A 2012 Apple patent application showing a 3D GUI
According to a report from Chinese newspaper Economic Daily News citing supply chain sources (via UDN), Apple is working on a 3D iPhone display of sorts that doesn’t require the use of special glasses. The translated report also claims Apple is actively developing 3D “software ecosystems.”
The report adds that Apple will be looking to move from its current in-cell display technology, which reportedly won’t be compatible with the new 3D technology, to new panels likely supplied by partner TPK.
It wouldn’t be the first time a smartphone manufacturer attempted to bring a 3D-style interface to a smartphone. Android manufacturers have attempted to implement similar features. The most recent example being Amazon’s Fire Phone that includes 3D interface elements with gesture-based controls. It also wouldn’t be the first piece of evidence that Apple is working on such a technology, as it has filed patents in the past detailing new 3D GUI concepts and touch-free, motion sensing gestures (pictured above).
Whether or not this is something Apple actually has in the cards for an upcoming device remains to be seen, but today’s report claims TPK is planning fund-raising as a result of new orders from Apple.
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It would just be a huge waste of resources. Apple must not release a fake 3D product. They must release a full 3D floating holograms capable display system. The technology already exists in R&D labs and Apple has plenty of patents on it…
Right now instead they should add haptic display capabilities to all their iOS devices, iPhone and iPad… the upcoming Apple Watch has the first ever haptic display tech .. however the Apple patent on haptic technology includes and describes the ability for the user to feel and recognize various textures simulated by the tech (skin, metal, plastic…)… The version on Apple Watch it seems that it’s going to be just basic haptic feedback .. the display is so tiny anyway that simulating various textures types would be rather difficult… but on an iPad or iPhone that patent could and should be used in full.
Until Apple could release full floating true 3D holograms displays they should just use their haptic tech.. and maybe allow adult apps and content too .. it surely would sell a lot…
“the upcoming Apple Watch has the first ever haptic display tech” – no it does not. The Apple WATCH Taptic engine taps your wrist from the underside of the device. It’s screen can detect force and touch, but it does not produce haptic feedback.
A true digital hologram display is no where near commercialization. The display bandwidth required for even an iPhone-sized holographic screen is much *much* higher than even the Retina iMac 5K screen. It’s hundreds of gigabytes per second for even a very low density display; 360x360x360x64bitx60hz = 1.8X10^11bits/sec!
Apple Watch comes with an Haptic display. Before replying and babbling nonsense you should know what you are talking about….
https://www.apple.com/watch/technology/
“We found a way to give technology a more human touch. Literally.
It’s called the Taptic Engine, a linear actuator inside Apple Watch that produces haptic feedback. In less technical terms, it taps you on the wrist. Whenever you receive an alert or notification, or perform a function like turning the Digital Crown or pressing down on the display, you feel a tactile sensation that’s recognizably different for each kind of interaction. Combined with subtle audio cues from the specially engineered speaker driver, the Taptic Engine creates a discreet, sophisticated, and nuanced experience by engaging more of your senses. It also enables some entirely new, intimate ways for you to communicate with other Apple Watch wearers. You can get someone’s attention with a gentle tap. Or even send something as personal as your heartbeat.”
The quote says nothing about a haptic display. It speaks about the Tapic engine’s wrist tapping (under the watch where it touches the wrist) that enables new interactions. It does not say the screen provides haptic feedback at all.
“a full 3D floating holograms capable display system. The technology already exists in R&D labs”
no it does not.
“The technology already exists in military R&D labs…”
There, I fixed it.
(I hate the idea of a 3D display and I agree on the statement that it would be a waste of resources but) hat exactly would be the benefit of “full 3D floating holograms” over a “fake” 3D display?
A full floating 3D hologram over the screen in high resolution and maybe even with the feedback tech would allow for virtual solid objects far bigger than the screen itself the user can interact with…
Old prototypes of these technologies can be seen working on some youtube videos too.
Like this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3seTlvQtIgc “Japanese Scientists Create Touchable Holograms 2009 Researchers at Tokyo University have come up with a technology that is a first and significant step away from the mouse and keyboard touchable holograms.”
It would be fantastic for games, don’t know how practical it would be in a GUI.
This is not a new rumor, just shows they are still developing it. I’ve read about this exact topic a few years ago. …They were developing the iPad for many years before it became a product.
I think we’ll see 3D tech in a new Apple TV before we will in iPhones.
This is still likely years away.
3D’s biggest problem? Nobody cares. It has failed over and over again because, even the new tech, just does not get people worked up. 3D TV failing was just another example of nobody giving a shit. Maybe a few million iSheep will buy anything that Apple sells, but 3D on the phone is a gimmick that dos not generate too much interest. Hell, Apple’s 3Dish icon feature made people bitch and puke!!
Windows tablets failed to garner any good consumer traction. “…just another example of nobody giving a shit…” Fast forward to 2010. People were sceptical. Now 220 million unit later.
The issue isn’t with 3D itself, it’s that in its current state, it’s not very popular, particularly in TV’s. I’m also of the opinion that 3D is currently a gimmick and that I’d happier to purchase a cheaper T.V without those features.
You’re correct, technology has had many problems throughout history, but given the right application and implementation, these once considered gimmicks may actually be something we could have never imagined living without.
This would be the gateway foundation towards integration with products such as the Oculus Rift and Google Glass. Apple will create a ecosystem that will encourage developers to lay the ground for implementing these new types of consumer products. We are also seeing it happen with the 64 bit apps. Apple is guiding developers so that when them make the switch to a fully integrated OSX on all devices the programs will be capable if giving the users a astounding out of the box experience.
3D display on iPhone?
Why?
And the battery duration problem?