“Apple has been developing interface technology that would allow for a multi-touch handheld with full Mac OS X rather than a streamlined interface, the company has revealed through a US patent filing published today. Showing an example device which is clearly portable, the patent for a gesture system would adapt many of the basic control scheme elements familiar to Mac OS X to an environment where touch input is assumed but which is larger than an iPhone or iPod touch-class device,” MacNN reports.
“Apple notes that the publication continues a patent that was originally applied for in 2004 but expands significantly on that information. The new filing was submitted much more recently, in April 2008, and follows an application for a for multi-touch creative app patent revealed in July,” MacNN reports.
More in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Robbie” for the heads up.]
MacDailyNews Note: On July 22, 2008, we reported an unconfirmed rumor from a source — the same one who tipped us to wireless iTunes Store sales direct to iPod, iPhone a week before Apple debuted it — who told us in staccato fashion: Think MacBook screen, possibly a bit smaller, in glass with iPhone-like, but fuller-featured Multi-Touch. Gesture library. Full Mac OS X. This is why they bought P.A. Semi. Possibly with Immersion’s haptic tech. Slot-loading SuperDrive. Accelerometer. GPS. Pretty expensive to produce initially, but sold at “low” price that will reduce margins. Apple wants to move these babies. And move they will. This is some sick shit. App Store-compatible, able to run Mac apps, too. By October at the latest.
“Mac touch That makes more sense.”
And some Yankee Doodler says to stick a feather in your hat and call it Mac-A-Roam-y
Wow, a copy of the big ass table for people who don’t need to worry about having to use a big ass table to compensate for their microsoftie features. I might be just 1 of the three people that want them but I do look at the bright side, all the women lining up.
And knowing the posters on MDN, people will be horribly offended when the capital letter are not in the right spot….. (iphone = iPhone)
You kind of people have way too much time on your hands to care!
iNewIt !
I’ve said it before; I’ll say it again.
It’s not a book unless it opens and closes!
Bill Gates will take one look and shout out, “Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about!”
Then he’ll see the ubiquitous Apple logo and buy one anyway.
OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!OHBOY!!!
I want it NOW!!!
Will there be a model dedicated to their mobile data push services called the Touch Me?
that’s phat phil schiller using it, doesn’t he do all the demos?
Don’t forget to vote for me, Zune Tang.
@Crazylegs,
“price this $700-800 and this thing would sell like hotcakes on steroids”
Apple wants to lower their margins on this, not lose money hand over fist.
This might be the marriage of an iPhone and Mac, right down to running both platforms’ apps! I have no idea if such a thing really exists, but if it does it’s certainly worth more than $800. A lot more.
Perfect form factor as an ebook/pdf reader. Whoops.. I think Kindle just soiled itself.
Umm … four bent fingers beside the one “finger” he’s tapping the ‘tablet’ with? <u>Must</u> you be GM to use one of these? Or does it just help.
PS: if this is just a figment of my messed-up vision, things should be much better in an hour or two.
9” x 12”. Has OSX. Ability to connect to a wireless keyboard as well as having a virtual keyboard which works in landscape and portrait. Wirelessly connects to any Mac or iPhone. Dispenses chocolate squares & lemon drops.
The iPhone was the first trojan horse to get OS X into the enterprise market and this puppy is the next steath effort to slide OS X past the IT brigrades.
For example, my doctor now comes into the examination room with some POS Windows tablet computer that he uses to pull up my charts and test results. Just think if he had a Mac tablet where he could do the same things, plus pull up x-rays and use his fingers to zoom in or out as needed, plus do everything else Mac do so easily.
The possibilities are endless. Adios Windows, your day is past.
No, vote for me, Zune Tang!
@ R2,
It’s not a tax… it’s called profit. Companies that like to pay their employees, offer award winning customer support, and build great products need profit. It’s business 101 you idiot… and last time I checked, Apple was not an NPO.
Go buy a Zune you choud.
The Dude abides.
Where’s my credit card?
@ The Dude
What you said.
Our hospital IT group has gone out and purchased a few MacBooks to support the growing chorus of physicians who are coming right out of school with Macs. They have no choice but to support the Mac. It is only a matter of time…
No, no, no. Vote for me.
Call it TouchMe.
Yup Dude, doncha just love how people think these things should be sold for the cost of components only (not even including assembly labor!)? Then they get all mad and rail against Apple for not selling it for the random price they pulled out of thin air.
“Call it TouchMe.”
Where have I read that?
(re: Aug 28, 08 – 03:06 pm)
Too much Scotch, ron?
Well put it this way. If this is what we all think it is and if it’s the thing Peter Oppenheimer mentioned:
“we’re delivering state-of-the-art products at price points that our competitors can’t match.”
Then I think it’s bye bye to a huge chunk of M$ market share. I can see execs wanting this so badly they threaten to go on strike in hordes to get their bosses to buy them.