It seems every person and their dog/cat likes to give their two cents when it comes to what might make the bill at Macworld. So, if you can’t beat them, join them.

Hrmpf’s Predictions

• PDA/iPod/remote control with wifi and optional telephony
• wifi allows iChat audio chat/IMing from any wifi hotspot
• allows exchange between iPods (crippled by DRM no doubt)
• interacts with iTV to be the uber-remote control for audio/TV/life
• top model is also cellphone
• form factor is full front face of device is screen
• can work without a mac (but is hoped to sell more macs)

I Have No Idea! - Maybe the Patent Applications Hold the Clues?

Apple Touch Sensitive iPod with multiple touch sensitive surfaces

A further patent expands the idea with the device not being just an iPod but an adaptable Multi-functional hand-held device (pat app number 20060197753). This is exciting as it includes the possibility the nest gen device could include phone and perhaps other functions (listed in the application include mobile phone, a PDA, a media player, a camera, a same player, a handtop, an Internet terminal, a GPS receiver, or a remote controller). Various types of input are used including shaking and squeezing.

Imagine an iPod with no buttons and a screen covering its entire front surface - is this the MWSF announcement? The Apple patent application describes a touch sensitive iPod where the display fills the entire front surface and the side (or sides) of the iPod are touch sensitive as well. Apple’s suggested implementations include portable electronic devices such as cellular phones, PDAs and media players that are operated with one hand.

Apple describes new interface for iPod

Apple Patent Application: Electronic Device Having Display and Surrounding Touch Sensitive Bezel for User Interface and Control

Apple has previous described new iPod designs (in patent applications) which incorporate a touch sensitive surface into the display. There seems a skepticism on the web about designs becoming reality due to the problems of screen smudging and scratching.

This application has designs for a new iPod/Tablet/Phone (or dare I say it, Newton-like device) which put the touch sensitive areas into the bezel surrounding the iPod’s screen (as well as on the screen and sides of the device). The user interface seems particularly well conceived and relies on on-screen indicators of the control surface’s function. In addition to buttons the surfaces can act as scroll surfaces. The interface works by the user selecting a control to change (in the picture below- position in the song, volume, balance) and then, using the bottom surface to scroll, adjusting the element in real time (Fig. 19).

Conclusions

What ever will be will be! Much credit if I right and a deleted post if I’m not :) We’ll all know soon enough.