Ever Trend Zone An Apple patent has revealed that future iPhones could essentially have multiple action buttons, as all three buttons on the left side of the phone will be user configurable. .
The same patent indicates that other Apple devices, including both iPads and Macs, may have similar features.
This patent was discovered by Apple patented It’s a very dense piece of work, with the most useless opening imaginable.
The electronic device detects a first input on a first input area separate from a display of the electronic device, including detecting a first portion of the first input followed by a second portion of the first input. In response to detecting the first input on the first input area and in accordance with a determination that the first portion of the first input satisfies the first set of one or more criteria, the electronic device A first preview corresponding to operation No. 1 is displayed. of the first application. The electronic device performs the first operation of the first application in accordance with the determination that the second portion of the first input satisfies the second set of criteria. In accordance with the determination that the second portion of the first input satisfies the second set of criteria, the electronic device performs a second operation of a second application.
The language doesn’t improve much from there. Illustrations provide the clearest indication of what a company has in mind.
This illustration depicts an actual phone with the action button and two volume buttons highlighted on the left, and a 3D image of the phone on the screen.
This interface allows users to select and assign functions to each button in exactly the same way as current action buttons.
In this example, the volume down button is set to call your favorite contact.
This document describes how to use haptic motors to provide haptic feedback when using buttons.
Although the drawing primarily shows an iPhone, Apple notes that the patent also applies to iPads and Macs.
In some embodiments, the device is a mobile communication device, such as a mobile phone, that also includes other functionality, such as a PDA and/or music player functionality. Exemplary embodiments of portable multifunction devices include, but are not limited to, Apple Inc.’s iPhone (…) and iPad devices. Other portable electronic devices such as laptops or tablet computers with touch sensitive surfaces (eg, touch screen displays and/or touch pads) are optionally used.
Touchscreen Mac advocates may get excited about this reference, but note that the full phrase is “a laptop or tablet computer with a touch-sensitive surface.” Additionally, note that Apple includes trackpads and physical capacitive buttons in the category of touch-sensitive surfaces. .
As always, I’ll warn you that Apple has all sorts of patents that they haven’t implemented, but given the history here of action buttons first and camera control buttons second, if this trend continues. It seems very promising.
Photos and diagrams: Apple
(Tag translation)Mac
