Engadget confronted Android Founder Andy Rubin — by all accounts a brilliant and passionate guy who really wants to make great products — about why the US versions of the Droid and Nexus One don’t use the Android 2.0 supported multitouch keyboard and gestures, while the non-US versions do. The response:

“It’s not an America versus outside America kind of thing. It’s a decision that is a result of the OEM model. I personally don’t like two-handed operations… there is no conspiracy.”

Both TiPb (because Apple’s name keeps come up on the suspect list) and our sibling site, Android Central have been covering this story and it still makes the kind of sense that doesn’t. “Like” or “dislike” seems an odd way to talk about something that so affects usability (pinch-to-zoom is intuitive and ingrained enough that it should just be a standard). There were rumors that Google didn’t want to violate Apple’s multitouch patents in the US, but Engadget looked and couldn’t find any that applied to these specific implementations.

Perhaps, as otherwise rumored, there’s a gentleman’s agreement between Apple and Google, and since Google’s CEO, Eric Schmidt was on Apple’s board of directors (even though he reportedly recused himself from iPhone discussions), Google could be playing it extra super safe.

Whatever the answer is, however, the founder not liking something is an odd answer as to why it doesn’t exist only in his own country. Remember, RIM’s CEO doesn’t like typing on glass and even he made the BlackBerry Storm…

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

CEO(is)h-Snap: Android Founder Rubin Doesn’t Like Two-handed Operations

The very first time I used the capacitive touchscreen of an iPhone it was clear that there was no other mobile device on the market that could match it’s performance. Now a few years later, that still holds true for most of us and if you’d like proof labs.moto.com has performed a touchscreen stress test.

The iPhone's touch sensor showed the most linear tracking with the least amount of stair-stepping. The Droid Eris and Nexus One tied for second with only faint wiggling – but actually performed best at the edge of the screen. Last in the line-up was the Motorola Droid, which demonstrated significant wavy artifacts or "stair-stepping."

Something to keep in mind, the MOTO Development Group used more sophisticated tools to test touchscreen accuracy but the above video simply demonstrates a technique any of you can use to evaluate the accuracy of your own device.

At the end of the day it all comes down to touchscreen hardware and the integration of that hardware with software and user interaction development. Was there really any doubt of which device would come out on top?

[labs.moto.com via Techcrunch]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

iPhone Wins Touchscreen Performance Tests Against Moto Droid, Nexus One and Others

The New York Times says Apple has been working on a multitouch version of their iWork office suite — Pages word processor, Numbers spread sheet, and Keynote presentations — for their rumored upcoming iTablet/iSlate, along with complex gestures based on technology they acquired from Fingerworks.

"The tablet should offer any number of unique multitouch experiences — for example, three fingers down and rotate could mean 'open an application,' " said one former engineer, who asked not to be named because Apple demands secrecy from all current and former employees.

Sounds a little complex and obtuse from a company whose success to date has been primarily based on simplicity, but Apple could feel multitouch has been introduced well enough by the iPhone, trackpads, and even the Magic Mouse that users could now handle more complex gestures. We’d imagine, however, that the more complex the gesture, the more complex the function it’s intended to invoke — meaning average users could stick to the simple stuff.

Another former Apple designer said a team at the company had "spent the past couple of years working on a multitouch version of iWork," Apple's answer to Microsoft's Office software suite. This could indicate that Apple wants the tablet to be a fully functional computer, rather than a more passive device for reading books and watching movies.

It also makes us think a multitouch version of iWork would be just great on the iPhone and iPod touch as well (right Apple?)

For their part, 9to5mac also points out the previous rumors about Apple seeking engineers for an online iWork WebApp. An integrated offering with local and server storage and access, perhaps?

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

NYT: Apple Developing Multitouch iWork, Complex Gestures for iTablet (and iPhone?!)

Did Palm’s Joe Rubinstein say he’s never, not once ever touched an Apple iPhone. Not in 2.5 years. Not one? According to Digital Daily, that’s just exactly what he said.

Now we don’t think everyone has to have at least tried an iPhone, but when you’re the CEO of another smartphone company these days, especially when you’re a CEO who came from Apple, where you were the “father of the iPod”… frankly we have a hard time believing this is anything other than a misquote or misinterpretation of what he said. Even though there’s doesn’t seem to be much room for either –

"We don't pay that much attention to Apple….I know it sounds really strange," says Rubinstein.

"Really?" Kara replies. "You don't worry about the iPhone?"

"No, I really don't," Rubinstein answers.

"I don't believe you," says Kara, telegraphing a sentiment I imagine is widely held among the audience.

Rubinstein: "I don't have an iPhone. I've never even used one."

I think I just heard Palm's entire PR team audibly groan.

According to Gizmodo, he lacks the Sun Tzu. Our guess? He’s got an iPod touch.

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

CEOh-Snap! Palm’s Rubinstein, Father of the iPod, Says He’s Never Used an iPhone

Without question one of the coolest things on the CES floor is the Chevy Volt and their On-Star app for the iPhone (and iPod touch — and Android Droid and BlackBerry Storm). The app gives you incredible control over everything from when you charge the electric wonder car, to notifications for completion or interruption of charge, to opening the doors and warming it up (or cooling it down) before you get in.

You can try out the demo app now [Free - iTunes link], with the real version coming late this year.

Catch our video walkthrough (drive through?), courtesy of On-Star’s Paul Pebbles, and pics galore, after the break, and don’t miss Android Central’s coverage of the equally awesome Droid version.

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

On-Star Chevy Volt App for iPhone – TiPb @ CES 2010