Database Users

Capacitive Touch Screen

A capacitive touchscreen panel is coated with a material, typically indium tin oxide that conducts a continuous electrical current across the sensor. The sensor therefore exhibits a precisely controlled field of stored electrons in both the horizontal and vertical axes - it achieves capacitance. The human body is also an electrical device which has stored electrons and therefore also exhibits capacitance. When the sensor's 'normal' capacitance field (its reference state) is altered by another capacitance field, i.e., someone's finger, electronic circuits located at each corner of the panel measure the resultant 'distortion' in the sine wave characteristics of the reference field and sends the information about the event to the controller for mathematical processing. Capacitive sensors can either be touched with a bare finger or with a conductive device being held by a bare hand. Capacitive touchscreens are not affected by outside elements and have high clarity. The Apple iPhone is an example of a product that uses capacitance touchscreen technology: the iPhone is further capable of multi-touch sensing.
Capacitive sensors work based on proximity, and do not have to be directly touched to be triggered. In most cases, direct contact to a conductive metal surface does not occur and the conductive sensor is separated from the user's body by an insulating glass or plastic layer. Devices with capacitive buttons intended to be touched by a finger can often be triggered by quickly waving the palm of the hand close to the surface without touching.
The HTC/T-Mobile G1/Dream is also equipped with a capacitive touch screen.

is the Xperia X1 also equipped with Capacitive touch screen? because i noticed its not as sensitive as iphone

Without opening up the phone, there are several ways to find out if a phone uses a capacitive or resistive (i.e. pressure-sensitive) screen.
1. Look at the screen off-angle in bright light. You may be able to see a grid of dots that looks something like this and extends over the entire screen surface:
. . .
. . .
. . .
If you can, it's probably not a capacitive screen.
2. Can the screen be operated by a non-conductive object i.e. a toothpick?
If so, it's probably not a capacitive screen.
3. Does the device come with a stylus/"plectrum" and does it require screen calibration?
If it does, it's probably not a capacitive screen.
No mass-market WM device to date has a capacitive touchscreen, including the X1. The first post of this thread will help you understand why: http://discuss.pocketnow.com/showthread.php?threadid=23389

Nocturnal310 said:
is the Xperia X1 also equipped with Capacitive touch screen? because i noticed its not as sensitive as iphone
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Click to collapse
My Xperia is more sensitive than an iPhone. Granted I did some tweaking, but still.

No, Xperia is like the rest of our phones has resistive screen. It can be very sensitive, but stylus will be your main indication. I have LG Prada that has capacitive screen and LG Viewty that has a resistive one.

enigma1nz said:
No, Xperia is like the rest of our phones has resistive screen. It can be very sensitive, but stylus will be your main indication. I have LG Prada that has capacitive screen and LG Viewty that has a resistive one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No? So, you have spied on me using my phone and know that it is not more sensitive? Pffft...

iphone rockz!
im sorry but no phone is as sensitive as an iphone!

jesse_g said:
im sorry but no phone is as sensitive as an iphone!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should be sorry, because you are wrong. Do your research better and come back to apologize.

sorry but i have the same idea...... i think iPhone is more sensitive than xperia

Do capacititve screens have a separation issue like some of the HTC resistive screens have?
Where the layers of a resistive screen including the digitizer start to separate causing a rectangular shape in the center that looks like oil on water.
Has happened to me and many others where the screen eventually has a complete failure.
I do know that the capacitive screens on the iPhone are prone to breakage due to the fact that it has a glass surface.
The resistive screen of the Diamond is less prone to breakage because it has a plastic type film on the surface.
Btw, my screen is pretty sensitive, whether using the stylus or touch.

You can tweak your resistiv screen by allign screen.
If you dont press the screen and move little circles between the arrow you can make screen more sensitiv
Sorry for my english cause i am german

Black93300ZX said:
A capacitive touchscreen panel is coated with a material, typically indium tin oxide that conducts a continuous electrical current across the sensor. The sensor therefore exhibits a precisely controlled field of stored electrons in both the horizontal and vertical axes - it achieves capacitance. The human body is also an electrical device which has stored electrons and therefore also exhibits capacitance. When the sensor's 'normal' capacitance field (its reference state) is altered by another capacitance field, i.e., someone's finger, electronic circuits located at each corner of the panel measure the resultant 'distortion' in the sine wave characteristics of the reference field and sends the information about the event to the controller for mathematical processing. Capacitive sensors can either be touched with a bare finger or with a conductive device being held by a bare hand. Capacitive touchscreens are not affected by outside elements and have high clarity. The Apple iPhone is an example of a product that uses capacitance touchscreen technology: the iPhone is further capable of multi-touch sensing.
Capacitive sensors work based on proximity, and do not have to be directly touched to be triggered. In most cases, direct contact to a conductive metal surface does not occur and the conductive sensor is separated from the user's body by an insulating glass or plastic layer. Devices with capacitive buttons intended to be touched by a finger can often be triggered by quickly waving the palm of the hand close to the surface without touching.
The HTC/T-Mobile G1/Dream is also equipped with a capacitive touch screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
interesting... I didn't know that

jesse_g said:
im sorry but no phone is as sensitive as an iphone!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
darren shan said:
sorry but i have the same idea...... i think iPhone is more sensitive than xperia
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Click to collapse
Hey guys there is a cab called iTouch for blackstone and it tweaks the resistance to ultra-sensitive, works like a charm. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=469865 , try it.

1. Look at the screen off-angle in bright light. You may be able to see a grid of dots that looks something like this and extends over the entire screen surface:
. . .
. . .
. . .
If you can, it's probably not a capacitive screen.
Not necessarily true. The Nexus One has a capacitive screen and also has the dots...
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

Multi-touch
So.. I guess I'm going to show my ignorance, but here is my question.
There are several posts on several sites talking about how you can't do multi-touch unless you have a capacitive screen. Then I go to Pandawill and look at the G10. It says it's a resistive screen but there are videos of it doing pinch-to-zoom.
Can someone help me understand how multi-touch relates to the screen type?
Sorry if i'm too much of a n00b

Sorry to add fuel to fire but a capacitive screen will always be more sensitive (speaking purely about the physics of it) than a resisitive screen.
Why?
Capacitive screens rely on charge and comparative charge of two bodies. In some instances, capacitive screens can work without the finger actually touching the screen.
Resistive screens rely on a minute deflection from contact to connect two conductive layers. You can touch a resistive screen lightly enough to not result in a UI interaction. Resisitve screens can be tweaked to work at a very high sensitivity but still not as sensitive as a capacitive screen.
Go ahead, compare two phones with opposing screen tech side by side. I thought nothing could be as responsive as my Topaz till I bought a Nexus, then Desire (which have other issues btw! )
Sorry but thats the blunt science behind it. Bear in mind the perception of responsiveness to touch can very well depend on the quality/smoothness of the software written or the user interface.
Source:
HTC Touch Diamond 2 vs. HTC Desire
Source 2:
My university degree.

Sorry for the double post but to answer your question,
Yes resistive screens can be used to provide multi touch support. Where this support isnt built into the drivers for the digitizer, its a lot harder. Bear in mind most older phones were launched before the mainstream advent of multi touch. Thus no drivers...only brilliant minds at XDA
However, using a resisitve touch screen to provide multi touch has some serious drawbacks, mainly on smaller screens.
I hate to break it to you but the reason behind this is actually the size of your "pinch" fingers with respect to screen size.
Multi touch on a small resistive screen cause deflection at multiple points on the digitizer but due to the reliance on deflection, the software will inevitably struggle to understand what sort of multitouch gesture you're trying to do! Your fingers with relation to screen size are simply too big!
When you have a bigger screen or a well designed digitizer + software, it can determine positions of multiple points much more accurately, thus allowing multi-touch.
eulalie said:
So.. I guess I'm going to show my ignorance, but here is my question.
There are several posts on several sites talking about how you can't do multi-touch unless you have a capacitive screen. Then I go to Pandawill and look at the G10. It says it's a resistive screen but there are videos of it doing pinch-to-zoom.
Can someone help me understand how multi-touch relates to the screen type?
Sorry if i'm too much of a n00b
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

ozy944 said:
Sorry for the double post but to answer your question,
Yes resistive screens can be used to provide multi touch support. Where this support isnt built into the drivers for the digitizer, its a lot harder. Bear in mind most older phones were launched before the mainstream advent of multi touch. Thus no drivers...only brilliant minds at XDA
However, using a resisitve touch screen to provide multi touch has some serious drawbacks, mainly on smaller screens.
I hate to break it to you but the reason behind this is actually the size of your "pinch" fingers with respect to screen size.
Multi touch on a small resistive screen cause deflection at multiple points on the digitizer but due to the reliance on deflection, the software will inevitably struggle to understand what sort of multitouch gesture you're trying to do! Your fingers with relation to screen size are simply too big!
When you have a bigger screen or a well designed digitizer + software, it can determine positions of multiple points much more accurately, thus allowing multi-touch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right.. I get that pinch is tougher on a small screen thats less sensative. The question was posed because there isn't a, what i consider to be cheap (in the 250$ or less range), 10 in capacative android tablet on the market.
If i venture in the the flatpad/apad/epad world... is it the case that it is impossible for that type of screen to do multi-touch? From your response I'm hearing that it IS possible to do multi-touch on a flatpad.. given that there are drivers supporting it. I'd love to have a capacative screen but from what i've seen online, they're going to be twice the cost or more.

eulalie said:
Right.. I get that pinch is tougher on a small screen thats less sensative. The question was posed because there isn't a, what i consider to be cheap (in the 250$ or less range), 10 in capacative android tablet on the market.
If i venture in the the flatpad/apad/epad world... is it the case that it is impossible for that type of screen to do multi-touch? From your response I'm hearing that it IS possible to do multi-touch on a flatpad.. given that there are drivers supporting it. I'd love to have a capacative screen but from what i've seen online, they're going to be twice the cost or more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A dilemma huh? To be brutally honest, most budget oriented tablets are simply that: budget oriented. A lot of them (im trying not to generalize) and Ive tried a fair few are poorly implemented tablets and more trouble than they are worth. Slow, laggy, bad battery life. You'll have enough issues to simply forget the lack of multi touch.
If I was after a tablet, hard as it may be, Id wait till some big players launch a proper device...that'll lead to better adoption and less half baked tablets that are more tech demo than retail product.
Bear in mind the lack of android market access on almost all of these tablets. Due to their generic nature, dev work is also a no-go. Everybody and their friends and family have a device out with a costomised, baked os that its not even funny!
Id check out the galaxy tablet from samsung or wait for it to make some waves and bring forth better implemented copycat products

yodafone said:
Without opening up the phone, there are several ways to find out if a phone uses a capacitive or resistive (i.e. pressure-sensitive) screen.
1. Look at the screen off-angle in bright light. You may be able to see a grid of dots that looks something like this and extends over the entire screen surface:
. . .
. . .
. . .
If you can, it's probably not a capacitive screen.
2. Can the screen be operated by a non-conductive object i.e. a toothpick?
If so, it's probably not a capacitive screen.
3. Does the device come with a stylus/"plectrum" and does it require screen calibration?
If it does, it's probably not a capacitive screen.
No mass-market WM device to date has a capacitive touchscreen, including the X1. The first post of this thread will help you understand why: http://discuss.pocketnow.com/showthread.php?threadid=23389
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The HTC HD2 is a capacitive touch-screen phone, was mass marketed on WM and has the dots (not horizontally but diagonally). Dont talk about it if you dont know about it.
http://crave.cnet.co.uk/mobiles/htc-hd2-first-windows-mobile-with-capacitive-touchscreen-49303837/

Interesting - HD2 might not be capacitive after all

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=576052

It's unlikely that HTC has completely lied in the specs, and the specs say that the screen is capacitive. However, it is like HTC to stretch the truth.

It is exceedingly unlikely that it's resistive. Resistive screens require pressure to be used - and we already know that the HD2's front is coated in glass. You can't use a resistive screen with hard glass.

As mentioned many times, the specs & hands on reviews say that the screen is capacitive! Soon we shall have the proof...

Noam23 said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=576052
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nonsense
..

galaxys said:
As mentioned many times, the specs & hands on reviews say that the screen is capacitive! Soon we shall have the proof...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, Till the device is not in the market we can't tell many things can change.

Noam23 said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=576052
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that thread sounds kinda disappointed if it is true, but I really hope it is exactly the same capacitive type of screen like iPhone and iPod Touch! The reason is, the feel between the two are really different. I personally find that resistive screen has a cheap feeling to me as it has a soft thin layer on top with visible dots, and the gap between the layer can feel very easily. However, true capacitive screen feels like it is entirely glass top, it is very solid and handling the device with the screen is a joy. Just a tiny touch of the screen will have instant response from capacity screen, so, I personally prefer iPhone capacitive screen, and I really hope this is not true!!!!!!!!!!!!

wonsanim said:
Yes, Till the device is not in the market we can't tell many things can change.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's right...

From HTC's website: The world’s first capacitive touch technology on a Windows® phone
Works for me.

precsmo said:
I personally find that resistive screen has a cheap feeling to me as it has a soft thin layer on top with visible dots, and the gap between the layer can feel very easily. However, true capacitive screen feels like it is entirely glass top, it is very solid and handling the device with the screen is a joy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then you have never seen true capacitive screens. They have a layer of conductive wires just behind the glass top. On the 40 inch capacitive screen I use, you can clearly see them even at maximum brightness.

I've seen the dots on blackberry storm too, I've got Pre and once i've notice too, but both of the screen made of hard glass and very bright.
They both are capacitive screens.

Gloves
Dark Fire said:
It's unlikely that HTC has completely lied in the specs, and the specs say that the screen is capacitive. However, it is like HTC to stretch the truth.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Whatever the screen is, I just need it to be glove-compatible, just like the Omnia, Omnia 2, Blackstone but UNLIKE iPod Touch (which i have), and iPhone. How do you communicate in winter with a full touch screen, and with wm 6.5.1 which might not allow answering with the hard "answer" button? My Omnia 2 is out of order: the antenna is broken(?) anyway i don't have any network reception. When it comes back from servicing in 2-3 weeks, I just sell it and buy a HD2.
forelli

forelli said:
Whatever the screen is, I just need it to be glove-compatible, just like the Omnia, Omnia 2, Blackstone but UNLIKE iPod Touch (which i have), and iPhone. How do you communicate in winter with a full touch screen, and with wm 6.5.1 which might not allow answering with the hard "answer" button? My Omnia 2 is out of order: the antenna is broken(?) anyway i don't have any network reception. When it comes back from servicing in 2-3 weeks, I just sell it and buy a HD2.
forelli
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it's never going to be 'glove compatible' you need to touch the screen with a conductive item..ie your hand, metal stylus etc. a glove will not work

forelli said:
Whatever the screen is, I just need it to be glove-compatible, just like the Omnia, Omnia 2, Blackstone but UNLIKE iPod Touch (which i have), and iPhone. How do you communicate in winter with a full touch screen, and with wm 6.5.1 which might not allow answering with the hard "answer" button? My Omnia 2 is out of order: the antenna is broken(?) anyway i don't have any network reception. When it comes back from servicing in 2-3 weeks, I just sell it and buy a HD2.
forelli
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I started thinking about the same thing today since I live in sweden, and came up with the solution:
use your nose! its gonna look funny as hell, but I aint taking my gloves of when the winter hits hard

shame
twisted-pixel said:
it's never going to be 'glove compatible' you need to touch the screen with a conductive item..ie your hand, metal stylus etc. a glove will not work
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thnaks for the answer. what a pity: i think the blackstone with 1 Ghz Snapdragon is the best alternative, or the Omnia 2 and its 800 Mhz cpu with a more comprehensive GUI and a bigger screen...

forelli said:
... blackstone with 1 Ghz Snapdragon is the best alternative...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's called the Acer NeoTouch (F1)

TrYde said:
Then you have never seen true capacitive screens. They have a layer of conductive wires just behind the glass top. On the 40 inch capacitive screen I use, you can clearly see them even at maximum brightness.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
even if it is true, but it is 4.3" vs 40", it is way too far to compare and if the 4.3" can ever notice the wires? At least iPhone look like just one whole piece of solid glass touch screen, and that is what I prefer

What are capacitive screens really good for?

First things first: I generally like my HD2 - It's fast, has a nice display and a lot of other nice features but the touch screen outright sucks and is bordering on useless. Of course the iphone screen isn't much better but it still beats the HD2 screen hands down.
What's all the fuss about capacitive screens? All I can see is a loss in functionality. I hear their more durable but who cares whether the screen lasts 3 years or 10???? It's nowhere near as precise as any other touch screen device I ever owned. I can't use a stylus for drawing small things or playing most games....try playing crayon physics with this absolute piece of junk...or Warfare Incorporated.
I installed a sensitivity fix cab and it's somewhat usable for day to day stuff but still.....the 4.3" screen is nowhere near as usable as the 3" my X1 had and I could operate that with my finger only quite all right.
Seems like there nothing in capacitive screens other than being iphone-like. Why not have a 4.3" resistive screen? What's the actual downside?

ewok666 said:
try playing crayon physics
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Click to collapse
I am and it works just fine for me
There are styluses (styli?) available for cap. screens also though.

The advantige of capacitive touch screens:
Glass can be used. Less vulnerable.
multi touch can be implemented.
more touch sensetive.
The advantige of resistive touch screens:
more accurate without software.
simple styles can be used.
cheap.
greatings,
marc

ewok666 said:
I can't use a stylus for drawing small things or playing most games....try playing crayon physics with this absolute piece of junk...or Warfare Incorporated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get ready to be flamed for your attitude. Coming onto a forum for fans of a device and calling it an "absolute piece of junk" is a pretty good way to not make friends!
Anyway, I finished Crayon Physics the other day, and had no problems doing so with my fingers. I suggest that the hardware isn't the problem here. Everyone else seems to manage fine.

I'd say the biggest downside of capacitive screens is the absence of multitouch capabilities. I have absolutely no problems operating my phone with it's capacitive screen. So to speak, Windows Mobile 6.x.x isn't really optimized for it anyways, as the HD2 was the first phone with capacitive screen on the platform.
If you wanted to work precise with a stylus then maybe you shouldn't have bought an HD2 in the first place.

ewok666 said:
... try playing crayon physics with this absolute piece of junk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No offence but I would say that not being able to play/finish crayon physics deluxe with this peace of jewellery is of course not caused by the screen or the phone. I would search the cause somewhere else.....

ewok666 said:
First things first: I generally like my HD2 - It's fast, has a nice display and a lot of other nice features but the touch screen outright sucks and is bordering on useless. Of course the iphone screen isn't much better but it still beats the HD2 screen hands down.
What's all the fuss about capacitive screens? All I can see is a loss in functionality. I hear their more durable but who cares whether the screen lasts 3 years or 10???? It's nowhere near as precise as any other touch screen device I ever owned. I can't use a stylus for drawing small things or playing most games....try playing crayon physics with this absolute piece of junk...or Warfare Incorporated.
I installed a sensitivity fix cab and it's somewhat usable for day to day stuff but still.....the 4.3" screen is nowhere near as usable as the 3" my X1 had and I could operate that with my finger only quite all right.
Seems like there nothing in capacitive screens other than being iphone-like. Why not have a 4.3" resistive screen? What's the actual downside?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The whole benefit of a capacitive screen for me is that I don't have to use a stylus. If I wanted to use a stylus I would have gone for a different phone.
Why did you buy this phone if you wanted to use a stylus? You can however get one, have you tried that first before falling out with the phone? It could fulfill all your needs and then you'll see how good the HD2 is.

I think that it is a matter of habit and getting used to resistive screens in your case. I havent had a resistive screen ever but i played a quite a lot with some and i must say that capacitive is much more interactive, finger friendly and intuitive than resistive so you might just try not to be so stuborn and give it a chance Everytime i try to do something with my girlfriends' resistive samsung and i keep getting stuck with not knowing how hard should I push the screen exactly ... I am not a fan of the resistive and after all it is called TOUCH screen not a Push screen Enjoy your Hd mate !

You can use fingers on resistive touchscreens. These days even resistive touchscreens can have multitouch.
I think the main advantage of capacitive screen is the glass, as was mentioned. Resistive screen must deform under the touching object, which means it wears down.
For phone, capacitive screen is just ok.
For tablet PCs, I'd like to see combination of capacitive screen with electromagnetic stylus (like tablet has) where you could switch the mode.
Capacitive screen is good for fast controls, but if you draw with stylus, you don't want the screen to react on random touches.
For example iPad has rather thick borders around the screen .. because you have to hold it somehow without actually touching the screen.

ewok666 said:
try playing crayon physics with this absolute piece of junk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The game is so addictive i completed this morning. Try junking your fingers?
A capacitive screen makes our screen a real touch screen instead of 'tap screen'.

kruithofm said:
The advantige of capacitive touch screens:
more touch sensetive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think so. Resistive is much more sensitive and precise. Pen stroke input used to be the reason PPC stuck to resistive input.
Being an HD2 fan doesn't mean a capacitive fan. Capacitive is the reason that I nearly bought an Omnia II instead of HD2. For me, it is something to hate.
With resistive, I don't mind carrying around a stylus when it means I can do precision work. And I can still use my fingers when I need to.
Now that we have WVGA, I believe now that we can sacrifice screen estate and use huge UIs so that capacitive screen can survive. But that means old applications written for resistive screens (including WM6.1 dialogues) usually have too small UIs for use on HD2.

Alex, That the Capacitive touch is more sensetive is an advantige, with the interface or software you can decrese the sensetivety. On resistive touch screens it is technicaly inposible to get the sensetivety as high as on capacitive.
It is posible to make resistive touch screens multitouch. only that takes a lot of software to calculate positions of pressing.
The techniek is very different between both. therefore you love it or you don't. some get used to it, some don't. It is all personal. There are even people who love the small keyboards. And even my wife loves only the number keys on the normal simple phones since she uses the dictionairy. And I have to say, She is faster writing a sms than me.
So everyone should use whatever they like. Every option has it's advantiges.

johncmolyneux said:
Get ready to be flamed for your attitude. Coming onto a forum for fans of a device and calling it an "absolute piece of junk" is a pretty good way to not make friends!
Anyway, I finished Crayon Physics the other day, and had no problems doing so with my fingers. I suggest that the hardware isn't the problem here. Everyone else seems to manage fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I should have been more specific: The junk I'm referring to is the screen and NOT the device. Like I said, I like the device but IMHO all the 'advantages' of capacitive don't make up for its downsides.
Just to address some of the comments:
Resistive screens CAN be touch operated without a stylus
They do NOT break down all the time
AFAIK they CAN support multitouch
Maybe it's just the crappy implementation of capacitive that HTC has done. The Iphone screen does not seem to suffer from all the issues the HD2 has:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=595655
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=604831
The stylus for capacitive screens is a joke. Come on, do they have to be that fat and ugly? Is there really no way to have a small, pointy, conductive stylus?
Are capacitive screen really a requirement for WM7?

ewok666 said:
The stylus for capacitive screens is a joke. Come on, do they have to be that fat and ugly? Is there really no way to have a small, pointy, conductive stylus?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Learn before you preach.

johncmolyneux said:
Get ready to be flamed for your attitude. Coming onto a forum for fans of a device and calling it an "absolute piece of junk" is a pretty good way to not make friends!
Anyway, I finished Crayon Physics the other day, and had no problems doing so with my fingers. I suggest that the hardware isn't the problem here. Everyone else seems to manage fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hahahahahaha!!! John is right. Better be careful what you post on this forum.

I say put your fingers on a strict diet! Enroll them in a exercise regime until you can use your "piece of junk" effectively.

Well, for me the #1 reason for me to get an HD2 IS the capacitive screen.
I've had many many resistive screen devices (1 old pocketpc, 4 HTC phones, 2 touch-enabled UMPCs), and I'm tired of having to use my nail to press on that screen. It's perfectly fine on old-style UIs that rely on clicks only, but for the "new" flick, scroll, tap, pinch, rotate, capacitive is just the way to go.
Still getting mad when I tap my Kaiser's screen with my finger (not the nail) and it thinks I want to scroll, and goes 2 pages down... only works fine with something sharp, whatever the settings/tweaks.

capacitive is a reason to buy for me: it is what made the HD2 stand out for me. I will never go back to resistive technology.
I must say though that in my opinion the iPhone display is of a superior quality, not in terms of pixel count, but certainly in terms of its accuracy, sensitivity and reliability. it is simply a lot easier to tap out words on the iPhone than on the HD2. It also responds better to cold (if I go out in the winter breeze I sometimes find my HD2 starts pressing keys and moving the screen about of its own accord).

ewok666 said:
I should have been more specific: The junk I'm referring to is the screen and NOT the device. Like I said, I like the device but IMHO all the 'advantages' of capacitive don't make up for its downsides.
Just to address some of the comments:
Resistive screens CAN be touch operated without a stylus
They do NOT break down all the time
AFAIK they CAN support multitouch
Maybe it's just the crappy implementation of capacitive that HTC has done. The Iphone screen does not seem to suffer from all the issues the HD2 has:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=595655
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=604831
The stylus for capacitive screens is a joke. Come on, do they have to be that fat and ugly? Is there really no way to have a small, pointy, conductive stylus?
Are capacitive screen really a requirement for WM7?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try walkin down the street while tryin to send an sms using the stylus on a resistive screen...u'll be sooo glad ur hd2 is capacitive...

kruithofm said:
The advantige of capacitive touch screens:
Glass can be used. Less vulnerable.
multi touch can be implemented.
more touch sensetive.
The advantige of resistive touch screens:
more accurate without software.
simple styles can be used.
cheap.
greatings,
marc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this should have been end of thread.

Touch Screen Doesnt Always Respond

Hi
Anyone else having problems with the touchscreen taking maybe 5 presses for you to be able to select for example a menu option? This is really starting to bug me now. So much so I'm thinking of sending it back to t-mobile and cancelling the contract.
Any help/suggestions would be appreciated.
Cheers
Andy

Try an Calibration in the settings menu.

There isn't a screen calibration setting on this handset. I wasn't aware we had to do this on these capacitive screens.

My X10 doesn't work like that at all. How hard do you press? Does it work in one press if you press harder?

Press harder on as capacitive display?
You'll have to place your second hand on the metal frame and it'll work perfect.
Dry hands are also not good.

boo6 said:
Press harder on as capacitive display?
You'll have to place your second hand on the metal frame and it'll work perfect.
Dry hands are also not good.
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Yeah. If you press harder a larger area of your finger touches the display. I.E. more for the digitizer to sense.

boo6 said:
Dry hands are also not good.
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I'm definitely noticing this. I'm not exactly the type of guy to regularly moisturize my hands. I work in construction, and this capacitive screen absolutely sucks for me. I've been using resistive screens beautifully up to this point. I find I often have to lick my thumb regularly to get the screen to work properly. I have a ton of trouble unlocking the phone, since the screen thinks I've lifted my thumb halfway through the pattern. Using swype is a nightmare for this reason as well.
There are resistive multitouch screens on laptops and desktops now. I hope we see a swing back to resistive screens on smartphones.

I'm experiencing this problem aswell an i'm pretty much sure this is all software related, you can actually see the interface reacting to the press but it seems like the device never executes the action forcing you to press multiple times, annoying as hell yes! I sincerely hope SE fixes this in the next update.

Has anyone had any problems with accuracy? In some apps the touch registers like 5mm below where I actually touch.

I think the stock screen protector hinders the touch sensitivity quite a bit. Try getting a thinner screen protector. There is a thread talking about how sensitivity and accuracy improved when they took theirs off.

needmoregigs said:
I think the stock screen protector hinders the touch sensitivity quite a bit. Try getting a thinner screen protector. There is a thread talking about how sensitivity and accuracy improved when they took theirs off.
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Thanks for the tip but I already have an uberthin protector. That brand has worked very well on all other capacitive displays I've had. I'm suspecting a software bug rather than a hardware issue.

needmoregigs said:
I think the stock screen protector hinders the touch sensitivity quite a bit. Try getting a thinner screen protector. There is a thread talking about how sensitivity and accuracy improved when they took theirs off.
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I jammed my X10 in a sports armband for Ipod touch, it has a very thick plastic window and it did not affect the sensetivity a bit so i dont think the thin stock protector will do any difference. Just my opinion

ddewbofh said:
Has anyone had any problems with accuracy? In some apps the touch registers like 5mm below where I actually touch.
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I've noticed that on the dialer application.
Sometimes, while I am on Recent Calls section, I press the green telephone next to a contact and it calls the one right below it!

Haven't ever noticed any sort of oddness like that... and I have a thick screen protector on top of the stock one.
Occasionally I'll type a letter wrong, but that seems to have improved with the update from two weeks ago.

Nexus 10 Screen On Note 10.1 ??

guys would it be possible to take off the screens in each tablet and install the nexus 10 screen on the note 10.1 ?? Wouldnt that give us the resolution capabilities for it , and at the same time replace the battery and get the NFC ??

cubandevil said:
guys would it be possible to take off the screens in each tablet and install the nexus 10 screen on the note 10.1 ?? Wouldnt that give us the resolution capabilities for it , and at the same time replace the battery and get the NFC ??
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The Note has an inductive display to support the S-Pen and the N10's display is capacitive and the pen won't work. So, pick one.

so the screens are not separated like a digitizer and the actual screen ?? and sorry for these question im ignorant when it comes to things like these.

Pretty sure the Exynos 4 that's inside the Note 10.1 doesn't support the Nexus 10's screen resolution. So it won't work as far as I know.

The screen wont work for mainly two reasons the wavecom chip wont work with a capacative screen and it does not support higher resolution then what we have on the note. That is why not has that resolution
The processor does not support that high resolution.
These are main two reason apart from many other. Its like fitting a trucks body on a cars chassies

cubandevil said:
so the screens are not separated like a digitizer and the actual screen ?? and sorry for these question im ignorant when it comes to things like these.
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Here's the difference between the two displays. An inductive display picks up an electro-magnetic signal from the pen where a capacitive display only can respond to physical contact. Based on the manufacturing complexity I'd guess the Note's display cost Samsung more than the FHD+ display on the N10.

BarryH_GEG said:
Here's the difference between the two displays. An inductive display picks up an electro-magnetic signal from the pen where a capacitive display only can respond to physical contact. Based on the manufacturing complexity I'd guess the Note's display cost Samsung more than the FHD+ display on the N10.
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We have both capacitive and inductive digitizers as we have dual digitizers one from atmel and the other is wacom
Sent from my X10S using xda app-developers app

hoss_n2 said:
We have both capacitive and inductive digitizers as we have dual digitizers one from atmel and the other is wacom
Sent from my X10S using xda app-developers app
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Thank you guys , just using my imagination
I didnt know that the screen resolution mattered to the cpu , but then again a computer monitor will go as far as the graphics in a pc allows it ..

Yes the same concept works over here, it depends on how much the mali gpu allows it go to. Secondly as the resolution increase the processing power requirement also increases.
You can have insane resolutions but how pratical are they since most of the apps are developed for a 5inch screen.

This was posted in the N10 forum and sort of describes the challenges of inking on a capacitive display by someone who tried to solve them. To me, either inking works well or why bother. Using a kluge might get the job done but would be very frustrating. I'd rather live with the 720P display (which is still better in contrast and brightness than the N10's).
transceiver said:
I made the app Writepad Stylus to do precisely that, on the Asus Transformer 101. Palm rejection on a capacitive screen, without weird zoning boxes. It worked pretty well and I made a lot of money from it. But there are a ton of issues with that algorithm that I ran into when I got the Asus Transformer Prime, which ultimately made me give up on the app:
Bad capacitive screen sensitivity. The Transformer Prime and the Galaxy Tab 10.1 both have awful sensitivity settings, so the writing comes out looking like an 8 year old's scribble. It doesn't register all the input points. It doesn't start recording points until AFTER you move the stylus a certain distance. Ugh. There's an app that sorta fixes that called TouchscreenTune, but it requires root, and the settings for that are really hard to calibrate. Even after messing with that, it's still not as good as on the Xoom or the original Transformer.
Touch screen can't handle straight lines. If you try to draw a straight line horizontally or vertically, it comes out straight. If you try to draw a diagonal line, it comes out wiggly. This is also particular to certain tablet screens. Who knows whether a particular tablet will have good touch screen or crappy one? No reviewer tests for that kind of thing. You have to go to the store to try it out.
Your hand will accidentally hit the notification or navigation buttons, taking focus away from the app, or accidentally going back to the homescreen. As far as I know, this can happen even with the S-pen. Asus has a "lock navigation bar" feature on their tablets, which is nice. There's no way to hide the navigation bar or disable it while something is going on in app (unless you root your tablet).
Anyway, if someone wants to test these things on the Nexus 10 and report back, I'd be grateful since I can't find these in stores yet. Just try to write as small as you can with a capacitive stylus, and try to slowly draw straight diagonal lines.
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BarryH_GEG said:
Here's the difference between the two displays. An inductive display picks up an electro-magnetic signal from the pen where a capacitive display only can respond to physical contact. Based on the manufacturing complexity I'd guess the Note's display cost Samsung more than the FHD+ display on the N10.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have posted a comparison between a RESISTIVE display and a capacitive/inductive one. The top picture is resistive which is old technology now, it's what the old smart phones and pocket PC's used and had a thin layer of plasticky material for sensing pressure. The note 10.1 uses both capacitive (for fingers) and inductive (for the pen).....and the nexus 10 just uses capacitive, not the screen in the 1st pic in your diagram. As far as I know, no screens use resistive tech anymore.
Sent from my GT-N8010 using xda app-developers app