We've already
seen the
MILESTONE showing off multitouch capability, something the
DROID clearly lacks in the States despite the fact that Android 2.0 rocks kernel support for it -- and now we've got another smoking gun: the official spec sheet. A quick glance at Motorola's tech specs for the Euro-flavored handset lists "pinch and zoom" as an interface feature, so yeah, it looks like this'll be in the shipping firmware. There's speculation out there that Apple was somehow involved in making sure that multitouch "fell" down a flight of stairs before reaching US-bound Android devices, but really, it's anyone's guess what's going on here -- and Moto's official statement isn't helping much:
"We work very closely with our carriers and partners to deliver differentiated consumer experiences on our mobile devices. At times, similar devices come to market with different features, depending on the region, carrier preferences and consumer needs."
Nor is Google's:
"The Android 2.0 framework includes support for multi-touch. As with other platform technologies, such as the text-to-speech engine, carriers and OEMs can choose to implement it."
So let the speculation -- and the firmware hacking -- begin.
[Via
Gearlog, image via
mobile-review]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Suspiro @ Nov 2nd 2009 7:35PM
Sounds like Verizon decided not to include multi touch. Figures they would
NotAvailable @ Nov 2nd 2009 7:39PM
haha, great title, ,,, I love it. a little pity that the browser of US version doesn't have multi-touch capacity. anyway, planning to buy it.
ATM94 @ Nov 2nd 2009 8:29PM
The DroidDoes website lists multitouch as a capability of the phone. It's been there since the website launched. You can't click on it for more info, but it is there as a feature of the phone right under Turn-by-Turn Nav
boone @ Nov 2nd 2009 8:34PM
"There's speculation out there that Apple was somehow involved in making sure that multitouch "fell" down a flight of stairs before reaching US-bound Android devices..."
I don't understand. I thought the Sprint Hero, was multitouch, and has the pinch to zoom etc,.?
n_shakuras @ Nov 2nd 2009 9:23PM
It does, but that was added by HTC, not Google. This is apparently either Google or Verizon not wanting to risk a confrontation with Apple. Since the patents only cover the gestures and not the technology itself, Google can remain perfectly safe in the US by simply laying the groundwork but leaving the gesture implementation up to third parties. And since this is a Google experience device, there is no bundled third party software. I'm sure something will show up on the app store eventually.
boone @ Nov 2nd 2009 10:33PM
So, does that mean that HTC could have had problems with Apple?
Or that they did but got around it?
Ben @ Nov 3rd 2009 5:47AM
What do you mean the official responses don't make sense? They describe it perfectly! Google said they added the code while Motorola said that had nothing to do with removing it in Verizon's case. I'm guessing it'll be a pay-to-upgrade feature.
dadeboe @ Nov 3rd 2009 7:45AM
Not trying to ruffle and feathers here but I don't understand what the big deal is about pinching fingers or tapping twice. You get to zoom in all the same. I've had the chance to experience both methods of zoom and I didn't really prefer either one; as long as we can zoom in, why should it matter how?
kevin @ Nov 3rd 2009 1:23PM
Figures Verizon would drop the ball on this phone somewhere.
Astridd @ Nov 3rd 2009 1:40PM
Not to worry. I was able to play with one yesterday at work and it does have multi touch.