December 11, 2008 11:47 AM PST
3D desktop revealed in Apple patent filing
Are you ready for a 3D desktop?
Apple is working on such a project, according to patent filings unearthed by MacRumors this week. The "multidimensional desktop" applications suggest that Apple wants to take familiar parts of the Mac OS X desktop--such as the dock--and add depth, allowing you to stack documents or folders behind application icons on the "floor" of your desktop.
The idea of a 3D desktop is not new, but neither is it something that people are using in large numbers. When it comes to patent applications there's always a distinct chance that the technology never actually makes it into a product; still, it's always interesting to see what companies are working up in the labs.
Tom Krazit writes about the ever-expanding world of Internet search, including Google, Yahoo, online advertising, and portals, as well as the evolution of mobile computing. He has written about traditional PC companies, chip manufacturers, and mobile computers, spending the last three years covering Apple. E-mail Tom. 
It would be interesting to see if anything comes to life...
Some things just aren't useful in 3D environments because they evolved into 2D representation.
How useful is a 3D word processor? Not very... unless you develop a 3D language, but even then, you would need to see in 4D for it to be natural, humans barely classify as being able to see 3D as it is
And rotating around a 3D shape to read isn't the best idea. (unless you have humans with spatial intelligence of a computer, and memory management too, and those numbers maddeningly low...)
File managers are technically already 3D, it is called hierarchical layout.
These "3D desktops" just have them more easily accessible. (and probably consume more memory, but it is coming down in price)
Hell, i don't even *use* my desktop, besides being a pretty wallpaper, i disable it.
Quick-launch / Start Menu + hotkeys & custom GUIs = my way of working with files daily.
I'd rather just have virtual desktops than 3D desktops. (which i do)
Place mouse at top left and right to switch between them, simple.
Vista out-sells OS X by at least 10-1. So you are implying that 9 out of 10 computer users spend money on useless software. That one guy that bought a Mac is the smart one. Maybe it was you? I can tell from your post that you must be the sharpest tool in the shed.
Why must Mac users always resort to rhetoric when talking about Vista? You have been watching too many TV commercials.
You should read up on that thing called reading, but that isn't exactly a good idea either...
Vista sales are only as high as they are because of Mircrosofts still very apparent monopoly in the computer industry.
What was that thing you said about sharp tools?
and as hunnter clearly suggested, the only reason vista is selling more than any other os is because of microsoft's monopoly over the market, you are literally being forced to buy vista when buying a brand name computer... besides all the crapware
hunter if apple doesnt like ms monopoly, how about allowing other computer manufacturers to build osx computers to get more out in the market and lower the prices.
murbo, good thing youre smart and the rest of the world is dumb......wow. try using open office in the business world, it does most of the tasks office does, but not all of them. people are forced to get vista so they can log in at work and have choices for software. duh, not to mention the price difference
I care about my computing experience, but I also care about my wallet. Honestly though, if I had the $1,300 that would buy a middle of the road MacBook, I could buy a Windows laptop with gaming class specs.
To Murbo on MS Office - Yes, MS Office can do a LOT more than OpenOffice. OpenOffice is closer to MS Office 97 or 2000 than the current version. Yes, it costs money (unless you're a college student, and then they practically give it to you), but if you are supporting Apple despite the cost of its hardware, then you have no right to knock MS Office based on its price.
That's all I could keep thinking about when I was reading. Good thing Mac's got a great search feature!
They could call it iSuck (oh no I didn't - SNAP!).
;-)
(Disclaimer: I actually really like Apple's products, though it might not show in that comment. It's called a "joke" to those who didn't get it.)
Tekken type games would be just the awesomeness along with many others.
I could see maybe alot of Image video editing producing programs being able to gain some advantage over the current 2d way.
3d model within a 3d scape.... Hmmmm. I like the idea. Maybe they are working on a Borg "Cube" Processor or something :P
As far as the interface goes, it looks cool (really cool) plus, having that extra real estate would be awesome without having to switch between Spaces all the time. If you go over to appleinsider, they have a load of images - I'm liking the idea to have the menu bar at the side (finally i'll get to move that damn menu bar) and the options of having stacks shown in true 3D would also be truely awesome as I often have to open stacks just to see what's in them if I can't remember. Having 3D stacks would let me see the items instantly ^_^
Oh man I loved Microsoft Bob.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
You sir are a sick little monkey. Tell your psychiatrist that you are a masochistic fecalpheliac. He or she will have medication that can help.
;-)
-randomtruth
randomtruthsblog.synthasite.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_PxjYgabRg
In that case CNN shoudl patent its holo whatever as 3D TV.
- by Dirk VanNerden December 11, 2008 3:02 PM PST
- My pointer and mouse only move on a X and Y plane. Is there going to be Z plane control? Or will it be more Wii like?
- Like this Reply to this comment
-
-
- by Dani210 December 11, 2008 4:40 PM PST
- this is how: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10114351-1.html
- Like this
-
- by Dalkorian December 11, 2008 5:27 PM PST
- Didn't Tom Cruise work a 3D computer interface in the movie Minority Report?
- Like this
-
- by weeman17 December 15, 2008 3:44 PM PST
- how did tom cruise get in this conversation?
- Like this
-
Showing 1 of 3 pages (74 Comments)Another Q....
If I have a touchscreen, how am I going to get my fingers deep into the back to pull out my hiden files?
Think outside the touchscreen (someone recently worked on a proof-of-concept touchless interface, using the iSight camera). Now think of the 3D desktop.
Now combine the two. Fiction becomes reality. And you didn't even have to drop any acid.