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Patent: Multisided Full Screen Touch iPod
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You can do it for something simple like a circular motion to up the volume or something, but typing on a keyboard?
Sounds ridiculous to me. Another example of a company patenting almost anything it can think of because if you don't, due to our completely broken patent process and the apparent disproportionate number of patent lawyers in the US, the potential consequences are too horrible to imagine.
Ha! You win... but we should both be working for Apple!!
Ha! You win... but we should both be working for Apple!!
Jobs in Apple are easy to get. Jobs in Apple designing new products/user interfaces are a tad more difficult to come by...
The fact that two people on this forum alone have had very similar (if not identical) ideas previous to this patent application should be a fair indicator that it may be too obvious to be patented.
Have a look at the second illustration It has a button that says: "DIAL" iPhone related?
This is probably an idea they played with before they settled on the iPhone's (front!) touchscreen keyboard.
Well, yes. I thought it was too obvious to mention.
I just wanted to point out that moving controls to some location other than where the display is is a an obvious thing to do.
agree... the rounded side of an iPod is kind of slim to be the only place for holding it...
OOps Sorry!
Looking back on my post it does seem rude. I really didn't mean to offend, its just the text that popped out of my brain.
SJ has a way of glossing over obvious issues with new tech. Unfortunately natural oil on your fingers are always going to slightly obscure the transmission of light once deposited on the display. There is no space age transparent material that prevents fingerprints.
This interface would be PERFECT for at least one use: games. Imagine holding your iPhone/iPod sidways like a gamepad or PSP: having "force" controls on the back would be very useful.
Also note that this patent covers putting a force "strip" on the side of the iPod/iPhone, kind of like a scroll strip a la the Blackberry.
"MacRumors has been brought to you today by the letters 'D' and 'V'. And we would've had 'B' too, but the B got pulled because it wasn't popular anymore."
They could improve upon this by having all sides of the iPod equal in size. A touch screen on each side. Whichever side you touch, the cursor moves on the opposite side. You could have your pictures showing on one side, a video playing on another, your music on another, touch control by another, solitaire on another, iQuiz on another. The possibilities are endless. If you touch any two sides together it powers off.
Ladies and gentlemen: The iPod Cube
Ladies and gentlemen: The iPod Cube
This sort of reminds me of some of those iPod concept-art blog-contests from a few years back. For instance, this entry demonstrates a similar concept (click-wheel on the back, to allow for a larger display.) I remember other even more interesting variations on this theme, although I don't have links handy right now.
Ok, I've got two design ideas that I think would still fall under this patent. First, the iPod could be molded differently than the ones we have today. Instead of flat on the back, it could be rounded, or bow outwards, etc. Second, the patent mentions one-hand, one-finger operation, hinting to me that it could be a touch pad like a laptop, where a small pad (or user-defined area on the back) controls the whole screen.
Use your brain. Of course, the iphone will have smudges!
What, did you think a tiny pair of windshield wipers with spray was going to automatically appear and wipe the screen after each use?
It must be a heavy burden to be so enlightened compared to the rest of us...
edit ---> Saw your apology ... try to edit your thoughts BEFORE posting them
Oh boy... Apple's gonna love MR even more when forum posts from here pop up as prior art in their patent cases.
The idea itself is novel (though awkward), and my guess is the PTO isn't trolling around here looking for priority so it will probably be awarded.
I do-- I look at the wheel when I drop my thumb on it and then can look away. That's actually one of the annoying things about the touch wheel that's flush with the enclosure-- I don't get much tactile feedback at all on whether I'm touching the wheel or the face. I notice this most when I'm driving and can't look down.
I think it would work, but it'd be overly complex, something apple isn't a fan of (they shipped one button mice with desktops for how long?).
Look at the successive iPod interfaces. All can be controlled with one hand. This isn't really a problem with a phone as you usually double fist it anyway.
Look at the successive iPod interfaces. All can be controlled with one hand. This isn't really a problem with a phone as you usually double fist it anyway.
All click wheels that I can remember have a different texture or shape than the face. Also the center button is raised. All you have to do is do laps around the mound with your thumb.
Some (like the current nanos) have the center button indented. Either way, there is a tactile difference.
But the difference is subtle. I'm not surprised that it's not enough for some people, especially when their attention is focussed on something else (like driving.)