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Following my exclusive story last week about a new Apple tablet that operates similar to the touch technology found in the new Apple iPhone (See story here) comes news that Apple has filed a 52 page application for a new multi touch MAC OSX based tablet PC that can be used for common PC applications or as a controller for home automation.
The80 page patent application lodged by Apple with the US patents office is not dissimilar to the device that my sources in Asia say Apple is very close to going into full production mode with.
There is even speculation among Asian manufacturers that Apple could roll the new device out in the firest quarter of 2009 which coincides with MacWorld San Francisco.
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The application includes an outline for a full-size onscreen keyboard that can use modifier keys that simultaneously produce one or more controls such as signals shift-opt-ctrl-3, which can be used to capture a screen grab. The patent application also includes a virtual iPod scroll wheel that can be accessed on demand.
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Another interesting feature is multiple windows which can be tapped for easy access to content. Instead of a single window like the iPhone users will be able to use hand gestures that enable windows to be shuffled around and resized. Also included in the description is a method to interact with small interface widgets that can be enlarged for better and more accurate touch control.
There is also a device which is similar the iPod’s scroll wheel that can be used as a virtual jog dial and linked with a number of adjustments such as scrolling, zooming, and rotation.
The work being done by Apple on the new iPhone includes new technology invented by the following people. Hotelling; Steve; (San Jose, CA) ; Strickon; Joshua A.; (San Jose, CA) ; Huppi; Brian O.; (San Francisco, CA) ; Chaudhri; Imran; (San Francisco, CA) ; Christie; Greg; (San Jose, CA) ; Ording; Bas; (San Francisco, CA) ; Kerr; Duncan Robert; (San Francisco, CA) ; Ive; Jonathan P.; (San Francisco, CA)
