Rather than close or minimize a phone window to interact with a background application like a music player, users could control a primary application, like email, via touchscreen or keys, and manage the background application via gestures, said Goren.

FORBES: Texas Instruments Sees Big Market For Smartphone Gesture Recognition

Its 10 configurable keys are still a joy to use as an application launcher, and being able to customize the display of each individual key is a geeky pleasure of the rarest kind -- but that consistency means the pad's shortcomings are the same, too.

ENGADGET: Razer Blade review (late 2012)