“On September 7, the US Patent & Trademark Office published Apple’s patent application titled ‘Multi-functional hand-held device’ originally filed in March 2006,” MacNN reports.
“In light of Apple’s September 12th ‘Showtime’ media event – this patent holds the potential of providing us with valuable insights into a new iPod and/or other hand-held device which could debut on Tuesday. Telephony is covered in this patent. However, the unique aspect of this chameleon style unit, is that it holds the potential of changing UI,” MacNN reports.
“This powerful patent covers the following topics: Touch Screen, Touch Sensitive Housing, Display Actuator, Multi-Functionality, Form Factor, One-Handed vs. Two-Handed Operation, Footprint/Size, Full Screen Display, Limited Number of Mechanical Actuators, Adaptability, GUI Based on Functionality, Switching Between Devices (GUI), Operating at Least Two Functionalities Simultaneously, Configurable GUI (User Preferences), Input Devices, Pressure or Force Sensing Devices, Force Sensitive Housing, Motion Actuated Input Device, Mechanical Actuators, Microphone, Image Sensor, Touch Gestures, 3-D Spatial Gestures, Perform Action Based on Multiple Inputs, Differentiating Between Light and Hard Touches, Example of a New Touch Vocabulary, Speaker, Audio/Tactile Feedback Devices, Communication Devices (wired & wireless) and Change UI Based on Received Communication Signals.”
Much more, including diagrams, here.
Related articles:
New Apple iPods coming? Major Aussie retailers slash iPod prices up to 80% – September 01, 2006
Apple’s ‘touchless’ touchscreen iPod revealed – July 25, 2006
More info surfaces regarding Apple’s latest iPod touch-screen patent filing – July 21, 2006
Hon Hai Chairman: Apple about to unveil next-gen iPod using a ‘none-touch’ concept – June 15, 2006
Rumor: Intel and Apple working on ‘intelligent device’ – August 22, 2006
Apple CEO Steve Jobs talks up much-rumored ‘iPhone’ iPod mobile phone – August 11, 2006
Is this Apple’s iPhone? – August 03, 2006
BofA ups Apple Computer to ‘buy,’ expects ‘iPhone’ in 2007, shares rise in early trading – July 31, 2006
Not sitting around doing nothing: ‘iPhone’ could add billions to Apple’s revenue – July 21, 2006
Apple CFO on iPhone: ‘we’re not sitting around doing nothing’ – July 20, 2006
Merrill Lynch ups Apple rating to ‘buy’; UBS raises Apple target to $80 – July 20, 2006
Apple Q3 2006 Conference Call notes – July 19, 2006
iPhone, iPod messenger clues in latest iPod firmware update – July 17, 2006
Patent application shows iPod capable of live wireless video conferencing – June 13, 2006
Bear Stearns comments on Apple: ‘true’ video iPod, iPhone, multiple OS plans – May 17, 2006
Apple patent application filed for wireless iPod+iTunes distribution – May 04, 2006
Report: Apple Computer may soon launch its own music ‘iPhone’ – March 31, 2006
RUMOR: Apple ‘iPhone’ put on hold – March 30, 2006
Visiongain: Apple ‘iPhone’ launch imminent – March 29, 2006
BenQ exec: Apple’s iPhone ‘definitely coming’ – March 23, 2006
holy cr**** This is going to be HUGE. I got my credit card ready! Apple is the BEST! Anybody who says anything negative about this company is an idiot!
What’s this? A PDA?
iPhone plus.
I know its just a basic diagram, but they made it look like a brick in the application….Almost Zune-ish
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Resurrection of the Newton, anyone?
In the past, Steve Jobs has spoken negatively about the PDA market. He also canceled the Newton, which many of us loved.
On the other hand, he also said that there would never be a video iPod.
On the other other hand, this could be one of many Apple patent/trademark applications that they never use. (Numbers anyone?)
Bottom line: September 12th can’t get here fast enough.
Cool! But does it have variable speed vibration? You know, for . . .um, games.
MW: control – Mmmmmmmmm, magic fingers.
Just read the MacNN article– sweet! But no phazer? I’ll wait for rev B.
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Apple takes on Bluetooth!
Well I’ll be,
It’s a MOTHER BOX!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Box
Rev C. will go into work for you. Sales forecasts are pretty good but analysts still aren’t impressed.
Very cool ideas, don’t think this will all be done in the near future, but it’s good they want to patent all this.
iBrick?
It brings me back to an 80’s concept from Apple combined with 21st century technology…
Knowledge Navigator anyone?
It’s a universal remote on steroids.
It will let you change the content on FOX news!
Finally, a Mother Box. That’s incredible. I didn’t know it was real. I didn’t see the gravitational polarity adjustment device listed in the patent, but maybe they’re just keeping that “close to the vest” until after Vista ships.
Did you ever notice how closely “ships” resembles “slips?” Vista ships. Vista slips. You could almost take the same “Vista slips” headline and reapply it in 2008 when Vista actually does ship, just by crossing out part of the “h.” It’s uncanny.
Speaking of uncanny, the MDN magic mind-reading word is “vaporware.”
Not really, but still.
Talk about adding gasoline to the rumor mill Sept 12th fire. Nothing but a thrill ride by Apple for the last 2,4,6,12 months.
I wouldn’t necessarily make the connection between this patent and the announcement coming next week. As Akido mentioned, they’ve filed many patents, in the last year alone, that have not yet become actual products, probably just as a means of protecting their IP.
As for what these illustrations look like (brick, etc.), keep in mind that these are done by the engineers. Ive and Co. haven’t gotten their hands on them yet, at least not for what goes to the patent office.
I’ve been suggesting an iPod front end box communicating — Bluetooth probably — with other devices, besides the BT headphone. Cell Phones and GPS receivers are obvious candidates.
Oh yes, MDN magic word: soon.
If Apple would produce such a box and, in particular, if Apple were to create an SDK for the iPod (to run on Mac OS X first – of course) to allow others to interface to the iPod wirelessly, Apple could run away with the interface market for a major part of the mobile and even non mobile consumer electronics market.
If Apple were to score a few major wins up front, for example, a company like Motorola cooperates and builds a BT enabled cell phone that can communicate with a BT enabled iPod and if it is a big hit, the competitors will come running to jump on the Apple band wagon.
This could easily turn in to the biggest money maker for Apple by far. Apple would only have to deal with the core competencies that it already has. They would simply be hijacking one horizontal layer of the consumer electronics business, the human interface – Apple’s strength.
I have no idea if Apple plans such a device, but if they try it, it could make business history.
There’s just one thing missing in that patent, and you’re going to want it! The patent needs more Cow Bell!
Me like hand-held device 600.
Me want hand-held device 600.
I’d want it even if it looked exactly like in the patent filing! 😀
If hand-held device 600 doesn’t come out Tuesday my brain will explode from anticipation.
Let’s hope the Newton was just killed by Jobs out of jealousy because he didn’t design it, not that he didn’t like the concept. Let’s hope an iHandtop running Mac OS X on Intel chip is coming…
Is this the “intelligent device which is no iPod” being worked on by Apple and Intel as posted here?
http://www.macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/rumor_intel_and_apple_working_on_intelligent_device/
mmmm.m….. drool…. look at figure 16….. : D
“iBrick?”
No. Zune ripoff.
Has anyone thought of a combination of Skype-Killer Jajah? (http://www.jajah.com)
Look at the Handspring. Quite a little machine, but figuring out that thing is like figuring out a cable tv remote for most people. If the User Interface changes based on what you are doing, then the navigation remains simple.
The iPod is a success because it is simple and the click wheel one thumb navigation. Now what if you could have an iPod with only the iPod interface in front of you with touchscreen clickwheel navigation and suddenly, when you choose, touch an area and have a touch screen telephone with touchscreen clickwheel navigation. The integration remains separate to the user as far as navigation is concerned. This to me sounds like something Steve Jobs would want. Technicalwise, he is like most of us and wants to apply the KISS principle to everything. Intuitive, yet easy to figure out.