subject: Windows Mobile 6.5 may support capacitive screens [print this page] Windows Mobile 6.5 supports may also touch screens of the capacitive type, which includes theiPhone,T-Mobile G1 andPalm Pre used. Until now only supported Windows Mobile resistive screens. It's just too bad Windows Mobile has yet to catch on - it's still fully backing resistive touchscreens (you might know them as "squishy" touchscreens).Microsoft has been making excuses for not overtly supporting capacitive touchscreens by spouting higher hardware costs and lesser hand-writing recognition accuracy. Given Windows Mobile's ancient UI and fairly disappointing user experience, a squishy touchscreen is the least of Redmond's problems.
Several manufacturers consider whyWindows Mobile devices with capacitive screens to develop, says Mark Perryman, a known Windows Mobile developer. Many people find working with capacitive touch screens better, because a lighter touch is enough for the unit to move to action. A capacitive screen 'feel' the electric charge on the finger, and do so - other than a resistive touch screen - not to be pressed to the contact record.
Capacitive technology has several advantages: zero pressure is required to make an input because nothing needs to be deformed and this leads to a much more natural interface experience; although additional material is laid onto the screen, there is no air gap so optical clarity is much improved reducing the need for backlighting making power draw lower; multiple touch points can be supported; things like touch size and pressure can be extrapolated from the capacitive data.
Windows Mobile 6.5 has primarily been designed for resistive screens because some input areas still rely on small controls and require a high level of input accuracy that can't be easily achieved with a finger and require a stylus; however some device manufacturers are considering options to ship capacitive screens.
