“On Tuesday, a very insightful granted patent of Apple’s came to light describing an intelligent bezel,’ Jack Purcher reports for Patently Apple.
“Today, that very same theme continues and goes much further this time around to include what Apple describes as intelligent ‘sense lines,'” Purcher reports. “Sense lines could surround the display of a media player unseen under the multi-touch display glass as an alternative to a physical bezel which was described in Tuesday’s granted patent in context with a tablet.”
“In covering Tuesday’s patent report, Paul Boutin of VentureBeat wondered if Apple’s technology would apply to an iPhone. ‘The clickwheel makes the iPod simple and relaxing to use, rather than fumbling through menus and pressing buttons. I can operate an iPod while jogging. Wish I could say that for my iPhone,'” Purcher reports. “Well, apparently Apple is thinking of doing just that. Though instead of using a virtual click wheel, Apple is proposing touch based sense lines that could control the devices functions like sound or any other menu items that you would traditionally find on a click wheel based menu system. The difference is that you’d be able to find your most valued menu items without scrolling and in one lightning quick click.”
Much more in the full article, along with more and larger patent app illustrations, here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Lava_Head_UK” and “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
It’s the same basic theory as the operation of the Dock.
This must be the spec for the upcoming iPad Maxi. Let’s just hope that it can stream Pandora while being super-absorbent.
Would this be a component of the “wings” element of the iPad? By allowing greater use of this area, additional use can made of otherwise wasted area.
Apple is doing a fine job. From iPad to iPad with wings!!
What’s cool about it is that the areas designated could change when turned horizontal or vertical…if they can do it on the Majic Mouse, then why not make that wide surrounding area on the iPad effective…does make you wonder about all the accidentals, though, but could be turned on or off, I guess. Would set the iPad apart from all the clones in current mad scientist production, though.
@ VAL4Mother
Yawn. These feminine napkin jokes are wearing a bit thin. New material, please.
MacTablet: The iPad for the geeks.
iPad: The MacTablet for the mere mortals
Meanwhile, Microsoft is trying to patent “Embezzled Intelligence”….
“feminine napkin jokes are wearing a bit thin. New material, please.”
Have you tried cotton panties? I hear they are less irritating than synthetics (not that there’s anything wrong with it)……
I didn’t know there were so many adolescents that followed news about Apple products. They have been coming out of the woodwork lately.
I think this would work well for “modifier keys”. Control, option, etc.
“I can operate an iPod while jogging. Wish I could say that for my iPhone,'” Purcher reports. “Well, apparently Apple is thinking of doing just that.”
That just isn’t good sentence structure. Jogging with an iPad?
(BTW, if you are lesdyxic, it looks like iPda)
Also, I could see where these sensors would be easier to use on the back of the tablet, where most of your fingers are when holding it.
If they are awarded the patent, here’s hoping they aggressively defend it.
@TowerTone. The childish jokes will fade away as the device develops its own history. You never hear people tittering over sketch pad, launch pad, note pad, real estate pad, landing pad, foot pad, shoulder pad,etc etc.
@ MidWest Mac
Two hydrogen atoms walk into a bar.
One says, “I think I’ve lost an electron.”
The other says, “Are you sure?”
The first replies, “Yes, I’m positive…”
m159
I don’t make fun of the name.
Could care less.
This seems geared towards an iPad. It would be difficult to access these buttons on an iPhone, due to the small size of the device.
Thank you MDN
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TT: you could care less, or you couldn’t care less? Quite different meanings, although the common usage may have obliterated the distinction.
Thanks Uncle Al.
I forgot.
I love that everyone is making fun of the name.
It only means they don’t have anything else to make fun of.
TowerTone – “(BTW, if you are lesdyxic, it looks like iPda)”
I rather like that synchronicity…then again, Apple may have named it intentionally, giving a nod to the it’s functional heritage.
I call bullcrap on all the people vigorously defending that huge ipad bezel as needed for grip. Yes a bezel will help with gripping but it doesn’t need to be that big. My guess is it’s so big to fit the technology inside more than it is needed as a grip. And now we see this patent about making it touch sensitive. Now how does that make that much needed gripping real estate plausible so you are not accidently making inputs? That much space is not mandatory for gripping and avoiding covering your content it is because the device is so thin. I will admit I am wrong about this only after seeing a teardown proving otherwise.