Lucid Touch Adds New Twist To Touchscreens

Microsoft's new Lucid Touch will change the way we navigate content on portable touchscreen devices. Lucid Touch detects finger placement behind the screen and displays shadow overlays on the front screen, allowing you to control the screen content from the rear. This "pseudo-transparency" looks pretty cool, although it's purely a functional concept right now as most people won't want to carry around a portable device with a big web cam strapped to it. But once perfected, this could really make navigation devices, UMPCs (Ultra Mobile PC), and portable audio/video devices so much cooler and useful. Check out the video demo after the jump!

Microsoft and Alpine Ink Deal, Focus On World Domination

Alpine and Microsoft announced an official agreement to cross-license technologies and patents in order to further develop and enhance their product offerings. Alpine has been using a version of Windows Automotive on their line of navigation products in both the OEM and aftermarket since 2002, and this agreement basically makes it easier for the companies to improve their products even further.
Most of us are aware of Alpine's huge success in the car audio world, and Microsoft has pretty much taken the OEM automotive industry by storm with it's Ford Sync systems (which is a very impressive system to say the least). Right now Sync is only available in Ford brand vehicles in the US, but at the end of this year that agreement ends. Microsoft is eagerly looking forward to opening up the software and technology to other car manufacturers as well. And if they have a partner like Alpine behind them.. Whoo-boy, look-out.

Of course, the article also mentions the fact that the Microsoft is going after Linux users for patent infringement based on claims from Microsoft that the Linux OS is infringing of 42 of MS's patents (they haven't said which patents yet, however). MS has struck deals with a few manufacturers already based on their claims, so this deal between Alpine and MS could just be a result of MS patent sting operation. I can only imagine how badly off Alpine's navigation program would be if Microsoft suddenly pulled a Soup Nazi on them and refused access to their OS.

Thanks for the tip, Ben! Full press release after the jump.

in the forums!

Source: Information Week & ME Mag