Here's the rumor that won't go away. Unites States Patent Application #20060026536 (which features the signature of Jonathan Ive) concerns "...Methods and systems for processing touch inputs are disclosed. The invention in one respect includes reading data from a multipoint sensing device such as a multipoint touch screen..." Is an Apple tablet in the works (yes, I'm bringing that up again)? Hrmph! even has a very nice round-up of images related to using "gestures" with a touchscreen-based user interface. Note the iPod-like scroll wheel in Fig. 27D.
Seriously, though, who would you trust to deliver a tablet PC that's both beautiful and useful? Mr. Ive and Apple, that's who. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for this one.
[Via Engadget]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-02-2006 @ 7:10PM
Sean Finn said...
This is obviously an Alien device, based on the freakish hand in illustration 23D. Egad, are my hands going to look like that after I use this thing?
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2-02-2006 @ 7:26PM
Craig said...
Seriously Sean, don't your recognize the Vulcan hand? Obviously about to do either a mind-meld or the traditional vulcan greeting ;)
Clearly you can communicate with this device in many ways
-- we return you to normal programming ---
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2-02-2006 @ 7:44PM
Shawn said...
Here is what I am hoping for. Not a tablet pc but something sort of diffrent. It would be sweet if it were like a touch screen type of device that has a slot to put your ipod in (kind of like battaries on old notebooks) and then it turns into a PDA type of thing or even something we havent even thought of. That would be amazing and a great add on for an iPod.
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2-02-2006 @ 8:06PM
ANJMEVK said...
This is amazing. I want one O_O
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2-02-2006 @ 8:32PM
umijin said...
Hmmmm - I desperately want a MacPDA, tablet or no.
But knowing Apple's inability to serve MY needs in a timely fashion, my guess is that this is a remote control for something - like a sling box type of device. Maybe it will play streamed vids too. :-P
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2-02-2006 @ 9:05PM
Jason said...
anyone notice the ipodlike scroll wheel is "shown" to scroll the other way? instead of scrolling clockwise like the iPod, it arrow shows to scroll the other way. We all spend too much time on Apple....
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2-02-2006 @ 9:09PM
Kyle Mark said...
My two cents: I think this has to do with what a Video iPod will be like in the future. Alex Albrecht of Diggnation explained this type of thing in their latest episode. Who knows though, a MacTablet would be pretty sweet!
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2-02-2006 @ 10:10PM
Dave said...
God, I hope they've made some kind of deal with Wacom! If not it will be a nice idea that doesn't work for artists. I need to be able to do more than drag a file with my finger. I use a Wacom tablet with a pressure sensitive pen to do illustration. If Apple produces a tablet computer that isn't sophistcated enough to accomplish what I can already do with my tablet I will be very disappointed.
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2-02-2006 @ 10:10PM
arkowi said...
"anyone notice the ipodlike scroll wheel is "shown" to scroll the other way? instead of scrolling clockwise like the iPod, it arrow shows to scroll the other way. We all spend too much time on Apple...."
um...my scrollwheel is bi-directional...
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2-03-2006 @ 12:16AM
Jacob Elder said...
But what if I don't have a horribly deformed claw for a right hand like the guy in Fig. 23D?
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2-03-2006 @ 4:28AM
Chris Carpenter said...
How about this; a new video iPod with the same form factor as they have now with a full length screen which can, of course be viewed in landscape. The screen is touch sensitive and when you need to change something, it reacts and the scroll wheel appears and off you go. Hmm just a thought.
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2-03-2006 @ 7:41AM
Edsel said...
The illustration of the contorted hand actually appears to be gripping a virtual mouse, the index finger on a virtual mouse button.
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2-03-2006 @ 10:27AM
Nick Zee said...
Did anyone notice the deformed fingers in the drawings. Mus be iPod thumb or the soon to be extinct blueberry thumb...
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2-06-2006 @ 12:14AM
Nabil Anwar said...
Guys, guys, guys. This isnt a Tablet PC (well at least i dont think so). I think it has more to do with the Home Entertainment scene. Remember the rumored MacMini for the living room. Oh yes imagine a full featured controller like this (that may or may not be an actual computer).
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2-13-2006 @ 7:54AM
brendan Sheehan jnr said...
The drawing where the hand is using the scroll wheel. For one I can see the close,min and max icons for the windows on OSX. I highly doubt OS is no the iPod, that would be jumping the gun. Two. my iPod is smaller than my hand, and that thing is huge! Also on the patent it mentions tablet!
But the same 'magic click-wheel" could be used on the next iPod.
Reply
2-13-2006 @ 7:54AM
brendan Sheehan jnr said...
The drawing where the hand is using the scroll wheel. For one I can see the close,min and max icons for the windows on OSX. I highly doubt OS is no the iPod, that would be jumping the gun. Two. my iPod is smaller than my hand, and that thing is huge! Also on the patent it mentions tablet!
But the same 'magic click-wheel" could be used on the next iPod.
Reply
2-13-2006 @ 7:54AM
brendan Sheehan jnr said...
The drawing where the hand is using the scroll wheel. For one I can see the close,min and max icons for the windows on OSX. I highly doubt OS is no the iPod, that would be jumping the gun. Two. my iPod is smaller than my hand, and that thing is huge! Also on the patent it mentions tablet!
But the same 'magic click-wheel" could be used on the next iPod.
Reply