Comments on: Verizon’s Droid and the Importance of Pinching

By: Mark K.

Mark K. — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:14:04 +0000

One would think that making a phone call from point X would be equally standard whether using service provider A or V. Unfortunately A sucks.

By: jamesjones

jamesjones — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:26:08 +0000

Google is providing a FREE OS. If it were to include a patented technique such as Pinch and Zoom (assuming apple does indeed have this patent), they would have to LICENSE the technology, and therefore could not offer a FREE OS.

The HTC hero is reported to have pinch and zoom. This is likely because HTC licensed the technique themselves and included the licensing fees in their costs.

By: Duker

Duker — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:33:51 +0000

I use the pinch and pull on the Palm Pre all the time. It is a really nice feature.

By: david griffin

david griffin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:45:48 +0000

Everything is obvious in hindsight. That doesn’t mean it shouldn’t still be protected by a patent.

By: heulenwolf

heulenwolf — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:13:28 +0000

I think pinch to zoom is a great idea and I love its implementation on my iPod Touch. I thought of these two possible explanations:
1) An optimistic explanation: Perhaps they didn’t implement it in the included Android Apps with the Droid because its a two-handed gesture. A zoom button is a one-handed gesture and, while significantly less slick and fluid, gets the job done. Placing two fingers on the screen ties up that hand, requiring the other hand to hold the device or, at least, stabilize it so you can perform the sensitive gesture accurately. Given that Motorola’s selling a car-mount kit for turn-by-turn navigation – one of the Droid’s killer features – perhaps they didn’t want to encourage users to do unsafe things while driving. Its much easier to show someone a photo on your phone with one hand and zoom with your thumb on small buttons in the corner, as well, than by covering up most of the screen with your pinching hand. Perhaps they thought a one-handed interface was the way to go in situations where you’re not entering text.
2) A pessimistic(-ish) explanation: Consider who “they” are. Three massive companies came together for this product and had to agree on how it would work – Motorola, Google, and Verizon – each with significant investment in its success. If that many lawyers and executives were involved and pinch to zoom is the only feature they couldn’t agree on, then they did wonderfully. Apple, by contrast, developed the iPhone hardware and software together then shopped around for a carrier. They claim in their letter to the FCC that the carrier has no input on the applications. Apple only had one person to impress with the iPhone’s features: a person with a well-documented dislike for buttons.

By: Will

Will — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:50:55 +0000

The proof that it can work is in Motorola’s GSM version of the phone. I don’t believe this phone is available in the U.S. Motorola “Milestone”

http://www.motorola.com/Consumers/XW-EN/Consumer-Products-and-Services/Mobile-Phones/ci.Motorola-MILESTONE-XW.alt

If you compare the specs side by side with the Droid, the main difference is under the Interface options. Pinch and Zoom are listed for the Milestone which is running the same OS and hardware. It only differs in that it is GSM. It must be fear of a patent war with Apple not to implement this for U.S. usage. From what I understand, the only reason the Palm-PRE has these features is because of the large number of patents PALM holds that may or may not be used by Apple and other companies. If Apple where to fight Palm, Palm may have some ammo.