iPod touchscreen is bezel-tastic?

Author: Ryan Garside
Published: 30th October 2006
Comments (29) Stumble
This is a mock up of how the new iPod may look. It may be a bit fiddly for people with fat fingers though.

This is a mock up of how the new iPod may look. It may be a bit fiddly for people with fat fingers though.

An interesting article by Russell Shaw has popped up over on ZDNet regarding the next move for Apple’s iPod. He has got his hands on their latest patent, and it looks like their little MP3 player could be in for some changes in the not too distant future.

Here is the actual patent in written form:

An electronic device has a display and has a touch sensitive bezel surrounding the display. Areas on the bezel are designated for controls used to operate the electronic device. Visual guides corresponding to the controls are displayed on the display adjacent the areas of the bezel designated for the controls. Touch data is generated by the bezel when a user touches an area of the bezel. The device determines which of the controls has been selected based on which designated area is associated with the touch data from the bezel. The device then initiates the determined control. The device can have a sensor for determining the orientation of the device. Based on the orientation, the device can alter the areas designated on the bezel for the controls and can alter the location of the visual guides for the display so that they match the altered areas on the bezel.

What does that translate to? Well at the moment nothing is certain, but the ZDNet article makes some interesting inferences.

We've all heard about the full-size video iPod, and the assumption has always been that it would have a touch screen. However, this patent appears to suggest that the bezel around the screen will be the touch sensitive part, and sliding your finger around the bezel could navigate through the menu system. It would certainly avoid fingerprints all over the screen!

The patent application contained a number of demonstration pictures. Within these appeared an option for ‘photos’ leading Shaw to the assumption that the new Apple iPod could be doubling up as a camera as well as an MP3 player.

Got a view on the iPod’s new direction? Let us know in the forums.
Downloand Mercenaries 2: World In Flames Now!
Quote BioSniper 30th October 2006, 09:22
Has bit not reported this before? If not then in which case I saw it over at Mac rumours a while ago (at least 2 weeks)
Quote cAPS lOCK 30th October 2006, 09:53
...yet another bogus patent.

An electronic device has a display and has a touch sensitive bezel surrounding the display. Areas on the bezel are designated for controls used to operate the electronic device. Visual guides corresponding to the controls are displayed on the display adjacent the areas of the bezel designated for the controls.

Ah, so you mean just like the ticketing machine at the nearest subway station.

The device can have a sensor for determining the orientation of the device.

Just like my camera.

Earthshattering...
Quote rupbert 30th October 2006, 10:33
Quote:
Originally Posted by cAPS lOCK
...yet another bogus patent.

An electronic device has a display and has a touch sensitive bezel surrounding the display. Areas on the bezel are designated for controls used to operate the electronic device. Visual guides corresponding to the controls are displayed on the display adjacent the areas of the bezel designated for the controls.

Ah, so you mean just like the ticketing machine at the nearest subway station.

The device can have a sensor for determining the orientation of the device.

Just like my camera.

Earthshattering...

Why the negativity?
Quote FredsFriend 30th October 2006, 11:05
because it is a patent for things that already exist
Quote rupbert 30th October 2006, 12:05
Quote:
Originally Posted by FredsFriend
because it is a patent for things that already exist

Yeah but is the patent not for something that has all of these designs incorporated into one device?
Quote wafflesomd 30th October 2006, 12:07
It'll still suck anyways.
Quote Emon 30th October 2006, 12:39
A good idea, though. iRiver did this on the, what, U10 or something? That mock up better be really premature. If they're going to have a touch screen they could probably do way better than a wheel.
Quote Veles 30th October 2006, 13:40
Would be pretty easy for them to incorporate a nice little stylus like they've done with the DS, stored in the back of the iPod for people with big finger problems.

Although apple would have to realise that first.
Quote DarkReaper 30th October 2006, 14:07
Where does the camera part come from? Has he never seen an ipod photo or video's menu before?
Quote cAPS lOCK 30th October 2006, 14:28
Why the negativity?

Monday morning ;-)
Quote Firehed 30th October 2006, 14:46
I'll opine once I see the released thing. Speculation is just too silly of a thing to do with Apple products.
Quote rupbert 30th October 2006, 15:43
Quote:
Originally Posted by cAPS lOCK
Why the negativity?

Monday morning ;-)

A fine reason :)
Quote Warrior_Rocker 30th October 2006, 16:27
I want to make a quick questionaire about this

What is the iPods primary function? Mp3 player
What will I most likely do with an iPod? Listen to music
What about the iPods ability to play video? Lol, does it really?
What would you say to a larger lcd? About as useful as the small one
Why? How much info do you really need about the song playing anyway?
What is your favorite ipod? The iPod nano so far.
Why? Its proven that people dont really need a bigger screen for music


Apple, may I ask. Is the clickwheel design sooo terrible. Is it just sooooo dated. Is it not good enough to have the most popular mp3 player on the market.......... :?
Quote rupbert 30th October 2006, 16:32
@ Warrior_Rocker

The new device is called the Ipod Video, it's primary function will be video.
Quote Warrior_Rocker 30th October 2006, 16:41
I guess if video is it's primary function. There will be thousands using it for its apparently now secondary function of 'playing music'

It is funny though. I walk around and I see many people with an iPod. Classic white headphones and the lot. However I just never see someone holding it to their face watching the latest anything video on it.

It may be another feature of the iPod for it to play video, but I completetly disagree its primary function is to play video. Video playback has been an upgrade for iPod's over the past several years.

If apple wants to impress. They will need to improve battery life and durability. Increase scratch resistance.
Quote rupbert 30th October 2006, 16:43
Quote:
Originally Posted by Warrior_Rocker
I guess if video is it's primary function. There will be thousands using it for its apparently now secondary function of 'playing music'

It is funny though. I walk around and I see many people with an iPod. Classic white headphones and the lot. However I just never see someone holding it to their face watching the latest anything video on it.

It may be another feature of the iPod for it to play video, but I completetly disagree its primary function is to play video. Video playback has been an upgrade for iPod's over the past several years.

If apple wants to impress. They will need to improve battery life and durability. Increase scratch resistance.

I think you underestimate the popularity of portable video players, this is in no way 'an upgrade'.
Quote Warrior_Rocker 30th October 2006, 16:54
It has nothing to do with speculation. Estimation, approximation. Or any other measurement based off nonfact. Attending a University I see many people with the various iPod products. Anywhere from the 3rd gen to the 5th. Nano's and shuffles. Yet no one playing video. It is a neat feature and nothing more.

I am somewhat of an audiophile. And while video is neat. When I am walking from class to class or studying or the likes. I know I will be listening to music. I will not however be watching video. If I were perhaps on an airplane or a bus it might be fun to watch something on a video iPod. But that is where it ends.
Quote Nova 30th October 2006, 17:08
thats why im in no hurry to ditch my black and white 4th gen. there putting so much crap in an ipod i know the sounds not getting any better, and my $40 set of sony ear buds wouldnt sound any better even if they did. so ill keep putting batteries in it and using my accessories ivr had for months and keep enjoying and putting the money towards other pc parts :D
Quote DeX 30th October 2006, 17:21
Don't forget the 'Sony' aspect to all this though. If Apple released a new iPod which had a clickwheel, a colour screen, longer battery life and maybe more capacity we would be deafened by the cry of fanboys who only have the option of upgrading their iLife to version 5.1 rather than 6.0.

I mention Sony because Apple share the same kind of market share and followers who will only stop buying from them when there's nothing left to buy. Don't think that Apple are improving the iPod to make it better, they're doing it because just like Sony, they know it will sell and that they will make money.
Quote DarkReaper 30th October 2006, 18:11
Quote:
Originally Posted by Warrior_Rocker
If I were perhaps on an airplane or a bus it might be fun to watch something on a video iPod. But that is where it ends.
And that's entirely the point of portable video. Nobody in their right mind is going to walk down a street with their eyes glued to a tiny screen, for a start you need to watch where you're going and secondly there's the "OMG I HAVE AN IPOD MUG ME!!1" factor of it.

I've watched the matrix on a bus journey on my 5G and whilst not the best rendition ever of it it proved perfectly satisfactory for my needs. I watch video on long journeys, occasionally boring lectures and when I'm stuck in waiting room, well either video or reading an e-book on the thing. A bigger screen would make quite a difference to the ease of watching, since the size hasn't really changed since its most taxing task was showing how many diamonds were on your card in solitaire.

Portable music is obviously far more practical in many situations but portable video has its uses too.
Quote exavier412 31st October 2006, 00:33
Quote:
Originally Posted by DarkReaper
And that's entirely the point of portable video. Nobody in their right mind is going to walk down a street with their eyes glued to a tiny screen, for a start you need to watch where you're going and secondly there's the "OMG I HAVE AN IPOD MUG ME!!1" factor of it.

I've watched the matrix on a bus journey on my 5G and whilst not the best rendition ever of it it proved perfectly satisfactory for my needs. I watch video on long journeys, occasionally boring lectures and when I'm stuck in waiting room, well either video or reading an e-book on the thing. A bigger screen would make quite a difference to the ease of watching, since the size hasn't really changed since its most taxing task was showing how many diamonds were on your card in solitaire.

Portable music is obviously far more practical in many situations but portable video has its uses too.

I agree. I got the ipod video for christmas while i was expecting the ipod nano. I didnt see the point in video on such a small screen. Until i was bored in class one day and just watched a movie. It is for times when you just have to wait around. It is fine for plane rides, bus rides, DMV lines, anything that requires waiting around. A bigger screen would just enhance this experience.

And it just looks beautiful.

<types this from a powerbook>
Quote wafflesomd 31st October 2006, 01:15
Iriver h320 is still the best there is.
Quote mattcameron06 31st October 2006, 05:51
is there a difference between this ipod touch bezel and the one on the iriver clix?

product link:

http://www.iriveramerica.com/prod/ultra/clix/clix-2GB.aspx

it seems pretty similar to me.
Quote LoveJoy 31st October 2006, 08:30
Lucky I didnt bought the 80Gb yet and my money is saved for that one if it comes out some day...if ever
Quote Veles 31st October 2006, 11:59
Video mp3 players can be very useful things when say, you've just missed your train and you don't want to listen to music.

Only problem is, looking at it in public is a very, very easy way to get it snatched.
Quote rupbert 31st October 2006, 12:18
Quote:
Originally Posted by mattcameron06
is there a difference between this ipod touch bezel and the one on the iriver clix?

product link:

http://www.iriveramerica.com/prod/ultra/clix/clix-2GB.aspx

it seems pretty similar to me.

Welcome to the forums :)

The iRiver Clix does not clarify if it uses a touchscreen or the bezel to control it, from the small images it does indeed look like the bezel...
Quote PHxS 31st October 2006, 18:32
Looks to me like they are making an update to the old Olympus m:robe MR-500i. I bought a used one off ebay a while back and I liked the touchscreen more than the ipods control wheel. The thumb on my right hand isn't trained to go in circles, but it knows how press buttons. I'm wondering what kind of resolution the camera would be as they better not make the mistake of throwing in some trash from a lowres phone. If it could take a better picture than my nokia 6720, i'd keep my phone in my pocket.

If this were to come out, I would definatly look in to it as I have been eyeing those Archos units a bit lately.
Quote Warrior_Rocker 31st October 2006, 18:48
If only winamp would make a portable mp3 player...
Quote DarkReaper 31st October 2006, 18:51
You mean AOL, who own winamp? No thanks...

How would you condense all those features into a portable device anyway?
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