Patent hints at iPod touchpad illumination
updated 11:55 am EST, Thu January 24, 2008
Illuminating iPod touchpad
An application submitted to the US Patent and Trademark Office suggests that future clickwheel iPods, i.e. the Classic and the Nano, may use illuminated touchpads. The technology involves lights placed beneath the surface of a pad, which illuminate in different ways as users pass fingers (or possibly styluses) over top. In the most basic incarnation, one or more sections of the pad light up as users touch it; this may indicate the possibility of multi-touch control, but the patent also suggests illuminating only a single segment in some cases.
The style of the illumination may likewise vary, from simply appearing as a halo, to having leading and trailing edges, possibly in different colors. Swiping around the pad may also produce special motion effects, such as generating a "comet" complete with a tapered tail. Sensors used may be able to detect acceleration, and increase or decrease the brightness of lights as users scroll faster.
Beyond iPods, it is suggested that the patent could be applied to trackpads, namely those used on MacBooks. Something similar is said to already exist on the MacBook Air.
Time to quit
01/24, 05:45pm reply
the iPod it's dead as soon the ipod touch introduce a 80g Harddrive. so why worry about the click wheel now? when Apple calls a product Classic it's telling the costumers "this is the last one" so... bye Classic iPod and the Click Wheel
I WAS the One
Grizzled Veteran
Joined: Mar 2003
true
01/25, 07:52am reply
unless otherwise Apple brings about some new innovation/invention into click wheel iPods they will be passe by next year.
Sachin
sachxn
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2007
Virtual Click Wheel
01/28, 04:09am reply
This could be done on screen on the iPod Touch/iPhone where I guess it would be easier to implement.
Not much point though. Anyway who looks at their click wheel/trackpad when they use it.
Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 1999
Patent hints at iPod
06/16, 09:50am reply
Great blog with lots of useful information and excellent commentary! Thanks for sharing.
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docsharp76
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2008
iPod illumination
10/28, 11:25am reply
I enjoyed reading about the iPod illumination. Another good site about how to repair iPods is at http://www.ipod-repair-guide.com to fix broken iPods.
docsharp76
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2008