HP's new super tilting TouchSmart 610 hit the scene just a hair before Intel brought their latest Sandy Bridge procs to market. Thankfully, HP has been quick to turn around some new model configurations to include Intel's killer dual and quad core parts.

Like before, HP's base TouchSmart 610 starts at $900 with AMD quad core procs, while the base Intel-specced rig will get you 2010 Core processors starting at $950.

The real action now starts at $1099 with the HP TouchSmart 610xt, which includes Intel's latest Core i5-2300 quad-core processor, DDR3 at 1066Mhz, and integrated graphics. Step up to the $1499 new HP TouchSmart Quad Series (oddly named given that the xt is also a quad core processor), and you'll get Intel's Core i7-2600, DDR3 at 1066Mhz, and an ATI Radeon 5570 discrete graphics, and an HDMI Input.

The TouchSmart 610z and up comes with Beats audio and Wireless N, and can be customized to include Bluetooth (standard on the Quad Series), up to 16GB of RAM, Norton Internet Security, Blu-Ray, and more. All TouchSmarts include HP's 4th generation TouchSmart Software Suite, native TouchSmart apps, and access to developer creations available through HPs TouchSmart Application Store.

HP's TouchSmart line of touch-friendly PC's have received their fair share of improvements over the years, but haven't really gotten any changes in the looks department since they moved from the IQ700 series to the thinner 500 and 800 series a few years ago. Don't get us wrong, there's nothing wrong with the look, but HP is combining form and function in some really cool ways.

The new TouchSmart610 and TouchSmart 9300 Business PC each offer a 60 degree reclining display. I'd argue the reclined position looks far more useful in a business environment, but I can definitely see some interesting home uses for a PC that can be reclined flat.

See more images in the gallery >>

The look isn't the only thing that's improved either. Aside from the typical hardware improvements in the processor department, the TouchSmart610 includes an LED backlit display for better blacks and crisp visuals. The sound system has also received some welcome improvements thanks to the integrated Beats audio. See the press release below for more features.

HP has used the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to announce a wide variety of new computers and technologies headed to consumers and businesses this year.  Aside from new hardware like the Pavilion dm1 netbook and Envy 17 3D notebook, HP also made an announcement for their TouchSmart line of PCs.

According to the press release, HP has made the TouchSmart 4.0 software, originally unveiled alongside the TouchSmart 4.0 SDK back in September, available as a free update for all 300 and 600 Series HP TouchSmart PCs. Users can find the update package the “Support and Drivers“ section on www.hp.com.

This should come as great news for TouchSmart application developers. This announcement should not only allow 300 and 600 sporting developers to finally get moved up to the latest release (thereby making it far easier to code and test apps), but it also means the userbase to use your applications just got substantially bigger.

Today HP unveiled translated versions of their latest TouchSmart SDK 4.0 for Korea, Japan, and China. The HP TouchSmart SDK 4.0, along with Windows 7, has been helping TouchSmart Developers integrate their applications into the TouchSmart around the world.

The TouchSmart 4.0 SDK, now available in four different languages, includes a TouchSmart shell integration API, code samples, deployment samples, and developer documentation.

Download the TouchSmart SDK today!

 - English

 - Simplified Chinese

 - Korean

 - Japanese

Introducing a more personal, intuitive and entertaining computing experience for consumers, HP today unveiled the sleekly appealing HP TouchSmart³¹⁰ PC, which features the most advanced version of the company’s exclusive TouchSmart software to date.

Check out this video to see it in action!

The company also announced the HP TouchSmart Apps Center for one-touch access to free and subscription-based applications, as well as the HP Omni¹⁰⁰, which offers the performance users demand from a tower and monitor in an all-in-one design.

HP also is helping businesses make touch an integral part of the customer experience through relationships with American Airlines, ESPN and the National Football League’s San Francisco 49ers.

“Each generation of TouchSmart is a reflection of what HP has learned from its customers, complemented by the latest technologies,” said James Mouton, senior vice president, Desktop Organization, Personal Systems Group, HP. “The TouchSmart PC’s unique interface lets users do more than just basic computing

HP today released the fourth iteration of the TouchSmart Software Developers Kit (SDK) to TouchSmart Developers, and is now available to download here at the TouchSmart Dev Zone website. The TouchSmart 4.0 SDK is designed to help developers build applications for the new TouchSmart 4.0 software platform.

The 4.0 software platform represents a significant step forward in the look-and-feel and usability over the 3.0 platform, while providing some significant new features available to developers. For example, the TouchSmart SDK 4.0 supports new features Smartlets, parallax panning,  the carousel, and alerts.

The TouchSmart 4.0 SDK includes documentation and several code samples that will help a developer quickly build and deploy a TouchSmart application. As with the TouchSmart SDK  3.0, developers should be familiar with the Windows Presentation Foundation technology (for more information see http://windowsclient.net) before starting TouchSmart development.

TouchSmart software developers can download the TouchSmart SDK 4.0 here.

UPDATE: Also now available in Korean, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese!

For the second season, design contestants on Lifetime's "Project Runway" will be using HP's TouchSmart PCs and Notebooks. Throughout the show's eighth season, contestants can opt to use TouchSmarts over traditional pen and paper to better realize their vision and enhance their strategies.

Since HP's TouchSmart line is becoming synonymous with "fashion," there are many opportuities for TouchSmart developers to focus on creating compelling fashion applications for use on TouchSmart PCs.

Full press release below:

NEW YORK, July 29, 2010

HP today announced a second season of computer use by design contestants of Lifetime Television’s hit show “Project Runway.”

The use of HP technology allows the show’s designers to realize and elevate their creative visions through the use of the latest HP touch-enabled PCs based on Intel® processors. “Project Runway” season eight will premiere July 29 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Lifetime.

Throughout season eight of “Project Runway,

HP's TouchSmart SDK 3.0 for Windows 7 has been helping TouchSmart Developers integrate their applications into the TouchSmart. Not long ago, HP brought their TouchSmart SDK to a new international audience with the TouchSmart SDK 3.0 in Simplified Chinese. Today, HP is expanding their global reach for TouchSmart developmenet with TouchSmart SDK in Japanese, Traditional Chincese, and Korean.

The TouchSmart 3.0 SDK, now available in 5 different languages, includes a TouchSmart shell integration API, code samples, deployment samples, and developer documentation.

Download the TouchSmart SDK today!

 - English

 - Simplified Chinese

 - Traditional Chinese

 - Korean

 - Japanese

HP's TouchSmart SDK 3.0 for Windows 7 has been helping TouchSmart Developers integrate their applications into the TouchSmart. Today, HP is bringing the TouchSmart SDK to a new international audience with the just launched TouchSmart SDK 3.0 in Simplified Chinese.

The TouchSmart 3.0 SDK, now available in both English and Simplified Chinese, includes a TouchSmart shell integration API, code samples, deployment samples, and developer documentation.

Download the TouchSmart SDK today!

 - English

 - Simplified Chinese

HP is looking to profile TouchSmart Developers in a new series called "HP in Touch," where you can detail share experiences using the TouchSmart SDK, what apps you've created, and more.

Details below:

"Have a great TouchSmart experience that you want to share? We're looking to hear from you -- the people using TouchSmart SDK day in, day out -- and want to find out what you've done. Beyond that, we also want to get your thoughts on the future of touch interfaces.

If you want to be profiled in our "HP in Touch" series, tell us a little about yourself -- and your app please send your contact information to hpintouch@touchsmartdevzone.com. We'll contact you soon enough to profile you in an upcoming story.

-Shuk from HP "

If you're interested, send an e-mail to the devzone email address above and we'll forward it on to Shuk directly.