More Apple Patents

[jared_kipe]

... I think that it's a great idea just hope the touch sensitive part doesn't stink. I hope that it works flawlessly. As far as getting one I may go check it out in an Apple Store if and when it arrives but will have to make a decision on getting one after that because like I said I hope the touch sensitivity does not stink.

Have you tried the touch sensitivity on an ipod? I think apple already has great control, and a wheel would make a mouse better. My only real question would be as to form/function. If you hold an ipod mini like it was a mouse then the wheel is too big, but if you make it too much smaller, it would be somewhat difficult to really scroll. However, the click part of the wheel would work perfect for a mouse. The fast forward and rewind buttons would make perfect left right mouse buttons. But I think apple would have a slight problem with using the click-wheel in this application simply because the fingers would be in constant contact with the scrolling part of the wheel.

That said, the click wheel design is really designed for the thumb. So maybe we will see an oversized mouse with the thumb side (they would need left and right hand models so I don't think apple would do it) being the famous click-wheel. Though a technical and marvelous feat, I can't honestly believe apple would do such a thing.

 

[ravenvii]

Well, maybe they'll do it like this, imagine a normal mouse, then imagine it with a normal wheel in it's usual place. Well, replace that with a small touch-sensitive wheel, but not make it perfectly round - make it a ellipse. Basically, look at the Microsoft Intellimouse Optical and look at the silver area around the wheel, imagine the wheel gone, and the silver area is the touch sensitive wheel. You'll find you can easily move your index finger around that ellipse wheel.

 

[dudemac]

an expose patent, eh? Guess that's one feature we will NOT see in Longhorn. Go Apple, that's one thing you needed to patent.

Yeah, but you can bolt on a similar option now from http://ww.winplosion.com. It is not the exactly the same, but it serves the purpose on my XP box. It certainly is not as slick as Exposé....no live window update...ie videos are just screen shots no refreshing. Also no window tags so if you have a lot of windows open there is no feed back as to which one is which.

For a different look at what the desktop could be check out SphereXP it is pretty neat if you have an XP box. SphereXP

 

[kornyboy]

Have you tried the touch sensitivity on an ipod? I think apple already has great control, and a wheel would make a mouse better. My only real question would be as to form/function. If you hold an ipod mini like it was a mouse then the wheel is too big, but if you make it too much smaller, it would be somewhat difficult to really scroll. However, the click part of the wheel would work perfect for a mouse. The fast forward and rewind buttons would make perfect left right mouse buttons. But I think apple would have a slight problem with using the click-wheel in this application simply because the fingers would be in constant contact with the scrolling part of the wheel.

That said, the click wheel design is really designed for the thumb. So maybe we will see an oversized mouse with the thumb side (they would need left and right hand models so I don't think apple would do it) being the famous click-wheel. Though a technical and marvelous feat, I can't honestly believe apple would do such a thing.

I do think the scroll wheel would make the mouse better and the touch sensitive ipod is awesome. I just think that the touch senesitive scroll wheel could get in the way if they are not careful. I guess we will just have to wait and see. The great thing about Apple Stores is that you can go check out products like that before you buy.

kornyboy

 

[jared_kipe]

Well, maybe they'll do it like this, imagine a normal mouse, then imagine it with a normal wheel in it's usual place. Well, replace that with a small touch-sensitive wheel, but not make it perfectly round - make it a ellipse. Basically, look at the Microsoft Intellimouse Optical and look at the silver area around the wheel, imagine the wheel gone, and the silver area is the touch sensitive wheel. You'll find you can easily move your index finger around that ellipse wheel.

Think is there are already similar products on the market to what you describe. Apple must be patenting and bringing something else to the market.

 

[doogle]

ipod-mouse-dock

Just thinking out loud...it would be cool if the ipod and mouse was combined so that the ipod attached to the mac became a mouse (with click wheel adapting to whatever active software environment) and automatically synced with iTunes...a sort fo combined mouse-ipod-dock...yes yes full of holes but its free to type!

 

[pbook15]

I am amazed at how well built that little iPod is.

I managed to fix mine by dropping it. It was resetting itself at random so I applied for a warantly repair. As I was waiting for the box to arrive so that I could sent it back to Apple I accidentally dropped it and popped it open. After I closed it up again it worked perfectly but as I had already paid for shipping on the rapair, I might as well get a new one. I wonder why it broke in the first place...

I wouldn't recommend anyone else doing this though

 

[pbook15]

I thought Sun had something like this but Java based for Solaris. I can't find it on their site but a few months ago there was a video showing it and it's features. The ability to attach a note to the back of a window, pivot open windows out of the way and a few other features. It was pretty gimmicky but still cool. It was metioned here a while ago but again, I couldn't find the link.

Yeah, but you can bolt on a similar option now from http://ww.winplosion.com. It is not the exactly the same, but it serves the purpose on my XP box. It certainly is not as slick as Exposé....no live window update...ie videos are just screen shots no refreshing. Also no window tags so if you have a lot of windows open there is no feed back as to which one is which.

For a different look at what the desktop could be check out SphereXP it is pretty neat if you have an XP box. SphereXP

 

[sord]

I thought Sun had something like this but Java based for Solaris. I can't find it on their site but a few months ago there was a video showing it and it's features. The ability to attach a note to the back of a window, pivot open windows out of the way and a few other features. It was pretty gimmicky but still cool. It was metioned here a while ago but again, I couldn't find the link.

Its called Project Looking Glass

 

[andrewm]

Sun's 3D Desktop

I, too, remember this. Project Looking Glass Gimmicky, perhaps, but the idea will probably be making itself useful long into the future, perhaps only in small ways at first.

I wonder whether gaming might benefit from such a thing.

I thought Sun had something like this but Java based for Solaris. I can't find it on their site but a few months ago there was a video showing it and it's features. The ability to attach a note to the back of a window, pivot open windows out of the way and a few other features. It was pretty gimmicky but still cool. It was metioned here a while ago but again, I couldn't find the link.

 

[aswitcher]

Just thinking out loud...it would be cool if the ipod and mouse was combined so that the ipod attached to the mac became a mouse (with click wheel adapting to whatever active software environment) and automatically synced with iTunes...a sort fo combined mouse-ipod-dock...yes yes full of holes but its free to type!

I recall seeing some moc ups of something like that but I think it was a joke.

I'll just be happy if they make a metallic BT mouse with an iPod wheel for two buttion action.

 

[barnett25]

Don't worry, your 510 is better than the 1000--people say it jumps horribly. In fact the specs on the interfacing part of the mouse are the exact same, save for the fact that the input is via a laser as opposed to a camera. It doesn't justify the 20 or so extra you'll pay for it when their lesser mice are more than adequate.

I'd suggest an MX900 (which is the 510's engine with wireless) if you wanted a wireless mouse. It's gotta be the best bluetooth mouse on the market, IMO.

Get a Ratpadz GS mousing surface (http://www.ratpadz.com) and some teflon mouse tape for your 510...trust me, you'll thank me later. :-D

I, personally, love my mx1000. I don't have any jumping problem. I agree that the laser isn't really much of a feature, but that's not why I bought it. I like it because I needed a wireless mouse (my cord kept getting caught behind my desk) and I wanted a good rechargable battery with an indicator to let me know if it was low. Combine that with the fact that the mx1000 is the only Logitech mouse that feels right in my hands and you get a very satisfied customer. But YMMV of course.

btw, I heard that the ratpadz wear your mouse feet down like sandpaper, but I've never used one myself so I don't know.

 

[SiliconAddict]

I watch Windows users trying to work on a one-button moused Mac and they are handicapped... so it just goes to show you that Steve has it right.... keep the one-button mouse, and give people the option to use a two-button mouse (and scrollwheel) if they so desire. More proficient that way.

Yah well tell that to laptop users like me who are being cut off at the knuckles because of Apple's lack of 2 button mouse on their laptops. See my sig. I fly and if I had to drag around a mouse with me to try and get some work done I would go insane. In the desktop line yes. If Apple wants to be a stubborn *** fine. More power too them. But its not like I can go out and purchase a two button trackpad for my future PowerBook. I see this same arrogant stubborn BS in Microsoft (Don't even get me started on the X close button on the Pocket PC and how it doesn't really close anything.) I want to take Jobs and Gate and knock heads. This is a design pref not a usability decision pure and simple. It has been for a long time. Jobs is simply being an arrogant *******.

As for someone’s suggestion of touchpads replacing the buttons on the mouse. Are you freaking nuts? Have you even played with a touchpad before? It would be renamed the iCTM within a week (Carpal Tunnel Mouse.) Your finger naturally sits on the mouse buttons. To activate the button you press down and it springs back up. Now you are suggesting that a person must life their finder up and tap or double tap the pad never mind having to worry about double taps from the occasional bounce of the finger. (When you are talking about that much “clearance” bounce becomes an issue.) Yah. I don’t think so.

 

[sinisterdesign]

I fly and if I had to drag around a mouse with me to try and get some work done I would go insane. In the desktop line yes. If Apple wants to be a stubborn *** fine. More power too them. But its not like I can go out and purchase a two button trackpad for my future PowerBook. I see this same arrogant stubborn BS in Microsoft (Don't even get me started on the X close button on the Pocket PC and how it doesn't really close anything.) I want to take Jobs and Gate and knock heads. This is a design decision pure and simple. It has been for a long time. Jobs is simply being an arrogant *******.

i TOTALLY agree. i've posted it here before b/c this is a one of my few real gripes w/ Apple. i was in a meeting at Apple a few years ago when i worked there & we were unveiling OSX. one of the employees asked jobs outright if we planned on producing a 2button mouse. his comment was that it was a "failure of software design" to need 2 buttons. WTF??!? like i have 5 fingers, but only need to input things w/ 1 of them?

c'mon, steve. you hold the iPod in one hand lauding the importance of UI and input usability, yet you give us mice that aren't any more functional than the ones you shipped w/ the Classic. ridiculous. so, i shell out $50-70 to M$ or Logitech once a year for a new mouse. sure would be nice to take pride in a really great Apple mouse for once.

 

[wms121]

..gee maybe Big Steve needs "classified processors"

like the POWER12's they use at Area51.

http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/library/pa-expert1.html


..just kidding. Hey guys..if Apple can't sue...then sue gets the blue
suit treatment. IBM's has a BIG ONE. Apple girl has a BIG CONSUMER SPREAD...figure it out sports fans. Not everyone get true love on the first date.

I feel feeeled up already...

<--tell Santa I am not home

 

[wdlove]

I, too, remember this. Project Looking Glass Gimmicky, perhaps, but the idea will probably be making itself useful long into the future, perhaps only in small ways at first.

I wonder whether gaming might benefit from such a thing.

That site wasn't all that impressive looking. Bust I do remember "Looking Glass" the term used in the Air Force from SAC Headquarters. It's a relic of the Cold War, now discontinued. It was plane that flew 24/7, a flying command center in the case that there was an all out nuclear attack. Our arsenal could be controlled from that plane.

 

[OryHara]

its about god damn time apple offered a scroll wheel mouse!

 

[sAy2k]

You're lucky. droped mine from 4 ft and it's hooped. No loss of data, was actually putting data back on it. sigh.

Hell, i dropped mine from 10ft on marble floor and shes still runin' great. Although she doesnt look as great

It would be great if they came up with a scratch resistant ipod.

 

[shamino]

That site wasn't all that impressive looking. Bust I do remember "Looking Glass" the term used in the Air Force from SAC Headquarters. It's a relic of the Cold War, now discontinued. It was plane that flew 24/7, a flying command center in the case that there was an all out nuclear attack. Our arsenal could be controlled from that plane.

Looking Glass was also the name of a once-popular desktop environment for UNIX. It was written by the now-defunct Visix Software. Caldera (now SCO) has a source-code license for it and used to ship it with their Linux product. As far as I know, it is no longer being published.

 

[wdlove]

Looking Glass was also the name of a once-popular desktop environment for UNIX. It was written by the now-defunct Visix Software. Caldera (now SCO) has a source-code license for it and used to ship it with their Linux product. As far as I know, it is no longer being published.

That is a very interesting factoid, thank you for sharing. It seems that Linux has continued to grow. Now we have the UNIX for our beloved OS X.

Now if we can just see the resul of some of these new patents.

 

[The Red Wolf]

Um...

Even if Apple makes a new mouse, it won't look half as good as a Phillipe Starck mouse.

I like liquid mercury over a pill bug with a clown nose thanks.

 

[Mainyehc]

Do I care about Beatles?! Oh no!

Do I care about the contract between them about that music stuff?.. No again..

way to hell "beatless"... go sue someone else!

Nicely pointed out! Now let me TROLL just a little bit further (or could I be right on this one? If not, please be gentle )...

Sometimes, on those Apple vs. Apple threads I read some suggestions like "Apple Computer should just buy Apple Corps."... Hum, now I'm the one who says, "Apple, go buy Apple Corps already, dammit!!"

Hey! AAPL shares keep surging and the rumour mill is working at full speed. Just imagine, Apple may introduce Flash iPods and with those they could hold >90% of the whole digital player market, they may even market $499 headless Macs and get some 10% marketshare, and should end up with billions of dollars in the bank, just sitting there, waiting to be spent in something perhaps even *more* useful than R&D... Silencing those bastards, I say!

Now, more seriously... Apple seems to be diversifying their offerings, iTMS is the living evidence of that, and those Apple Corps guys must be getting *really* pissed now... Apple could even become a full blown music label, and can you imagine how cool that would be? (that would be the final stab at Sony )

 

[Xapplimatic]

oh please...

Amiga computer had the exact same expose feature built into Amiga dos back in 1988. Commodore recognised that a true multitasking environment would create many windows which would confuse the user. Therefore they added special keys that would display all active windows on the screen so that a user could switch to another window easily.

What? Commodore had nothing of the sort (former Amiga user here, still have a working A3000 in my closet).. Switching windows by key is no special task, and really now, it's not even a primary part of what makes Exposé different. If switching windows by key was all Exposé is, then System 9 has Exposé and so does Windows 98. That's not what makes Exposé what it is. Exposé would be pattented not because of key switching, but because of the graphical nature of how it represents screens, ordering, and the ability to select windows by mouse based on iconic shrunken representations far better than application switching by list or "next screen" fashions.

What makes Exposé different is that there is intelligent ordering built into a graphically-enriched window management system.. Amigas only had two ways to switch between application "screens".. a key combo (amiga+N or M which was not by OS configurable nor graphically-enriched, it simply switched to the next application screen instantly), or the more elegant and still missed "pull down" method where an application which owns its own screen could be pulled down from the top bar (visible or not) by dragging like pulling down a window shade in the opposide direction to see what is hiding behind it. System 9 (and all versions of 10) have an application switching method that is also key based (Apple+tab or Apple+shift+tab to reverse order). Expose is not an extension of that. Expose allows you to see all the screens at once in a scaled and form-fitted manner which no operating system or component there-of has ever done that I am aware of on record. And then to be able to click on which miniaturized window of the iconic versions you would like to enter exclusively is a new thing as well.. and then the fact that the shrunken versions are still "live" updating.. Well, again, a first.. And also something I would add was not possible on any pre-OpenGL system.

 

[puuukeey]

heres the real question

flash ipod/iphone. one in the same?

/is this the wrong thread? oh well..
-matt

 

[ronny]

The mother of all Tablet Mac rumors - A Hoax?!

Check out here what I discovered, when researching the August '04 rumor about 'Euro filing reveals Apple handheld computer'. I think we all got played big time.

yours truly,
ronny