A newly uncovered patent application from Apple shows an iMac-like, all-in-one desktop with a touchscreen and adjustable hinge. Is this the iMac touch?
A report from Apple fan-site Patently Apple has a prolific and detailed showcase of the documents filed by the technology giant. These images clearly indicate a touchscreen incarnation of Apple's all-in-one desktop system, the iMac.
In a bid to solve some of the problems that have inhibited the comfortable use of touchscreen desktops, this potential new iMac has strategically placed hinges (known as a 'Flex Base') that will let the user adjust the screen for their better comfort.
We can't help noticing the resemblance of this iMac to the Pixar's unfeasibly cute anthropomorphic lamp, Luxo -- sparking a pleasant little reminiscinsce of watching the first Toy Story and eating Smarties from a cylindrical tube. Just us? Okay.
Some might say Apple has something of a trigger-happy attitude to patenting, having attempted to claim intellectual property on several things that they either already widespread, never released or quite clearly aren't its own -- such as multi-touch, Mac OS X 3D and even the letter i.
Given the growth of touchscreens on every conceivable object in recent years, this is probably more than simply Apple locking down ideas with vapourware patents -- it's quite likely that we will see this iMac before the year is out.
The 'Flex Base' is a delightfully simple addition that could solve nearly all of the problems associated with touchscreen desktops -- arms don't bend that way after all. So it's possible Apple could spark off rapid growth in yet another market.
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Comments 7
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Anonymous 24 August, 2010 13:25
Spark off growth in a sector of the market whilst overall choking it to death. Apple are even worse than Microsoft!
anonymous 24 August, 2010 14:17
Here we go again. HP, Acer, Sony, and Samsung have all had touchscreen all in ones for a while following the same old PC philosophy of jamming touch tech into form factors that are uncomfortable to use.
No apple will add a simple, innovative way to make it comfortable and intuitive to use the touchscreen and everyone will be questioning why they didnt do that in the first place.
Why is it that apple are the only ones who ever think about how the hardware and software will fit around eachother
Anonymous 24 August, 2010 14:42
Add a Wacom stylus and I'm sold.
billfred 24 August, 2010 16:46
"Here we go again. HP, Acer, Sony, and Samsung have all had touchscreen all in ones for a while following the same old PC philosophy of jamming touch tech into form factors that are uncomfortable to use.
No apple will add a simple, innovative way to make it comfortable and intuitive to use the touchscreen and everyone will be questioning why they didnt do that in the first place.
Why is it that apple are the only ones who ever think about how the hardware and software will fit around each other"
So I guess you think the iPad is amazing and not a glare-tastic, too heavy, overly sized iPod touch POS?!
anonymous 24 August, 2010 22:32
Not really.
I became able to hold thing heavier than 1.5 lbs when I was about 4 so its not really an issue
I wash regularly so I don't leave grease on everything I touch
I find it really useful, when im sitting on my sofa and feel like checking my mail or browsing the web, i whip it out instead of waiting for my macbook to boot up. or when Im at work, I listen to music on it so I dont have my macbook cluttering my desk. I use it all the time.
billfred 25 August, 2010 11:29
greasy? never said anything about that. Yes you can lift it, well done big man, but it's defiantly not comfortable for watching video or reading a book or surfing the web ...
Music? email? iPod? Phone?
billfred 25 August, 2010 11:57
but yeah anyway, this seems to be by far the best mechanism to implement a touch-screen.