New Technology Reviews!.: touchscreen

Tetris Free hits Android Market today

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<img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="106" mce_src="http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/3853/tetrissg540x293.jpg" src="http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/3853/tetrissg540x293.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="194" />One of the games that I really liked back in the day was Tetris. The puzzle game has different shapes that tumble from the top of the screen and fill up the area. The goal is to align the different pieces to fill up a row and make the row disappear. If you don’t align enough when the parts touch the top of the screen, you lose.</div>
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Tetris Free is now on the Android Market for you to download. The app was updated August 24 and is being offered at no cost exclusively on Android devices. The game is a new and improved version of the original Tetris with the music we all know and it includes the Marathon Mode as well.</div>
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The game uses the touchscreen for control and the pieces can be slid and rotated using the fingers. The free version also allows for stat tracking so they can work to beat their high score. I bet a bunch of people grab this game today.</div>
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“Tetris is one of the most distinctive, well-known and popular video game franchises in the world and it gives EA the opportunity to grow its already-expanding customer base on the Android platform,” said Bernard Kim, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for EA Interactive. “Tetris has a strong legacy in the mobile gaming world and we’re excited to bring a free version of Tetris to yet another great platform.”</div>
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Tetris Free hits Android Market today

One of the games that I really liked back in the day was Tetris. The puzzle game has different shapes that tumble from the top of the sc...

TUAW's Daily iPhone App: The King of Fighters-i 002

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SNK's famous King of Fighters series has finally come to iOS with this new app for the iPhone, allowing you to play with 13 different fighters across four singleplayer modes and Bluetooth multiplayer. The setup is very similar to Capcom's Street Fighter, with virtual buttons on the touchscreen, but of course this game has all different fighters to play with, and lots of extras to unlock, from trading cards of the fighters themselves to concept art and even movies from the main console game.</div>
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The King of Fighters-i 002 is pricey at US$7.99, but all indications are that this is a nice premium game, especially if you're a fan of the KoF series. Plus, while there are only 13 characters right now, more will be available to download for free, which should bring the total to 20 different characters by October, according to SNK. If you're already sold, go grab the game, and even if not, look for this one on sale in the future.</div>
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TUAW's Daily iPhone App: The King of Fighters-i 002

SNK's famous King of Fighters series has finally come to iOS with this new app for the iPhone, allowing you to play with 13 differe...

Habey USA's 12-inch panel PC brings that rugged look to your home

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It's a shame this steel-encased touchscreen PC from Habey USA arrived too late for our violent outburst on the Engadget Show, but at least it has some broadly agreeable specs. The PPC-6512 can reel off 1080p vids on its 12-inch screen while consuming just 30W thanks to its 1.8GHz Atom D525 and NVIDIA Ion GT218 combo. An empty 2.5-inch removable HDD tray and eSATA port give it potential as a networked storage hub, and an old-school serial port lets it handle home automation controls too. It could also be used as a comms or security terminal, as there's a 1.3MP webcam on board, vesa mounting holes and four USB 2.0 ports. Heck, we'd buy three and rig our whole house up -- were it not for the $800 price tag, the apparently limited availability on Habey USA's underloved Amazon page, and the fact that we like our terminals to show a bit of emotion. Full specs in the PR after the break.</div>
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Habey USA's 12-inch panel PC brings that rugged look to your home

It's a shame this steel-encased touchscreen PC from Habey USA arrived too late for our violent outburst on the Engadget Show, but a...

Review: Bang & Olufsen BeoVision 4-85

<img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="150" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/Home%20Entertainment/Bang%20and%20Olufsen%20BeoVision%204-85/B%20and%20O%20BeoVision%201-200-200.jpg" width="200" /> It's no surprise that Bang & Olufsen's first 3D TV also happens to be one of the most expensive sets ever produced. More likely to be found on a yacht or luxury custom installation than the average living room, the BeoVision 4-85 boasts an 85-inch plasma screen, a host of features and a price that would make Croesus himself blush. The display is the same as that behind Panasonic's TH-85VX200, so its pedigree isn't in doubt. Amazingly, though, the 4-85 is about to become the smallest TV in the BeoVision range, with the non-3D 65-inch version being phased out and a whopping 103-inch version (BeoVision 4-103) waiting in the wings. The latter, with its motorised stand, will cost you – deep breath – close to £100,000. If you decide to wall-mount it, the price comes down to a trifling £82,000. For now, this 85-incher is the only plasma sold by Bang & Olufsen, the rest of its range being mostly LED-backlit LCD TVs that are as delectably designed as they are expensive. At the entry level – if such a thing exists within B&O's money-no-object ethos – is the BeoVision 8-40. A snip at £4,500, this 40-inch TV has a full HD resolution, 200Hz and a surround sound decoder, plus a soundbar-style speaker system. Next up is the BeoVision 10 range, all of which have a curiously square aspect, thanks to the three-way speakers slung under the displays. The variations comprise the 32-inch BeoVision 10-32 (£4,500), 40-inch BeoVision 10-40 (£7,000) and 46-inch BeoVision 10-46 (£8,500), with only the smaller version unable to cope with surround sound. All have 200Hz, full HD and an anti-glare screen covering that's also seen on this 85-incher (it works, too; switch-off the TV and reflections are only faint). Finally, aside from this 3D monster, is the BeoVision 7 range, which comprises the BeoVision 7-40 (£11,000) and BeoVision 10-55 (£16,000). The smaller is LCD, the larger LED-lit, yet both have perhaps the greatest feature of all; built-in Blu-ray. It's not 3D, sadly (it soon will be), but is designed quite brilliantly. Press Eject and a Blu-ray disc (or DVD) silently slips out, supported by a slim column. All Bang & Olufsen TVs – and especially the BeoVision 4-85 – are programmable. An engineer asks you exactly what other products you have – say, a Sky+HD box and a Sony Blu-ray player – and the controls for those are integrated into the remote control. However, if you change your components around, an engineer does have to pay another visit to reconfigure the remote. It's the kind of personal service you'd expect if paying this much cash, though the charges keep on coming. You can't just barge into a Bang & Olufsen store and purchase the BeoVision 4-85, though. A site survey must be carried out first, largely to make sure the TV will fit through your doorway, and be supported by your walls or floor. The site visit costs £300, though it's refundable if you decide to buy a BeoVision 4-85. The final charge is for delivery, which, as you can imagine, requires some pretty specialist lifting equipment; say goodbye to between £4,000 and £10,000. The main reason for that is the BeoVision 4-85's clever floor stand that weighs a whopping 500kg. Whereas most TV stands rotate and wriggle, this one elevates. It's largely a show-off feature and not aimed specifically at improving the viewing angle or picture, but it's still addictive; switch the TV on from the remote and it rises to attention, revealing the BeoLab 10 speaker (also part of that 500kg bulk) as it does so. This feature can be customised to exact proportions, with the TV leaning back or turning slightly. Does a TV need to have one position when switched-off, and another when turned on? No, not really – though arguably that's more important with an 85-inch TV, which is likely to become the focal point of any room, however large. When it's switched-off, the BeoVision 4 retracts down to the floor – just an inch or two above, in fact – and from down there it doesn't dominate quite so much. No sooner has the TV lifted into position than the TV comes to life – no coincidence – in typical B&O style; a pair of digital curtains part on the screen to reveal a live TV channel. <img alt="BeoVision 4-85" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Home%20Entertainment/Bang%20and%20Olufsen%20BeoVision%204-85/B%20and%20O%20BeoVision%202-420-90.jpg" width="420" /> At this price the BeoVision 4-85 isn't going to sell in the thousands, which is great news if you're in the market for it, since you can pretty much have it completely customised. Your first choice is between six colours (black, silver, red, blue, golden or gunmetal); the sample we reviewed was finished in snazzy brushed silver. There's no Freeview HD tuner on board the BeoVision 4-85. If you balk and splutter at that, you're very probably not in Bang & Olufsen's universe. Any situation where the BeoVision 4-85 could be used is also one where a Sky or Virgin box is going to be in place – if only for the plethora of high-definition TV channels – so we're not unduly worried about the lack of DVB-T2. Despite that, we're told it will soon be in place. In some ways the BeoVision 4-85 is all about cutting out features considered pointless, picture settings being first on the list. It's a strange stance in some ways, because high-end punters should be the fussiest, but Bang & Olufsen has removed virtually all opportunities to tweak the image. Yes, there are some very basic drop-down menus to change contrast, brightness and colour alongside a Game mode, but that is it; everything else is performed automatically by the BeoVision 4-85's ... wait for it … robotic pop-out camera. Has Bang & Olufsen gone cuckoo? The set arrives perfectly calibrated for its surroundings – B&O is very confident about that, and doesn't want it jeopardised by the customer (heaven forbid) – so the job of the robot arm is to keep things that way. Partly because plasmas are dynamic, colours can take on a slight yellowing hue the more they're used, so every 90-100 hours of use a five-inch camera pops-up from the top of the display, drops down in front of the screen, and measures the saturations and contrast (from a colour spectrum and a greyscale shown onscreen). It then resets to its original parameters, and adjusts the colour temperature to steer away from yellow and the camera dives back in, cuckoo-clock style. The whole process (called Automatic Colour management, which can be done manually at any point) takes about 20 seconds, during which time the IR receiver is also measuring the ambient light in the room, and adjusting the brightness accordingly. It's all a very subtle and silent process, and as we'll see, does a great job, though home cinema aficionados might take umbrage at the apparently dismissive stance towards users making their own tweaks. We presume this stance is largely to stop customers requesting call-outs every time someone messes with the settings. Aside from magical moving mechanisms, the BeoVision 4-85 is also a 3DTV. It employs the Active 3D system used by (for now) the majority of manufacturers and brands, though that's absolutely no surprise; this is a high-end, and huge, plasma that is ideal for Active 3D. In and outputs are, again, up to each buyer; on the back of the sample we saw was strapped a BeoSystem 3 surround sound processor that built-in DVI, four HDMI, component video, three electrical digital audio and, remarkably, three Scarts. Also back there were some line ins and outs, analogue and digital RF and an RF modulator. <img alt="BeoVision 4-85" class="aligncenter" height="142" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Home%20Entertainment/Bang%20and%20Olufsen%20BeoVision%204-85/B%20and%20O%20BeoVision%203-420-90.jpg" width="252" /> Paired with a reference-level Oppo BDP-95EU Blu-ray player, the BeoVision 4-85 pumps out some seriously great 3D pictures. Perhaps it's just the size of the screen that creates such enveloping intensity (not that we sat directly underneath it), but a run-through of Avatar delivered some of the most convincing 3D pictures we've seen. Heavy on contrast and with a searing brightness (at least, for a 3D screen), the BeoVision 4-85 deciphered with intrinsic depth and startling detail the scene where the floating flowers settle on Jake. The way the screen picks out pricks of bright light in otherwise inky black areas of the image is brilliant. In the dog attack scene, it all moves a touch too fast for the BeoVision 4-85; there's a suggestion of crosstalk, though it's mostly a problem with judder. Colour is sublime, as it is in 2D mode. There's a huge drop in contrast with those 3D specs dumped, though it's still enough to impress when compared to mainstream plasmas. On 2D mode there simply isn't any motion blur at all, which is why plasma is best for monster screens (though the 3D specs do introduce some). Sky channels look better than Freeview, which is blighted by softness and fizzing around moving objects. That's no surprise on a screen this big, and the good work done in contrast and colour is retained. Overall, the BeoVision 4-85 is a top-drawer screen for 3D and 2D, while for standard definition it does a decent job at cleaning it up, considering its size. It would be remiss not to point out that 3D material is best viewed on Active 3D screens in as near to blackout as possible – and the BeoVision4-85 is no different. <img alt="BeoVision 4-85" class="aligncenter" height="142" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Home%20Entertainment/Bang%20and%20Olufsen%20BeoVision%204-85/B%20and%20O%20BeoVision%204-420-90.jpg" width="252" /> Sound If the picture relies largely on the Panasonic plasma panel it's hosted on, the sound is all Bang & Olufsen's work. The BeoLab 10 speaker that sits below the screen is a mono driver – but acts as a centre channel in a surround sound set-up, which is virtually the law if you're spending this much. In our review the BeoVision 4-85 was paired with two BeoLab 5 speakers (£3,600 per pair) and two surround sound modules, the BeoLab 3 (£2,700 per pair). The sound is crystal clear and powerful, as it should be at this end of the market. In fact, with the sharp and well-weighted vocals, pitch-perfect bass levels (no external subwoofer is needed) and overwhelmingly effective surround effects, we'd argue that the audio brings the movie to life just as much – if not more – than the 3D effects onscreen. Value If you want one of the best screens on the planet, it will cost you. There is the small matter of price to contented with though – Panasonic's TH-85VX200 costs a 'mere' £42,000, so where's the BeoVision 4-85's extra £24,000 going? On the robot arm, perhaps? The motorised stand? The look of the BeoVision 4-85 is a lot more sculpted, and the way it integrates into a home automation system – and, more importantly, a speaker array – is impressive. Other than that, the money seems to get you a screen that delivers a consistent picture performance that refuses to bend to your will. For those after a top-notch, fuss-free 85-inch screen with huge wow-factor, the BeoVision 4-85 is first class – but the only real reason for any TV to cost £66,000 is that a production line simply doesn't exist; it's custom-built, and that is what determines the price. Ease of use There are two remote controls to pick from. The default option is a Beo4, a long, slender and pleasingly weighty product that takes some getting used to. It's thoroughly effective, though a tad slow at communicating with an IR receiver that protrudes from the BeoVision 4-85's top right-hand corner. The Beo6, which has been in the Bang & Olufsen arsenal for quite some time, costs £230. Those that want a more up-to-the-minute touchscreen remote are also catered for by the Beo6. It's a strange looking thing, with a small colour OLED screen sitting atop what looks like part of a model aircraft's fuselage. It's nicely weighted and comfy to hold, but best of all channel logos can be programmed to appear on the touchscreen. At £600 it adds further to the increasingly stratospheric bill (it comes free with the BeoVision 4 and BeoVision 7 products, so why not this top-of-the-range TV?). The remote really comes into its own when controlling external equipment; we managed to control the internal workings of a Sky+HD box with no problem, perusing the EPG and setting-up recordings. Both remotes are capable of mastering a home automation system if paired with a MasterLink Gateway so, for example, you can use it in conjunction with a Lutron lighting system; press 'movie' on either Bang & Olufsen remote and the Blu-ray kicks-in as the lights dim. It also works with Crestron and AMX systems, so for the wealthy it can control security systems, ventilation, curtains, a burglar alarm – even your electronic pool cover. The TV's user interface doesn't make such a splash, though it is complete simplicity defined. While other brands struggle to introduce polished graphics and colourful, responsive menus, here a different attitude has been taken. There is a bare-bones (and attractive, despite being just white text on a black background) interface that cuts in menus and choices from the left-hand side, but usually the remote can be used to directly choose the source. Those wanting to control TV, or even entire zones of their automated house, with a smartphone can do so with the free – and highly polished – BeoLink app on iPhone or Android. <img alt="BeoVision 4-85" class="aligncenter" height="142" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Home%20Entertainment/Bang%20and%20Olufsen%20BeoVision%204-85/B%20and%20O%20BeoVision%202-420-90.jpg" width="252" /> Although it's always been a pricey brand, the last four or five years has seen the Danish brand issue TVs that haven't been sufficiently different to mass-market propositions to get anyone very excited. That all changes with the BeoVision 4-85. We liked: Contrast, colour and sheer detail are the picture highlights, but this TV goes way beyond its great 3D and 2D work. The robotic camera, home automation options and speaker opportunities are excellent, as is the touchscreen remote and iPhone app, while the motorised stand does nothing to lower our expectations. The choice of plasma when LED-backlighting is so well marketed is a shrewd, if risky move – and absolutely pivotal to its success. We disliked: The constant piling-on of costs – for the remote, surround sound decoder, speakers, stand and even delivery charges – might begin to annoy even those with vast resources. We're also rather surprised there's no online dimension whatsoever, while the lack of a Beo6 touchscreen remote as a default, included option is a shame. Final verdict: Incredibly expensive and aimed at money-no-object types, the BeoVision 4-85 sees a return to form. Bang & Olufsen's engineers have sensibly built the swish user experience around a cutting-edge plasma panel that excels with all sources.

Review: Bang & Olufsen BeoVision 4-85

It's no surprise that Bang & Olufsen's first 3D TV also happens to be one of the most expensive sets ever produced. More likely ...

Donya wish your touchscreen had buttons like these? (video)

Donya wish your touchscreen had buttons like these? (video)

Touchscreen gaming's like cheese pizza -- a generally tasty treat, but significantly improved by an addition or two. Good thing Donya...

Patent points towards touchscreen Apple MacBooks

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/images/apple-integrated-touchscreen-patent.jpg-200-200.jpeg"> Apple has been granted a new integrated touchscreen patent, pointing towards the possible development of touchscreen MacBooks. The details of the patent were unearthed by the folks over at <a href="http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2010/12/apple-wins-integrated-touch-screen-key-iphone-chip-patents.html">patentlyapple</A> – detailing plans for an integrated touchscreen relating to touch-sensing circuitry integrated into the display pixel stackup of a display. 20 new Apple patents The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a total of 20 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. this week. In addition to a number of new Apple patents relating to its photo-centric Aperture application and a key on-chip decompression engine relating to the iPhone's A4 processor, it is this 'integrated touchscreen' tech patent that is of most interest. The patent also mentions a number of end-user examples of devices that the tech relates to, including uses on mobile phones, media players and notebooks. Apple has of course not commented publicly to date on any official plans for a touchscreen MacBook, but this patent is one of the most convincing examples to date that such a device must be in development somewhere in one of its Cupertino HQ's many secret labs.

Patent points towards touchscreen Apple MacBooks

Apple has been granted a new integrated touchscreen patent, pointing towards the possible development of touchscreen MacBooks. The details o...

Digits conductive pins won't make a fool of you in the cold

<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="310" hspace="4" src="http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/308/conductivepindigits.jpg" vspace="4" width="400" /></div> 
Ever tried writing a text message or an urgent work e-mail with gloves on? Chances are what you planned to type and what came out couldn't look more different...if anything came out at all. Digits are a $14 set of four conductive pins that, like the Dots iPhone gloves, were designed to make cold weather touchscreen use easy, and hopefully error free. Unlike Dots and other pre-made touchscreen products, however, Digits allow you to use your own gloves, provided they're knit (unfortunately, they're not leather-friendly). Each pin comes in two parts: one piece sticks through from inside your glove, and the other, which sports silicone caps, attaches from outside, using the same concept as this DIY set. Digits should keep your touchscreen free of scratches and your texts and e-mails free of error, even when it's freezing out. Hopefully now you won't end up firing when you should be filing. 
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Digits conductive pins won't make a fool of you in the cold

Ever tried writing a text message or an urgent work e-mail with gloves on? Chances are what you planned to type and what came out couldn...

Microsoft touchscreen patent could bring Braille to tablets

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com///images/microsoft-surface-pc-1-200-200.jpg"> Microsoft has been busy designing a new patent that it hopes will revolutionise touchscreen devices. According to the <a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19776-microsoft-develops-shapeshifting-touchscreen.html">New Scientist</A>, the touchscreen technology uses pixel-sized shape-memory plastic cells that can be called to the surface individually. This technology could theoretically allow the shapes of objects to be 'felt' on a big-screen device, like a tablet. You got the touch The patent goes some way into explaining how the technology works, stating that that plastic is sprayed with polymer – a malleable coating which reacts differently depending what type of UV light is shone on it. It is unknown how close to market the technology is, but if successful it could change the way touchscreens are used and even offer up a way to bring Braille on to mobile devices for the visually impaired. It seems that the technology won't be coming to phones anytime soon, because it has been created for bigger touchscreens. Microsoft could well implement it into its Surface devices in the future, though, as well as the inevitable slew of tablets.

Microsoft touchscreen patent could bring Braille to tablets

Microsoft has been busy designing a new patent that it hopes will revolutionise touchscreen devices. According to the New Scientist , the to...

Acer Iconia dual touchscreen tablet announced

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/computing/mobile-computing/images/Acer-Iconia9-200-200.jpg"> Acer has announced the arrival of the Acer Iconia – a dual touchscreen tablet that's been created in close collaboration <a href="http://www.techradar.com/news/mobile-computing/portable-computing/what-will-be-inside-the-secret-microsoft-tablet-639176">with Microsoft</A>. The device is a curious one. It looks like a laptop but is very much a tablet hybrid. There's no mouse or traditional keyboard. Instead either screen can act as a virtual keyboard. The tablet/laptop is powered by Windows 7 Home Premium and is packing some not-too shabby specs. These include: an Intel Core i5-480 chip, 4GB of RAM (par for the course on a Windows 7 machine), 640GB storage and a four-cell battery. It's the four-cell battery that is a worry – Acer has told TechRadar that you will get around three hours' play out of it. This means that you will be mostly using the Acer Iconia as a desktop replacement, rather than a carry everywhere tablet device. Iconia conectivity Connectivity on the Acer Iconia comes in the form of three USBs, one of which is USB 3.0, HDMI and there's 3G and Wi-Fi on board. The two screens are both 720p, so great for watching movies on, and can be used completely independently of each other. Acer has added an overlay to Windows 7 that's called Acer Ring. This is where you have access to all your of your media, like movies, pictures and social networking. The Acer Iconia dual touchscreen tablet has a UK release date of 16 January and will cost £1,500.

Acer Iconia dual touchscreen tablet announced

Acer has announced the arrival of the Acer Iconia – a dual touchscreen tablet that's been created in close collaboration with Microsoft ...

Buying Guide: 10 best touchscreen phones for 2010

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Samsung/samsung-galaxy-S-i90001-200-200.jpg"> Quite simply, touch screen technology is the innovation we now expect to see in some shape or form from every new smartphone that launches. Swapping a button-bashing existence for a softer sensing interface we can press, swipe, pinch and zoom, means we can now do a little bit more than simply stare into that pint-sized screen of ours. If the only QWERTY keyboard you want to see on a daily basis is the one nestled next to your office computer, here's our pick of the best touchscreen smartphones available right now in the UK. 1. HTC Desire HD <img alt="HTC desire hd" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/Mobile%20Phones/HTC/HTC-Desire-HD_new-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Sporting a massive 4.3-inch Super LCD touch screen display, the HD has plenty of room for slick manoeuvre around HTC's overhauled Sense UI. Incorporating the same 480X800 WVGA resolution as the original Desire does however mean it lacks the vividness and superior contrast ratios of Samsung's Super AMOLED displays. Most importantly though, your digits should be rewarded with a fluid interface interaction and the kind of satisfying pinch-to-zoom experience we saw with its predecessor. Read our full <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/htc-desire-hd-717295/review">HTC Desire HD review</A> 2. Apple iPhone 4 <img alt="iPhone 4" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/gadgets/phones/mobile-phones/iPhone/iphone4_2up_front_side-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Putting Antennagate to one side, and there is plenty to laud over Apple's latest smartphone creation, particularly the 3.5-inch capacitive touch screen and new Retina Display which is a vast visual improvement on the 3GS. Admirably serving all your multi-touch, pinch, zoom, cut and pasting needs, the 800:1 contrast ratio and 960x640p resolution makes the iPhone 4 a suitable partner for all your widescreen movie-watching and looking back at your freshly-snapped photos. Read our full <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/apple-iphone-4-694980/review">iPhone 4 review</A> 3. Samsung Galaxy S <img alt="Samsung galaxy s" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Samsung/samsung-galaxy-S-i90001-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Setting the benchmark for immensely bright displays, the Galaxy S houses a 4-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen that does not disappoint. Its 480x800 WVGA resolution is someway behind the iPhone 4 (640x960), but you can still expect vivid colours, true blacks and outstanding contrast ratio. Samsung's impressive smartphone performer delivers the kind of responsiveness needed to support multi-touch pinch-to-zoom gestures, and make the most of the new Swype text entry technology. Read our full <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/samsung-galaxy-s-689293/review">Samsung Galaxy S review</A> 4. HTC Desire <img alt="HTC desire" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/gadgets/phones/mobile-phones/HTC/HTC-Desire2-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Proving an admirable iPhone adversary, the first batch of Desires originally hosted a 3.7-inch AMOLED touch screen, which now due to shortages, has been replaced by Super LCD capacitive displays. User experience has been in no way lessened, so expect navigating round your smartphone to still be light and responsive. The 480x800 WVGA resolution display can be prone to suffer on a sunny day, but viewing images and web pages should still be a pleasurable experience. Read our full <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/htc-desire-679515/review">HTC Desire</A> 5. HTC Legend <img alt="HTC legend" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/Gadgets/Mobile%20phones/HTC%20Legend/Download_06-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Marrying a gorgeous aluminium unibody design with a 3.2-inch OLED (check) capacitive touchscreen, the Legend is a handset of sheer beauty. Multi-touch support and HTC's Sense interface makes for an incredibly fluid experience, while browsing pull and pinch controls are a breeze. Like the Hero, it packs a 320x480 HVGA resolution which is perhaps not as impressive when compared to the newer members of the HTC handset family. It does deliver a supremely satisfying browsing and navigating experience for your fingers. Read our full <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/htc-legend-675421/review">HTC Legend review</A> 6. HTC HD7 <img alt="HTC hd7" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/HTC/HTC%20HD7/PR%20shots/HTC_HD7_2-300-100.jpg" width="300"></IMG> The biggest Windows Phone 7 launch handset in its most literal sense, the HD7 joins the Desire HD sporting an equally hulking 4.3-inch capacitive LCD touchscreen. The similarities do not end there, with the screen-dominated smartphone boasting Desire HD-like 800x480 WVGA resolution that should do justice to images and text against the white background. There's plenty of room to pinch-to-zoom your way through websites, and crucially is a suitably sized partner for Microsoft's sleek new tile-themed OS. Read our full <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/htc-hd7-900358/review">HTC HD7 review</A> 7. Samsung Wave <img alt="Samsung wave" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/Samsung/Samsung%20Wave/PR%20shots/samsung-wave_1-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Heralding a bright new era for the Korean mobile-makers, the Wave was the first handset to pack Samsung's Bada OS, and sport a 3.3-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen. There's multi-touch support, and with 480x800 WVGA resolution, a screen that boasts great viewing angles and jaw-dropping contrast. Samsung's TouchWiz overlay may be an acquired taste for some, but it does not detract from the sensitive response underneath your fingers when re-arranging the widgets round your home screens. Read our full <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/samsung-wave-s8500-680092/review">Samsung Wave review</A> 8. Apple iPhone 3GS <img alt="iPhone 3gs" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/gadgets/phones/mobile-phones/iPhone/iPhone_3GS_2-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> If the bank balance doesn't quite stretch to buying an iPhone 4, its Apple smartphone brethren still delivers a pleasurable touchscreen performance albeit without all those new desirable features. The 3.5-inch HVGA capacitive multi-touch widescreen display delivers a far more responsive screen than previous iPhone models, and should have images looking suitably sharp and clear. For those partial to a greasy treat, a fingerprint-free oleophobic coating should make your iPhone 3GS a smear-free zone. Read our full <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/apple-iphone-3gs-610078/review">Apple iPhone 3GS review</A> 9. Samsung Omnia 7 <img alt="Omnia 7" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/Samsung/Samsung%20Omnia%207/PR%20shots/Omnia7_74915_GT-I8700_ADImage_Large-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> In the battle of the Windows Phone 7 handsets, the Omnia 7 has one feature that set itself apart from the rest, a gorgeous 4-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touch screen. The 800x480 resolution will have colours looking bold and vivid, delivering deep contrast ratios, and showing off the Windows Phone 7 UI's slick, angular design. A tactile feel under the fingertips makes it easy to swipe around screens and get familiar with the new OS. Read our full <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/samsung-omnia-7-900360/review">Samsung Omnia 7 review</A> 10. Motorola Milestone XT720 <img alt="XT720" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/Motorola/Motorola%20Milestone%20XT720/PR/XT720_dyn_R_horiz_CAMCAP%20copy-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> The Moto revival goes from strength to strength with an Android smartphone that amongst its most notable features is a 3.7-inch 480x854 WVGA capacitive touch screen. It's by no means as clear as Super AMOLED displays, but it sports a higher resolution than the HTC Desire, and responds well to pinch and zoom requests. The glass screen can be a fingerprint magnet and be prepared for a reflective headache when taking photos on a sunny day, however. Read our full <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/motorola-milestone-xt720-694979/review">Motorola Milestone XT720 review</A>

Buying Guide: 10 best touchscreen phones for 2010

Quite simply, touch screen technology is the innovation we now expect to see in some shape or form from every new smartphone that launches. ...