What is Apple Planning on Making with this 3x3cm Touch Screen?

MacRumors · Jul 9, 2010, 05:51 AM

Tw.apple.pro posts a few images of an Apple-branded touch screen that only measures 3x3 centimeters. The site has been a source of early parts for Apple products in the past, including white iPhone 4 parts and MacBook Pro enclosures. Based on the machine translation they aren't quite sure what the part is for. Though, they speculate about an iPod Touch nano, iPod Touch shuffle and even a touch-screen wrist-watch.

We're not sure what to make of it. The screen isn't the right proportion to be used in the current iPod nano, though Apple could change the design. We're also taking their word on it that it's even a touch screen.

Article Link: What is Apple Planning on Making with this 3x3cm Touch Screen?

Jack Lithian · Jul 9, 2010, 05:54 AM

Definitely iPhone nano

Music_Producer · Jul 9, 2010, 05:56 AM

Solar powered battery charger?

talkingfuture · Jul 9, 2010, 05:57 AM

Very interesting. 30mm x 30mm is a very very small screen. Some sort of wearable phone or iPod? New Apple TV remote? iPod shuffle with display?

Music_Producer · Jul 9, 2010, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack Lithian

Definitely iPhone nano

SJ " So small that you can't even hold it - the reception issue is solved!"

whooleytoo · Jul 9, 2010, 05:58 AM

Touchscreen in lieu of a trackpad on MacBooks/MacBook Pros?

Edit - obviously way too small. Maybe the "new AppleTV" will have a small touch-screen?

jayducharme · Jul 9, 2010, 05:58 AM

That's really bizarre. The square proportion makes it look like an old Philco television. Maybe it's going to be a new type of touchpad. Is it a "retina" display? If it's standard resolution, it would be too small to be visually useful.

newdeal · Jul 9, 2010, 05:58 AM

How the he'll would you read or touch anything on such a small screen. It probably is just a prototype for something that they didn't make full size due to cost. Perhaps a prototype retina display just to see if the pixel density would work or something

Biker · Jul 9, 2010, 05:59 AM

The iWatch is finnaly here!

Kilamite · Jul 9, 2010, 05:59 AM

It's the remote control input for Apple's new TV.

Alexwithad · Jul 9, 2010, 06:00 AM

3x3 cm is ridiculously small, what could possibly function on 3x3 cm with a touch screen? What about people with large fingers...

Arran · Jul 9, 2010, 06:01 AM

Apple TV remote?

It needs to be a small screen to fit in a small device. And it needs to be a small, rigid and lightweight device to survive being; sat on, dropped on the floor, thrown across the room, and all the other indignities a TV remote suffers.

The display will function mostly as a thumb operated trackpad for the new Apple TV. Buttons, etc., will appear on its surface as needed.

Remote body will likely be aluminum (lightweight and rigid).

All IMHO.

Mal67 · Jul 9, 2010, 06:01 AM

Dick Tracey wrist watch:-) cool or Blake's Seven wrist communicator cool too. Or itouch nano :-) sweet. One way or the other looks like touch screen is the way to go.

Nieval · Jul 9, 2010, 06:03 AM

iPod classic with the same classic body and click wheel but a touch screen as well. That's my bet.

tomesi · Jul 9, 2010, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kilamite

It's the remote control input for Apple's new TV.

Sounds like a good idea.

But hey, 3x3? My f* thumb is bigger than 3x3

0dev · Jul 9, 2010, 06:03 AM

Doubt it'll be a touch-screen wrist-watch, but it'd be cool if it was

fluentinsix · Jul 9, 2010, 06:04 AM

Given Apple's tendency to stick rigidly to its design principles, I can't see it dropping the home button from an ios device.

Christianlom · Jul 9, 2010, 06:04 AM

I'm quite a Apple fanboy, and yesterday I was searching the web for news about a upcomming TomTom car-kit for the iPhone 4, when i suddently stumpled over this video. I know the title on the system menu says "iPod" but who knows?

It looks like apple are creating a car or sound system that's going to be using a new UI, which might just fit this little screen perfectly.

I'm really hoping that they'll create a car-kit, would be so awesome.

/ChristianLom

samdale · Jul 9, 2010, 06:05 AM

I'm think appe tv remote. Maybe with limited controls/some sort of cover flow (although that would be on the tv screen so not sure).

An ipod Shuffle with a touch screen would be useless. Don't most people use them whilst running/at the gym. You need physical buttons for that. And ipod Touch Nano would surely have a screen with a similar ratio to the ipod touch/iPhone, no? Square seems odd

milo · Jul 9, 2010, 06:06 AM

I don't think it's likely we'll see it on any apple product, and at that size I'm skeptical that it's a touch screen, but if it is real, most likely possibilities are shuffle, a much cheaper/simpler phone (probably unlikely), or a fancy remote for TV etc.

Considering how small and low resolution the displays are on the smallest and most basic phones and mp3 players, even without a really high resolution, this would be a step up for the shuffle (touchscreen or otherwise).

northernbaldy · Jul 9, 2010, 06:07 AM

maybe its for the apple rose tinted augmented relativity specs
or artars for short

resistance is futile

Jelsoft · Jul 9, 2010, 06:09 AM

Way too small for a remote.

New Shuffle Screen.

Lord Vader · Jul 9, 2010, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Music_Producer

Solar powered battery charger?

Do you realize how cool, handy and environment friendly it would be?

The Phazer · Jul 9, 2010, 06:10 AM

If I had to guess I'd go with Apple TV remote, but who knows?

Phazer

Mkz · Jul 9, 2010, 06:11 AM

Would be amazing if it was a watch but it wont be because it's something thats become more useless as everyone has a phone with the time on.

Jul 9, 2010, 05:51 AM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	What is Apple Planning on Making with this 3x3cm Touch Screen? Tw.apple.pro posts a few images of an Apple-branded touch screen that only measures 3x3 centimeters. The site has been a source of early parts for Apple products in the past, including white iPhone 4 parts and MacBook Pro enclosures. Based on the machine translation they aren't quite sure what the part is for. Though, they speculate about an iPod Touch nano, iPod Touch shuffle and even a touch-screen wrist-watch. We're not sure what to make of it. The screen isn't the right proportion to be used in the current iPod nano, though Apple could change the design. We're also taking their word on it that it's even a touch screen. Article Link: What is Apple Planning on Making with this 3x3cm Touch Screen?
	0

Jul 9, 2010, 05:54 AM	#2
Jack Lithian macrumors member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Antwerp, Belgium	Definitely iPhone nano __________________ 13" MacBook Pro, 2.4 GHz, 4 GB RAM, 250 GB HDD
	0

Jul 9, 2010, 05:57 AM	#4
talkingfuture macrumors 65816 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The back of beyond.	Very interesting. 30mm x 30mm is a very very small screen. Some sort of wearable phone or iPod? New Apple TV remote? iPod shuffle with display? __________________ Pendle Products iPad Stand and Laptop Stands.
	0

Jul 9, 2010, 05:58 AM	#6
whooleytoo macrumors 603 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Cork, Ireland.	Touchscreen in lieu of a trackpad on MacBooks/MacBook Pros? Edit - obviously way too small. Maybe the "new AppleTV" will have a small touch-screen? __________________ Mac <- Macintosh <- McIntosh apples <- John McIntosh <- McIntosh surname <- "Mac an toshach" <- "Son of the Chief"
	0

Jul 9, 2010, 05:58 AM	#8
newdeal macrumors 65816 Join Date: Oct 2009	... How the he'll would you read or touch anything on such a small screen. It probably is just a prototype for something that they didn't make full size due to cost. Perhaps a prototype retina display just to see if the pixel density would work or something
	0

Jul 9, 2010, 05:56 AM	#3
Music_Producer macrumors 68000 Join Date: Sep 2004	Solar powered battery charger?
	0

Jul 9, 2010, 05:58 AM	#7
jayducharme macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The hinterlands	That's really bizarre. The square proportion makes it look like an old Philco television. Maybe it's going to be a new type of touchpad. Is it a "retina" display? If it's standard resolution, it would be too small to be visually useful.
	0

Jul 9, 2010, 05:59 AM	#9
Biker macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2010	The iWatch is finnaly here!
	0

Jul 9, 2010, 05:59 AM	#10
Kilamite macrumors G3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland	It's the remote control input for Apple's new TV. __________________ 15" MacBook Pro 2GHz i7 4GB 750GB \| Mac mini 2.3GHz i7 16GB 1TB Fusion \| OS X 10.8.3 iPhone 5 64GB \| Apple TV 3 1080p \| iOS 6.1.4
	0

Jul 9, 2010, 06:00 AM	#11
Alexwithad macrumors 6502 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 412 Pittsburgh!	3x3 cm is ridiculously small, what could possibly function on 3x3 cm with a touch screen? What about people with large fingers... __________________ Are you a start codon because you're turning me on
	0

Jul 9, 2010, 06:01 AM	#12
Arran macrumors 65816 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Atlanta, USA	Apple TV remote? It needs to be a small screen to fit in a small device. And it needs to be a small, rigid and lightweight device to survive being; sat on, dropped on the floor, thrown across the room, and all the other indignities a TV remote suffers. The display will function mostly as a thumb operated trackpad for the new Apple TV. Buttons, etc., will appear on its surface as needed. Remote body will likely be aluminum (lightweight and rigid). All IMHO. __________________ When the world zigs, zag.
	0

Jul 9, 2010, 06:01 AM	#13
Mal67 macrumors regular Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Oz	Dick Tracey wrist watch:-) cool or Blake's Seven wrist communicator cool too. Or itouch nano :-) sweet. One way or the other looks like touch screen is the way to go.
	0

Jul 9, 2010, 06:03 AM	#14
Nieval macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Reading, U.K.	iPod classic with the same classic body and click wheel but a touch screen as well. That's my bet.
	0

Jul 9, 2010, 06:03 AM	#16
0dev macrumors 68040 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: 127.0.0.1	Doubt it'll be a touch-screen wrist-watch, but it'd be cool if it was __________________ "What kind of arrogant ass would quote themselves in their signature?" -0dev
	0

Jul 9, 2010, 06:04 AM	#17
fluentinsix macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2010	Given Apple's tendency to stick rigidly to its design principles, I can't see it dropping the home button from an ios device.
	0

Jul 9, 2010, 06:04 AM	#18
Christianlom macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2010	I might know what the screen is going to be used for. I'm quite a Apple fanboy, and yesterday I was searching the web for news about a upcomming TomTom car-kit for the iPhone 4, when i suddently stumpled over this video. I know the title on the system menu says "iPod" but who knows? It looks like apple are creating a car or sound system that's going to be using a new UI, which might just fit this little screen perfectly. I'm really hoping that they'll create a car-kit, would be so awesome. /ChristianLom
	0

Jul 9, 2010, 06:05 AM	#19
samdale macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2009	I'm think appe tv remote. Maybe with limited controls/some sort of cover flow (although that would be on the tv screen so not sure). An ipod Shuffle with a touch screen would be useless. Don't most people use them whilst running/at the gym. You need physical buttons for that. And ipod Touch Nano would surely have a screen with a similar ratio to the ipod touch/iPhone, no? Square seems odd
	0

Jul 9, 2010, 06:06 AM	#20
milo macrumors 603 Join Date: Sep 2003	I don't think it's likely we'll see it on any apple product, and at that size I'm skeptical that it's a touch screen, but if it is real, most likely possibilities are shuffle, a much cheaper/simpler phone (probably unlikely), or a fancy remote for TV etc. Considering how small and low resolution the displays are on the smallest and most basic phones and mp3 players, even without a really high resolution, this would be a step up for the shuffle (touchscreen or otherwise).
	0

Jul 9, 2010, 06:07 AM	#21
northernbaldy macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: the north, UK	maybe its for the apple rose tinted augmented relativity specs or artars for short resistance is futile __________________ 17" MacBook pro, MacMini Server, iPhone 5 64gb, AppleTV, iPad 32gb wifi, 11" MacBook Air
	0

Jul 9, 2010, 06:09 AM	#22
Jelsoft macrumors member Join Date: Apr 2010	Way too small for a remote. New Shuffle Screen.
	0

Jul 9, 2010, 06:10 AM	#24
The Phazer macrumors 68020 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: London, UK	If I had to guess I'd go with Apple TV remote, but who knows? Phazer __________________ http://twitter.com/thephazer
	0

Jul 9, 2010, 06:11 AM	#25
Mkz macrumors regular Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Manchester, UK	Would be amazing if it was a watch but it wont be because it's something thats become more useless as everyone has a phone with the time on.
	0

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
What is apple trying to do with the secret release time	jaromirjagr	MacBook Air	72	Jul 19, 2011 07:18 PM
What is your plan on the launch day?	CBR900RR	iPhone Tips, Help and Troubleshooting	2	Jun 15, 2010 07:44 PM
What is Apple policy on dead pixel repair?	cryer	iMac	1	Jun 6, 2010 03:58 AM
What is your plan on utilizing your retired PowerBook G4?	digitalmac	Apple Collectors	35	Feb 7, 2010 11:19 AM