When Apple announced 3D Touch (Force Touch) the arguments started instantly on how unoriginal the technology was. The truth is, it is both unoriginal and original, if that makes sense. 3D Touch is based on a few technologies that already existed in previous iPhones and Androids, long press and haptic feedback. Without getting drawn out, 3D Touch is basically layered haptics and long press allowing you three levels of a long press. Now Synaptics is working on 3D Touch for Android and the same feature (as it stands on the iPhone 6s models) should be making its way to Android phones next year.
I know I’ll likely catch some backlash over this article from some Android fans but it is what it is. Apple’s 3D Touch hardware is a hybrid of technologies and it’s not so much the hardware that impressed me as it was the software behind it. While Huawei released their version of Force Touch days before the iPhone event, it’s not at the same level as Apple’s. That is due to the software that Apple has bundled in here and the dev tools app developers will have to implement the feature into their apps.
And considering that to be the case, Synaptics’ third-generation force-sensing solution hopes to capture at least some part of the market for hardware that powers these features in next year’s Android phones. The tech will enable variable speed scrolling, new ways to zoom and pan over pictures, new contextual menus, and other features, according to Synaptics.
For me, it doesn’t matter who started doing it first, just that it exists and that everyone will soon enjoy the feature. What do you think of Synaptics bringing 3D Touch for Android? Let us know in the comments below or on Google+, Facebook and Twitter.
[button link=”http://9to5mac.com/2015/10/06/synaptics-3d-touch-for-android-touchscreen-controller/” icon=”fa-external-link” side=”left” target=”blank” color=”285b5e” textcolor=”ffffff”]Source: 9to5 Mac[/button]FULL PRESS RELEASE
SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Synaptics Inc. (NASDAQ: SYNA), the leading developer of human interface solutions, today announced three new series of ClearPad® discrete touch controller solutions, enabling increased functionality and entirely new dimensions of touch, including force sensing for smartphones, tablets and automotive applications. This latest expansion of the ClearPad portfolio further demonstrates Synaptics’ technology leadership in discrete touch solutions, giving OEMs the ability to deliver the most innovative user experience to consumers.
“Our broad patent portfolio and years of proven experience in touch technology has once again enabled us to provide smartphone OEMs and LCMs with cutting-edge user experience solutions,” said Kevin Barber, senior vice president, general manager, Smart Display Division, Synaptics. “The latest ClearPad family of products extends into multiple market segments with exciting new functionality and underscores Synaptics’ innovation and leadership in creating unmatched touch solutions.”
Synaptics 3700 Series:
Latest flagship discrete touch controller for smartphones
Supports new technologies including ClearForce variable force sensing, and SideTouch™ for edge gesturing such as scroll and tap — as featured in the new Xiaomi Mi4c
Massive performance upgrade, doubling MIPS and memory over its predecessor to enable advanced features
Supports unique active and passive stylus capabilities as well as non-touch hover performance at distances up to 25mm
Synaptics 3600 Series:Optimized for mainstream smartphones
New silicon architecture for improved touch performance
Supports new features without additional cost, including enhanced gloved touch, two finger tracking with moisture on display, multiple user-defined gesture recognition, and FaceDetect™ Plus, eliminating the need for a proximity sensor
Synaptics 7800 Series:Optimized for large touch screens up to 17.3 inches, including notebooks, tablets and automotive applications
Processing power that doubles previous generation large touch screen controllers, enabling advanced features and performance needed for larger smart devices
Features 1mm passive pen support and excellent palm rejection performance
Advanced moisture and glove performance as well as low power wake-up gestures enhance user experience
Availability:
ClearPad 3700 and 7800 series are both currently in mass production. ClearPad 3600 series is broadly sampling with mass production slated for Q4 2015.
Last Updated on November 27, 2018.
