Apple patents Cover Flow-like spiral interface

Patently Apple has unearthed a new patent that shows off a Cover Flow-like interface for browsing icons or album covers, only instead of Cover Flow's linear layout, this one organizes content in a spiral. We've seen rotating menus in Apple's patents before, but this looks more involved. It's described as a "receding spiral in a virtual 3D space," and you would use your finger (so probably in an iOS interface) to spin the spiral around and browse through whatever you were looking for. There's also a "V" shaped display listed, and users might even be able to reorganize icons or art in the display (while creating or sorting a playlist, for example).

A finger is explicitly shown in the patent, but presumably this would work with a mouse, or even a scroll wheel, as in the case of the non-touchscreen iPods. It's definitely an intriguing idea, and it adds a little more visual variety to browsing through various media or icons. As with all of these patents, there's no guarantee that Apple will actually use this plan in a future product, but clearly someone in Cupertino is thinking about how to put a new spin on the Cover Flow interface.

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Source: http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2010/12/apples-f…

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Patently Apple has unearthed a new patent that shows off a Cover Flow-like interface for browsing icons or album covers, only instead of...

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Joe

Check out the new Spirals like demo at patently apple they just posted. very cool.

December 17 2010 at 4:53 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Daniel

Something like this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euquOpUmUyk

December 16 2010 at 8:54 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Joe

I can't wait to try it out. I love Apple's bold ideas that the chickens here are sooo afraid of. For Work I'd prefer the v-shape and for the iPad definitely sprial. Way to go Apple. Screw the chickens.

December 16 2010 at 7:13 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

web

Looks the same as the Primelocation app interface.

December 16 2010 at 6:02 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Edsel

My ancestors invented clothing and the wheel. Where are my royalties?

December 16 2010 at 5:39 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Pat

Done right (no rotation, predictable positions) a circle or spiral menu can be very nice.

Human memory and accuracy w.r.t. angles is better than for linear position. That is, if something is reliably at "10 o'clock", you will remember it better and be able to select it faster, than if it were (say) reliably the 10th item of 12 on a linear menu.

But if they make the interface rotate for eye candy and/or don't put things in reliable positions, then it's no better. Since this sounds like it's for playlist purposes, where the choice items change every time, probably there are no real benefits.

December 16 2010 at 4:03 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Pat's comment

james_t

If they use this, I think it would be for Time Machine effect (yes, remember that backup thing?). This would be a horrible interface for regular file browsing.

December 16 2010 at 4:20 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

james_t

These patents are getting out of hand...

December 16 2010 at 3:45 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

jonathan ober

doesnt seem very intuitive, based on the etsy link above.

December 16 2010 at 3:26 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

timpallen

So much love for Ween. Awesome.

December 16 2010 at 3:14 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

lisa.grant

Original Etsy time machine. Just Sayin'. http://www.etsy.com/time_machine.php