“A pair of new patent filings from Apple include suggestions for improving the browsing experience offered through its Safari Web browser, such as a adaptive media support and a visual history tree that more accurately shows users where they’ve been and how they got there,” Sam Oliver reports for AppleInsider.
“Both filings are relatively fresh, having been filed in January and April of this year, respectively, and each are credited to known members of the Cupertino-based company’s Mac OS technology and QuickTime teams,” Oliver reports.
“Of particular interest is the filing for improved navigation history display, which suggests that a user’s browser history be presented in the form of a visual tree diagram tied to a timeline, rather than as a linear list of previously accessed pages that otherwise lacks structure,” Oliver reports.
“In the second filing, Apple looks to solve the problem where Mac users are sometimes prevented from viewing digital media — primarily videos — on the Web because Safari lacks the means required for display of that media in its preferred format… As a solution, the company proposes that Safari examine metadata included with the media item to determine whether the content can be displayed in an alternative format supported natively by the browser, or through plug-ins that could retrieved and installed on the spot,” Oliver reports.
More details and patent app illustrations in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Brawndo Drinker” and “MacVicta” for the heads up.]