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Video iPod Patent Pictures and Touch Sensitive Bezel
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This looks awesome. Bring it on apple. That'll fly off the shelves. Anyone think it might have some better PDA style features as well?
Not being able to control that thing w/ one hand would be really sketchy, and letting go the ubiquitous scroll wheel, which is a proven interface, would be really unfortunate. I'm willing to say that this may be Apple covering some of its bases from other manufacturers...while Apple continues w/ something resembling the virtual scroll wheel mockups we've seen.
neilson31 said:
Zune never had a thunder to begin with. I am really interested in seeing what
is going to happen if Apple drops the Clickwheel from their upcoming iPod.
Touch sensitive bezel is good, but it lacks the novelty and simplicity of a click wheel which is one of the main reasons why iPod was such a hit!
Lets wait and watch!
Lets wait and watch!
This will not replace our current 'music' iPod
Keep in mind that Apple probably realizes that the current 'music' iPod can't evolve into a 'video' iPod without giving up so much that we love with it now. They realize that if they are going to make a true video iPod the ergonomics will have to change. The screen will have to be bigger. The device will have to be bigger. It will have to be heavier (mostly for strong battery).
When they realized that this new video device can't replac the current iPod because of the compromises that it required, they began to rethink the whole device. But when they did this, they also began to think "What else can this little bugger do?".
There have been so many rumors about the added functionality of this device and I believe that Apple has played around with them all, getting rid of many and keeping only a few. They are finally locked down on its new features and are working (or hopefully already done) on the new way to interact with this device. I have little doubt that the interface, once we see it, will be that same old "Why didn't we think of this before" kind of thing. The question I keep asking myself is what the NEW features will be. I don't think it will be just video.
Some new features I would like are: Wireless for Internet access (either WiFi for cellular), clean way for inputting text (for Calendar, e-mail, web surfing, etc.), eBook reading (possible new category for the iTunes Store with both purchase and subscription), and if they can get the device small enough a phone.
I think that Steve gave us hints with this when he said recently that he was as proud of the products that they didn't release as the ones that they have. I think that they had tried to make an upgraded Video iPod to replace the current line but ultimately came to the conclusion that the changes they were trying to make spoiled what we like about it in the first place. It was then decided that this Video iPod was going to be a new category.
So don't worry about loosing the wheel, or the compactness of your iPod. It's not going away. This isn't the device we are talking about.
Keep in mind that Apple probably realizes that the current 'music' iPod can't evolve into a 'video' iPod without giving up so much that we love with it now. They realize that if they are going to make a true video iPod the ergonomics will have to change. The screen will have to be bigger. The device will have to be bigger. It will have to be heavier (mostly for strong battery).
When they realized that this new video device can't replac the current iPod because of the compromises that it required, they began to rethink the whole device. But when they did this, they also began to think "What else can this little bugger do?".
There have been so many rumors about the added functionality of this device and I believe that Apple has played around with them all, getting rid of many and keeping only a few. They are finally locked down on its new features and are working (or hopefully already done) on the new way to interact with this device. I have little doubt that the interface, once we see it, will be that same old "Why didn't we think of this before" kind of thing. The question I keep asking myself is what the NEW features will be. I don't think it will be just video.
Some new features I would like are: Wireless for Internet access (either WiFi for cellular), clean way for inputting text (for Calendar, e-mail, web surfing, etc.), eBook reading (possible new category for the iTunes Store with both purchase and subscription), and if they can get the device small enough a phone.
I think that Steve gave us hints with this when he said recently that he was as proud of the products that they didn't release as the ones that they have. I think that they had tried to make an upgraded Video iPod to replace the current line but ultimately came to the conclusion that the changes they were trying to make spoiled what we like about it in the first place. It was then decided that this Video iPod was going to be a new category.
So don't worry about loosing the wheel, or the compactness of your iPod. It's not going away. This isn't the device we are talking about.
Does anyone else feel like we could/should have seen this coming with the touch-sensistive feature of the Mighty Mouse?
Anyone else know why the scroll bar in the diagram is on the left? Should'nt it be on the right hand side of the screen?
This is a far cry from what the previous images had me thinking - this reminds me of a PDA or that Treo phone - maybe it is for the iPhone and not the iPod video...
I find the interface of this thing more interesting the the button thing... This must be the interface of the future because the menu system on the present ipods, i know its brilliant but its a bit old, by the way its more remote control than ipod, i think theres too much info on the screen for it too be an ipod... i reckon its a media remote control thing.. The patent doenst mention ipod so i think its a remote for bringing music to the living room... im probably wrong but thats what i think.. Anyway ive been waiting for touch screen not touch sides...
age234 said:
I agree with you 100% remember ipod mini in the laptop thing, also side lighting on the macs etc..... there are hundreds and hundreds of unused apple patents
Chimera said:
I don't think the iPod is so intuitive. I think people have just gotten used to it. I remember when I first picked one up: Running my finger in a circle to go up and down seemed strange. Pressing the bottom button to go right in the menu system seemed plain unintuitive. This bevel system looks more intuitive to me, although I'm not sure it would be easier to use.
ddma said:
I think there's a lot of truth in this.
The idea in this patent looks VERY intuitive to me, but it does fall down in being usable one-handed.
Nobody knows what Apple will actually come out with, nor when they will do it. It wouldn't surprise me if Apple take another 9 months to release the "true" video ipod. They've got some difficult engineering to do!
Let's hope they are trying to patent multiple ideas. I hate to say it, that looks just plain ugly and complicated. I love the ipod for is it's simpllicity. This looks like a mess. To each his/her own.
All those buttons in the side makes it look _a lot_ like an eBook reader.. And in that case - WaaahhHH, I cant afford one!!
Cannot wait!!!
Im pretty sure, knowing apple, that they wil surely keep a click wheel as an option at the very least.
Im pretty sure, knowing apple, that they wil surely keep a click wheel as an option at the very least.
CEAbiscuit said:
I agree. This is Apple covering possible bases so the competition cannot implement it. This is all part of the patent game.
No way would Apple use soft buttons! They are, generally, anything BUT intuitive.
I think this patent could be used for several things that aren't the iPod.
1. A universal remote for iTV and FrontRow (that would function somewhat like SallingClicker).
2. Perhaps for use in an Ultra Portable? This is such a small, niche market that I doubt Apple getting involved in it at this time, but I would think that holding a machine with both hands and using your thumbs on the bezel instead of a joystick could be great. It would be faster and more convienient than a touch screen.*
3. New touch-sensitive bezel on iPod shuffle. Ok, that is just ridiculous. I said several above and I didn't want to change that to 2.*
1. A universal remote for iTV and FrontRow (that would function somewhat like SallingClicker).
2. Perhaps for use in an Ultra Portable? This is such a small, niche market that I doubt Apple getting involved in it at this time, but I would think that holding a machine with both hands and using your thumbs on the bezel instead of a joystick could be great. It would be faster and more convienient than a touch screen.*
3. New touch-sensitive bezel on iPod shuffle. Ok, that is just ridiculous. I said several above and I didn't want to change that to 2.*
somehow reminds me of the Siemens SX1. I own that phone and you REALLY have to get used to typing SMS etc.
And as stated earlier, it's pretty hard to use it with only one hand.
![sx1.jpg]()
And as stated earlier, it's pretty hard to use it with only one hand.
