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Apple Still Considering Offering a Stylus?

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Apr 12, 2001
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070421-stylus.jpg


Tablet-like device depicted with stylus
Given Steve Jobs' distaste for styluses, it comes as a surprise that Apple has recently applied for a patent application exploring the use of a stylus for the capacitive touch sensors found on the iPhone. Unlike the recently revived Newton patent, this new patent was actually filed with today's technology in mind.

The document explores the use of a stylus on modern devices such as the iPhone which are typically tuned for finger detection. Unlike older resistive screens, the new capacitive screens require styluses to have special conductive tips in order to be recognized. While we don't expect Apple to offer a stylus for the iPhone, the input methods for the upcoming tablet has remained up for debate.

Article Link: Apple Still Considering Offering a Stylus?
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2010/01/14/apple-still-considering-offering-a-stylus/
Obviously you need a stylus for applications like photomanipulation, you don't want to play around with photo's using "fat" fingers...


A stylus is the ideal tool for some apps wether Jobs likes it or not!
 
Given that at least one sector (medics) of the target market for tablets will habitually be wearing gloves, optional input via a stylus would probably be a quite sensible and worthwhile idea.

As an aside, yesterday it was so cold where I currently am that I bought and wore a pair of gloves for the first time in 20 years. Tehn I tried to use my iPhone. Doh!:rolleyes:
 
It would be nice if anything could be used as a stylus instead of needing some specific thing. If you have a work station like a Wacom, it's ok, but on the road, styluses just go flinging into nether worlds by the dozens.

My old Palm devices were always in need of a stylus, and it was best to have a pack of 6 around at any time.
 
cjbryce said:
Given that at least one sector (medics) of the target market for tablets will habitually be wearing gloves, optional input via a stylus would probably be a quite sensible and worthwhile idea.

As an aside, yesterday it was so cold where I currently am that I bought and wore a pair of gloves for the first time in 20 years. Tehn I tried to use my iPhone. Doh!:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

You can buy "iPhone friendly" gloves... :)

For a comparative review, see: http://gizmodo.com/5156625/iphone-glove-battlemodo
 
Lesser Evets said:
It would be nice if anything could be used as a stylus instead of needing some specific thing. If you have a work station like a Wacom, it's ok, but on the road, styluses just go flinging into nether worlds by the dozens.

My old Palm devices were always in need of a stylus, and it was best to have a pack of 6 around at any time.
Click to expand...

There you go - Apple patents the capacitive stylus, stops anyone else making it, and people buy them 6 at a time and lose them, that sounds like the kind of business model razor blade manufacturers love. Everything still works with a finger but .. if you want to give us more money, we're open for business.
 
Has anyone seem women trying to operate an iPhone or iPod Touch with long nails. The sylus is ideal for them. (or should someone make an attachment for those nails - damn, should have filed a patent before posting this!).

As other companies already make these sylus's (I've seen about three manufacturers so far), I'm surprised there is no existing patent. Maybe Apple will cash in by asking for backdated royalties.

Phil
 
LOL... I have the feeling at this point that Apple is just trying to mess with everyone's heads!
 
I think what he meant was that the pen sucked as a PRIMARY mode of input.

As a secondary mode it's great (obviously).

Good for signing things, art, etc.
 
Would LOVE for iSlate to come with it! :)

If new Tablet is going to be remotely serious device it will support Stylus input for sure...
 
strangeday said:
Why not??

We have come too far to go backwards.

This seems like a "just in case" back-up patent.

This is not the future.
Click to expand...

Drawing and painting with fingers IS going backwards! As an undergrad media student in the '90s, I had a lecturer who told me to get used to drawing with a mouse! I had to buy my own Wacom tablet.

Pencils and brushes were designed that way for a reason. It's because they work. It may be a niche market but mobile art is growing. The iPod touch is a great art medium but it would be even better if an accurate stylus was available.

I use a Pogo Sketch, which is the best of them, but it necessarily has a relatively wide tip (much wider than a pen or sharp pencil) and it would be great to be able to use a fine one.

If there is a slate, whether it runs the iPhone OS or the Mac OS, there will be loads of art apps available, they will sell and the option of stylus input will be essential.
 
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