mercurynews.com— Apple had explored replacing the click wheel with a virtual one as part of a touch-sensitive display, but are now looking at a third option: a touch-sensitive frame surrounding the display.
Oct 28, 2006View in Crawl 4
I 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.
OdinEye,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.
Judging 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.
With 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.
frankie4fingersOct 29, 2006
Too many of the same stories is what happens to all Apple products. Because too many of kids try to get a story in first.
chrisradOct 29, 2006
I thought that too, but try it on your mobile phone (imagine it's your iPod) it's not -too- bad.
meatmcguffinOct 29, 2006
Is retarted the new way of saying retarded?I'm genuinely curious because i've seen it spelt that way a lot lately
thethingOct 29, 2006
weneedsound is getting dugg down not because of his point but because his attitude. He is being smug and did not respond eloquently.
xuisOct 29, 2006
I 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.
envy860Oct 29, 2006
Well. The first gen was a scroll wheel. 3G was "touch wheel".
kingfelixOct 29, 2006
OdinEye,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.
Closed AccountOct 29, 2006
Judging 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.
flankerOct 29, 2006
The fanboys are digging you down for some reason. Maybe they've never heard of the Clix. Maybe they hate you because you're right.<a class="user" href="http://www.iriveramerica.com/prod/ultra/clix/clix-2GB.aspx">http://www.iriveramerica.com/prod/ultra/clix/clix-2GB.aspx</a>
tmcdiggNov 2, 2006
With 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.