Apple patent application hints at iPhone flip phone

You'll have to take this one with the usual patent application caveats but, as Unwired View reports, one of Apple's recent filings seems to indicate that it has at least considered the possibility of an iPhone flip phone of sorts, among other dual-screen possibilities. The application itself is for what's described as a "dual sided trackpad," which would be translucent and boast touch sensitive panels on each side, allowing it to be used both when it's opened or when it's covering the main display. In the case of the iPhone, that would seem to offer yet another option for the oft-discussed iPhone nano, but the patent application doesn't stop there, with it also offering up possibilities for laptops and tablets based around the technology. In the former case, the touchpad would open up a small window on the main display, allowing it to work like a SideShow display, while the tablet would boast a touchscreen encompassing the entire display. Needless to say, we wouldn't recommend getting your hopes up for any of that just yet but, if you want to whet your appetite a bit further, you can get a rough idea of what they might look like by hitting up the read link below.

[John @ Mar 17th 2008 11:37AM]

OH MY GOD I'M GONNA CUM!!!!!!

[y3k.nik @ Mar 17th 2008 11:41AM]

While you are doing that, try eating the Microsoft chips and do keep the vista toilet paper handy please..

Just a suggestion.

[Khris @ Mar 17th 2008 11:50AM]

OH MY GOD YOU'RE A MORON!!!

Seriously......turn the computer off and get a girlfriend. Even a blow up doll would be 1 setup above where you currently reside.

[ssuk @ Mar 17th 2008 12:11PM]

OH MY GOD I couldn't give a shit.

[Alex @ Mar 17th 2008 12:32PM]

I think he was being sarcastic ...

Like Maddox on the 4th pic : http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=iphone

[Jeff @ Mar 17th 2008 12:39PM]

Dude, this is only a patent ... and btw, premature ejaculation is not a good thing ....

[y3k.nik @ Mar 17th 2008 1:06PM]

Fom now on, if someone is being sarcastic, please write *sarcasm in the post?

Its so much easier that ways!

[y3k.nik @ Mar 17th 2008 1:07PM]

Fom now on, if someone is being sarcastic, please write *sarcasm in the post?

Its so much easier that ways!

[Iain @ Mar 17th 2008 1:16PM]

We have a winner!

It seems that only Alex has managed to spot the fact that this is, almost certainly, sarcasm.
Congratulations Alex, you win this week's grand prize - a sense of self-satisfaction in knowing you're smarter than everyone else who replied to John.

[Timothy Sottek @ Mar 17th 2008 3:24PM]

What a coincidence, John!

Before I had even seen the comments, I was about to remark that these constant Apple patent updates have become masturbatory.

Way to preclude me!

[Digg @ Mar 17th 2008 11:38AM]

dugg
http://digg.com/apple/Apple_patent_application_hints_at_iPhone_flip_phone

[Ellianth @ Mar 17th 2008 11:43AM]

No one cares.

Damn spammer.

[Richard Lai @ Mar 17th 2008 3:26PM]

Go digg yourself a hole and stay there.

[Jules @ Mar 17th 2008 11:45AM]

They stole my design!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/holleboom/2214540387/

[Raheem @ Mar 17th 2008 11:49AM]

Man what's with all the stand alone calculators?

[Temple @ Mar 17th 2008 12:11PM]

Concept already been done by AU. Called the "actface"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lQXncWSfGc&eurl=http://ohgizmo.com/2007/08/06/au-triple-screen-phone-still-lacks-something/

Also the "DS Phone" is already on sale in Japan. Has two touch screens.

http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/17/ds-phone-not-by-nintendo/

[Temple @ Mar 17th 2008 12:11PM]

Concept already been done by AU. Called the "actface"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lQXncWSfGc&eurl=http://ohgizmo.com/2007/08/06/au-triple-screen-phone-still-lacks-something/

Also the "DS Phone" is already on sale in Japan. Has two touch screens.

http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/17/ds-phone-not-by-nintendo/

[eugene @ Mar 17th 2008 11:47AM]

iPhone DS!!!

[projectpete19 @ Mar 17th 2008 12:28PM]

no apple actually came up the technology the DS uses years before Nintendo came out with it, Apple just wanted to wait to make sure they got the technology perfect.

apple copies off noone

[Scott @ Mar 17th 2008 7:20PM]

Lest we forget Xerox PARC.

[StreetStealth @ Mar 17th 2008 1:11PM]

This reminded me of something... Remember that one mockup back from like a month before the real one was unveiled?

http://www.crunchgear.com/2006/12/21/is-this-the-apple-iphone-called-the-iphone/

It looks like the same principle (though the fake was a candybar).

[Johan S @ Mar 17th 2008 2:46PM]

The best phone would be a DS form factor. touchscreen ON THE OUTSIDE (wide vga or better ..so the outwside can be uused just like a phone without having to flip it open), and the top inside screen should be wide also (but doesnt have to be touch sensitive). the bottom screen can be the same size or made rectangular so it won't look weird I guess .. but the buttons should be there on the side for gaming.


Yeah so I am talking about a phone with at least 3 displays total.

And it should be thin ..this is key .. as thin as the iPhone (come on the iPhone is soon a year old).

[p3nis @ Mar 17th 2008 11:48AM]

i want GTA IV for PC

[Raheem @ Mar 17th 2008 11:50AM]

Lmao, well said.

[jonyb @ Mar 17th 2008 11:50AM]

Jobs... UVE DONE IT AGAIN!!

[Khris @ Mar 17th 2008 12:09PM]

What exactly is it that he's done?

Oh wait.....right....hired someone as a patent troll to come up with ideas which may or may not ever see the light of day.

But yes.....Bravo Steve, you've done it again!

[required @ Mar 17th 2008 12:07PM]

Nintendo fanatics will jump for joy or stomp in disdain for what they see as either an ideal copy or copy cat.

[ssuk @ Mar 17th 2008 12:14PM]

Oh, so basically what Apple fans do on just about everything then?

[Khris @ Mar 17th 2008 12:31PM]

SNAP!

[riggs @ Mar 17th 2008 12:40PM]

OH*

[redspear @ Mar 17th 2008 2:25PM]

@ssuk

You mean what the fans of technology that apple "borrows' does all of the time? Right? Apple does polish its stuff up though so it would fall under ideal copy most of the time.

[Apreche @ Mar 17th 2008 12:09PM]

I would buy this on launch day.

[phoomp @ Mar 18th 2008 10:29AM]

*Really* old news
http://www.oreillynet.com/mac/blog/images/FirstApplePhone.gif

[Seoultrain @ Mar 17th 2008 12:17PM]

looks like a girl's makeup case at that width..

[A33A @ Mar 17th 2008 12:20PM]

Very nice. iPod Flip maybe lol.

[USGOVMT. @ Mar 17th 2008 12:32PM]

Yeah,
I don't know if this means anything, but on the Apple Store website,
at the bottom where it says something about recycling your ipods and computers,
it says something along the lines of "Send in your iPod or mobile phone to Apple"
they only make* one phone, the iPhone.
Why else would they say mobile phone?
*winks*

[Jeff @ Mar 17th 2008 12:36PM]

Actually it’s probably just a step for Apple to seem more Green than before. Apple has been criticized in the past for non-Green practices.

[Trent @ Mar 17th 2008 12:31PM]

Sorry but I am not a fan of flip phones. If I recall correctly, there is someone out there that had something very similar up last year. Anyone know???

[Iain @ Mar 17th 2008 1:40PM]

The AU 'Actface' mentioned by Temple further up the page, perhaps?

[TubeTop100.com @ Mar 17th 2008 12:40PM]

Wow, this is amazing. The first iProduct without rounded corners.

[mess_37 @ Mar 17th 2008 12:57PM]

I dont understand why you have to draw the "2", wouldn't it just be easier to push a button that represents the "2".

[Iain @ Mar 17th 2008 1:42PM]

You don't have to, it just allows multiple input methods.
Decent touchscreens phones like the LG Viewty already have the option of using either method.

[Saizo @ Mar 17th 2008 1:41PM]

Doesn't look like a "flip" phone to me. Looks like what the industry calls a "clamshell". A "flip" phone is one of those types of phones where the bottom part "flips" out, revealing the keypad. Ignorance stops with you.

[Johan S @ Mar 17th 2008 2:42PM]

Anyway the best phone would be a DS form factor. touchscreen ON THE OUTSIDE (wide vga or better ..so the outwside can be uused just like a phone without having to flip it open), and the top inside screen should be wide also (but doesnt have to be touch sensitive). the bottom screen can be the same size or made rectangular so it won't look weird I guess .. but the buttons should be there on the side for gaming.

Yeah so I am talking about a phone with at least 3 displays total.

[Johan S @ Mar 17th 2008 2:43PM]

This concept is obvious. Anyway the best phone would be a DS form factor. touchscreen ON THE OUTSIDE (wide vga or better ..so the outwside can be uused just like a phone without having to flip it open), and the top inside screen should be wide also (but doesnt have to be touch sensitive). the bottom screen can be the same size or made rectangular so it won't look weird I guess .. but the buttons should be there on the side for gaming.


Yeah so I am talking about a phone with at least 3 displays total.

And it should be thin ..this is key .. as thin as the iPhone.

[HOOPER @ Mar 17th 2008 3:56PM]

go away

[ChrisG @ Mar 17th 2008 4:19PM]

It would be cool if they make it, but there's something about the current iPhone design that I just love.

[Imran @ Mar 17th 2008 4:44PM]

iFlip?
iFlop?

vote now.

[Moviesonitunes @ Mar 17th 2008 5:32PM]

Donald - all gold. Read full patent application here

http://www.messagedance.com/message/show/d7785a16c585aba026ceffb9238bcdb8

[Mr. Picklesworth @ Mar 17th 2008 10:03PM]

Oh my Lord, it has two screens and it folds! It must be copying the DS!

Who needs patent trolls when you have rampant, unobservant fanboys?