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Home / Cell phones / Multimedia smartphones
BlackBerry Storm: ClickThrough based on Synaptics technologyBy Sindre Lia, 9 October 2008
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RIM BlackBerry Storm 9530
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RIM BlackBerry Storm 9530
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RIM BlackBerry Storm 9530
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RIM BlackBerry Storm 9530
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RIM BlackBerry Storm 9530
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RIM BlackBerry Storm 9530
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RIM BlackBerry Storm 9530
Enlarge
RIM BlackBerry Storm 9530
Enlarge
RIM BlackBerry Storm 9530
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RIM BlackBerry Storm 9530
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RIM BlackBerry Storm 9530
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RIM BlackBerry Storm 9530
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RIM BlackBerry Storm 9530
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Synaptics, which provides the touch solution found in the Google Android based T-Mobile G1, enables tactile feedback and multi-touch gestures in the BlackBerry Storm.

Tech Trader Daily yesterday reported that Synaptics, the company providing capacitive touchscreens to HTC for use in the Google Android based T-Mobile G1, is also the mastermind behind the ClickThrough solution used in the BlackBerry Storm.

Synaptics' capacitive sensing technology can be applied to force sensors, known as capacitive force sensing. In a capacitive force sensor, two metal plates, separated by a small air gap, are positioned close together. Force applied on one of the plates changes the capacitance between them. Synaptics has developed a capacitive force sensing technology that can be used in many scenarios, including pointing sticks and touchscreens. Here's a figure from Synaptics, showing how their TouchStyk works. The rubber cap of the TouchStyk is connected to a metal plate mounted above a Synaptics capacitive sensor:



The BlackBerry Storm also takes advantage of Synaptics' Enhanced Gesture Recognition (EGR), enabling single-finger gestures - Tap, Double Tap, Press, and Flick - as well as a multi-finger gesture, Pinch.

  • A flick can be used to scroll through photos or playlists.
  • A pinch can be used to zoom-in on or zoom-out of items such as photos, maps or documents.
  • A press can be used to display pop-up information (the finger remains down until the information displays).
  • A tap can be used to launch an application or to close a window.
  • A tap-and-slide gesture can be used for moving items such as icons or files, or for instance used to select a name from a contacts list to add someone to a conference call.
  • A double-tap can be used to launch an application.

    Combined with BlackBerry OS 4.7 found in the BlackBerry Storm, these gestures have also been applied to several other scenarios, such as marking text for copying and double-tap for writing.

    Especially LG offers a wide range of phones taking advantage of various solutions by Synaptics, and it's likely to believe that the BlackBerry Storm is only the first of many smartphones to offer a capacitive touchscreen with tactile feedback. Since Synaptics is a member of the Open Handset Alliance, we also assume that smartphones based on Google Android will appear with such functionality down the road.

    Also, make sure to check out our story outlining the capabilities of the BlackBerry Storm here, and a comparison between the BlackBerry Storm, iPhone 3G and T-Mobile G1 here, which all offer a capacitive touchscreen.

    The BlackBerry Storm should be released in early November 2008 on Verizon Wireless and Vodafone (Europe, India, Australia and New Zealand) for a reasonable price with a contract.
  • Best Multimedia smartphones
    Name Score Price Carrier
    C
    Nokia N95 8GB NAM 85% $650Unlocked
    Apple iPhone 3G 82% $200AT&T
    Nokia N95 80% $530Unlocked
    RIM BlackBerry Storm 9530 80% $200Verizon Wireless
    T-Mobile G1 79% $180T-Mobile
    Nokia N78 76% $500Unlocked
    RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330 (Sprint) 74% $200Sprint
    RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330 (Verizon Wireless) 69% $200Verizon Wireless
    RIM Blackberry Curve 64% $200AT&T
    Nokia N76 60% $500Unlocked
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