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Thu, 16 Apr 2009 iPhone patent reveals front-facing iSight camera; motion controls

A patent filed by Apple outlines plans for motion controls and reveals a front facing camera.

Mark Hattersley

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An iPhone patent filed by Apple details motion control and a front facing iSight on a future model of the iPhone.

Called "Variable Device Graphical User Interface" the patent outlines a number of new features intended for Apple's new product.

Although it is not clear whether these features are planned for the next iPhone – rumoured to be appearing in June 2009 – they are close enough technically to the current generation of iPhone to be credibly thought of as iPhone 4G features.

The front facing camera (known as an iSight camera on Mac computers) lends support to recent rumours that outlined video conferencing as a major iPhone feature. The absence of an iChat application from the iPhone has always seemed odd, and it may well be that the inclusion of a front-facing iSight camera will be accompanied by an iChat app developed by Apple.

The motion control feature is also interesting, although users imagining a Nintendo Wii-like experience may be off the mark. The iPhone already has limited motion controls, in the form of a shake-to-shuffle feature. Apple's patent describes how this could be extended to detect when you are walking with the iPhone. The interface will then expand to display larger items than normal, making them easier to select while you move around.

iPhone Patent

The iPhone on the right displays contacts with a larger font, demonstrating how items would look when motion is detected; note the iSight camera on the top-left

Via: 9to5 Mac

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Comments received


Comments said on Thu, 16 Apr 2009

I am an iPhone user. This is catch up.

You do not need to delete my comment!

Dave said on Thu, 16 Apr 2009

Really? I don't know any other phone that has motion control and increases the text size when you're walking... or am I missing something.

The iSight is on other phones though. But nobody really claimed the iPhone had everything... quite the opposite in fact. I seem to remember the review here outlining a lot of missing features compared to the (then) Nokia N96 - which is a bit more of a swiss army knife.

It's just that what the iphone does do; it does very well.

I imagine video chat via iChat to be the same. Although I wonder if O2 is going to be happy with that working via 3G... must be data intensive.

Jonathan said on Thu, 16 Apr 2009

Looking good! My two hopes for this are that Steve Jobs is going to show it to us and the other is that O2 will allow me to get out of my 3G contract early if I renew with a 4G phone. Roll on June.
I give it a couple of months before all the host of "me-too" phones start to copy, that new LG one is an embarassment to clone copies!

tv said on Thu, 16 Apr 2009

needs a new selling point and that wont be it

Michael said on Thu, 16 Apr 2009

I heard the new phone would be able to fly!

gerryh said on Fri, 17 Apr 2009

Michael said on Thu, 16 Apr 2009

I heard the new phone would be able to fly.........

but it can already ...... my 3giphone has "aircraft mode""

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