Apple to ace the iPod click-wheel? Not likely.

Nothing starts the day like a freshly squeezed Apple rumor, right? Well you're looking at 10 supposed iPod (and one iPhone?) "redesigns" which AppleInsider extracted from the bowels of a European trademark and design office. Credited to Andre K. Bartley, an Apple interface designer with several iPod-related patent filings in the US and Europe under his belt, these designs were registered in January 2006 without any descriptive data. We don't doubt the authenticity of this filing, however, what's hard to stuff down the ol' pie-hole is the idea of Apple walking away from its much loved, and oft imitated, click-wheel interface for the iPod as AI suggests. And certainly not in favor of a Gigabeat e(S)que cross-hair controller or uh, Creative's scroll strip. Considering Apple's long history of litigation over interface design, we're probably just looking at some legal maneuvering here. Next.

[Todd @ Jul 6th 2006 8:05AM]

...that one in the upper left corner DOES look like a phone.

Photoshoppers - start your engines!

[Mat @ Jul 6th 2006 8:18AM]

The cross hair style control does actually make some sense. With regards to navigation, the menus are only horizontal and vertical...not ciruclar. If it was like a touch pad, you could scroll your finger along it. Although, I think its quite iconic, they may as well change the Apple logo...

[AUA @ Jul 6th 2006 8:19AM]

Honestly, I'm beginning to become of the opinion that all of this Apple Rumor bullshit is just viral marketing. How many "what's next from Apple?!" posts do you guys do in a day??

[Dave Lovelace @ Jul 6th 2006 8:42AM]

There's too many full-screen gadgets out there for Apple *not* to produce one. None of the drawings above are as world-usurping as one might expect from a new Apple product. I agree this is probably a miserable attempt to thwart the rumor mill from the truth about the imminent "true video" iPod.

The iconic wheel will still be there; it will be graphically represented.

[James @ Jul 6th 2006 8:45AM]

These AppleInsider kids are such a bunch of slackers. At least engadget has enough sense to recognize the Gigabeat crosshair, and not some "game controller". WTH? What a bunch of maroons.

[Konstantino @ Jul 6th 2006 8:57AM]

Hey, maybe this is why Apple counter-sued Creative. Maybe they filled this patent how ever long ago, and Creative's players just so happen to look a lot like these.

[James @ Jul 6th 2006 8:57AM]

An entirely pointless post about Apple, anyone else getting bored of reading engadget yet?

[James @ Jul 6th 2006 9:03AM]

Cripes, James 1 is not James 2 (above). I don't have a problem with the apple story, James 2. Why bother posting if that's all you have to say.

[JT @ Jul 6th 2006 9:05AM]

Seems to me this filing is more about protecting the ipod's proportions no matter what the input might be than to implement other methods that are well known for being less useable than the click wheel.

OTH, I'm not bored with engadget yet. As long as you keep closing each post with a sarcastic remark, you'll be in my RSS.

[YourNameHere @ Jul 6th 2006 9:36AM]

Looks like apple is just covering their bases, keeping others from making nano knock-offs.

[Morton Salty @ Jul 6th 2006 10:00AM]

Agree with JT. Just think this is a legal manuever to stop copy cats. The dimensions all stayed the same the touch pad, scroll wheel, joystick, slider, keypad are the only thing that changed... I think that the nano shape and ipod shape are going to be with us for quite a while(they work, why change them)

[Rynth @ Jul 6th 2006 10:09AM]

I reckon a touchscreen (not to dissimilar from a pda) Ipod would be rather nice... though these dont look all that authentic....

[azzemoto @ Jul 6th 2006 10:32AM]

I would like to see that iPhone.

[schiano @ Jul 6th 2006 11:19AM]

It seems like these are competitor's products and not Apple design ideas. Maybe they're trying to evaluate the market, soak up the goods of every product, and built a new ipod on things that Apple knows will work (clickwheel) and things that Apple thinks it can improve upon everyone else's products.

[Jason @ Jul 6th 2006 12:40PM]

haha! they're even taking a jab at the old Dell DJ with the middle-right image.

what's with the oval thing in the very center image though? or is that their 'cover all the bases' clickwheel image?

[cycomachead @ Jul 6th 2006 2:01PM]

who in the univers thought they could pull this off.
I actually think it is funny that someone tried to do this. I wonder how the iPod wouls function w/o an interface and just the 2.5" screen??

[Tom @ Jul 6th 2006 4:55PM]

What is this BS??? I see toshiba in the top right, Creative's (dell) DJ in the bottom right, and creative's vertical touchpad top and centre. Patents suck ass, cause is this is accepted apple can sue the pants off all of their competition at once.

[Chris @ Jul 6th 2006 4:59PM]

Jason, I reckon that one's a stab at the Rio Carbon.

[SunSeeker @ Jul 6th 2006 6:39PM]

Apple WILL remove the click wheel, but they WILL NOT remove it's functionality

Apple WILL have a full screen iPod, but they WILL NOT use a touch screen

How?
Virtual click wheel. the entire REAR surface of the unit will be touch sensitive.
Elegant UI elements will guide the user and if you twirl your finger anywhere on the smooth surface a transparent clickwheel will smoothly appear on the screen to give tactile feedback.

If you don't believe me play with the Mighty Mouse a little and remember that the current click-wheel is already solid state
Also note where the power button on th current iMac is and where it used to be on the G5 iMac

[melikecoolthingsalot @ Jul 6th 2006 8:33PM]

Okay listen up.
Well, here is what apple should do: put the interface on the Back!!! That's right.
Instead of sticking it on the front or the sides or whatever they should put it on the back of the unit which would have the same comfortable form factor as the 5G ipod has now.
It may seem crazy but I believe it would work and without adding any more size and without having to put greasy fingers on the screen. You just put the click wheel on the back in the center and make it slightly oval and slightly bigger than normal so you don't have to guess where the click wheel is.
Yes it's different I know.
Just my two cents.

[iPod Headphones @ Jul 10th 2006 2:38PM]

I agree with SunSeeker. I think thats the direction Apple is going to take. A more refined sleek solution. Until they put that version out the click wheel will be around. They'll be inventing or making the newer technology their own and patent it.

It will be the next coolest iPod thingy and you'll HAVE to get one. Thats how they work it.