Ray6

Sep 07, 2007 at 12:30 AM

Seems that Savant Systems think that Surface is such a good idea, they've decided to build there own version.

According to TechnoBob:

TechnoBob wrote:

Their Mac-based ROSIE Coffee Table Touchpanel Controller provides a one-stop-shop interface to all your home entertainment needs. The centerpiece of the system is an embedded 40-inch touch sensitive flat panel monitor, countersunk into the top of the coffee table. The table provides a customizable interface for media playback functions as well as home automation controls all in one place. Savant’s applications include the ability to control a variety of devices ranging from multimedia streamers to networked security cameras.

Lacks all the bells and whistles of MS Surface; it'll be interesting to see if it also lacks the hefty price tag.
Bas It finds lightbulbs.

Sep 07, 2007 at 12:46 AM

Nice to see this sort of thing popping up everywhere. Maybe they'll get affordable in the future. Also, hopefully this puts some pressure on MS to make sure that Surface becomes the standard implementation of this sort of thing, rather than have others steal their thunder. *cough*Zune*cough*wifi iPods*cough*

I'm wondering about this thing, though. Does it even have multitouch, or is it just a gigantic, traditional touch screen?
Ray6

Sep 07, 2007 at 2:51 AM

Bas wrote:

Nice to see this sort of thing popping up everywhere. Maybe they'll get affordable in the future. Also, hopefully this puts some pressure on MS to make sure that Surface becomes the standard implementation of this sort of thing, rather than have others steal their thunder. *cough*Zune*cough*wifi iPods*cough*

Well, there's WiFi ... and then there's WiFi you can actually use for something ...

Bas wrote:

I'm wondering about this thing, though. Does it even have multitouch, or is it just a gigantic, traditional touch screen?

I reckon that we're looking at a really big touch screen. Doubt it will have multi-touch since it doesn't exist in MacOSX
Rossj

Sep 07, 2007 at 4:08 AM

Ray6 wrote:

Doubt it will have multi-touch since it doesn't exist in MacOSX as far as I know

Thought I'd just fix that for ya

Bas It finds lightbulbs.

Ray6 wrote:

Bas wrote:
Nice to see this sort of thing popping up everywhere. Maybe they'll get affordable in the future. Also, hopefully this puts some pressure on MS to make sure that Surface becomes the standard implementation of this sort of thing, rather than have others steal their thunder. *cough*Zune*cough*wifi iPods*cough*

Well, there's WiFi ... and then there's WiFi you can actually use for something ...

That's what I mean. The zune had the hardware it needed to be exactly what these new iPods are, and months earlier. But somebody figured that wireless downloading isn't as great as 'the social', and boom, thunder stolen.

Ray6

Sep 07, 2007 at 8:23 AM

Bas wrote:

Ray6 wrote:

Bas wrote:
Nice to see this sort of thing popping up everywhere. Maybe they'll get affordable in the future. Also, hopefully this puts some pressure on MS to make sure that Surface becomes the standard implementation of this sort of thing, rather than have others steal their thunder. *cough*Zune*cough*wifi iPods*cough*

Well, there's WiFi ... and then there's WiFi you can actually use for something ...

That's what I mean. The zune had the hardware it needed to be exactly what these new iPods are, and months earlier. But somebody figured that wireless downloading isn't as great as 'the social', and boom, thunder stolen.

I'm guessing that the problem is that MS was desperate for content when they opened up the Zune Market Place. Since they lack Apple's clout, then they had to agree to concessions. Apart from the record companies receiving money for each Zune sold, they probably also told MS to hobble the WiFi and keep it hobbled.

I'd be surprised if this changes in the next revision ....

PaoloM Hypermediocrity

Sep 07, 2007 at 9:12 AM

What does this thing have to do with Surface? I mean, besides being horizontal...
Bas It finds lightbulbs.

Sep 07, 2007 at 9:19 AM

Touch screen? That's about it, really.
Rossj

Sep 07, 2007 at 9:24 AM

PaoloM wrote:

What does this thing have to do with Surface? I mean, besides being horizontal...

What does have to do with the Mac at all, the Rosie is Linux-based. Looks like it is a single touch home automation table. Yawn.
Harlequin http://twitter.com/TrueHarlequin

Sep 07, 2007 at 9:27 AM

Rossj wrote:

.. and, you know, actually shipping

Tell that to the receiver remote my kids lost, and to my TV remote, digital cable remote, DVD remote, etc etc.

Put all that crap into a coffee table and I'd be in love.

Didn't read it, but I wonder if it's projection or if we're going to see actual screens like LCD/Plasma/DLP with the multi-touch. Since we've seen this at Microsoft Research.
Ray6

Sep 07, 2007 at 9:30 AM

PaoloM wrote:

What does this thing have to do with Surface? I mean, besides being horizontal...

It's a table
It has a screen
You touch it, it does stuff.

Ticks all the boxes in my book.
PaoloM Hypermediocrity

Sep 07, 2007 at 9:30 AM

Rossj wrote:

PaoloM wrote:
What does this thing have to do with Surface? I mean, besides being horizontal...

What does have to do with the Mac at all, the Rosie is Linux-based. Looks like it is a single touch home automation table. Yawn.

Well, that makes a lot more sense. I couldn't believe that UI was done by anyone who is even allowed to touch a Mac...
PaoloM Hypermediocrity

Sep 07, 2007 at 9:31 AM

Ray6 wrote:

PaoloM wrote:
What does this thing have to do with Surface? I mean, besides being horizontal...

It's a table
It has a screen
You touch it, it does stuff.

Ticks all the boxes in my book.

Well, yeah, I guess a Yugo and a Ferrari Enzo are both cars, I guess...
Harlequin http://twitter.com/TrueHarlequin

Sep 07, 2007 at 9:33 AM

EDIT: Wrong click

Ray6

Sep 07, 2007 at 9:34 AM

PaoloM wrote:

Ray6 wrote:

PaoloM wrote:
What does this thing have to do with Surface? I mean, besides being horizontal...

It's a table
It has a screen
You touch it, it does stuff.

Ticks all the boxes in my book.

Well, yeah, I guess a Yugo and a Ferrari Enzo are both cars, I guess...

If you want to get from A to B, then I guess so ...

... but if you want to pay an extra hundred grand to do it, then ....

Detroit Muscle Wii!

Sep 07, 2007 at 9:58 AM

Ray6 wrote:

Lacks all the bells and whistles of MS Mitsubishi Surface; it'll be interesting to see if it also lacks the hefty price tag.

Fixed that for you.
Bas It finds lightbulbs.

Sep 07, 2007 at 10:08 AM

Detroit Muscle wrote:

Ray6 wrote:

Lacks all the bells and whistles of MS Mitsubishi Surface; it'll be interesting to see if it also lacks the hefty price tag.

Fixed that for you.

What's this Mitsubishi Surface you speak of?
PaoloM Hypermediocrity

Sep 07, 2007 at 10:22 AM

Detroit Muscle wrote:

Ray6 wrote:

Lacks all the bells and whistles of MS Mitsubishi Surface; it'll be interesting to see if it also lacks the hefty price tag.

Fixed that for you.

Yeah, I think we got that after the first 6 times you pointed it out.

Now, I am sure that you are 100% aware of all the differences between the DiamondTouch and Surface (like, say, you don't need to be capacitively wired to a receiver embedded in your chair in order to be identified in Surface), and the fact that Surface prototypes have been shown for years before the DiamondTouch so I will assume that in the future there won't be need for you to keep pointing out stuff that's, well... not true.

Thanks.

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Surface(ish) for the Mac ....

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