News
Apple patent points to iPhone, iPod status indicators
By Charles Starrett
Senior Editor, iLounge
Published: Thursday, November 20, 2008
News Category: Apple
A recently published Apple patent application suggests the company is developing a new system of status indicators for its iPod and iPhone devices. The patent describes a system in which the main backlight of the device sports a semi-transparent area, allowing a low-power, secondary backlight to show through, displaying simple icons to show whether the iPod is playing music, indicate new email or voicemail, missed calls, and so on. As with all Apple patents, this filing does not necessarily represent any future product release from Apple, but offers evidence of the company’s research in this area.
Comments
If you have a comment, news tip, advertising inquiry, or coverage request, a question about iPods or accessories, or if you sell or market iPod products or services, read iLounge's Comments + Questions policies before posting, and fully identify yourself if you do. We will delete comments containing advertising, astroturfing, trolling, personal attacks, offensive language, or other objectionable content, then ban and/or publicly identify violators.
Recent News
- iPodweek newsletter coming shortly
- Ngmoco releases Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid
- L.A.-based band uses iPhone to record new single
- iPhone patent filings: haptics, fingerprints, karaoke, packaging, more
- Apple, developers wrestling over App Store pornographic content policy
- AT&T memo touts record-breaking iPhone 3GS launch
- New iPhone 3GS ad highlights video features
- Winners of iPWR SuperPack Giveaway announced
- iLounge announces Tekkeon myPower Giveaway
- Nike+ site updated, adds some iPhone/iPod touch access
Recent Reviews
- Gameloft S.A. Castle of Magic
- Altec Lansing BackBeat 903 Wireless Stereo Headphones
- id Software Doom Resurrection
- Blackmagic Design Video Recorder with H.264 Encoding
- Ultimate Ears UE 4 Pro Custom Monitors
- Kensington Bluetooth Stereo Headphones with Microphone
- Avantalk Multimedia Wireless Speakerphone BTSP-200
- Apple iPhone 3GS (16GB/32GB)
- Apple iPhone OS 3.0
- Ozaki iCommand Controller for iPod shuffle 3G
Recent Articles
- Weird + Small Apps 19: A.D.D. Lite, Archon Classic, iYamato, Warpack Grunts + More
- Ask iLounge 6-26-09
- Instant Expert: Secrets & Features of Apple TV 2.4
- Weird + Small Apps: Blue Block, Guess!, Idiot Test, ThreadBound, Water Toy, myXident, StamPa + More
- Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Apple’s iPhone 3GS
- Editorial: Why No Lines at iPhone 3GS’s Launch is Good For Apple, and You
- The One-Page Guide to iPhone 3G, 3GS, and iPod touch Differences
- Editorial: Developers’ iPhone OS 3.0 Features Work, With Key Caveats
- Editorial: In-App Purchasing Shame - $1-per-Minute GPS is Here, is Psychic Friends Next?
- Instant Expert: Secrets & Features of iPhone OS 3.0
1
This would be a nice timesaver addition…you would know by a quick glance alone if you had a new voicemail/email/SMS without having to flick on the screen all the time. Simple but helpful. Now if we could only get Apple to just add a few features we have been clamoring for from the start….
Posted by TosaDeac on November 20, 2008 at 2:02 PM (PDT)
2
...like cut, copy, and paste.
Posted by Cereal on November 20, 2008 at 8:45 PM (PDT)