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Microsoft And HTC Develop New Touch Screen Technology To Fend Off The iPhone

High Tech Computer Corp. today unveiled its newest smartphone, the HTC Touch. The Touch is similar in many respects to other HTC Windows Mobile-powered smartphones with one major exception. HTC has added a new three-dimensional user interface that employs what it calls TouchFLO touch screen technology. The UI lets users sweep their fingers around the screen to access applications and control the device. Sounds strangely similar to the UI on another soon-to-be-released device you may have heard of...

HTC is known for making simple and usable smartphones. Just a few weeks ago it launched the Wing on T-Mobile's network here in the United States. Today, HTC bowed yet another new device, the Touch. If it were another incrementally updated Windows Mobile 6 device, it wouldn't be terribly noteworthy. But this new touch screen technology looks like a big leap forward in the user interface, which is something every device needs.

According to HTC:

The new HTC-designed homescreen provides one-touch access to emails, text messages, calendar appointments and contacts, as well as current weather conditions and forecasts for hundreds of cities around the world. Costumers simply sweep their finger up the display to launch an animated, three-dimensional interface comprising three screens: Contacts, Media and Applications. The interface can be spun by swiping a finger right or left across the display, providing efficient access to the features consumers use most. TouchFLO also enhances finger touch scrolling and browsing of Web pages, documents, messages and contact lists.

This is not the same as the iPhone's "multitouch" technology. Even so, looks like Microsoft's platform gets a major face-lift and improved interactivity here. Just in time to beat the iPhone to the market. The Touch also has triband GSM/Edge, Bluetooth 2.0, a 2-megapixel camera, and Wi-Fi.

Too bad Europe and Asia get the Touch first. North American business users won't get to touch the Touch until the second half of the year.

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