Everyone is thinking one or two years ahead. Patents like these may never be used or they may come in to play in Apple's road map 5 or 10 years down the road on a product that doesn't yet exist.
It is shown on a currently shipping product for demonstration only. Apple isn't going to show it on a possible future product for obvious reasons.
Right, because it's always best to add something that was only demonstrated as "theoretically possible" for the first time a few weeks ago to a wildly popular, already shipping product.
They don't need to think about it, or pay for it, or investigate the claims of the inventors, just add it. Add it now!
Seriously wait until we see a real implementation. That is if a real implementation ever comes. I could see something that is very viable and flexible.
The problem is this isn't a hot priority for me. What I'd rather see is one or two switches along the side of the case implemented as general purpose inputs. These switches would however have a primary purpose, that would be the camera "release" or trigger. As moch as I like my iPhones the thing that drives me crazy is the camera app and using the touch screen to snap a picture. It is a shame because iPhone 4 has an excellent camera for a cell phone.
In the end I don't know what is up with this patent and future "I" devices. All I really know is that Apple has a very long ways to go to prefect the current models.
Seriously wait until we see a real implementation. That is if a real implementation ever comes. I could see something that is very viable and flexible.
It's pie-in-the-sky speculation. This is the stuff the powers the network of Apple fandom, media, and blogger sites. So, we'll talk about anything as if it is real if it is even remotely related to Apple.
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The problem is this isn't a hot priority for me. What I'd rather see is one or two switches along the side of the case implemented as general purpose inputs. These switches would however have a primary purpose, that would be the camera "release" or trigger. As moch as I like my iPhones the thing that drives me crazy is the camera app and using the touch screen to snap a picture. It is a shame because iPhone 4 has an excellent camera for a cell phone.
Don't think it will happen (Apple adding more buttons). If anything, Apple may remove another one.
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In the end I don't know what is up with this patent and future "I" devices. All I really know is that Apple has a very long ways to go to prefect the current models.
Apple, like other big companies, attempt to patent any and ideas they come up with or someone else comes up with. Even if it is a horrible idea. Even if it is a tiny bit of minutia, barely patentable or that shouldn't even be patented.
A robust patent portfolio is a necessary artifact of big business as it is a necessary weapon in its war chest against any and all competitors. The vast majority of these patents are defensive. Apple even has a patent related to the lauded gesture area in the Palm Pre and Pixi!
They are in no way indicative of any future Apple product. Patents for Apple products always happen after the product reveal. Apple even was able to clamp down on the notoriously leaky FCC for radiation testing of their wireless products.
That is why they are talking about it as a selective item, developers would have to add it to their apps. And spread out plus lit up so you know the hot spots. It could also be something that is a user option or even turned off if accessibility features are turned on etc.
One thing that is interesting is that there's a home button on those drawings. Rumor has it that Steve hates the home button and wants it moved to a side button. This would, among other things, allow them to either expand the screen area, reduce the bottom bevel or both. Frankly if they were going to do this 'bezel buttons' I would think that removing that button would be mandatory.
Although it is a huge IF since Apple files patents all the time that either don't show up for years or even never show up in an Apple product (but they let Google et al license it).
I like the physical home button. When holding an iPod touch in landscape orientation you can rest your thumb in it without triggering it accidentally. Apple seems to understand the importance of haptic feedback. They replaced the capacitive buttons on the third generation iPod with a click wheel didn't they?
If they want a seamless surface I could see them making the whole front surface into a click button - like the trackpads on the macbooks and the magic mouse.
Clicks in each of the four corners of the front surface could be set to jump directly to apps determined by the user - similarly to how screen gestures can be set to launch expose in Mac OS X.
Comments
So much for claims that the next iteration will have an edge-to-edge screen...
They'll take the iPhone and iPod touch edge-to-edge before they do this.
It is shown on a currently shipping product for demonstration only. Apple isn't going to show it on a possible future product for obvious reasons.
Innovation, Innovation, Innovation... Apple continuing innovation for the better.
Exactly. I bet apple will come up with some really innovative ideas for the bezzel...like a seach, back and settings buttons.
Since when did Jobs turn pro buttons?
This is a "pre-emptive" move on Apple's part, IMO. I don't believe they will do it, but it would prevent a copycat from doing it.
Right, because it's always best to add something that was only demonstrated as "theoretically possible" for the first time a few weeks ago to a wildly popular, already shipping product.
They don't need to think about it, or pay for it, or investigate the claims of the inventors, just add it. Add it now!
Hey, don't knock my wishful thinking.
Maybe it's a defensive patent...
If they don't plan on using it, it's not a defensive patent, it's an offensive one.
Apple's already shown they intend to use their patents offensively.
Could, but won't. Apple patents seem to be oozing from the walls right now, but none of them will get used.
Wrong. Apple's large growth in Patents are in fact being used heavily.
What next, patenting the magnetic connector of deep fryers that UL came up with in 2001?
Oh wait, they already did that.
The problem is this isn't a hot priority for me. What I'd rather see is one or two switches along the side of the case implemented as general purpose inputs. These switches would however have a primary purpose, that would be the camera "release" or trigger. As moch as I like my iPhones the thing that drives me crazy is the camera app and using the touch screen to snap a picture. It is a shame because iPhone 4 has an excellent camera for a cell phone.
In the end I don't know what is up with this patent and future "I" devices. All I really know is that Apple has a very long ways to go to prefect the current models.
Red - Power Low
Yellow - Location-based Alert
Green - Missed call
Blue - New email
Pink - Game request
Orange - New text
Purple - New voicemail
Did I miss anything?
Seriously wait until we see a real implementation. That is if a real implementation ever comes. I could see something that is very viable and flexible.
It's pie-in-the-sky speculation. This is the stuff the powers the network of Apple fandom, media, and blogger sites.
The problem is this isn't a hot priority for me. What I'd rather see is one or two switches along the side of the case implemented as general purpose inputs. These switches would however have a primary purpose, that would be the camera "release" or trigger. As moch as I like my iPhones the thing that drives me crazy is the camera app and using the touch screen to snap a picture. It is a shame because iPhone 4 has an excellent camera for a cell phone.
Don't think it will happen (Apple adding more buttons). If anything, Apple may remove another one.
In the end I don't know what is up with this patent and future "I" devices. All I really know is that Apple has a very long ways to go to prefect the current models.
Apple, like other big companies, attempt to patent any and ideas they come up with or someone else comes up with. Even if it is a horrible idea. Even if it is a tiny bit of minutia, barely patentable or that shouldn't even be patented.
A robust patent portfolio is a necessary artifact of big business as it is a necessary weapon in its war chest against any and all competitors. The vast majority of these patents are defensive. Apple even has a patent related to the lauded gesture area in the Palm Pre and Pixi!
They are in no way indicative of any future Apple product. Patents for Apple products always happen after the product reveal. Apple even was able to clamp down on the notoriously leaky FCC for radiation testing of their wireless products.
All it needs is a multi-color LED indicator...
Red - Power Low
Yellow - Location-based Alert
Green - Missed call
Blue - New email
Pink - Game request
Orange - New text
Purple - New voicemail
Did I miss anything?
A sticker that we can adhere next to the light so we can decipher its meaning whenever we look at it.
That is why they are talking about it as a selective item, developers would have to add it to their apps. And spread out plus lit up so you know the hot spots. It could also be something that is a user option or even turned off if accessibility features are turned on etc.
One thing that is interesting is that there's a home button on those drawings. Rumor has it that Steve hates the home button and wants it moved to a side button. This would, among other things, allow them to either expand the screen area, reduce the bottom bevel or both. Frankly if they were going to do this 'bezel buttons' I would think that removing that button would be mandatory.
Although it is a huge IF since Apple files patents all the time that either don't show up for years or even never show up in an Apple product (but they let Google et al license it).
I like the physical home button. When holding an iPod touch in landscape orientation you can rest your thumb in it without triggering it accidentally. Apple seems to understand the importance of haptic feedback. They replaced the capacitive buttons on the third generation iPod with a click wheel didn't they?
If they want a seamless surface I could see them making the whole front surface into a click button - like the trackpads on the macbooks and the magic mouse.
Clicks in each of the four corners of the front surface could be set to jump directly to apps determined by the user - similarly to how screen gestures can be set to launch expose in Mac OS X.