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Forget the PDA, Here Comes the TDA

Posted by simoniker on from the there-goes-the-tda dept.

Roland Piquepaille writes "A French company has just started to sell the Jackito, the first 'Tactile Digital Assistant' (TDA). This new kind of PDA has no stylus, doesn't offer handwriting recognition and has no keyboard. Instead, it is based on touchscreen technology and relies entirely on your thumbs for input -- which are harder to lose than a stylus. And as Jackito has two simultaneous touch points, you can operate it with your two thumbs at the same time, at least according to the company. For an entry price of $600, you'll get parallel-processing capabilities with 7 processors and plenty of brand new technology, including 3ActilOS, a multitasking OS, which is not even referenced by Google. So be warned before purchasing one! However, the approach is pretty unique and I wish them good luck. Before opening your wallet, you'll find some selected pictures in this summary."

14 of 390 comments (clear)

  1. must ... resist ... by scrytch · · Score: 4, Funny

    "tactile" ... "jackito" ... oh my.

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    1. Re:must ... resist ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Unless you know a little Latin slang. Jacta is slang for "a jerk". "ite" (a suffix) is a part or division. "ito" is also spannish for a little or a bit.

      So Jackito perhaps means a bit of a jerk.

  2. Is it just me... by bgog · · Score: 3, Funny

    Is it just me or does this have almost no cool factor. I'm about as excited about it as a ham sandwich.

    1. Re:Is it just me... by sploo22 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Whaddya mean? This isn't just cool, it's downright l33t. Check out the operating system - it's called 3ActilOS! How much more l33t can you get?

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  3. Hardertolose? by Trillan · · Score: 5, Funny

    Youinsensitiveclod!Ihavenothumbs!

  4. Their new slogan: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "So simple a monkey could use it.*"

    *If that monkey had opposable thumbs.

  5. What has two thumbs by LightStruk · · Score: 4, Funny

    What has two thumbs and loves simultaneous touch points?

    This guy...

  6. why you need marketing! by Perianwyr+Stormcrow · · Score: 5, Funny

    Because something that sounds like a cross between masturbation and tortillas ain't so great!

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    What we call folk wisdom is often no more than a kind of expedient stupidity.-Edward Abbey

  7. Harder to lose, but.. by Sloppy · · Score: 4, Funny
    ..relies entirely on your thumbs for input -- which are harder to lose than a stylus.
    Yeah, but if you do lose one, they cost an arm and a leg to replace.
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  8. Well by stonecypher · · Score: 3, Funny

    Instead, it is based on touchscreen technology and relies entirely on your thumbs for input -- which are harder to lose than a stylus.

    Not if you're yacuza, you insensitive clod.

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    StoneCypher is Full of BS
  9. Re:I smell a hoax by kunudo · · Score: 3, Funny

    Real images speak octal.

  10. Could they have taken this further.. by Tandoori+Haggis · · Score: 3, Funny

    Like a PDA you can operate while keeping your hands in your pockets...

    Er ok... Perhaps not...

    (such a device might end up being euphemistically
    referred to as a jerkito)

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  11. Re:I smell a hoax by Monkeyman334 · · Score: 3, Funny

    slight alignment errors where the "author" was cutting and pasting bits of the image.

    Also, the floating cubes look very suspicous. I think they may have been put in after the picture was taken.

  12. Forget the PDA, here comes the PEDA by qseep · · Score: 5, Funny
    Studies show 90% of PDA users lose their PDAs. Why worry about losing your PDA ever again? The SolePad(tm) PEDA (podiatric embedded digital assistant) fits right in your shoes!

    Walk your way to a new day! This innovative product, made possible by the NASA space program, has undergone 35 years of development and cost over $10 billion.

    Advantages over PDA's:
    • Large footprint allows easy data entry. What is more natural than walking?
    • Take notes with the innovative Hopscratchpad.
    • Simultaneous data entry with both feet!
    • Play fun built-in games such as Twister(tm) and Kickman, and educational software such as Prance Prance Evolution.
    • Experience multimedia interactive fiction such as Stomp: The Interactive Multimedia Experience (requires force-feedback module).
    • Contains FOUR MULTIMEDIA LAYERS of Teflon, Foam, Silicon and Plastic!
    • Easy connection to Segway(tm) docking station.
    What people are saying about SolePad:
    • "Finally, my hands are free to do my work. I love taking notes with the Hopscratchpad." - Jackie Chan, actor
    • "I kept losing my shoes. Now I have an excuse to keep them on!" - Bikram Choudhury, yoga instructor
    • "This is the greatest new technology I have seen since Jackito." - Michael Jackson, singer
    Special prepaid introductory price: $1000/ft.

    SolePad: Finally, a step in the right direction. (tm)

    Kickman (c) 1981 Midway
    Twister is a registered trademark of Milton Bradley