Video walkthrough: HP's new TouchSmart Suite

Damian Koh | Jun 11, 2008

Editors' note:

The video on the new Touchsmart interface is now available after the break.

BERLIN, GERMANY--Remember the SmartCenter on HP's TouchSmart series? It's now the TouchSmart Suite on the new IQ500 multimedia desktop. Besides a slimmer side profile and a smaller footprint compared with the earlier TouchSmart PC, the IQ500 also received a spanking new touch interface in the overhaul. If you've seen TouchFLO 3D on the HTC Touch Diamond, imagine it now on your desktop.

There are two rows of touch-enabled menus in this new UI. At the bottom is a chain of applications you can drag-and-drop onto the "dock" on the top row. Unlike resistive touch technology, the TouchSmart uses optical sensors around the display. It is able to recognize two points of contact at any one time and you can manipulate the size of the top strip simply by "pinching" or expanding it.

Some of the new features introduced also include direct upload to community sites such as Snapfish and YouTube. In Music and Photos, there is a fan view option which resembles CoverFlow on the new Mac OS. The UI is noticeably not as intuitive as the TouchFLO 3D on the mobile platform, but simple gestures such as using fingers to select text or scroll Web pages are basic features on the suite.

On the hardware, the TouchSmart IQ500 comes with a glossy black bezel and there's also an ingenious ambient lighting control system for lighting up the area just below the screen where the keyboard usually is. A roller behind the display stand assists in adjusting the angle of the LCD by making it easier for the user to press down or pull up the display.

That said, we know nothing could be better than seeing the TouchSmart Suite in action, so we have a video preview below of the UI to show what it is all about.

Other notable features of the IQ500 include:

Ambient light control for lighting up the keyboard area

LCD tilt adjustment

22-inch 1,680 x 1,020-pixel screen resolution

VGA Webcam with microphone

According to HP, the IQ500 will be available in Asia from mid-June at US$1,399 for the base model.

Filed under: PC & Peripherals
3 Comments | Bookmark | Share

Slashdot

Digg

Facebook

Twitter

Delicious

Google

StumbleUpon

close this

Add tag

To add tags, you need to become a member. It's FREE.

Cancel

Log in or sign in

isaac976

View profile

Send mail

isaac976 says...
looks like the windows 7 interface .. much buzz,.. much hype..

Jun 10, 2008 16:38

Flag as offensive

vin8tan

View profile

Send mail

vin8tan says...
Buzz Hype..... missing multi touch.... blahhhhhh

Jun 12, 2008 17:08

Flag as offensive

ferdiei

View profile

Send mail

ferdiei says...
if the media-center (or whatever name they call it) is really designed for use by a family, they should get rid of the KB altogether. that way even children would feel th ease at using a PC making it a truly user-friendly experience.

Jun 19, 2008 21:33

Flag as offensive