The Location History feature does just what you think it would by allowing you to view your previous Latitude locations. And the Location Alerts are little notifications when a friend is nearby and spare you from constantly checking Latitude. Since it'd be pretty annoying to get a notification that your boss is in fact in his office every time you go to work, you can use both features together and let Latitude learn your frequently visited places. It'll keep track of patterns and skip sending unneeded alerts. Creepy, yet oh-so-useful. [Google Mobile Blog]

At 1.5 inches thick, it's the thinnest 12.1-inch rugged convertible tablet—um, even with that massive qualifier in there, that's as thin as hardcore machinery gets. It's designed for law enforcement and other emergency services life-or-death people.

Of course, it uses a SSD for impact tolerance, in addition to running Core 2 Duos and up to 5GB of DDR3 RAM. It's also got hot-swappable modules for gear like GPS and webcams, and will see some appropriately hardass mounts and docks soon. It starts at $3600 for the base package for small businesses, 'cause the ability to stop a tankshell ain't cheap. And hey, multitouch!

DELL DELIVERS SMALLEST 12.1-INCH RUGGED CONVERTIBLE TABLET PC, FIRST WITH MULTI-TOUCH TECHNOLOGY

· Latitude XT2 XFR is Purpose-Built to Meet Unique Requirements of Field Service Workers, Military, Law Enforcement and First Responders

· Thinnest 12.1-Inch Rugged, Convertible Tablet PC

ROUND ROCK, Texas, Oct. 27, 2009 – Dell today unveiled the industry's smallest 12.1-inch rugged convertible tablet PC that is the first with a multi-touch display, the Latitude XT2 XFR. The system is designed to meet the unique and demanding needs of customers in the military, police, border patrol, field service organizations, factory fulfillment and first responders.

The Latitude XT2 XFR adds to Dell's Rugged Mobility Solution offering that includes the fully rugged Latitude E6400 XFR and the semi-rugged Latitude E6400 ATG laptops. It also joins purpose-engineered products like the Latitude Z, Latitude 2100 netbook for education and Dell Precision™ M6400 mobile workstation as another step in Dell's strategy to develop differentiated form factors and solutions that meet specific customer usage needs.

The News:

· Inspired by discussions with the defense, law enforcement, homeland security communities, field service departments and utility companies, Dell developed a convertible tablet that can adapt to changing mission requirements and withstand harsh environments. Features of the Latitude XT2 XFR include:

o At 1.5 inches (38.1 millimeters) it is the thinnest 12.1-inch rugged convertible tablet and starts at 5.4 pounds (2.45 kilograms) with four-cell battery and solid state drive[i], it is engineered and independently tested to meet MIL-810G standards for operation in harsh environments.

o Compression-sealed and rugged I/O doors, LCD, and keyboard, provide an IP54 level of Ingress Protection, or resistance to moisture and dust.

· The Latitude XT2 XFR can be installed in police or first-responder vehicles where critical information can be accessed with one hand. The Latitude XT2 XFR is also ideal for field-service and industrial manufacturing workforces who need an easy to carry, rugged system that can stand up to drops, spills and temperature extremes

· The Latitude XT2 XFR is available with Dell's optional remote management capabilities and next business day service and support.[ii]

· The rugged tablet shares common images and components with the Dell Latitude XT2 tablet for easy integration into existing environments. The Latitude XT2 XFR also includes:

o Intel Core 2 Duo processors with up to 5GB[iii] of DDR3 1066 MHz memory.[iv]

o QuadCool Thermal Management System enables excellent performance, even in extreme temperatures from minus 10 degrees to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

o Four-, six- and nine-cell battery options.

o Standard data security features that include Dell ControlVault and Dell ControlPoint, as well as optional solid state and spinning disk drives with full disk encryption.

o Impact resistant, sunlight viewable, 12.1-inch wide LED display with capacitive multi-touch gestures-enabled or optional resistive touch screen.

o Optional hot-swappable modules including GPS (in the coming weeks) and webcam.

o Optional expansion sliver provides camera/light, serial, and RJ11 inputs.

o An extensive range of optional accessories and services that include mobile rugged docking and mounting solutions in the coming weeks.

o A full complement of wireless connectivity options including wireless LAN 802.11 a/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 and mobile broadband.

· The XT2 XFR will be available in the U.S., Canada, France, Spain, United Kingdom, Germany and Italy online and via Dell's PartnerDirect program. It starts at £2271 and more information is available here.

[Dell]

Like we had heard, Dell made the Latitude Z for the suit wearing, briefcase toting, conference room type. Being .57 inches thin and weighing 4.5 pounds may make it the lightest and thinnest 16-inch notebook ever, but it's still a full-sized machine. The design itself is a lot nicer than the typical business notebook, though. The soft-touch lid feels nice and the back of the magnesium alloy chassis has angled chrome plated hinges.

Similar to the Palm Pre but on a much bigger scale, the Z has power coils built in to the base of the notebook and so it charges wirelessly, through a magnetic inductive stand that's an extra $200. Supposedly, it takes the same amount of time to recharge as a normal notebook power cord.

The love for no cords doesn't stop there. You can also buy the $200 wireless dock and hook up all your peripherals (printer, monitor, mouse, etc.) to it rather than to the computer. It then communicates with the notebook itself which has Ultra Wide Band technology built-in so there is no need to add an extra dongle.

Beyond the love of wireless, there are a few other things that make the Z different from your average laptop. It has Dell's Latitude-On which gives you access to email and a browser before actually booting into Windows. Lots of laptops have this pre-boot environment now (like the HP Envy 13 and Lenovo S10-2), however, the difference here is that it runs on a different processor. In addition to a Intel ULV processor, the Z has an ARM processor which will boot up the instant-on mode faster and increase battery life. Frankly, I don't always see the point in these pre-boot environments when you can just wait a few extra minutes to get into Windows but my guess is some find it useful.

And because it seems like every notebook has to have some form of touch capability now, the Z has what Dell calls EdgeTouch. The right screen bezel has an LCD sensor that when tapped brings up shortcuts. Not sure how much the average person will end up using this thing, but it is a neat trick.

That guy that tripped over the wires probably has some sort of unfortunate looking scar, but at least we have the Latitude Z. Sure it will cost you a pretty penny when you add in all the wireless doodads, but it is chock-full of some kick ass tech. [Dell]

Twitter + true location is going to be insanely powerful and possibly take Twitter to a whole new level. The API will let developers couple latitude and longitude with any tweet, so your friends can know where you're chomping on that delicious burger—or a whole mess of other things.

It is opt-in, though, so don't freak out, in case you were. (If you use Twitter, I don't know why you would, actually.) But you might as well get used to the idea of people knowing where you are—it's simply inevitable with the evolution of location-oriented apps. Location is the next thing, whether you like it or not. So enjoy opting out while you can. After all, how else are they gonna target you with those location-based ads? [Twitter via TechCrunch]

Developer Nat Friedman thought the same as you did (something along the lines of "f*cking stupid Apple morons"), and spent the weekend writing a script called playnice. The script will get the iPhone's location information from MobileMe, then sends it to Google's Latitude. Obviously, it only works if you are a MobileMe user, making it less useful for the rest of the mortals who are not willing to pay more dollars to Steve and his minions. [playnice via Nat Friendman]

Until this past week, Google's been the most privileged developer for the iPhone outside of Apple itself. I mean, Google Maps and YouTube come baked into the phone. Hell, Google even gave the iPhone voice search—a more powerful version, no less—before it delivered the feature to its own OS, very obviously using private APIs that would've likely resulted in a swift kick in the ass for any other developer.

Yet here we are, Apple has rejected not one, but two Google apps that would deliver major new features to the iPhone, for reasons that are so obviously tripe it's insulting to even our non-exceptional intelligence. A Google Latitude app would confuse us? Really? Because it would "use Google to serve maps tiles"? Wait. Isn't one of iPhone 3.0's major new features that it can use Google Maps inside of other applications? So like every app can use Google to serve maps tiles. I admit, though, Latitude is a really big word. What does it even mean? That is pretty confusing. Maybe they should call it, like, Google Stalker.

What happened with Google Voice is worse. Google didn't elaborate on the reason Apple gave for rejecting its official Google Voice app six weeks ago—and presumably, Google had more success wringing it out of Apple than most developers. Hours before Google broke the news, the developer of GV Mobile—a solid third-party app for Google Voice—said that it was being pulled from the App Store for "duplicating iPhone features." Then every other Google Voice application was silently killed too. Even though, reportedly, Apple's Phil Schiller personally apologized when GV Mobile initially ran into problems getting approved months ago, and it'd been sitting pretty in the store since then. Oh, and there are tons of other apps that duplicate the functions of dialing and sending text messages.

John Gruber at Daring Fireball says Google Voice was nuked by AT&T, "it's that simple." It's not the first time AT&T's put a hit on apps: NetShare, the tethering app was yanked (though it clearly never should've been approved in the first place), and Skype and SlingPlayer streaming were crippled so that they only worked over Wi-Fi. The difference between those situations and this one is that in those cases, there was, at least nominally, a greater good for users: Limiting those apps protected people from the possibility of AT&T's fragile, already busted-ass network completely collapsing under the weight of millions of phones streaming tons of data. And, you can still actually use Skype and Sling apps, albeit in a slightly constrained manner.

Google Voice, on the other hand, poses no such mortal danger to the network. It only uses a tiny bit of data at the very beginning of a call to set it up, and text messages sent through the service would be infinitesimally small scraps of data (not to mention, there are other immensely popular apps that already send text messages as data). You still use your AT&T voice minutes when you're on a call using Google Voice. And, for whatever reason, AT&T's fear is about Google Voice on the iPhone, since the app is available for BlackBerry on their network.

The situation crystallizes our worst fears about Apple's dictatorial App Store. Users aren't being protected from bad things or from themselves here. Even though it seemed ridiculous to us, when apps with objectionable content were blocked or booted before the ratings system was in place, it was in the interest of some paradoxically lazy but over-protective parent somewhere out there. But the only thing being guarded is some ephemeral long-term interest of AT&T against the devaluation of phone numbers and the ability to easily use any phone at will. (FWIW, AT&T says "AT&T is not involved in the approval process, so we can't speak to this issue.") Not only is Apple hurting users in the service of AT&T by denying them innovative new features, they won't even bother to come up with a good excuse. If they're going to lie about it, they could at least make the rationale believable.

To truly get a sense of the chickenshittniess on Apple's part, Just read this account of the conversation VoiceCentral's developer had with Apple when they were told their app was going to be pulled from the store. It'd be hilarious if it didn't mean a developer got screwed.

It's obvious Google's not happy about it either—and not just because Google exec Marissa Mayer's deleted tweet pointing to a satire piece about Google deleting Apple from its search results, since it "duplicates a lot of the functionality of other sites." If everything was copacetic Google wouldn't tell the world Apple shut down their applications. (And if the alternative web apps were all that great, Google wouldn't make native apps to begin with.) Whatever the causes, there is now definitely a rift between Apple and Google.

It's a sobering reminder of what Apple's total control over the iPhone platform really means. For the first time, it's denying people exciting new features and possibilities, without even a semblance of benefit or concern for users. Maybe it's a catfight with Google. Maybe AT&T finally found a clause in its contract that didn't make them Apple's bitch. Either way, it's just depressing.

A year after we said we still need the iPhone app black market, nothing's changed. To wit, GV Mobile's available on Cydia right now. We know the App Store is Apple's exclusive domain, and playing in their space has its tradeoffs, but the implicit trust is that whatever Apple does that might seem ridiculous or weird, it's ultimately trying to create a better experience for users. That's just not the case here, taking the App Store approval process beyond cryptic and infuriating into something that's actually toxic for users. Since it's crossed that line, our App Disapproval Watch starts now—it ends when Apple finally cuts this crap out.

Here's how it went down with Apple, according to Google:

We worked closely with Apple to bring Latitude to the iPhone in a way Apple thought would be best for iPhone users. After we developed a Latitude application for the iPhone, Apple requested we release Latitude as a web application in order to avoid confusion with Maps on the iPhone, which uses Google to serve maps tiles.

Which, it's all fine and dandy that Google thinks web apps are the future, but there's no way anybody's going to use Latitude on the iPhone if it's not built into the Maps application like it is on Android. Maybe that's what Apple wants. (Without being able to run in the background, usage was already going to be pretty limited anyway.)

Besides, if it's inside of Maps, how is that going to confuse anybody? Unless we're all really, really dumb. [Google Mobile via TechCrunch]

It's "student-rugged," meaning it doesn't meet any kind of ruggedized specification, but it'll take more of a beating than a regular notebook, with a body that's rubberized all the way around, and an optional anti-microbial keyboard for fighting off swine flu and other foul organisms that thrive on the primordial ooze perpetually coating children's nasty hands.

One thing the kids won't like is a network activity light built into the top lid, so there's no covert web browsing, unless the teacher's blind. But there are five different colors and accessories like shoulder straps to make it easy to lug around. The guts are standard fare for a netbook—Atom N270, yadda yadda.

The reason it's got the Latitude name is that it can be remotely managed like enterprise notebooks—and there's a Mobile Computing Station that'll dock 24 of them using a single ethernet cable and power cord, obviously designed for the classroom.

I like the idea of classrooms filled with these—or any netbook really—and there's a lot of thoughtful stuff going on here, but $369 before any of the add-ons just feels like maybe too much. There's probably a discount for buying in bulk that might make it more reasonable, but it's a high ceiling to come down from, given the booger-filled target market, it seems. Though obviously way cheaper than giving a full-sized laptop, for sure.

What is the magic price to give every student in every classroom a computer?

DELL DELIVERS INDUSTRY FIRSTS WITH 10.1-INCH NETBOOK DESIGNED FOR EDUCATION

• Dell believes every child should have access to the world of knowledge beyond the classroom
• The new Latitude2100 is influenced by the needs of K-12 students – ‘student rugged' design offered in five colors with wireless connectivity that can be monitored by educators with a network activity light
• Optional touchscreen is a first for education netbooks
• Custom-built Mobile Computing Station equips classrooms with a cart to store, manage and network up to 24 netbooks with one Ethernet and power cord
• The Latitude 2100 will also appeal to other public-sector and enterprise customers looking for a netbook for uses from employee training to order fulfillment, or wanting secondary systems for their workforces
• Backed by Dell's award-winning business-class service and support – including optional onsite services

ROUND ROCK, Texas, May 19, 2009 – Dell believes every child should have the opportunity and tools to learn the skills necessary to succeed in the digital world. Critical to this is the availability of technology designed for the unique needs of K-12 students, teachers and school administrators. Today, Dell set a new standard in education technology with the launch of a netbook influenced by the needs of K-12 students, the Latitude™ 2100. The Latitude 2100 is also ideal for any business or public institution that needs affordable, durable, Internet-ready devices for email and collaboration.

Inspired by close cooperation with hundreds of students, teachers, parents and administrators, Dell designers created a purpose-built education netbook that focuses on what's most important – learning. The Latitude 2100 is part of Dell's connected classroom ― innovative technology products, services, software and training that make learning in the digital age a reality. With the Latitude 2100, students can access enhanced learning resources and digital content on a school network or via the Internet. As a result, the Latitude 2100 blends into student life, from lesson plans to homework, increasing time spent learning versus managing technology.

The Latitude 2100 has unique features for schools like bright primary colors and a more rugged, ‘rubberized' design that is easier for children to carry and use safely. It also offers wireless connectivity that can be monitored by the teacher with a Network Activity Light on the netbook lid. An optional touchscreen is a first for an education netbook and makes the Latitude 2100 a perfect choice for enhanced student interaction, assessment, and for special education teaching. The Latitude 2100 also offers administrators a range of services making it easier to deploy and manage.

Additional options include: a keyboard featuring antimicrobial protection (U.S. only), solid-state drives, quick-connect handles and shoulder straps for carrying, and a webcam. The Latitude 2100 is backed by Dell's award-winning business service and support.

The Latitude 2100 extends Dell's Latitude range and joins the Latitude XT tablet and fully rugged Latitude E6400 XFR as systems designed to meet the exacting needs of customers across a range of private and public-sector organizations with specific mobile computing requirements. Enterprises and public-sector customers looking for a business-class netbook will be attracted to the Latitude 2100 for activities ranging from employee training to order fulfillment or when a secondary system is required by their workforce.

The News:
• The "student-rugged" Latitude 2100 is designed to absorb the daily bumps and bruises of a crowded playground or backpack. Offered in five colors – School Bus Gold, Chalkboard Black, Ball Field Green, Blue Ribbon and Schoolhouse Red– the Latitude 2100 comes with a 10.1-inch screen and a unique "four-square-ball-style" rubber casing, making it easy for little hands to grip the netbook.

• The system is available with a personalized window on the back of the battery pack where the school logo or name can be displayed, allowing schools to personalize or easily identify systems.

• Equipped with a wireless communication suite and optional webcam, the Latitude 2100 enables productive days filled with collaboration, exploration and easy uploading of assignments. A Network Activity Light on the lid helps teachers monitor network use and identify students who may be surfing the Internet.

• The Latitude 2100 also includes:
o Choice of XP Home, Vista Home Basic and Linux Ubuntu
o Intel Atom processor N270
o 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity coupled with a full suite of wireless communication options
o 2.91lb* (1.32kg) starting at weight with 3-cell battery
o Hard or solid state drives for increased durability
o Three-cell or six-cell battery
o Three-in-one Media Card Reader
o Optional External DVD+/-RW via USB
o VGA port
o Clean bottom is vent-free to avoid any intrusion from spills
o Options: webcam and a keyboard featuring antimicrobial protection (U.S. only)

• Key management features can allow IT administrators to lower overall ownership cost and speed up deployment:
o More durable design that means a longer product life
o Remote management for easier administration
o Dell ImageDirect where systems can be delivered with pre-installed software and the school's specific network image (U.S. only).
o Hardware Customization helps reduce deployment time by configuring software straight from the factory (U.S. only). This reduces the need for the administrator to physically touch the system and speeds up getting it in the hands of the students.

• Coming soon in the U.S., the Latitude 2100 is available with a Mobile Computing Station that equips classrooms with a cart to store securely, manage and network up to 24 netbooks with one Ethernet and power cord.

• The system is available today, and starts at $369. More information is available at www.dell.com/latitude.

[Dell]

You know what happens next: She tracked her phone (and the thief carrying it) in real-time, told the police exactly where this douchebag was, and he got arrested. Case closed. Like the guy who stole somebody's iPod and kept the playlist—a new kind of fingerprint—or the guy who sent emails from his victim's iPhone.

Not everyone has their phone lo-jacked with this kind of location service yet, but in a Twittered world, it doesn't seem far off. Could this kind of petty theft go obsolete one day? I doubt it, but it's a nice thought. And scary, since it means someone's watching you too. [CBS5 via TechCrunch]

Here are the details: they're a new Latitude notebook design branded for the education market using the Atom architecture. They can support an optional SSD, hold up to 2GB RAM, hit 1.6GHz and weigh in at under 3lbs.

In other specs, there's three USB ports, SD/MMC slot, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11 a/g/n, Bluetooth, 3 and 6-cell battery options and a possible Touchscreen. Dell's trying to launch this around May 2009 in time for back to school season. If this leak is true, this is a pretty snazzy netbook for schoolkids for a pretty decent price. [Thanks Tipster!]

•Ridiculous battery life—some configs will go to 19 hours.
•Wireless N, Bluetooth, Ultra-wideband, mobile broadband, WiMax and GPS options
•Hardware disk encryption, Dell ControlVault, fingerprint readers and other security stuff
•Full-frame magnesium alloy construction
•Backlit keyboards, USB Powershare, DisplayPort
•E4200 and E4300 have Dell Latitude ON, an instant boot mode for email, contacts, internet, etc., that supposedly will give you multi-day battery life via a dedicated low-voltage sub-processor

Get the full monty on every model here: [Direct2Dell]

Granted, it's not hard for Dell to roll out a BIOS update that bumps cooling fan RPMs, so it makes sense that they would cover their ass in this way. Although more fan means more noise and less battery life, so the update is not without its costs. Either way, Dell is taking the issue seriously, which makes it seem like the the problem is a little more serious than what Nvidia is saying.

The update is for the following systems: Inspiron 1420, Latitude D630, Latitude D630c, Vostro Notebook 1310, Vostro Notebook 1400, Vostro Notebook 1510, Vostro Notebook 1710, XPS M1330, and XPS M1530

[Direct2Dell via Laptoping]

The specs are pretty solid too: Core 2 Duo, 14.1-inch, 500nit screen, 802.11n, GPS and high-end thermal management for the processor and RAM. Interestingly, it looks like Vista is too much of a pansy ass for the army—the standard config is Windows XP.

Round Rock, Texas, March 4, 2008

* 23 percent better system performance than the Panasonic CF-301
* 100 percent commonality with Latitude components and images
* Unmatched standard Next Business Day Onsite Service

DellTM today unveiled its first fully ruggedized laptop, the LatitudeTM XFR D630. The system is one of the only in its class to simplify IT with seamless integration into existing infrastructure and deliver extreme durability without compromising performance. The rugged laptop, intended for government and commercial customers, is available today in the U.S. and starts at $3,899. Visit www.dell.com/xfr for more details.

The Latitude XFR D630 meets MIL-STD 810F standards from the Department of Defense for products that operate in extreme temperatures, moisture and altitude, to name a few. The system shares common images and components with Dell's current line of Latitude laptops to greatly simplify deployment and maintenance. Also, a patent-pending thermal management system allows the rugged laptop to use latest generation technology and deliver up to four times better graphics performance than the Panasonic CF-30.2

"The Latitude XFR D630 represents a tectonic shift towards simplicity in the ruggedized laptop space," said Brett McAnally, director, Dell Product Group. "We are taking a multi-dimensional approach that focuses on simplified deployment, service and durability without sacrificing performance. Major competitors focus their efforts on 'rugged' only."

The Latitude XFR D630 leads major rugged laptop vendors in standard service with Next Business Day On-Site3 service for major components inside the laptop. Competitors require customers to return systems for service. Dell's rugged laptop also allows users to service many components in the field.

The Latitude XFR D630 includes several features that keep users productive:

* Five times more data durability of leading competitors with solid state drives4
* Latitude ExpressCharge charges batteries at least 30 minutes faster than competitors5
* Outdoor readable screen at 500 nits
* Integrated resistive touch technology to easily interface with the system
* Shock isolated mounting to help protect hard drive, LCD and core electronic elements
* Dual locking butterfly mechanisms for easy access to components
* Sealed keyboard designed to withstand driving rain and dust

The sorta interesting claim about the price itself is that it's only "a slight premium to our competition (emphasis on the word 'slight')," which is based on the math its "non-standard features" only carry a 13 percent premium over the competition. If you're still not convinced it's worth it, they're going to be following it up with more posts explaining why you're wrong.

The problem is that however much it surpasses other tablets, when you come down to it, $2500 is still two-and-a-half grand, and that's just for the base model. You bump the processor to dual core, the RAM to 2GB and expand the hard drive to 80GB, you're talking closer to $3,000 for what's really the acceptable spec configuration. And that kind of money makes most consumers antsy, however fancy your wares. We know we'll be waiting for it to plunge to more plebian prices, though we do appreciate the tech inside, Dell. [Direct2Dell]

Jesus Diaz: Are you working with other big brands on this? And I mean BIG (wink wink nudge nudge)...
Abigail Solomon: Yes, N-Trig is in discussions with other leading brands, but we are not in a position to discuss who.

JD: What kind of companies?
AS: Well, not only notebook makers. N-Trig's technology is not limited just to notebook PCs. Think gaming, handhelds, medical devices, TVs, computer screens... anything with a screen.

JD: How does this technology compare to Wacom's pressure sensitive displays, which seems like the current leader? I know theirs is not capacitive touch, but I thought their pen technology was unmatched.
AS: N-Trig's sensor materials are combined with sophisticated software algorithms which enable true digital touch and can be easily be integrated and supports any type of LCD or size.

JD: But does your pen require a battery?
AS: The pen is an electrostatic pen, so no, it doesn't require a battery. The stylus is light, ergonomic and customizable and requires no internal power source. It has an integral sensor that changes transmission frequency in accordance with tip pressure, which has a more natural, hassle-free and life-like pen experience. It also features right-click and eraser capabilities.

JD: How many pressure levels does it support?
AS: It currently supports 256 pressure levels, since it is the standard for mobile computing devices. For other types of devices we may enable more pressure levels, as it may be required by each device standard. [By comparison, Wacom display technology supports 1,024 levels, plus tilting and bearing, but no finger touch.]

JD: Does it support tilting and bearing like the Wacoms?
AS: No, the pen does not support tilting and bearing since it isn't required by the operating system. However, in terms of touch performance DuoSense introduces outstanding accuracy and full compatibility with Microsoft Vista requirements and features.

JD: How does the dual input work, having to cope with the hand touching the surface while using the pen?
AS: We have a feature called "intelligent digital palm rejection," which enables the user to switch seamlessly between the pen and the touch functionality. The DuoSense displays knows when you are using the pen or expecting it to react to your finger input.

As you can see, this technology is completely new and totally different from what current tablet manufacturers have in the market now. So new in fact that when we first talked with N-Trig back in October, they were still in the process of ramping up manufacturing and couldn't even discuss the technology in detail. The Israeli company, which has offices in Tel Aviv, Taiwan and Austin, had Dell lined up at the time, as well as other undisclosed OEMs.

The ability to have electrostastic, battery-free pen input with 256 levels of pressure and being able to seamlessly switch from pen to hand back to pen without a hitch is quite unique, to the point of justifying a price much higher than that of regular pen-based devices.

More importantly, it feels natural and simple. That simplicity is what got me thinking that, if the rumors and patents hold any water, a company like Apple would have to use DuoSense or something equivalent to it, if it exists. It's one of those things that Steve Jobs would set as a requirement for any portable with multitouch and ink (pen writing) capability, the latter already supported in Mac OS X.

Right now, the only game in town is Dell, and even then, the new Latitude XT doesn't have multitouch support—yet. There has been some speculation about why the Dell doesn't support multitouch at this point, with some people blaming Vista for the lack. While it's true that—thanks to system-wide programming interfaces—future multitouch support in Vista will make things easier for any program to support the capabilities of the DuoSense, we're told, "Vista is not the issue."

According to N-Trig, "All it takes is a firmware upgrade and it's ready to go," like the pressure levels. Why not throw it all in, then? At this point, N-Trig offered up the obligatory "This is all we are allowed to say at this time," which makes us speculate that it was a strategic decision due to the lack of multitouch-enabled apps. Surely all this secrecy must have a very good reason.

We will have to wait and see who's the next in adopting DuoSense. Until then, here's a great demo to drool over:[N-Trig]

Dell Adds New Touch to Tablet PCs Round Rock, Texas, December 10, 2007

* Dell LatitudeTM XT system is the only sub-four-pound 12.1-inch convertible tablet with ground-breaking capacitive touch technology
* System is the thinnest and one of the lightest convertibles available
* Optional daylight viewing display offers the brightest display in its category
* Hardware supports future multi-touch functionality

Dell is setting new benchmarks for tablet PCs with the addition of the Latitude XT, the thinnest and one of the lightest 12.1-inch convertible tablets available. It is also the brightest in its category with an optional daylight viewing panel. The system starts at $2,499 and Dell will begin to take orders and ship the Latitude XT by the end of the year.

The Latitude XT is also the industry's only sub-four-pound convertible tablet with pen and capacitive touch capability. Capacitive technology senses the touch of a finger with no pressure required for the system to recognize input. It is also the forerunner to emerging multi-touch capabilities that allow the use of more than one finger for tasks such as zoom and repositioning a picture, to name a few. Other touch features available on the Latitude XT include:

* Accuracy and speed - touch response times on the Latitude XT are faster than the Lenovo X61T1
* Advanced digital palm rejection technology, helping prevent inadvertent contact that disrupts pen input
* The digitizer technology on the Latitude XT is rated up to 10 times more durable than competing resistive touch digitizer technology
* Maintenance-free, no-battery pen with eraser and "right" mouse click functionality

"We are listening and aim to exceed customers' expectations," said Margaret Franco, director, Dell Product Group. "Until now, customers have been forced to make tradeoffs in tablet functionality to have usable systems. With Capacitive touch technology, the Latitude XT will revolutionize the way customers interact with their systems, allow customers to take full advantage of tablet technology and enables customers to get more done with greater speed and precision."

Most competitive tablets on the market today rely on resistive touch that requires the application of force for the system to recognize user interaction. The older technology can be less accurate and durable than capacitive touch and may not support multi-touch. In addition, many customers who use resistive tablets that support both pen and touch functionality may disable the latter because the palm rejection technology is subpar.

Market Impact of Dell Tablet PC
"Dell's plan to enter the tablet PC market will help promote the platform among its large number of customers and help facilitate the product category to go mainstream," said Doug Bell at industry analyst firm IDC.

The Latitude XT is designed with the future in mind with the capability to support multi-touch. As the technology matures, the system can serve as a premiere development platform for applications that can take advantage of multi-touch.

"By integrating our DuoSense technology into the Latitude XT, Dell creates the ultimate machine destined to lead the tablet PC market," said Amihai Ben-David, CEO of N-trig. "Customers using the new Latitude XT will find that the zero pressure touch combined with the accurate stylus changes the usability of tablet PCs. Once they try it, they won't want to go back."

As part of Dell's ongoing goal to be the "greenest technology company on the planet," Energy Star 4.0-compliant configurations of the Latitude XT will be available in January 2008.

Other features of the Latitude XT include:

* Optional media base for docking and optical media
* Full-size keyboard with dual pointing
* Up to 64 GB2 solid state drive; up to 120 GB2 hard drive
* Optional battery slice designed to provide up to 9.5 hours of battery life3
* Intel® Core 2TM Solo and Duo ULV processors
* ATITM RadeonTM X1250 UMA integrated graphics

[Dell, Dell Blog via I4U]