Apple patent app reveals back-side interface for handhelds

It looks like Apple has at least one solution to the increasing problem of maintaining some degree of usability on ever-shrinking handheld devices, with a recent patent application revealing a bit of the company's thinking on the matter. As many of you would no doubt arrive at yourself, Apple has come up with the bright idea of simply moving the controls to the back of the device, although they aren't just slapping a standard click-wheel on there, instead employing a complete "force-sensitive touch-surface." That'll supposedly not only allow for the usual scrolling and selecting, but full cursor movement as well, with nothing but screen on the front of the device. Of course, there's no indication when this might actually find its way into an iPod -- or, as Unwired View speculates, a potential iPhone nano -- but it would seem to be decidedly less far-fetched than some of the patent applications we've come across.

[Via Unwired View]

[Scott @ May 10th 2007 12:03PM]

Why does the touch keyboard say "A B C V E F G..."?

[kingofwale @ May 10th 2007 12:09PM]

why is apple messing with QWERTY keyboard??

cool design tho.

[GJP303 @ May 10th 2007 4:08PM]

technically, its not querty, because it goes in the standard abcd... pattern for the keyboard.

[Mike @ May 10th 2007 12:13PM]

I sure am glad to see apple working towards removing that pesky 'D' key. I was just thinking the other day that I had one too many D's and not enough V's on my keyboard.

[singularitynears @ May 10th 2007 12:19PM]

Yes! Say goodbye last century mechanic button devices, it all goes fullscreen touch sensitive now.. Gadgets, Screens, even my ceramic griddle how now chocolate style sensor buttons:P But where is the digital wallpaper now??:)

[Matt @ May 10th 2007 12:26PM]

Ok so they took the D out and put in two V's?

[sinhumane @ May 10th 2007 12:28PM]

i think samsung had something like that idea first...... with the upstage.. looks like we'll be seeing another lawsuit....

[Toastmaster General @ May 10th 2007 12:44PM]

to sinhumane

Did you read the patent or just look at the pictures. This is not a double sided device that you flip back and forth. The back is a "force-sensitive touch-surface" and when you touch the back while looking at the front a scroll wheel, or whatever they want (a cursor for example) appears on the screen.

why would there be a lawsuit for this?

[Matt @ May 10th 2007 12:48PM]

This looks great!

Well, great untill you think about how to hold and operate it...

What? Does Apple want us to use our middle fingers to scroll around on the back of the device? Or how do you use it in portrait mode with a single hand?

[jb @ May 10th 2007 12:54PM]

The way I read the patent, the sensitivity on the back is there to prevent your thumb on the front of the device from being recognized as input - so you can hold it with one hand naturally while using your other hand to control it.

[Preston @ May 10th 2007 1:04PM]

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy vog.

[Roflgoat @ May 10th 2007 4:12PM]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Nice Preston.

Also, holding this would be as awkward as picking up something from a dumpster. You just wouldn't know how to hold it right.

[mtg @ May 10th 2007 1:16PM]

Oddly enough, the post on the Zune earlier made me think briefly about a similar concept. But I got around a little closer to having dual screens. A full screen on the back and a standard screen (1/2 size) with standard input on the front. Then it would be a standard DAP with a big screen for watching films (but not draining power while just navigating audio). Could extend the life of the battery by only using the full screen when required.

Course, I couldn't explain how to protect the screen on the back.... I figure it would get scratched to easily. Oh well.

[brendan Sheehan jnr @ May 10th 2007 2:27PM]

And just when Apple thought they were ahead in this game, Microsoft comes out with a flash based Zune.. the wow starts never!

[btate0121 @ May 10th 2007 3:38PM]

This was actually an idea on BUZZ OUT LOUD quite a few months ago. Apple is listening......

[GJP303 @ May 10th 2007 4:09PM]

I love bol.

[3rdsun @ May 10th 2007 3:48PM]

Retarded I say, just retarded

[3rdsun @ May 10th 2007 3:50PM]

I guess the battery wont be replaceable just like all other ipods. lmao

[Micah Cameron @ May 10th 2007 4:29PM]

I wouldn't even think of buying this if it didn't have a standard QWERTY keyboard. It'd be pointless to try and learn how to type all over again just for my cell phone or whatever this is going to be.

[Jon @ May 10th 2007 4:36PM]

A similar device has already been done:

Sony Clie TH55

But I am sure Apple fanboys will believe that Apple was the first to create this idea.

[Ignacio @ May 10th 2007 5:58PM]

Similar? Did you even read the summary? WHERE is the touch-sensitive surface on that random PDA you mentioned? Oh, right, NOT IN THE BACK, but in the front like hundreds of PDAs before it.

Seriously, if you don't care enough to even read the summary Engadget posts, why bother commenting on it?

[johnny5 @ May 10th 2007 5:09PM]

To the literal-minded: This is not a product. This is not even a prototype of a product. It's not addressing an ergonomics problem. It is the documentation of an idea. Pull your heads out and start imagining possible uses of this concept.

I look forward to a future where I'm groping the whole body of my electronic devices.

[tertiarywitness @ May 10th 2007 5:26PM]

This is excellent news. I can't wait to buy the iPod ReachAround.

[snowglyder @ May 10th 2007 5:35PM]

So an iPhone Shuffle?

[Jon @ May 10th 2007 6:38PM]

The TH55 while does not contain a touch sensitive control, does contain its controls on the back. So you could control the PDA with the fingers from the back.

So yeah, similar, not exactly the same, but similar.

Maybe you should research more before acting like the typical Apple fanboy.

[Jay @ May 10th 2007 7:42PM]

Ignacio, wow! So Apple change the world by making something touch-sensitive rather than tactile - otherwise exactly the same concept, funcionality etc etc. How revolutionary! How new! I'm blown away by the amazing thinking behind that.

The wow starts now...not.

[Ignacio @ May 10th 2007 8:25PM]

Right, that round thing in the back apparently wasn't a camera but a jog dial, which would explain the lack of touch sensitive controls either on the back OR front (which was the obvious place, since a) It supposedly supported Graffiti and b) the pictures showed a regular camera/battery compartment in the back).

@Jay: if you think that a jog dial on the back is almost the same concept as a touch sensitive surface in the back with the same surface size as the screen, then I guess you think a jog dial in the regular position is basically the same as a touch sensitive screen too? Also, who said anything about changing the world? Apple has lots of patent applications, and very small fraction ever become a real product.

[Dan Murray @ May 14th 2007 3:28AM]

How many mistakes did you make learning to type? Navigating a new cell phone? . There is a price to pay for progress and productivity gain: the learning curve.
Apple rarely creates, they do a superior job of implementing. And the Fan Boys who put thrir money where their mouth is are smiling at the stock price recently.

[Bob @ May 15th 2007 3:35AM]

Wait, what? Becoming an astronaut* does have a learning curve. As does getting into the medical profession. What point are you trying to make?

* I assume you don't mean that NASA the organization has a learning curve -- that's like saying "Microsoft has a learning curve" when you're referring to Windows