get high performance in dock mode, and battery-conserving mode when undocked.
It's not a very practical idea, since you'd incur the cost of the additional SoC and supporting components--effectively doubling the component cost. It'd be good for a premium device w/o worry for price competition. But that's not today's market. Win8 will have its work cut out to compete against the iPad price-wise.
e.mote said:
>The problem is, Steve Jobs convinced everyone that needing a stylus is a bad thing
Quit the inane blame game. MS' Tablet PC & convertibles were around long before the iPad. They failed because of MS' mistakes, not because Jobs "dupes" users. I note you didn't mention how much that Latitude XT cost, or its battery life, or how heavy it was. Or, more to point, how useful it was to the normal user who just want to browse the web, do light wordprocessing, and watch movies (no social back in those days).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe I did blame Microsoft, quite strongly. And yes, back then component costs were higher, including ultra-low voltage Intel X86 processors and small form-factor notebooks in general. Also, you picked a very expensive example (I paid quite a bit less for my Latitude XT). Today, Tablet PCs can be had for under $1000.
Also, note that the HTC and Lenovo tablets with pens don't use standard capacitive screens for the pen input. They use active digitizers from N-trig, which are far more precise than the typical capacitive stylus.
My point about Jobs's role in the whole thing is how he argued against the stylus in a very disingenuous attack on Tablet PCs of the time, and just as important how nobody called him on it. But that's a different debate.
I'd be happy to have a device with the productivity of Windows 7 tablets and active digitizer/pens (full Office apps, an excellent notetaking app like OneNote, etc.), with the same battery life advantages and, yes, simpler user interface of iOS and ICS tablets for casual use. Perhaps Win 8 will offer that combination. I wonder, though, because I don't believe there's a low-power processor out yet that can handle the kind of background handwriting recognition that Window 7 Tablet PCs can handle.
And note that Tablet PCs were just fine for the things you things you mention--Web browsing, light word processing, watching movies--as today's tablets. They weren't as light, and they didn't offer the battery life. But that's because the technology wasn't there yet. And in fact, in terms of running X86 apps (i.e., more than today's exceedingly simple mobile apps), we're only this year getting the Intel chipsets to make it possible. I'm still unclear on whether the ARM version of Win 8 will run X86 apps, but I'm pretty sure it won't.
My point was that Tablet PCs were incredibly productive devices, far more so than any modern tablet made today. And I stick by that assertion 100%.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
Calling asus copycats is ridiculous. There were keyboards for tablets before - yes. But none anywhere near as intuitive & featured as the tf101. Look at the motion le1700 for a perfect example of keyboard tablet fails. Ipad has tried. HP has tried. No one has come close to making a tablet with a keyboard as well as asus.
it really is lame when people lose credit for properly implementing good ideas.
windows 8 looks more and more disappointing.
ickkii said:
Calling asus copycats is ridiculous. There were keyboards for tablets before - yes. But none anywhere near as intuitive & featured as the tf101. Look at the motion le1700 for a perfect example of keyboard tablet fails. Ipad has tried. HP has tried. No one has come close to making a tablet with a keyboard as well as asus.
it really is lame when people lose credit for properly implementing good ideas.
windows 8 looks more and more disappointing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with you about the Transformer, it's a great implementation. Saying Windows 8 looks disappointing seems like a non sequitor here, though.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
wynand32 said:
I agree with you about the Transformer, it's a great implementation. Saying Windows 8 looks disappointing seems like a non sequitor here, though.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Microsoft is missing the entire point of the tablet. No one wants half a device, especially when the preformance cut is coming from the half of device you use. The power needs to be in the tablet itself, not the dock. All the tablet optimized gaming will be terrible if you need the keyboard attached to unlock the true potential.
The article makes it seem like the transformer is at a loss because it doesn't give you more preformance when you dock. The point of the dock isn't preformance, it's battery life and word processing with more expansion slots! You don't need more power forword processing or pulling files off a usb drive lol.
ickkii said:
Microsoft is missing the entire point of the tablet. No one wants half a device, especially when the preformance cut is coming from the half of device you use. The power needs to be in the tablet itself, not the dock. All the tablet optimized gaming will be terrible if you need the keyboard attached to unlock the true potential.
The article makes it seem like the transformer is at a loss because it doesn't give you more preformance when you dock. The point of the dock isn't preformance, it's battery life and word processing with more expansion slots! You don't need more power forword processing or pulling files off a usb drive lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see. Well, this is just one patent that Microsoft may or may not be planning to make (far more patents are written than are actually made into real products). It really has nothing to do with Windows 8, which I guarantee will be on all kinds of different form factors before it's all done.
ickkii said:
Calling asus copycats is ridiculous. There were keyboards for tablets before - yes. But none anywhere near as intuitive & featured as the tf101. Look at the motion le1700 for a perfect example of keyboard tablet fails. Ipad has tried. HP has tried. No one has come close to making a tablet with a keyboard as well as asus.
it really is lame when people lose credit for properly implementing good ideas.
windows 8 looks more and more disappointing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And calling a microsoft tablet that has a keyboard dock a transformer prime copycat might even be more ridiculous. If you'd actually read the remark "calling asus [a] copycat" correctly you'd see I hadn't actually called Asus copycats:
erikk said:
Umm if all it takes to be a copycat is to have a tablet with removeable keyboard then the prime and original transformer are the copycats not microsoft tablets.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't believe Asus was a copycat, but if you're ONLY taking into account the tablet with detachable keyboard form factor, then yes they copied an idea someone else had come up with before them.
I think Asus definitely has done a great job implementing this good idea, and they deserve a ton of credit for that. But don't give them credit for coming up with the original idea and taking that credit away from the people that did.
And as pointed out, the new idea for this Microsoft tablet patent is to have 2 separate SoCs (we'll see if it's a good one or not once it's out, my guess is not). Which the prime doesn't do.
Windows 8 could be the greatest thing to come to tablets, mobile computing and the "post-PC world", the ultimate merging of a unified OS across all your computers, the death knell to Apple or the opposite, the last desperate failure of Microsoft in the mobile world and dawn of Apple domination across all devices; or more likely just another decent option in the computing world where we get to choose which one suits our own personal style the most.
erikk said:
I think Asus definitely has done a great job implementing this good idea, and they deserve a ton of credit for that. But don't give them credit for coming up with the original idea and taking that credit away from the people that did.
And as pointed out, the new idea for this Microsoft tablet patent is to have 2 separate SoCs (we'll see if it's a good one or not once it's out, my guess is not). Which the prime doesn't do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. Far more is made about this whole being first thing. Apple wasn't the first with the smartphone (although they did some things to make it better, while in my opinion obliterating some of what was good about previous versions), ASUS isn't the first to make a keyboard dock/tablet combo (and I don't think HP was first with theirs, either), etc. Innovation doesn't mean just coming up with something uniquely original--sometimes it means taking a good idea and making it better (or just different).
Even THIS idea isn't new. Lenovo had a notebook/tablet hybrid they intro'd at CES in 2012, the IdeaPad U1. It was a full-fledged Windows notebook in the base, and the "screen" was a detachable tablet with an ARM SoC. They never made it as an actual commercial product, I don't think.
I actually doubt that this Microsoft patent will ever see a shipping product. As I mentioned, far more ideas are patented than are actually made into real products. It's possible, but somehow I doubt it.

Categories

Resources