Apple's patented the Tablet Mac (part II)

Well, what do you know? Yet another Apple tablet PC patent's shown up on the USPTO site, this one also with none other than Jonny Ive's Handcock on it (last time around it was both Jobs and Ive on the patent, though). Today's filing mainly pertains to touch-input user interface methods with multiple fingers, gestures, and motions, as well as methods for visually displaying and manipulating aspects of the UI -- exciting stuff, we know. But the point is that ok, we get it already Apple, you're working on a tablet PC. Now how about releasing it so you guys can focus those man-hours on a proper DVR / media Mac for us, eh?

[Via Mac Rumors]

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[(Unverified) Posted Feb 3rd 2006 11:03AM]

Way back in 1993 or so I remember watching a program on TV called Beyond 2000 or Beyond Tomorrow or something. It was either British or Australian in origin. They were showing the "next revolution" in touch-screen controllers and had a working prototype of a multi-point touch sensor that was "to be used in the space shuttle to replace panels and panels of knobs and dials with a few simpler touch screens". The operator simply touched two points on the screen like they would when grabbing a knob and twist.

How could Apple get a patent on something that I KNOW has been in existance for more than a decade?

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 3rd 2006 2:06PM]

I also thought of the video ipod with the scroll wheel on the touchscreen, but it can't just simply be that. A lot of people like the feel of pushing a button, which is why it's a click scroll wheel. But I say add the force-feedback from Immersion (anyone have the force-feedback mouse from logitech, i loved that thing...) for touchscreens. Check it out:

http://www.immersion.com/industrial/touchscreen/

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 3rd 2006 5:29PM]

This is just the beginning of the new products Apple will release to give the competitions some painful headaches for the next few years to come.More surprises to come, just wait.

Bill

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 4th 2006 10:26PM]

I do not believe Apple will be doing a tablet at the present time, or if they do, it will be downplayed significantly relative to the overall MacBook experience, similar to how Video iPod's were still all about music. Wintel tablets do a lot of things poorly and only a few things well. Apple's product philosophy is quite contrary to that approach.

Also keep in mind that companies nowadays file a bunch of patents for any direction they may want to head in so they can defend themselves against lawsuits later. It often has nothing to do with an actual product.