Published February 9th, 2006 in OS X.
Is the touch sensitive iPod going to be a reality?
Link: Apple Releases NEW touch screen iPod patent pictures: SEPTEMBER 2006
You be the judge after seeing these images from Apple’s latest patent application.
Patent Application: Mode-based graphical user interfaces for touch sensitive input devices
New Touchscreen iPod?
This figure from the patent application shows a virtual scroll-wheel appearing on top of an iPod interface.
This figure shows an iTunes-like interface with a virtual touch wheel.
Two handed- iTunes
This is a very interesting picture and shows the power of the multipoint-touchscreen. Here two virtual touch wheels appear on the screen allowing the independent action- the left hand has one finger on the volume and one on the smaller virtual scroll wheel allowing volume control and playlist selection, at the same time the right hand is scrolling through available songs in the iTunes right hand pane. It would take quite a bit of dexterity but would enable quite revolutionary interaction with a tablet/iPod.
This figure shows the volume being set and playlist selected with one hand while a song is being selected with the other- the joys of multipoint touchscreens
iPhoto
What’s good enough for iTunes is good enough for another iLife stable-mate iPhoto. It remains to be seen whether drawing circles on the screen is easier than traditional drag actions but it certainly provides good visual feedback for the action.
Apple's Other Touch Screen Patents
Virtual Keyboard on your Tablet?
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