Apple Virtual Input Device on Touch Screen

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif

Details on yet another Apple Touch Screen interface patent application was revealed last week under the title "Virtual input device placement on a touch screen user interface".

The display includes an application display, associated with an application executing on the computer, and a virtual input device display for a user to provide input to the application executing on the computer via the touch screen.

What is shown in the application are images of Mac OS X with a pop-up keyboard interface. Apple appears to be experimenting with multiple methods of displaying a virtual keyboard on top of an existing Mac OS X screen. Options include a simple overlay, compressing the Mac screen evenly or compressing the edges more than the center/area of interest or simply a movable pop-up window.

A flurry of Apple Tablet related patent applications have appeared in the US Patent and Trademark office, indicating that Apple is pursing active research into the topic. This most recent application was submitted relatively recently on September 16, 2005.

[EricNau]

All of these patents seem really convincing that Apple has a tablet or PDA up their sleeve.

BTW: I like the "compressing the edges more than the center/area of interest" the most.

[pdpfilms]

I'd say they point more towards a tablet, or simply a revolutionary new UI, poised to eliminate the mouse and keyboard combination of casual users.

[matthewHUB]

I dunno what they've got up their sleeves, but it's going to be bloody coool whatever it is... and i have a feeling it has something to do with April 1st 30th anniversary.

APPLE GIVE ME A PDA!

M

[EricNau]

Originally Posted by matthewHUB

I dunno what they've got up their sleeves, but it's going to be bloody coool whatever it is... and i have a feeling it has something to do with April 1st 30th anniversary.

APPLE GIVE ME A PDA!

M

Apple seems to be cutting it close if these products are to come out April 1st.

edit: never mind, just saw the "Sept 2005"

[opq]

Is it just me or are they using pics of Mac OS X Panther? Strange.

[justflie]

cutting it close would be putting it mildly! i would love to see an apple PDA as my ipaq recently went beserk on me. however, i don't think we'll see a pda on april first. a mac mini/ibook (macbook) yes, but pda, no. I don't claim to really understand the patenting process that well, but i would assume that apple engineers would want to begin the process of patenting (ie submit application) as soon as something even remotely viable has been created to help forestall any intellectual property disputes (ie whose lab notes were first). For this logical reasoning (albeit possbily misguided reasoning due to my lack of patenting knowledge), i would be extremely surprised to see them putting out a PDA in april and just submitting patent applications now. sure, it could be to maintain secrecy and all that, but they would risk losing the tech to a competitor should the competitor apply for the patent first. Anyways, it seems like apple is headed in the direction of a PDA and that makes me quite happy. but anyways, back to looking at pics of the MBP!

so apprently the patent was filed in sept. 2005. all that speculating for nothing! but it was a darn good theory while it lasted...Maybe april 1st isn't all that impossible

[mustard]

It is the same song & dance with all of there recent patents highlighted on MacRumors - Apple please just show me something that I can touch/own similar to either a PDA or a tablet.



Like Thomas...
I think you can, I think you can...

[Spock]

Here it is people the Apple P.A.D.D (Personal Access Display Device)

[p0intblank]

If Apple comes out with a tablet Mac, I don't see it happening until a loooong time from now. Right now in my opinion it seems like a waste of time to work on a tablet computer. A touch screen iPod... now that's a different story.

[KREX725]

Originally Posted by Spock

Here it is people the Apple P.A.D.D (Personal Access Display Device)

Oddly that was exactly the same thing that first came to my mind too.

[FoxyKaye]

Originally Posted by Spock

Here it is people the Apple P.A.D.D (Personal Access Display Device)

Complete with the STTNG standard text on ship displays: GNDN!

Originally Posted by Sol

If they used images of Panther I would guess that this product will be a tablet PC, not a PDA. PDA operating systems and GUIs are very different to what comes with PCs for a good reason, ease of use. I can't imagine Apple would make a touch-screen PDA and use OS X for it.

Anyway, it's an odd direction for Apple. Tablet PCs have very niche markets and it is generally accepted that they are a flop in the mainstream computer business. I'm sure Apple could make a far better product than what Microsoft & Co. made in the last couple of years but I still can't see who would need an Apple tablet more than a cheaper iBook or a video iPod. Of course Apple has a way of surprising us with new, unproven technologies like they did with the hard drives of the original iPods and the wi-fi of Airport.

Agreed - I feel like Apple would move more in the direction of incorporating touch screen capabilities into its existing products first, which lends itself to a tablet PC. It would definitely have to be different from what has already been tried, though, for reasons you cite above.

Then again, could Darwin be stripped down enough with a limited Quartz like interface to make running some version of OS X on a PDA device (or next-gen iPod) feasible? This, I don't know...

[Sol]

If they used images of Panther I would guess that this product will be a tablet PC, not a PDA. PDA operating systems and GUIs are very different to what comes with PCs for a good reason, ease of use. I can't imagine Apple would make a touch-screen PDA and use OS X for it.

Anyway, it's an odd direction for Apple. Tablet PCs have very niche markets and it is generally accepted that they are a flop in the mainstream computer business. I'm sure Apple could make a far better product than what Microsoft & Co. made in the last couple of years but I still can't see who would need an Apple tablet more than a cheaper iBook or a video iPod. Of course Apple has a way of surprising us with new, unproven technologies like they did with the hard drives of the original iPods and the wi-fi of Airport.

[boncellis]

Originally Posted by Sol

If they used images of Panther I would guess that this product will be a tablet PC, not a PDA...Anyway, it's an odd direction for Apple. Tablet PCs have very niche markets and it is generally accepted that they are a flop in the mainstream computer business. I'm sure Apple could make a far better product than what Microsoft & Co. made in the last couple of years but I still can't see who would need an Apple tablet more than a cheaper iBook or a video iPod.

Agreed. I'm excited to see what Apple could do with something like this, despite tablets being only somewhat successful--it really depends on what the user intends to do with it. For precisely that reason, I think Apple has in mind to integrate whatever the new product is with its existing line. From a design perspective rather than a purely technological standpoint, I think a tablet that integrates with or controls a desktop, syncs with the iPod, and has wireless and iSight built in could be more viable than the tablets on the market now, provided the form factor and design are properly incorporated.

If it can be done successfully, I think Apple is in the best position and has the right team to do it.

[PCMA]

Does Apple's new naming regime mean that an Apple Tablet will be called a "MacPad"?

[MacQuest]

Originally Posted by justflie

are they demonstrating a built-in video capability or just the ability to handle a video conference given an external cam hookup?

No, I believe the MacPad [and ALL of Apple's mobile offerings + iMac] will have built in iSight.

They'll push non-stationary video conferencing but NOT as in "Hey, walk around and stare at your MacPad at the same time!... THUMP!!!"

More like "You can now video conference in whatever room/office of your home/workplace you like."

Originally Posted by PCMA

Does Apple's new naming regime mean that an Apple Tablet will be called a "MacPad"?

Anything that uses Mac OS will have "Mac" in it, as stated by SJ at MWSF '06.

I am choosing to call it MacPad because with how much SJ has talked poorly of the current state of the PDA and the failure of the Tablet PC market, I know that they wouldn't dare call it either.

I just like MacPad because [to me] a "pad" is similar enough to a tablet that they can cross market it that way without calling it a tablet. Also, Pad spells "PDA" as well. And of course, you have to include "Mac".

So, MacPad. The tablet AND PDA killer.

[diego]

Originally Posted by MacQuest

No, I believe the MacPad [and ALL of Apple's mobile offerings + iMac] will have built in iSight.

They'll push non-stationary video conferencing but NOT as in "Hey, walk around and stare at your MacPad at the same time!... THUMP!!!"

More like "You can now video conference in whatever room/office of your home/workplace you like."



Anything that uses Mac OS will have "Mac" in it, as stated by SJ at MWSF '06.

I am choosing to call it MacPad because with how much SJ has talked poorly of the current state of the PDA and the failure of the Tablet PC market, I know that they wouldn't dare call it either.

I just like MacPad because [to me] a "pad" is similar enough to a tablet that they can cross market it that way without calling it a tablet. Also, Pad spells "PDA" as well. And of course, you have to include "Mac".

So, MacPad. The tablet AND PDA killer.

Actually, Apple also patented a display with an integrated camera.

[baddaddy]

Just a couple of quick (and very random) thoughts.

1)If the keys on the screen are the same size as on a conventional keyboard then this device is about 8x11, or roughly the size of a peice of printer paper. Wayyyyy to big to be an ipod or pda, while it will do what the same functions if has to be designed to do more.

2) If you look at the apps shown you see that this thing must be wireless, with safari and aol on the doc, along with itunes and iphoto, but idvd and imovie are missing. I know that doesn't mean it won't have them, but it does make me wonder if this is a mac lite device, without heavy processing power or dvd burner.


3) These look a lot like a printed screen, if so that means it is a working prototype. That means that despite apples recent add looking for someone that would design stylus based apps, this is a lot farther down the pipeline than that. Perhaps this is a tablet plus, and the stylus app would be...dare I say it, SON OF NEWTON!

Any thoughts??

Baddaddy

[Thataboy]

My guess... Apple plans to introduce a sub-notebook line, but without a keyboard. They will call it the MacBook mini. I'd guess 9-10" diagonal, built in iSight, wifi, bluetooth, USB2, micro-drive (like those found in iPods), no firewire, no optical drive... a low-power single core chip... with Ink/stylus plus virtual-keyboard input.

I'd guess $699-$799 price point. If you want a more powerful notebook, with optical drive, faster hard drive, expandable memory, keyboard, firewire, dual core... you get a MacBook (iBook).

The MacBook mini would be perfect for students who mainly just need IM, internet, word processing, iTunes. Apple could sell a portable folding bluetooth keyboard for those people who want to take extensive notes.

I can't see Apple starting a whole new line (e.g., a MacPad). I also can't see why this would be useful functionality in a MacBook that has a keyboard.

[Newton]

I guess: Apple is, again, revolutionizing the industry as they did over 20 Years ago with the GUI with the Desktop Metaphore and the mouse.
But time has changed and so has the kind and amount of Data we are working with today. I mean, who ist typing large amounts of text this days anyway?
And, Microsoft with his new OS (what is it called again...?!) is getting closer and closer and we need somthing NEW!

Just put the pieces together:

• Inkwell and Gestures
• Point'n'klick/Drag'n'drop
• Resolution indipendent Display rendering (comming with OS X 10.5)
• The Newton Team (still working at Apple)
• Quartz
• Multi Touch Trackpad
• Experiences with own Displays
• Patents for some kind of Display/Camera device
• The ability of Apple of thinking across the borderlines (why having a keyboard and mouse if you don't need them...)

And then watch the Video of the Multi Touch Display again:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp-y3ZNaCqs

Thank you Steve for reading this.

[dernhelm]

Originally Posted by Newton

I guess: Apple is, again, revolutionizing the industry as they did over 20 Years ago with the GUI with the Desktop Metaphore and the mouse.
But time has changed and so has the kind and amount of Data we are working with today. I mean, who ist typing large amounts of text this days anyway?
And, Microsoft with his new OS (what is it called again...?!) is getting closer and closer and we need somthing NEW!

Just put the pieces together:

• Inkwell and Gestures
• Point'n'klick/Drag'n'drop
• Resolution indipendent Display rendering (comming with OS X 10.5)
• The Newton Team (still working at Apple)
• Quartz
• Multi Touch Trackpad
• Experiences with own Displays
• Patents for some kind of Display/Camera device
• The ability of Apple of thinking across the borderlines (why having a keyboard and mouse if you don't need them...)

And then watch the Video of the Multi Touch Display again:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp-y3ZNaCqs

Thank you Steve for reading this.

Definitely a cool video. If Apple does produce a device like this (which is a long shot at best), they will do so in a way that you will not need a trackpad. mouse, or stylus. You will interact with it by voice, and by touch. If you can remember back to the original mac, you had to do almost everything with the mouse, they didn't even include keyboard shortcut commands. Even though they eventually relented on that, I can see Steve pulling something similar again.

If apple can break our dependance on the mouse/trackpad with a newer better paradigm - I'm all for it. It would allow them to produce a sleek minimalist device with no stylus to loose, and no periipheral junk to lug around. The only issue would be the apps. They'd have to be custom made (or at least custom skinned) for the interface. You wouldn't want something like MS Word where you are choosing menu items with your finger instead of a stylus, that would defeat the point...

[MacQuest]

Originally Posted by Thataboy

My guess... Apple plans to introduce a sub-notebook line, but without a keyboard. They will call it the MacBook mini. I'd guess 9-10" diagonal, built in iSight, wifi, bluetooth, USB2, micro-drive (like those found in iPods), no firewire, no optical drive... a low-power single core chip... with Ink/stylus plus virtual-keyboard input.

I'd guess $699-$799 price point. If you want a more powerful notebook, with optical drive, faster hard drive, expandable memory, keyboard, firewire, dual core... you get a MacBook (iBook).

The MacBook mini would be perfect for students who mainly just need IM, internet, word processing, iTunes. Apple could sell a portable folding bluetooth keyboard for those people who want to take extensive notes.

I completely agree with everything you've said here with the exception of the naming which I explain in my next comment.

Originally Posted by Thataboy

I can't see Apple starting a whole new line (e.g., a MacPad). I also can't see why this would be useful functionality in a MacBook that has a keyboard.

I can't see Apple calling a product with a completely different form factor than that of a notebook, a MacBook. As in i believe the MacPad would be open faced and wouldn't have anything more "functional" than possibly a simple protective lid or cover, not a screen. Therefore it wouldn't be called a MacBook.

I'm thinking a larger [9"x12" for full 100% scale page view with a 1/4" border allowance all the way around] PDAish form factor that you can use with one hand if needed [the way you hold a clipboard when standing up], Mac OS X functionality, multi-touch point / gesture / virtual keyboard input, and in NO WAY competes with any Mac computer, but rather compliments them AND possibly your home devices [or media centric Mac mini / new product].

If the device is 9"x12"ish, maybe the whole camera behind/ within the screen patent thing would allow for a quick "snapshot" scan of single page documents? Hmmm... then you can go to your computer [preferrably a Mac of course ] to do anything more than just read the scanned document, like OCR and edit it.

Think "PDA and Tablet PC done right" and creating a whole new market like the iPod/iTunes combo did. Except now it will be the MacPod & vPod/iMovie [service] combo, when movies become available through Apple.

Now I'm really leaning towards MacPod. Right now we basically have the Mac and Pod divisions at Apple, maybe the MacPod will bridge the gap between the two while at the same time raising consumer awareness of both.

Maybe the [removeable?] lid/cover, when flipped open, will have the gesture symbols on the inner side to help train people on using gestures? [something i just thought of since I'm envisioning PDA flip lids...just throwing it out there].

When the iPod was first introduced in '01, SJ said that the iPod would be the first in a line of digital lifestyle devices. The vPod and it's larger indoor use brother, the MacPad [maybe it will be MacPod] will be the next digital lifestyle devices.

I believe that Apple is looking to out-innovate Sony in the home entertainment market.

[eji]

All things considered, the MacPad prediction sounds like the most likely. And as long as they're using the images of OS X in this particular patent application as actual size, and not just as representative OS placeholders, then this looks more like a tablet than a PDA.

Which is unfortunate, in a way, because I think Apple needs something at the smartphone/PDA level for the average consumer. These folks want something like their existing mobiles/cells/Handys/PSPs, but next-gen. Tablets are still at the geek/corporate level and probably will remain so for some time.

Having said that, though, Apple might like to have something that competes with ultra-small laptops (I think I've seen them in Sony's VAIO models). So maybe putting the tablet before the PDA isn't such a poor idea.

[Huin]

Or... could we expect a dual-screen laptop?
The tought just occurred to me, why not replace te current bottom half of a PowerBook for a touch-screen? It would provide a lot more freedom of use! Otherwise it's pretty inconvenient to use your main screen for both displaying, aswell as typing?

Anyway, think about it! : )

[dernhelm]

Originally Posted by Huin

Or... could we expect a dual-screen laptop?
The tought just occurred to me, why not replace te current bottom half of a PowerBook for a touch-screen? It would provide a lot more freedom of use! Otherwise it's pretty inconvenient to use your main screen for both displaying, aswell as typing?

Anyway, think about it! : )

Interesting... Like the Nintendo DS, only for your portable laptop. I tell you, I have two 20" screens at work, and now I sometimes find my 'little' 17" LCD monitor in my laptop very restricting. Usually, dual screens are left-right. not top-bottom, but hey, maybe the idea has merit. Then again, nah - typing on a device with no tactile feedback would be awful...