“Patently Apple has been following Apple’s patent applications over the years regarding future interfaces and three dimensional visions, and today we present you with a series of patent applications from Apple regarding Safari 3D,” Jack Purcher reports for Patently Apple. “The 3D version of Safari will allow users to stack bookmarks, emails, docs and apps in a very interesting 3D manner. While we’re definitely a few years away from shifting to 3D, it’s still interesting to read up on the evolutionary thinking behind this shift from the minds of Apple’s engineers.”
“Apple’s invention generally relates to presentation and management of Desktop GUIs and opening windows on the desktop GUIs,” Purcher reports. “Most of the discussion supports a 3D version of Safari.”
Much more, including Apple’s patent application illustrations, in the full article here.
There’s a few interesting tricks here. I’m sure that more will surface over time. I think that Apple may have the right design chops to refine future UIs to capture 3D without the gimmicks.
3D technology is blowing up. Almost every movie is in 3D these days and now its invading our internet browsers.
If you look at the linked article, it’s not 3D technology like in the movies, it’s a 3D representation displayed on a 2D screen.
It’s not all that different from how CoverView gives the illusion of utilising depth when elements are scrolled through.