Some of Apple’s more interesting recent patent applications and grants for iPad and iPhone include spiraling, radial menus, an actual radio app, 3D displays without the need for annoying glasses. As always, just because Apple patents something doesn’t mean we’ll ever see it in production hardware or software, so just take these for what they’re worth — glimpses into Apple’s thinking about the future.
Radial menus would be use in lieu of drop downs and possible in place of popovers:
“…The novel radial menu techniques of some embodiments include (i) non-uniform spacing of menu items, (ii) the use of shading or highlighting within a region associated with an item to indicate the present selectability of the item, and (iii) the use of radial gestures for opening sub-menus and the subsequent display of the sub-menu.” [unwired view]
The Radio app is just another hint that Apple might one day activate the FM radio […]
Read the original post by Rene Ritchie