3D desktop revealed in Apple patent filing

Future Mac OS X desktops could be presented in three dimensions.

(Credit: U.S. PTO via MacRumors)

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.

Sounds like a really great idea.. Cannot wait to see the results (if any)

[iertry]

I've used 3d desktops before but I like the look of the way apple are implementing it in this patent.

[supoman]

It'll be like coverflow on steriods!!

[NeverFade]

I used a 3D desktop as well, which blanketed OSX - it was actually really neat, but I found that I could work much faster not using it. That particular 3D scenerio was much different than this looks.

It would be interesting to see if anything comes to life...

[tm_anon]

Apple's going more than just 3D from the recent patents reported on CNET. First the no touch technology patent and now this. I've seriously began to wonder what Apple has up its sleeves, perhaps a new form of computing all together. With the 3D desktop and the no touch technology, could a 3D desktop with full user interaction using only their hands be far behind? The age of computing as we know it could be over.

[hmdz105]

Pretty useless... 3D desktop and things like Aero graphical layer implemented in Windows Vista did not add to user productivity. Yes, they are beautiful and attractive features for newbies, but ubiquitous computer users will after a while find them as useless as Windows Vista is today.

[Hunnter2k3]

I totally agree with this.
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.

[NewsReader_]

Vista useless?

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.

[Hunnter2k3]

NewsReader_, such an obvious fanboy because you read hmdz105 as a fanboy comment, yet it was completely the opposite, it was ATTACKING Vista and Aero.
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?

[murbo]

newsreader, yes vista is useless, and yes 9 out of 10 people buy useless software. instead of buying ms office download openoffice for example. how many people here spent money of ms office here? 9 out of 10. can openoffice do all the stuff ms office can do? yes it can, if not better...
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

[compudoc318]

whats wrong with aero? and why do you assume someone fluent in computers doesnt like the computer to look good too? you sound like a mac fan, which is funny since they are the ones always trying to make their devices look pretty. if vista is useless, why are so many using it, and why would osx use boot camp and have windows?????

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

[Dani210]

news reader, the only reason why vista is outselling everyone is cuz they are on computers from every brand except Apple. and all those computers are low quality and cheap. those who care about their experience on the comp enough will buy a mac, everyone else who doesn't need a great computer can buy a $300 pc. have you ever lived with a mac news reader? if you have than share your experience, not statistics. i have a pc and my dad has a mac. the mac is way better, no problems or anything. the only reason why i still use a pc is bc i can fix all the problems. and i only do casual computing. my dad is a photographer, and he ditched the pc to use the mac when he became a photographer. he'll tell you that the mac is better, and i attest to that too

[OscarWeb]

NewsReader: having a 19% market share does not mean than Vista is flying off the shelves as you try to make it sound. Most people use XP and are quite happy to stay there because they DON'T like/need/want Vista.

[Dalkorian]

Um, fista is useless because it's to busy tripping over it's own crippling DRM to get anything done. Everyone understands that, it's just that some people would rather be delusional than educated.

[FruitSpikeAndMoon]

Vista is perfectly functional, and is now better than XP performance-wise. OSX may be better, but since I can get twice the computing power for the dollar on a PC, and Vista is perfectly functional, I will continue to buy PCs.

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.

[merelogic]

I think all the oldies should then stop painting their walls.

[NewsReader_]

The "Microsoft is a monopoly" excuse is also pretty tired.

There is a big difference between a monopoly caused by the lack of an alternative for a product and one where the majority of consumers chose one of many available products.

Which one do you think Vista falls into?

Just face it. More people choose Windows; 9 out of 10. Don't hate Vista because you represent the minority of computer users on the planet who use somthing else. Ask the average Windows user about Macs and they will say they are cool. Ask the average Mac user about Windows and they will say it sucks. Smells like a snob to me.

And stop spreading FUD about the lack of consumer choice from the major PC vendors. ALL of them offer alternatives to Windows. Maybe if Apple was not so self-centered they would let you buy one from Dell.

[hugger10]

Apple builds their products to break in 2 years. Not so much with computers. But things like Ipods... Does anyone remember how the US auto industry up untill a few years back was doing the same? Look at what Ford and GM are having to do; prove that their products are just as good because of a damaged reputation. Just wait. Sooner or later japan is going to come to the rescue with Mp3 players and such that last so that Apple will have to win back people. I'd never buy an Ipod, $300 shoulld last more than a year. I've had my brick zune since it came out and the battery and everything still works.

Apple is a smug company. up until the Iphone all they've done is make fun of microsoft in their commercials without even speaking about what their products do. THe commercials never talk about osx or why it's better or anything. How does that show your product?

[weeman17]

First off you all should grow up.
Second I am a Mac user but i am open to just about anything. Heck i told my dad (I am 18) that if i installed windows on my mac it should be vista (unfortunatly he didn't agree). i see things like this as not a way to attract new customers, but as a way to do things out of the normal. You would be surprised what kinds of things you could find. All i am saying is be opened minded.

[hmdz105]

Since some here answered with anger, I don't like to do a follow up. Though as an old Windows XP n Mac user, I am still insisting that the Aero and 3D features in Vista just get in the way when you want to use the operating system as a platform for running other applications. I don't buy my OS for the sake of how it looks, I buy it because I want my applications run on a software platform that gives me the best performance out of my current hardware.
Microsoft seems to have forgot this, cause Windows Vista has done a lot of tricks in the industry to sell itself and give money back to its mentors.

[c00die]

Can you imagine all the files that are going to get LOST in a 3D environment? Just imagine putting the key to your excel file under that virtual couch in the corner.............WHERE THE HELL ARE MY KEYS?!

That's all I could keep thinking about when I was reading. Good thing Mac's got a great search feature!

[Dalkorian]

What's worse would be cleaning all the rabid dust bunnies out from under all the stationary objects on your new 3D desktop. Oooh, someone could write a short program (Objective C or AppleScript?) to clean the dust bunnies and find your lost keys.

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.)

[thelemurking]

Why did this remind me of Microsoft BOB :D

[Dani210]

haha! nice!

[inpersonoz]

Not very new - I have video's from Apple made in 1980's demoing 3 D finder interface experiments. Maybe now the hardware can really do it well they're having another go.

[k-zon]

For most of the applications i use i can see a use for it but gaming would be an awesome appeal.

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

[bobmarleypeople]

Oh man I loved Microsoft Bob. I'm gonna install Windows 98 now and install it. Ooooh I feel all jiggly ^_^

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 ^_^

[Dalkorian]

by bobmarleypeople December 11, 2008 1:15 PM PST
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.

;-)

[OscarWeb]

Put down the cookies if you're feeling jiggly. :P

[bencole]

sounds just like BumpTop if you ask me... except being naturally part of the OS instead.

[explodingzebras]

I can't believe nobody mentioned Compiz yet. Compiz Fusion on Linux is awesome, use it every day! It is actually useful.

[random truth]

Thats what I was going to say. Compiz Fusion, actually out of beta :)
-randomtruth
randomtruthsblog.synthasite.com

[divisionbyzero]

The 3d Desktop is solution in search of a problem. Show me the efficiency gains and then I might be interested.

[Dani210]

dude, these are just patents, they haven't actually developed these already

[hwii77]

I'm looking forward to seeing this become real. A designer worked on a ui design project that might suit for this 3D desktop environment. If you're interested, check out one of his video sketch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_PxjYgabRg

[gggg sssss]

This is worth a patent?
In that case CNN shoudl patent its holo whatever as 3D TV.

[murbo]

if cnn can patent that so-called hologram, which is nothing more than a very simple digital compositing trick -hell, i don't even call that a trick, its industry standard for vsfx- i am moving to another planet...

[bethany.bh]

i want furniture! bookcases, filing cabinets, tables! how do you navigate 3d space though, without resorting to pan and orbit and complicated mouse moves? the touchless touchscreen might be useful, but it would need to be sensitive to great depth, wouldn't it?

[girochin1]

You guys are thinking too much "inside the box." Yeah it would be a gimmick feature for a desktop computer, but this would be a practical solution for small screen applications where having a 24" widescreen monitor is not practical. On a small device like the iPhone I could see something like this being very useful if not necessary.

[willbw]

This has been done by linux beryl ect for a long time now so i expect a suit soon.

[OscarWeb]

No, it hasn't. A 3D rotating cube to switch between desktops is NOT a 3D desktop. This has already been possible in OS X for a long time, and even in Apple's Keynote as a slide transition.

[Dirk VanNerden]

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?

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?

[Dani210]

this is how: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10114351-1.html

[Dalkorian]

Didn't Tom Cruise work a 3D computer interface in the movie Minority Report?

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.

[weeman17]

how did tom cruise get in this conversation?