Video iPod Patent Pictures and Touch Sensitive Bezel

[MacRumors]

Hrmpf reports on a particularly revealing patent application from Apple that was published on October 26, 2006.

The name of the patent application is "Electronic Device Having Display and Surrounding Touch Sensitive Bezel for User Interface and Control". The patent describes and depicts a full-screen touch sensitive iPod very similar to the various Video iPod Mockups that have been floating around the web. The application was filed in June of 2006.

The focus of the patent is the incorporation of a touch-sensitive bezel (edge of screen) that can adapt to the screen contents to provide an input method for the user. Hrmpf suggests that the use of this non-screen area would eliminate many of the "smudge" and "scratch" concerns for a full-screen touch iPod.

An electronic device has a display and has a touch sensitive bezel surrounding the display. Areas on the bezel are designated for controls used to operate the electronic device. Visual guides corresponding to the controls are displayed on the display adjacent the areas of the bezel designated for the controls.

The diagrams included clearly depict what appears to be a full-screen Video iPod. The rumors of a full-screen Video iPod have been ongoing for some time, but picked up steam in February 2006 with claims that the full screen Video iPod would arrive in the coming months. Later reports indicated a delay with some recent reports of a late 2006/early 2007 release.

Numerous other patents have described possible touch-interface methods, but this is the first patent application to depict a full-screen iPod so clearly. It also could represent the "None-Touch" iPod interface that was described in July.

Update: There seems to be some misinterpretation of the picture. The circles in the bezel do not represent "buttons". The entire bezel would be a smooth surface that would be touch sensitive. A touch-sensitive Bezel iPod would still look like this mockup:

 

[wilburdl]

Wow. Let's hope it looks better than that diagram. Anyways this would be the ultimate iPod (Could be a 4 or 5 inch screen). Of course, the screen needs to be more scratch resistant than previous generations. And they have to bump up the resolution on their iTunes store. But I'd be surprised if we see this anytime soon.

 

[iJaz]

Oh, the video iPod is coming!
But I'd be dissappointed if the circular control of the original iPod is missing.

 

[OwlsAndApples]

Wow! Nice find...good that it'll quieten those 'scratch and smudge' rumours (hopefully)

 

[Chundles]

Make that touch-sensitive bezel out of black anodised aluminium and you'd have a top notch product.

 

[UndeadDan]

I too will be very disappointed if the scroll wheel disappears from the iPod.

I am also quite skeptical about this 'bezel-touch' idea. That's where I hold the damn thing. I can't pick up my phone without changing the ring tone level now my iPod will scroll to a new track or shoot up in volume.

No thanks.

 

[arn]

Oh, the video iPod is coming!
But I'd be dissappointed if the circular control of the original iPod is missing.

the click wheel would presumably be a "virtual" one that appears on the screen.

Previous patent images: http://guides.macrumors.com/Gallery_of_Gesture_User_Interface_Patent

I don't think a touch bezel would preclude the use of a touch screen also.

arn

 

[thefunkymunky]

I too will be very disappointed if the scroll wheel disappears from the iPod.

I am also quite skeptical about this 'bezel-touch' idea. That's where I hold the damn thing. I can't pick up my phone without changing the ring tone level now my iPod will scroll to a new track or shoot up in volume.

No thanks.

Errm. Cant you lock your keys on your moby then. Surely there would be a hold button like current iPods that will disable the bezel.

 

[oshoel]

Late 2006 or early 2007

I hope we'll see this in time for christmas!
Been waiting long enough now, surely!

 

[Scarlet Fever]

the diagram makes me want to trade my U2 iPod in for a new one

sounds like exciting times are about to come our way... time to buy that apple stock...

 

[skunk]

I don't want one.

 

[Chimera]

Definately not as intuitive as a scroll whell but if Apple couldn't/can't implement it with its engineering prowess I doubt anyone else could.

 

[bitabytex]

Controls

The controls look kinda cumbersome. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't like to lift my hand and move it completely around the iPod area like you would need to to get to the next track, ect. Plus, with the regular iPod, my fingers usually rest around those areas that would be touch-sensitive, probably causing me to skip tracks or what-not, and it would seem to be kinda difficult to use with one hand, as I do now with the current line-up.

Hopefully they would address these issues before release because it does look neat.

p.s. My first post! I've been sifting through the forums for a year and a half, and now just decided to register! lol

 

[bartelby]

I don't want one.

Me neither. I want a large capacity (100GB+) audio iPod. No movies, no photos, no games. A black and white screen and a long battery life.

 

[Chimera]

the click wheel would presumably be a "virtual" one that appears on the screen.
arn

I think the scrolling is done on the left side of the bezel in this new patent

 

[calculus]

I don't want one.

wasn't gonna get you one...

 

[skunk]

wasn't gonna get you one...

It's the thought that counts.

 

[MongoTheGeek]

My concern is if you have big fingers, or a poor grip strength, holding the thing will inadvertently set off the buttons if they are on the bezel

 

[jagolden]

Based on the above drawings, this would be a disaster.

The interface is now clunky, crowded and unintuitive.
Biggest problem- take a look-it will require two hands to operate, thereby negating what every one else has been trying to imitate-the ease of use of the iPod scroll wheel.

 

[Superdrive]

It's as easy to use as an ATM. They wouldn't even need to include instructions!

Just like most everything else, I trust Apple has thought this through a little more than our collective minds. They wouldn't put out something that wouldn't work.

 

[Spectrum]

The control method looks very similar to what Samsung has implemented on this camera. It looks pretty intuitive as implemented there.

 

[iJaz]

the click wheel would presumably be a "virtual" one that appears on the screen.

Previous patent images: http://guides.macrumors.com/Gallery_of_Gesture_User_Interface_Patent

I don't think a touch bezel would preclude the use of a touch screen also.

arn

Oh, yes, that would of course make more sense and be rather clever.

 

[Fukui]

My concern is if you have big fingers, or a poor grip strength, holding the thing will inadvertently set off the buttons if they are on the bezel

<steve>Then get smaller fingers.</steve>

 

[ddma]

Would that be possibly that Apple is trying to patent as many as possible user interface/method so that no one can get anything closer to the REAL video iPod?

 

[neilson31]

Here's what I think

Could it be that Apple is going to release this new video iPod after Zune so it can steal MS's thunder?....

What do you guys think?