Might be useful to someone.. I got no idea what its for.. its half price thats all I know
Surface Dial is a completely new way to interact with technology and create in the most natural, immersive way. Store, customize, access, navigate, and reimagine physical tools in the digital world – from concept to creation.
But it sounds like they reinvented the analogue potentiometer.
It's pretty different to an analog pot, it's a rotary encoder with feedback.
You can use it with Photoshop and Lightroom for example:
https://jamesone111.wordpress.com/2018/01/08/using-the-surfa…
I'm sure it's a bit different, but humanity has spent a large amount of time moving away from dials, in favour of touch controls and digital-like buttons. It's kind of amusing that they now realise that rotating dials is the way to go after all.
I don't think it's aimed at the general consumer. At launch they were targeting creative professionals who would probably actually find it useful. If you're holding a stylus in your right hand and need to adjust brush size for example, you can just spin the wheel with your left hand.
For normal users, the dial could be a quick way to adjust volume. It's definitely easier to spin a physical dial that's right there than press a button several times, or click on a button then adjusting a fader. Or press-and-spin to do something else. Or for photo editing, or even a MIDI controller.
We've spent a long time being told we want to use touch controls. I for one lament the loss of tactile buttons and can absolutely see the market for this device.
I for one lament the loss of tactile buttons and can absolutely see the market for this device.
There's pros and cons. For most situations touch screens are just much more versatile.
No one wants to go back to physical keypads on phones because you use them for so many different things and you're looking directly at it while using it. Being able to blind-dial is not that vital.
No one wants to replace their xbox controllers with a tablet because you use it just for game control and you're looking elsewhere when using it anyway.
No one wants to go back to physical keypads on phones because you use them for so many different things and you're looking directly at it while using it.
Sure, but the Surface Dial isn't meant to replace a physical keyboard. It's more like the physical mute switch on iPhones and OnePlus phones. Yes, you can mute the phone by tapping some on-screen buttons or switching the phone on and pressing the volume down key repeatedly. Or you can just flick a switch.
Being able to blind-dial is not that vital.
Like the example above, being able to flick a switch that's always there isn't very vital. But it sure is quicker and more convenient!
@KentT: While I don't disagree with you, I don't see how your examples are relevant to what I'm talking about.
Has no idea what it does, or if its any good. Posts deal anyway. Some heroes don't wear capes.
I always wondered why they didn't call it the Microsoft Knob;-)
Steve Ballmer already has that title.
price seems to have gone back to up to $149
bugger, would have gotten one but not at full price.
try calling a store see if its still $74
Just price matched at Good Guy's. They didn't even check the HN Website, it was on their system.
Plying with my Knob now:) Great for scrolling OzBargain pages. Definitely a luxury item unless you are a graphic artist, CAD designer etc
Currently $107 at HN
Which means didly squat :)
But it sounds like they reinvented the analogue potentiometer. We've now gone full circle in technological advancement, back to zero.