The iPhone created a new IT (r)evolution with the way it interacts with an user. Touch screen displays and devices using touch-senzitive interaction were already available when the iPhone was released, but the iPhone, then the iPod Touch, took things to a new level of popularity. Now, everyone says the iPod line needs some fresh air, and they are completely right. When it comes to new devices using touch screen displays, I can't say what Apple may have in store for us in the near future, maybe except a new iPhone, but one thing is certain: they have just filed 3 new patents related to touch screen technologies, so something will happen for sure, it only remains to be seen when.
The patens filed by Apple are entitled as it follows: "Illuminated Touch Pad", "Touch Pad for Handheld Device", and "Techniques for Interactive Input to Portable Electronic Devices". I wish I could tell you more about these, but the names say a lot already, and in fact the obvious thing is that Apple improves its existing touch screen technologies, without adding anything out of ordinary to its patent portofolio. The interesting thing is that the last patent in the list describes an improved approach to providing used input in interactive, multitasking environments, such as - oh, yes! - games.
These being said, it seems Apple prepares to go on in small steps, and I don't blame them, but I only have one request - a serious iPod, please! What I mean, in fact, is that while existing music players from Apple are decent, there are devices which, for the same price, drag them into dust, but their only drawback is reduced popularity (as an example, I will only name Cowon - you can research and get back to me with your results, it would be a pleasure to hear you).
Now, there's one more thing to add to my "news watchlist", but until I get to see a MacBook Air with a touch screen, or maybe a replacement for the keyoard that uses hand writing recognition as input, today is just another day, with 3 new patents added to Apple's huge portofolio...
