Samsung Reportedly Adding A '3D Touch' Feature To Galaxy Phones Next Year

One of the best features in the iPhone 6s and
iPhone 6s Plus is 3D Touch — which adds “Peek
and Pop” functionality to the new Apple devices
by applying a level of pressure on the display.
Now Samsung is reportedly preparing a feature
that is similar to 3D Touch for its Galaxy line of
devices releasing in 2016, according to a post
written by a credible source known as “I Ice
Universe” on Weibo.
Samsung will be using technology created by
San Jose, California based human interface
software company Synaptics . Last
week, Synaptics announced the new generation
of its ClearForce touchscreen technology
called ClearPad 3700. ClearPad 3700 can
distinguish between light taps and harder
presses.
ClearPad 3700 enables new dimensions in user
interfaces like zooming in/out, unlocking
devices, setting up contextual menus, gaming
and photo editing simply by applying variable
force using a finger or stylus. In a press release,
Synaptics said it has been working closely with
global manufacturing companies to integrate
ClearForce into smartphones that are expected
to start shipping in 2016. Synaptics did not
specify which manufacturers it partnered with.
But it seems likely all of the major Android
manufacturers will be included such as
Samsung.
“This exciting next step in human interface for
smartphones will soon become the norm and
highlights Synaptics’ leadership in force,” said
Kevin Barber, the senior vice president and
general manager of the Smart Display Division
at Synaptics, in a statement. “Early adopters of
ClearForce include industry leading OEMs and
LCMs seeking advanced technology that drives
an enhanced and more productive user
experienced.”
Even if Samsung integrates a “3D Touch” feature
into its future devices, it will not be first
Android manufacturer that has done so. Last
month, Huawei unveiled a smartphone called
the Mate S which has a “smart-pressure
sensitive screen.” There are contextual gestures
that appear when you apply pressure to the
screen of the Mate S such as game controls and
photo zooming. Huawei actually announced the
pressure-sensitive screen feature for a
smartphone before Apple revealed “3D Touch”
for the iPhone 6s. But Apple popularized
pressure-sensitive technology with the Force
Touch feature in the Apple Watch and the new
12-inch MacBook Pro.
How does 3D Touch work? When you push
harder on an app icon, it pulls up a contextual
menu. For example, pushing down on the
Facebook app icon on the iPhone 6s and iPhone
6s Plus lets you quickly write a post, upload a
photo or video or take a photo or video. And
pushing harder on the Camera app icon on the
iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus shows a menu that
asks if you want to take a selfie, record a video,
record a slo-mo video or take a regular photo.