Apple reference stirs touch-screen iPod frenzy
A reference to an iPod digital music player with a "touch-screen" interface that turned up in a recently revised Apple Computer iPod developer document is causing some excitement amongst the Apple enthusiast community this week.
The solitary reference in an otherwise irrelevant and lengthy tutorial (1.5MB) on interfacing with the iPod's text-based "Notes" feature is more than likely a misprint than a company slip-up, but is garnering widespread attention amongst the blogging community nonetheless.
"Linking to photos and videos is supported only for 5th generation iPods running iPod Software version 1.2 or later," a technical writer for Apple wrote on page 10 of the 47-page tutorial. "All other Notes feature capabilities described in this document are supported for iPod models with display screens, beginning with the touch-screen models."
Based on the preceding information in the document, it's believed the citation is no more than a mistyped reference to the company's third-generation iPods which sport a touch-sensitive click-wheel interface.
Still, recent patent filings have made it abundantly clear the Cupertino, Calif.-based iPod maker is hard at work on a next-generation hard disk drive iPod that will likely sport some form of touch-screen control. The latest and most extensive filing that turn up last month referenced several touch-based iPod designs, including some with touch-screens and others with touch-sensitive enclosures.
Traditionally a tight-lipped company, Apple's divulgence in the latest series of filings emphasizes its willingness to tip its hand in order gain exclusive patent rights to vital next-generation media player technologies.
Apple has already been late to bat at least once in filing for crucial digital media player patents, which cost it dearly via an out-of-court settlement. In August, it payed rival Creative Technologies $100 million for a license to use its software interface patent, which covers most aspects of a digital music player's software interface, including the one featured on display-based iPods.
Apple, which filed for its own patent on the iPod's software interface, was turned down by the United States Patent and Trademark Office as a result of the earlier filing by Creative.
Update: As presumed, the touch-screen mention was a typo. The developer document has now been corrected to read: "All other Notes feature capabilities described in this document are supported for iPod models beginning with third-generation iPod (dock connector) models with touch wheel."
The solitary reference in an otherwise irrelevant and lengthy tutorial (1.5MB) on interfacing with the iPod's text-based "Notes" feature is more than likely a misprint than a company slip-up, but is garnering widespread attention amongst the blogging community nonetheless.
"Linking to photos and videos is supported only for 5th generation iPods running iPod Software version 1.2 or later," a technical writer for Apple wrote on page 10 of the 47-page tutorial. "All other Notes feature capabilities described in this document are supported for iPod models with display screens, beginning with the touch-screen models."
Based on the preceding information in the document, it's believed the citation is no more than a mistyped reference to the company's third-generation iPods which sport a touch-sensitive click-wheel interface.
Still, recent patent filings have made it abundantly clear the Cupertino, Calif.-based iPod maker is hard at work on a next-generation hard disk drive iPod that will likely sport some form of touch-screen control. The latest and most extensive filing that turn up last month referenced several touch-based iPod designs, including some with touch-screens and others with touch-sensitive enclosures.
Traditionally a tight-lipped company, Apple's divulgence in the latest series of filings emphasizes its willingness to tip its hand in order gain exclusive patent rights to vital next-generation media player technologies.
Apple has already been late to bat at least once in filing for crucial digital media player patents, which cost it dearly via an out-of-court settlement. In August, it payed rival Creative Technologies $100 million for a license to use its software interface patent, which covers most aspects of a digital music player's software interface, including the one featured on display-based iPods.
Apple, which filed for its own patent on the iPod's software interface, was turned down by the United States Patent and Trademark Office as a result of the earlier filing by Creative.
Update: As presumed, the touch-screen mention was a typo. The developer document has now been corrected to read: "All other Notes feature capabilities described in this document are supported for iPod models beginning with third-generation iPod (dock connector) models with touch wheel."
Comments
The date on this PDF is October 20th 06
it's a typo. but the touch-screen or touch-sensitive-edges ipods should come out soon anyway, that's my guess.
Other than just saying, "it's a typo"... how do you know 100% for sure it is just that, a typo?
EDIT: I mean, did you write it yourself and are just too lazy to correct it? Please, enlighten everyone.
On a serious note I dont care if the iPod is touch screen. If it was a stylus though...Id hate it. I hate stupid little stylus'. They seem so wimpy and flimsy. and just not part of the usual Apple aesthetics.
I highly doubt that it is a typo. More likely, a printer's or art director's galley of what is to come. Which could mean that someone accidently posted it prematurely or a strategic step done purposely to drive another nail in the Zune launch coffin.
Either way, its beautiful! Just beautiful!
Can someone who understands patent law please explain to me what stops companies from filing for anything and everything that they can think of? All I can think of is:
- they expire
- others might copy your idea (as if it was original to begin with?!?!?)
Why not just file patents for anything and everything and then not say which ones are for real so they can remain both flexible and secretive?Other than just saying, "it's a typo"... how do you know 100% for sure it is just that, a typo?
EDIT: I mean, did you write it yourself and are just too lazy to correct it? Please, enlighten everyone.
typo.
Does Apple regularly refer to this as a "touch-wheel"? I thought they always called it a "click-wheel".
Those iPods didn't have a clickwheel. The clickwheel is a touchwheel with integrated buttons, as in iPod 4G, iPod mini and beyond.
Those iPods didn't have a clickwheel. The clickwheel is a touchwheel with integrated buttons, as in iPod 4G, iPod mini and beyond.
yeah, the touch wheel is only on the one with the 4 buttons along the top
yeah, the touch wheel is only on the one with the 4 buttons along the top
and the 2nd gen ipod.