Apple Researching Removable Mobile Device Clip with Tactile Trackpad Controls

[TheHateMachine]

Samsung will do this with a 9 inch clip version and claim they always had it!

I think you mean Samsung would use this on a 9" strap-on

'Why innovate, when you can imitiate!

That did not take long.

 

[Admin-Littell]

Is it really that hard to figure out? I think it's a brilliant solution to a very annoying problem.

Imagine you're walking and have your iPod in your pocket. A song comes up you don't want to listen to. If you have this clip-on device attached, you can simply reach in and hit the next button--easy to find in your pocket since it's got actual buttons. This is something that is next to impossible to do with the current generation of iPods and iPhones that are primarily controlled by touch.

Now, let's see if Apple is smart enough to design this to also work as a game controller.

Ok, you know that apple made headphones that are for that exactly? I have around 4 to 5 pairs of headphones that have remotes in the cord. Just remember other devices apple has made.

 

[iReality85]

The concept seems pretty archaic when we already have this.

 

[Dorje Sylas]

The concept seems pretty archaic when we already have this.

Senseg demoed electrostatic haptics last year, which trumps Tactus in some ways as its programmable.

 

[Blakjack]

We'll ever see this. Don't know if I really want to either

 

[TrentS]

Blah.....

Corny.

 

[Pegamush]

what's that circle with a hole in the middle and play/pause, forward and backward arrows all around?

 

[Freez]

Communicator.

Attaches to your collar.

Open locked doors, speaker phone, room preference notifier and adjuster (sound control, web preferences, temperature adjustment...)

Great for notification of "your turn" in any waiting situtation.

A remote control for your entire humanity.

 

[Bubba Satori]

Hello Tim, my name is Lars and I'm speaking to you from the LEGO legal department...

 

[ShaunMac]

weird...

looks like Intellivision for the iPod

 

[sazivad]

I think you mean Samsung would use this on a 9" strap-on

Do you realize how Freudian that sounds?

Also, you avatar D) is nice.

 

[djdarlek]

Nice...

Looks nice, but won't I get it confused with my Atari Lynx cartridges?

 

[179202]

Is it really that hard to figure out? I think it's a brilliant solution to a very annoying problem.

Imagine you're walking and have your iPod in your pocket. A song comes up you don't want to listen to. If you have this clip-on device attached, you can simply reach in and hit the next button--easy to find in your pocket since it's got actual buttons. This is something that is next to impossible to do with the current generation of iPods and iPhones that are primarily controlled by touch.

Now, let's see if Apple is smart enough to design this to also work as a game controller.

There's a button on your headphones to address this very problem.

 

[Squilly]

I don't even know what to think of this...

 

[goobot]

Is it really that hard to figure out? I think it's a brilliant solution to a very annoying problem.

Imagine you're walking and have your iPod in your pocket. A song comes up you don't want to listen to. If you have this clip-on device attached, you can simply reach in and hit the next button--easy to find in your pocket since it's got actual buttons. This is something that is next to impossible to do with the current generation of iPods and iPhones that are primarily controlled by touch.

Now, let's see if Apple is smart enough to design this to also work as a game controller.

The headphones with mic that come with it do this.

 

[SchneiderMan]

"Removable clip", that already sounds like a bad idea.

 

[cclloyd]

I patent matter. I win. You can't use matter in any products from now on unless you pay.

 

[needfx]

Hello Tim, my name is Lars and I'm speaking to you from the LEGO legal department...

Hi Lars, let me connect you to our legal dpt. while I make a quick visit to our phone centre and fire them all.

 

[Bubba Satori]

Hello Tim, my name is Lars and I'm speaking to you from the LEGO legal department...

hi lars, let me connect you to our legal dpt. While i make a quick visit to our phone centre and fire them all.

lol

 

[inkswamp]

The headphones with mic that come with it do this.

This idea, unlike the headphone buttons, could also be used for other applications, most obviously for games. To me, the buttons on the headphones always seemed like a weird kludge to maintain that "almost no buttons" aesthetic of the iDevices. Touch-based UIs are amazing and can do so much but there's still a place in the world for actual buttons.

 

[needfx]

lol

did your computer auto-correct my quote in some weird way?

 

[inkswamp]

I patent matter. I win. You can't use matter in any products from now on unless you pay.

I know you're being funny but this shows a typical misunderstanding of patents that leads to people getting on their soapboxes and complaining about how broken the system is or how evil and destructive the patent office has become.

The point is, you can patent matter if you want, providing you're using it in a specific and unique way on a specific class of products for a specific application.

Good luck with it. I'm eager to see what you come up with.

 

[JHankwitz]

This subject came up the day before the iPhone 4S was announced. They predicted it might be a part of the iPhone 4S way back then.

 

[Four oF NINE]

What exactly is this?

 

[sofila]

The market is full of ear-phones with better sound quality (better than Apple's) but no remote control. More choice for the customer, the better.