Motorola Droid vs Nexus One: Multitouch Test

[PlysovejKaktus]

Nexus one seems laggy. Couldn't be problem in a framerate and longer period between checks? Like application would do that even on nexus if you will be fast enough? ...just popped out of my head, nothing relevat.

[Murdearaa]

I've checked my multitouch in Fruit Ninja,lol...

[TheElectronMagic]

You can check your devices multi-touch capabilities with the "multi-touch benchmark test" android app.

[SquallML]

Perchè hanno messo uno schermo del genere su un cell come il Nexus One? Cmq rimane uno dei miei preferiti.

[C3M2010]

The owners of Nexus One answer please. Repaired it at android 2.2?

[Tazy50]

God, I hate it when people compare multi-touch on these stupid apps. Apps are very prone to errors, especially when made by your "friends". Even when made by officials, as well. TRY IT ON A BROWSER, PLEASE.

[mystuff3040]

@Tazy50 FAIL (you)

[Tazy50]

@mystuff3040 Okay, look. Multi-touch on the droid is better. But on the nexus one, it will do the same FUNCTION though.

[harper16]

So it works on a browser but thats because the nexus one can cope with simple gestures. Things that require more precise multitouch will fail (ie. games that NEED to know the position of both your fingers - pinch zoom doesnt, it just needs to know if you're taking them further apart or not, something simple that the nexus can do). This video was to illustrate what the hardware is reporting, not what workarounds the software developers have done..this will never be fixed by software

-Nexus owner

[Tazy50]

@harper16 damn...is this a software issue? or the hardware? can an update fix that?

[harper16]

@Tazy50 No this is completely and utterly a hardware issue. The G1 has the same issue ( i own both phones ) because they use similar displays. The hardware is reporting where it thinks your fingers are, how can you fix this by software? You can't ... there may be software workarounds but if the hardware isn't designed correctly then you're gonna run into problems. Multitouch on the g1 and nexus (and a few other phones) is very basic, however the newer phones are using PROPER multitouch screens

[harper16]

@Tazy50 To fix this issue you're going to have to replace your screen and then mod your phone to fit the screen and re-write drivers and your own ROM in order to get multitouch working correctly....easier just to buy a new phone imo. However i shall never give up my nexus one, best phone i've ever had. I use my PC to game on anyway...so the multitouch issue doesnt really bother me, works fine in a browser and thats all i need. Other people might be more picky, but this issue cant be 100% fixed

[harper16]

@Tazy50 Sorry to give you essays to read, google doesn't let me post more than ~450 characters :(. The screen in the nexus has limitations, and that's the key word here. I'm not sure if google designed it to be multitouch to begin with, so you should be glad you can even pinch zoom. However manufacterers realised it was a desirable thing to implement and so they've put in place multi-touch screens even though official roms rarely make use of it (think of it as them giving you the power to

[harper16]

@Tazy50 rip the innards of the iphone out and stamp on them, without actually telling you to). The power is there in the newer phones, but i think they're all scared of a lawsuit if they actually implement it. However if you flash custom roms (Which isnt hard by any stretch of the imagination) then you can easily give yourself more freedom and everyone's happy. I personally love my nexus one because google designed it to be rooted, they want you to play with it, its a dev phone.Hope this helped

[bloodydude84]

Droid is Giggin

[wjlovedlj]

Nexus One is so bad!!!

[pangtengchen]

people like fusion2007 also shame on you. why, it actually the software, that respond, the screen is not the matter, it the fricking software

[IamdeeAndrew]

О_0 wow! Droid does! Motorola rulez

[djlobb]

Motorola Droid has a Balda touch panel, the HTC uses a Synaptics ClearPad 2000 with only limited multi-touch, shame, but hopefully now the Synaptics Clearpad 3000 with upto 10 points of touch has been released, hopefully HTC and others with use that pad or the Balda, but the ClearPad 3000 is fine. The Droid Incredible (HTC) has ditched the Clearpad 2000 for something else, whether its the Balda or not I'm not sure.

[ArkanumTheStrongest]

@djlobb HTC Incredible uses the maXtouch sensor.

[xxGjbbyxx]

As far as games, try Toon Wars.

Works fine for my N1s also.

[xxGjbbyxx]

No issues like that on either of my N1s.

Loving my N1s.

No contracts on either. So, if I did, it would be going back or sold.

Everyone that sees it wants it, anyway.

Try another app that tests for the same issues, before judging.

They can't have mine. ;-)

[xlostzer0]

when u design an app it is supposed to be able to run on all android phones. the problem isnt with the app.

[trmack9]

droid

[duces1212]

thats b/c the n1 is not made for multi touch.

[dreamcastdc]

@thefal because it wont work well with multitouch games

[thefal]

Does it really matter if the Nexus One detects it wrong? Most of the time if you use 2 fingers, you are using the pinch to zoom. The phone still detects how far you finger are apart, so zooming should still work properly. So why is this bad? (However, i must admit, it is weird)

[neccoboy]

software

[nyhunter77]

I agree, the nexus one screen gave me issues when I tried it out as well. I have since returned it. In 3 days I had to play around with hitting home or repowering the device in order to get the screen to recognize exactly where my finger was.

[fusion2007]

I have a simple answer for this.

Motorola has got Balda touchscreen sensors.(Same on the iphone)

Nexus One has a crap Synaptics ClearPad 2000.

That is why the multi-touch on the Nexus One simply doesn't exist and it won't ever because the touchscreen manufactured by U.S. based company Synaptics is a piece of crap.

Google and HTC should put their eyes in details less than in marketing has: Big processor and open fameworks.

It's a shame.

[AsianTaeHyun]

@fusion2007 Uh.... sorry but the Nexus One already came out with multi touch now...

Explanation for your judgement for "simply doesn't exist and it won't ever" please.

[zeester0101]

@AsianTaeHyun he means that true multitouch will never exist on the nexus one because the screen is terrible. so even if they do release it, it is never going to work right.

[blenderben]

@AsianTaeHyun it's not that it doesn't exist, he is saying that it is SO buggy and "doesn't work properly" that its' pretty much a broken multi-touch display.

no worries HTC incredible destroys the N1 in every way.

[shalpp]

By simply doesn't exist he means it sucks dicks.

[tanjt]

@AsianTaeHyun

But the feel of touch on apps worse than Iphone...much...

[mystuff3040]

@AsianTaeHyun

From wikipedia...- multi-touch refers to the ability to simultaneously register three or more distinct positions of input touches. The nexus one just uses single/dual touch gestures.

[AsianTaeHyun]

@fusion2007 But then again, I won't argue the touch screen on the Nexus sucks.

[fourzero40]

@fusion2007 Doesn't the droid have the same CPU as iphone also?

[weinerschnitzelboy]

@fusion2007 HTC Makes better phones now. Originally the Nexus didn't have multitouch, so the Synaptics sensor was fine, but it got an update for multitouch, in which the sensor wasn't up for the job. It still works, but it's not made for it.

[asf1187]

on the droid eris, can u play motion games like cubefield and papi jump like on the motorola droid?

[Geshpenst]

The Hero has the same issues. I assume they'd use similar hardware since they're both HTC manufactured.

[phillyman34]

the app has problems for nexus one... most likely,..

btw this guy sounds like larry david haha

[brainwires]

I tried the same app you are using and an App called "Multi Touch Visualizer". I'd say there is some issue with this app. It has compatibility issues with N1. The Multi Touch Visualizer test works fine with N1. Far as I know, N1 has a better touch sensor grid than Droid..

[Simurgh]

I don't think so. My N1 has flipped touch points on me even when I'm not using multi-touch, requiring me to force close all apps before clicking Home before it goes back to normal.

[WeEatBrainz]

Droid ftw

[sopues]

Very sad for gaming/more interactive stuff. Didnt know the droid had a more proper MT, but thats good to know =)

[frosty9595]

Its true the nexus does not have true multi touch but all that the phone has to do is use a little bit of software buffering and it can deal with the crossing. This app disables that buffering so its not really fair.

[LBt1st]

I'm wondering if this particular phone is defective or if all Nexus phones do this.

[eriku16]

One thing I've notice since the N1 came out is that Droid owners seem they need to prove themselves. And for what? It's just a bloody phone! Get over it...

I know when the new phones with dual core QSD8672 @1.5GHz d come out, i won't be bitter at those with a faster phone. I'll just upgrade. Seeing the us GSM users always get the best hardware first. You CDMA users will be lucky to get the scraps... :D

[Bigfe218]

@eriku16 I could careless about whether which phone is better. But people stating blind fact about devices that most them don't own or have constructive thoughts to add; only further feeds the growing ignorance about how devices such as these operate

[Bigfe218]

This is a hardware issue with touch sensors on HTC devices. It has very little to do with the multi-touch software on the phone because if this is a software issue Some programmer should be fired.

[RichColours]

@Bigfe218 I agree the multitouch hardware is not the best on HTC phones, but, this will never be as good as apple's multitouch. I like the Nexsus better but its just not as polished software wise. It's android, and just because multitouch works on one piece of harware well, it doesn't mean that it will work on another piece of hardware the same.

[Bigfe218]

@RichColours Yes but when you write code for a spesific platform such as the snapdragon/ nexus one it's optimized for the system.

Because of this software is tested repeatedly before it's release and is also optimized for each individual device.

Why do you think it takes so long to release updates?! Google has already admitted that this isn't a fault on there behalf.

Now can the code be altered to make this function properly (it remains to be seen) but its kind of an inconvenience.

[RichColours]

@Bigfe218 I believe some code should be altered. I think its not an inconvenience because they are two different pieces of hardware. Even though the Droid does not have a snapdragon it works better.

[eriku16]

I just see this ad more attacks on the N1 by bitter Droid (not the Droid Eris) users. It's enough dealing with the the apple fanbois, let alone other Android users eating each other.

Now for the touch panel...

"Interestingly, there is a hack in the framework (which is enabled on the Droid, but not on the N1) that can be enabled by setting config_filterTouchEvents. With it disabled (the default), I get the axis-flipping problem. Enabling it fixes this" - Cyanogen

[DeePal072]

It's an hardware limit of the sensor used by HTC which is designed to work well with one finger (better than Droid ... equal to iPhone) and do a couple of tricks with two fingers but it is not a real multitouch ... still i can't really see a problem here cause actually it works fine with pinch zoom and rotate so ...

[Bigfe218]

@DeePal072 I'd say it will become a problem for application that uses multi-touch for more than just pinch and zoom.

Pinch and zoom in itself is counter intuitive anyways. There is all more innovative uses for mult-touch.

[optikalefxx]

@Bigfe218 how is it counter intuitive? When you wanna make some bigger you stretch it out.

try taking a piece of fabric and making it bigger, what does your hand do? you use two hands to pull it outward.

[Bigfe218]

@optikalefxx really, how is it counter intuitive? Most of these devices are ideally meant to be used in a single hand.

Pinch and zoom require two hand to effectively zoom. That counter intuitive to me.

Pinch and zoom is not needed it's a bonus/extra feature that people idiotically gripe over.

It's nice to have but it's not that everything I think programed gesture are more innovative that pinch and zoom.

[lobextomy]

@bigfe, pinch and zoom require two fingers, not two hands

[Bigfe218]

@lobextomy you've missed the whole point then. If you are standing and you have two hand free. Here is where I choose my words carefully it takes two hands to "effectively zoom".

Yes, you can do it with two fingers but while driving? while walking? how about eating? what I'm saying is that its useless unless your phone is resting on a surface and you are hunched over your device.

You hold your phone with one and pinch and zoom with the other.

[tylermc419]

agreed 100%

[Bigfe218]

@optikalefxx also i like your programing tutorials cool stuff! :-)

[optikalefxx]

Thanks!

Over time you learn to master pinch with one hand only. I rest the phone on fingers and with my index finger and thumb I can do the

motion. Use it all the time.

[Bigfe218]

@optikalefxx good luck doing it in a game or a very touch interactive application. :/

[DeePal072]

I guess so but here it's somehow implied that Android lacks good games because it doesn't have a true multitouch ... yeah like the good one on the Nintendo DS ... ooops... Really the more the better but i believe that MT is not what makes the difference in gamin'

[Bigfe218]

@DeePal072 thats interesting that you say that because its pretty hard to play games without multi-touch on a touch screen device. This is why hardware keyboard can come in handy.

The market is getting better though it still far from apple but getting good look up ExZeus.

Also this hardware glitch makes Emulator a lot more frustrating to use without a keyboard. Nintendo DS emulator/ roms on  android isn't to far off.

[HyperburnSeroo]

didn't the G1 multitouch hack thingy had the same?

[nitrousboy0311]

I think the Droid is a better phone/device than the nexus even the menue buttons on the nexus are hard to press whereas on the Droid it is extremely easy.

[ceilingkatt]

no multitouch? waaaa

droid has a 550mhz cpu with 256mb ram.

The nexus one laughs at that.

[nitrousboy0311]

@ceilingkatt Hmm My droid is currently laughing at the nexus because im rooted and overclocked at 1.4ghz...

[ceilingkatt]

i herd it can make bacon.

[ceilingkatt]

srsly, are you actually overvolting it 3x?

[nitrousboy0311]

@ceilingkatt Also dont forget the Droid also has a GPU The nexus Doesent.

[hellcat82au]

@nitrousboy0311 The N1 has a GPU also, it's built into the SnapDragon CPU

[XXXHornyHippoXXX]

@nitrousboy0311 You guys should look at nexus one with htc desire rom made my modaco. Its on alpha 11 right now and the menus buttons are way more responsive.

[nitrousboy0311]

@XXXHornyHippoXXX Yeah i like that rom on the nexus If it came with it stock i would pick it up...

[NexusTen]

肯定是nexus one好，毋庸置疑。

[F1nir]

Probably they didn't expect multi touch for Nexus

[matthewemaddock]

Touch screen problems aside, it strikes me that the screen of the Nexus One is significantly duller than that of the Droid. From what I've read, everyone was going on about how good the Nexus One screen is. I'm not convinced after seeing this video!

[DeePal072]

you obviously haven't seen a Nexus 1 live otherwise you wouldn't even dare to compare, i've humiliated a friend of mine with his 3Gs, and my brother with his (lovely) Droid/Milestone, it's simply amazing ... that's it.

[koolaidman099]

the screen looks duller, because it goes on power save mode faster than the droid

[JessieThurston11]

There is a setting to make the screen brighter It might be on a lower setting mine is as bright as the Droid.

BTW Another very happy N1 owner.

[QrafTee]

This can probably stop me from getting a Nexus One on Verizon, but Phandroid is reporting a rumor indicating that Verizon may delay the phone to fix this issue.

[YTMbrianpeppersND]

You just said Google didn't have anything to do with the phone hardware, and then you bash them for the hardware. The iPhone actually isn't some kind of "king" of the smartphone industry. The iPhone isn't considered a smartphone; it's a gaming platform. What makes a smartphone is a great deal of communication- and productivity-oriented features. The iPhone is much more about entertainment than communication and productivity. The iPhone doesn't really compete in those arenas.

[pugay69]

doesn't make a difference for pinch to zoom. also the nexus one looks like it is following your fingers more accurately. I have a milestone, and web browsing is a pain, becuase it regisiters clicks on the wrong links!

[genetracy]

i thought nexus dont support multitouch~~~???

[ZombiePirate2]

If it just does the inverse, this will not matter on pinch to zoom gestures.

This *should* only effect games. Either way though, its stupid that it does this in the first place.

Not enough to convince me to buy a droid instead of a N1 though.

[lenkid]

translation 5:53 : "This is working on a lawn mower electorate" XD

[surgeyX]

I seriously doubt that a manufacturer of any kind of capacitive touch screen would allow this kind of behavior on a hardware level...this looks to me like a dirver problem...but if the former is true, that's a *real* shame -- you can't really place full blame HTC and Google -- they didn't make the touch screen, but obviously they should have tested it a little better. It's always the same story -- rush to get product to market, testing can wait...often times it doesn't get done at all.

[oldarney]

can you check out the cliq too, im tied to Tmo unfortunately.

[SnowLeopard2008]

there's a reason (actually many of them) why the iPhone is king of the smartphone world while having lesser hardware specs than competitors. The first iPhone (2G) still tracks better than the newest smartphones. Also, Google is not a hardware manufacturer. I trust HTC's other smartphones aren't crap like this and Motorola is certainly not like that either. Google thumbs down.

[OnlySoaa]

@SnowLeopard2008 Unfortunately, the Hero has the same behavior. The quality of the touch panel isn't bad -- it's just not as sophisticated as the iPhone's, which is designed to track multiple fingers.

[DeePal072]

that's true but didn't prevent the mighty one from havin' some issues too with multitouch... anyway i gave you a +

[AshockisCool]

Glad to know not to upgrade my G1 to another Droid phone still sloppy touch screens sigh...I think I might get a Iphone.

[watchingwill]

so the htc desire will probably have this problem as well then!? I really hope this is fixable else I will not buy an HTC phone..

[jonnybryce]

@watchingwill no. the htc desire, just like the htc hero, are built as multitouch phones from the ground up as HTC Sense has mutltouch all over it.

Google's multitouch on N1 was a random release one day, a decision made after the phone was built without multitouch in mind.

The Hero is fine, and the Desire will be fine.

[watchingwill]

Thx for the info! I am really itching to buy the HTC Desire and I will problably not be able to resist buying it regardless when it is released so I hope you are right.

[DeePal072]

It depends ... if it's an hardware problem absolutely yes cause the phones are identical from tip to toe except for the optical trackball and the "real" call/menu/home/back keys, if it's a sowtware problem maybe HTC has developed a better driver in the while ...

[UzIProductionZ]

"For many current Android phones, there will be lots of bad data including axis flipping and near-axis influence.

[mediamantx]

Wouldn't this be a problem on the programming of the app? I mean, is there any oficial (htc or google) app dessinged for multitouch where we can see this bug happenning?

[edde69]

same problem...

[philliptombs]

The multitouch for me anyway is awesome. it even works with nesoid, snesoid, and gensoid. I'm all most a hundred percent sure the the multitouch update did just open it up for google products but for any app that supports multitouch. Freaking awesome.

[josuearisty]

is this hardware (HTC) or OS (GOOGLE) problem??

[windmilltube]

My nexus one behaves just as the one shown in the video.

I also have other touchscreen issues.

The screen becomes much less responsive if I don't keep it in hand.

[RiceMan6456]

how did you change the trackball color on the nexus one? is it a root app?

[MusicIan423]

damn this needs to be brought to google's and htc's attention

[Spo8]

Nice video. Had no idea about this.