Future iPhone may detect when you are truckin' like the doodah man, offer video chat
Macrumors has a detailed breakdown of a couple of new iPhone patent applications, but here's the gist: Apple is looking at how to trigger events based on movements (or gestures), and one patent filing shows a front-facing video camera. The camera is easy -- there's your 2-way video chat (we hope). The motion stuff? Well, Apple could go in several directions with that.According to the indications in the patent filing, Apple is suggesting the interface on the iPhone could change under certain conditions. Specifically, contacts would get larger if you are running. That makes them easier to tap when you aren't able to be as accurate. This is just one example, but I think the more the iPhone can correctly guess the context of its use, the better. We were all a little excited when we saw the auto-orientation of (some) apps, and the relatively minor miracle of a proximity sensor which turns off the screen when you raise the phone to your face. The motion-sensing stuff takes this way beyond all that.
While this stuff won't likely make it into the next iPhone revision, it does show you where Apple is headed: more features, better usability. Although I do notice the power button seems to have moved to the right, away from the top. Will that be part of the next iPhone? There's mention of everything from a stylus to a scroll wheel (like BlackBerry), but I think that's just patent chatter (covering the bases, as it were). Here's a link to the patent filing.
[thanks to Alejandro for help in plumbing the patent filing]
Share
Macrumors has a detailed breakdown of a couple of new iPhone patent applications, but here's the gist: Apple is looking at how to trigger...
Add a Comment
About the motion-sensing, I am kind of not liking that. I mean, I'm sure it'd be able to tell what kind of motions (running, driving, etc.) through the use of the location of the phone (GPS) or with the accelerometer. As a person who drives for a living, I really don't want my phone making up its mind on if I can use it while I am moving.
**Note: I use my phone safely while driving, with handsfree bluetooth accessories, and follow all local laws in whichever jurisdiction I happen to be traveling through at the time.
I love the fact that there is a Grateful Dead lyric in the title. It made my day.
April 17 2009 at 1:56 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replyvideo conferencing on iphone + walking at same time= more people running into street lights and stop signs. :)
April 16 2009 at 2:08 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyWhat in the world ever became of Sweet Jane?
April 16 2009 at 1:53 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replya smart move would be to not drop a new iPhone this summer. get people to sign up still with the new features that 3.0 update will most likely do. then, next year when the contract with AT&T is wobbly drop a new model exclusive to AT&T. then if Verizon does become able to grab the iPhone it will seem "inferior" to the new AT&T version. makes sense. i mean, if the new model really has that many fantastic features, it's sure to make people still go to AT&T. no?
April 16 2009 at 12:00 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyOk, patent shows as filed in November of 2007. Lets get real here people.
April 16 2009 at 11:37 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replyit says 2007 because this is filed under the whole iphone patents. but if you look, you will see it says april 16 2009. also, if you think this was written in 2007, why would the contacts app have the alphabet scrolling on the right?
April 16 2009 at 2:15 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replylol, didnt mean to say that, sorry
April 16 2009 at 2:28 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyWho the hell needs to use a phone when they're running? Sheesh.
April 16 2009 at 11:30 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyMaybe they can beat Microsoft to the punch with this. Some rumored Windows Mobile 7 features leaked last year that has technology where you can control the phone through gestures. If they can beat Microsoft to market, they can claim they did it first and make Microsoft look like copy cats, again.
April 16 2009 at 11:17 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplySo you're suggesting that Apple copy Microsoft to make it look like Microsoft copied Apple?
This comment epitomizes why Apple fans sometimes get a bad rap.
The 2006 cellphone game 3D Tilt-a-World detects motion via a camera and is how you control the game: http://wireless.ign.com/articles/741/741844p1.html
April 16 2009 at 4:46 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI am really looking forward to having the ability to video conference.. a camera in the front would almost certainly make that a reality....
April 16 2009 at 10:53 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHot Apps on TUAW
Deals of the Day
more deals- Refurb Apple MacBook Air Laptops: 12" 64GB SSD for $699 + free shipping
- JVC Motion Sensing Clock Radio with Dual iPod Docks for $55 + free shipping
- Apple iPhone Headset with Mic for $4 + $2 s&h
- miFrame Picture Frame Dock for iPad for $64 + $8 s&h
- Refurb Apple iPod nano 8GB MP3 Player for $99 + free shipping, 16GB for $119
- Hannspree Apple-Shaped 28" 1080p LCD HDTV for $270 + free shipping
Software Updates
more updates- EFI Firmware Update brings Lion Internet Recovery to 2010-model Macs
- OS X Lion 10.7.3 released with Safari 5.1.3, Wi-Fi bug fix
- Aperture updated to 3.2.2, addresses Photo Stream issue
- Apple updates Keynote to address Lion issues
- Google Search app gets new look on iPad
- Apple releases Apple TV Software Update 4.4.3
Featured Stories
more stories
Popular Stories
TUAW (or The Unofficial Apple Weblog) is a website devoted to tips, reviews, news, analysis and opinion on everything Apple.
17 Comments