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58 Comments
- mfratt, on 10/12/2007, -3/+38Wasn't this just on Digg a few hours ago, or was that something different?
The only time you'll see me bitch abouta Dupe is when I get the same thing on my homepage twice within 24 hours. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+23Anything Apple makes always seems sketchy, until you actually see how really easy it is
- Schug, on 10/12/2007, -6/+22This has been on the front page 100 bajillion times. I should know. I counted them all.
- DaffyDuck, on 10/12/2007, -3/+13http://www.macnn.com/blogs/?p=136
^ Shows a larger portion of the patent. Figure 3D shows the scroll wheel. - Ignignokt01, on 10/12/2007, -3/+13@ weneedsound
Ummm... I'm pretty sure you will be able to do it with your thumb as well. Since when did touch sensitive technology only recognize the other 4 fingers? - weneedsound, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11@Ignignokt01
I am talking about navigating the entire interface with one hand, as you can do with the current models. Look at the picture I linked above. The play/pause is at the top of the screen, while the scroll is on the right hand side of the screen. In order to access both those functions you would have to hold the device with one hand and then use your other hand to navigate. With the current models you can hold and navigate with one hand.. explain to me the innovation of going from one hand navigation to two.. - Dihuko, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9A touch sensitive frame would be great for both the consumer and Apple. First, it would be far more cost efficient then to make the entire screen touch sensitive. It would also be easier to produce in large numbers and people wouldn't have to smudge and scratch up the entire screen.
- Spanca, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7There's already a story about this on the home page...
- traviswalters, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7I await the "Time to re-invent the wheel" on the card inviting people to the special event to announce it.
- meatmcguffin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Is retarted the new way of saying retarded?
I'm genuinely curious because i've seen it spelt that way a lot lately - DEIx15x8, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8Why does this same story keep making it to the home page?
- envy860, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Well. The first gen was a scroll wheel. 3G was "touch wheel".
- mfratt, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7Why is weneedsound being buried? He makes a very good and valid point. I don't want to have to use two hands to use the thing, and I most certainly wouldn't buy one that used such a design.
- modifiedbears, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6no you aren't, which is why i think this would be bad. i hate the DS games that try to incorporate the bottom screen using your fingers. it's just a hassle to clean up.
- darkdaedra, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4It's not a touchscreen patent, it's a patent on a touch sensitive frame. Kudos on reading the article before commenting.
- meatmcguffin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3There hasn't been a scroll wheel in 3 years. Click wheels are the button/wheel combo on every ipod but the shuffle.
- tylerni7, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I would count to verify that, but that is a large number and would take a while, so I guess I have no choice but to take your word for it.
- kingfelix, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2OdinEye,
That's exactly what I imagined when I first saw this patent on Macrumors. Imagine a virtual slider of sorts on a designated section of the frame depending on the function you're trying to execute. The part of the frame which you'd use could change depending on what you're trying to do (raise/lower the volume, scroll through a list of contacts or songs) or on user preference (are you left- or right-handed, how big is your hand --> where does your thumb naturally fall when you hold the device in one hand?) and be visually indicated on the display. This would be easy to implement and would make it possible to operate with the thumb of one hand while eliminating "false inputs" from the other fingers. If this interface has passed through Apple's engineering department, you can be sure it's intuitive as hell. I can imagine how this could be done exceptionally well. - IcerC, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I bet this will be a 4th ipod added to the line not a replacement, No need complaining about using one hand.
- mabhatter, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2yea, but leave it to Apple to figure out how to remove just one more button!
Look at it this way, it would be specific to a video iPod, so your holding it with 2 hands to watch it versus the music version in your pocket. They need to keep it almost the same size as the current iPods or they will break the Dock Connector protocol... remember, they left themselves room with the "made for iPod" program to adjust the size as needed within limits, I can't see them going bigger than the dock adapters can handle. They could get a PSP-sized screen on an iPod, but they'd have to give up the click wheel as it takes up too much front screen real estate. Apple Won't add buttons all over the place like Creative or Dell, that leaves the edges.. what ever they do, it will probably rock! - flag564, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5"weneedsound is getting dugg down not because of his point but because his attitude. He is being smug and did not respond eloquently."
You've just describe 99.9% of all post made by Apple fanboys.
Did not respond eloquently? What type of pompous azzhole are you supposed to be?
That is not what the voting system is supposed to be used for. - OdinEye, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4I agree that it would address the problem of smudging and other marks - this is a big issue with PDA's, which develop lines and marks on the screen over time from the stylus. But I'll be curious to see how they handle some of the clickwheel functions (like scrolling through menus) with just the frame being active.
- anagami, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1this is for the video iPod not the nano.
- kingfelix, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1this isn't purely cosmetic. remember: design isn't how it looks, it's how it works.
- Flanker, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The fanboys are digging you down for some reason. Maybe they've never heard of the Clix. Maybe they hate you because you're right.
http://www.iriveramerica.com/prod/ultra/clix/clix-2GB.aspx - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2meat...no more so that LOOSE is the new way to spell LOSE.
It is just that the internet makes people stupid. - knightblade2oo4, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2i think they should make the wheel built into the frame like the Chocolat phones have... the touch sensor buttons you know? that would look really cool.
- Coded1, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2@Dihuko
I'm guessing you would slide your finger along the frame instead? Maybe even visual cues along the frame of the monitor? - tmcdigg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1With PMP's moving into the 100+ gig category soon, remote management will become increasingly more important and proper implementation next generation transfer protocols such as wireless usb which will possibly get 1gbit of max transfer rate (against distance throughput degradation). I recommend a touch pad wireless remote.. this way, the device itself doesn't get worn out by tapping, clicking, etc.
- chrisrad, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3I thought that too, but try it on your mobile phone (imagine it's your iPod) it's not -too- bad.
- Maxington, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3Same story as earlier today it's all "speculation" at this point
- kasted, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3touch sensitive frame would be kinda weird, or am I the only one who thinks this?
- Fluidity, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Well it's already well known they were having problems with the virtual clickwheel as the touch screen wasn't working well when it came to those circular motions so this would make sense. I do wonder how you'll avoid constantly pressing buttons while holding it though, will you have to keep locking and unlocking it as you want to press buttons? I think we'll see this in the next few months.
- TheWorm, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Judging by the pictures on the earlier story, it would be uncomfortable moving your hand all around the frame of the ipod like that. One of the things I like about the scroll wheel is that I don't have to move my thumb very much. It's all in one easy to access central circle.
- Xuis, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0These are the pros and cons that I have determined so far, I am trying to eliminate Bias in order to see the entire situation clearly.
Pros-
less buttons and moving parts
larger screen space
less cost?
Cons-
difficult to use with one hand (depends on the hand)
Difficult to design a hard plastic protective case (engineering issues for 3rd parties)
Marketing factor of "click wheel" will be lost
"Apple's original idea" argument
Other issues, (not sure if they are pros or cons)
Cost- will the greater area of the touch sensitive material increase the cost, versus the less buttons decreasing the cost?
Sleep- if all buttons eliminated, how will the device differentiate between your finger, versus your pocket rubbing against the material?
Shoot, I'm not trying to prove anyone wrong, :( but I need more pros, please respond with non-bias pros and cons. - Xuis, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I attempted the motion described in this article and link with my iPod Video. While using one hand, it was very difficult to reach the top, bottom, and extreme upper and lower portions of the right & left sides without straining my hand. After dropping it twice, (fortunately onto the couch) I then tried holding it with my left hand while using my index finger to trace the outside of my iPod. Although easier to hold, the motion was not as intuitive and "smooth" as the "click-wheel" style movement.
I bet the apple corporation is simply brainstorming ideas at this point. - bigkm, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4thats probably cause steve jobs feels so strong about usability
- sneeka2, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3It'd be nigh impossible though to handle the thing with just one hand, let alone one thumb. I doubt a touch sensitive frame would be sanctioned by The Steve as a real alternative to the wheel.
- Frankie4Fingers, on 10/12/2007, -5/+3Too many of the same stories is what happens to all Apple products. Because too many of kids try to get a story in first.
- greekgoat91, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2this is retarted. no one wants to use 2 hands to navigate their mp3 player
- kolop1, on 10/12/2007, -8/+6 Am i the only one who thinks a touch screen is a bad idea? I don't want finger prints all over my screen.
- tektalk, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1why are they doing this? when i look at an ipod or an authentic one, i look at the click wheel and check that it works. this click wheel is the trademark of the ipod! synapse, the company that makes these haven't gone wrong. this is the Universal sign that it is an ipod, without it, i would just recognize this as another brand of big storage non-apple mp3s. thats my opinion, anyone agree?
- DragonAura, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1I can just imagine someone reading this article in an old style news announcer voice... You know, the kind of "Godzilla is invading Tokyo" voice....
- emorphien, on 10/12/2007, -5/+2Sounds like a logical extension of some of the display and display bezel controlled devices already on the market.
- iman79, on 10/12/2007, -5/+2i read the headline and the first thing i think of is the Clix.
now i know some might say there is no similarity but come on, seriously? I'm sure that Apple will improve on the concept, but this doesn't mean that it was their idea first. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1Any mockups yet?
- glowsticky, on 10/12/2007, -7/+3In my opinion the touch wheel is what makes the iPod unique over its competitors. Though they might not have been the first to implement one, Apple did get something right with the rotating sensitive wheel. That being said it is time for Apple to take the iPod in a new direction, even if that direction is cosmetic.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -6/+223...go back and digg the next AlexaW submission and STFU
- emorphien, on 10/12/2007, -7/+1and if he doesn't, the apple fanboys will. That's a good point.
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