The concepts behind many of these are patented - so to get a glimpse into the inner workings of the Apple design team, silicon.com's Nick Heath has rounded up and rated 10 of the most interesting and absurd patent applications submitted by Apple in recent years.
Many of these ideas will never see the light of day but they all either amuse or hint at what could be.
Clamshell iPhone
An intriguing design for an alternative iPhone, the flip device is essentially a clamshell handset with two touchscreens - one of them transparent. The patent uses the phrase "dual-sided trackpad" to describe the technology for the device. Basically, the lower half of the handset is transparent and can be folded shut over the top half, which represents the as-is iPhone display. The transparent half can be used as a touch control whether it's folded up or not.
Looking at the diagrams, the lower half is dedicated to input and the top half is given over to the display. Chances are this is one for the bin, as Steve Jobs has complained about devices which dedicate half of their physical 'real estate' to input, whether the function in focus needs it or not.
Verdict: 2/10
Sounds a bit complicated and pointless.
Credit: US Patent and Trademark Office
- Talkback
- Most Recent of 13 Talkback(s)
- Thread View
- Flat View
- Yeah, right
- Unless you have done a reasonable survey of touch typists
to really learn their preferences (nah, didn't think so), it
seems beyond presumptuous to speak for "most of them".
You don't like... (Read the rest) - Posted by: frabjous Posted on: 10/31/08 You are currently: a Guest | Log in | Terms of Use
not so far fetched
mistermachine | 10/30/08
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RE: (Gallery: 10 Apple patents to watch )
stevejg61 | 10/30/08
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Some of these are VERY old...
Stuka | 10/31/08
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RE: (Gallery: 10 Apple patents to watch )
Samic | 10/31/08
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Yeah, right
frabjous | 10/31/08
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iMac Docking Station
geoguba@... | 10/31/08
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The worst part of it is...
GrizzledGeezer | 10/31/08
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If they are so obvious and trivial
frgough | 10/31/08
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Didn't Apple tinker with this concept before?
ddunn68@... | 10/31/08
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Duo Dock
Stuka | 10/31/08
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RE: (Gallery: 10 Apple patents to watch )
orimata | 10/31/08
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Same here... But...
Paul18992 | 10/31/08
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touchpad
rednickja@... | 10/31/08
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