Despite Apple’s claims that Snow Leopard will be “Taking a break from adding new features” are they considering updating the Finder? rumours suggest the Finder has been completly rewritten in Cocoa, could it be that more than under-the-hood changes will take place. There has been many discussions about how you sell the concept of an OS upgrade that doesn’t have new features but just works better (surely they shouldn’t have shipped Leopard if it didn’t work properly). Anyway, as much as I appreciate all of the “quality and efficiency” improvements promised in Snow Leopard I would also like to see new features — the Finder is one area in need of an update.

So, today has seen the released a whole slew of patent applications from Apple — all to do with a new 3D Finder. The hints of this Finder are update are found in Leopard’s 3D dock — why is it 3D it makes no sense– well imagine the dock as just the start of a “3D” space that extends backwards into the screen. Different layers are stack within this space — and yes STACKS are here with a much bigger “3D” role.

From the patent application:
SUMMARY
Disclosed herein are systems, apparatus and methods, including a multidimensional desktop graphical user interface. In one implementation, a graphical user interface includes a back surface that is axially disposed from a viewing surface, and one or more side surfaces that are extended from the back surface to the viewing surface. A visualization object receptacle, e.g., icon receptacle, is displayed on one or more of the side surfaces, and one or more visualization objects, e.g., icons corresponding to one or more system objects can be displayed within the icon receptacle.

In another implementation, a two-dimensional, desktop can be depth-transitioned from a viewing surface to a back surface, and one or more side surfaces can be extended from the back surface to the viewing surface. A visualization object receptacle, e.g., icon receptacle on the one or more side surfaces can be generated. One or more visualization objects, e.g., icons corresponding to the desktop items can likewise be generated within the icon receptacle.

In another implementation, a graphical user interface includes a viewing surface and a back surface axially disposed from the viewing surface to define a depth. One or more side surfaces can extend from the back surface to the viewing surface, and a visualization object receptacle can be disposed on one or more of the side surfaces. One or more visualization objects corresponding to the desktop items can likewise be disposed within the icon receptacle.