Comments on: 3D desktop revealed in Apple patent filing

Apple is working on a user interface that would present the Mac OS X desktop screen in three dimensions, according to a patent application.

This is nothing new, Looking Glass from Sun was first shown 5 years ago

https://lg3d.dev.java.net/

There were even versions for Mobile devices

[Rohou]

Do want. Let's hope this appears in OS 10.6

[Heebee Jeebies]

LAAAAMMMMMEEEEEEEE!

[timber2005]

Uhh... this seems to look a lot like BumpTop? Apple copy machines running?

[Brian]

That's what I like about Apple, they innovate while others just imitate.

[sanenazok]

There is going to be some pretty strong prior art. I remember having something called kiddesk or some other program for Windows 3.0 that had a 3d interface for stacks of documents.

[bhartman35]

I've used Compiz. It's a nice environment. This is [i]not[/i] like Beryl or Compiz, folks.

Beryl/Compiz gives you a 3D desktop in the sense that your desktop becomes a series of cube [i]faces[/i] that you can rotate. There's no actual [/i]depth[/i] to the experience, beyond the rippling water effects. All there is is two-dimensional movement (e.g, sliding an app from one cube face to another).

What the Apple pattent looks like is an environment with actual depth. Think about it as your desktop residing on the [i]inside[/i] of the Compiz cube, but recessed a little bit from your screen, where the nside of the cube's faces were all visible at once.

Honestly, though, I think that's the problem: How do you see a file or app "behind" another file on your desktop (or desk, I guess, since it's not going to be a flat surface like a desktop)? It would be as if you took a few icons on your desktop and hid all of the others behind them in rows. Now, you might be able to rotate the cube in such a way that you could see all your apps again, but why would you want to do that, when the flat paradigm works? Just to waste CPU cycles?

I don't really know if they can pull off such a desktop environment. But even if they can, it won't impress me unless it gives me something a flat desktop doesn't.

[ace10134]

huh, honestly like ppl said, 3d is useless. just like having a full touch screen computer. sometimes using a mouse and keyboard is faster and more productive. thats why on my windows phone, i have a slide out keyboard.

[cyberspittle]

I like the idea of a 3D desktop. It's very forward thinking. However, I don't like the feeling of looking in a box. With walls on sides, top, bottom, and back, its a littled claustrophobic. I would prefer something more open, but then again, Apple is a closed source product. :(

[StargateFan]

Yeah I have seen this before Microsoft Research showed it off a few years back in a Bill Gates CES Keynote. I haven't seen or heard anything about this type of technology since then, wonder if Apple will provoke a change in the Explorer/Finder User Interface for future editions of either OS.

[GeauxTigers711]

Compudoc318,
In suggesting earlier that Apple allowing other computer manufacturers to use OS X, they did once. They licensed out there OS, but they ran into problems. The main problem is unlike Microsoft, they are also computer manufacturers. When they licensed, it allowed cheap imports to flood the market with the same OS and cannibalized their own computer sales. Microsoft can license out because they have no computer sales to cannibalize. It could be a strategy if Apple wanted to stop producing computers because no legal American company will ever be able to produce a high-end product competitively with cheap foreign producers that can cut corners. Next time before you suggest something, make sure they did not try it and realize the mistake in the strategy. (No I don't use a mac.)

[infernalman7]

Can't wait. But first thing first, they must solve that problem with the graphics card on their portables.

[ScaryMonkey69]

Woo-Hoo. A 3 dimensional workspace on a 2 dimensional screen!!! Unless Apple somehow knows how to create holographic monitors.

[DarkHawke]

Blue-sky notion or no, and as cool as it may look in the SF movie of your choice, I SO DO NOT want to have to wave my arms in the air to run my computer! Sure you could get some exercise that way (maybe add some of them swingin' wrist weights?), but Geez Louise, since when wasn't the mouse/keyboard combo enough? What do you gain by this? Truly expensive eye-candy that gets in the way. Hell, I'd rather a 99.9% accurate voice command system, and even then, I'd still rather type and click than have to gab the day away just to transfer files and get Office to run! Here's to yet another patent that doesn't see the light of day past now!

[contentcreator--2008]

An excellent example of why the bar is set way way too low for software patentability. "We'll make it 3-D" "Quick, call the attorney" Puh-LEASE. They are trying to patent it just because there is no real substance, it is real obvious to anyone who wants to do it this way. There's nothing to protect except the words '3-d desktop.' No tricky algorithms, no flash of insight... Fine if you want to do it, but as a patent, toss this crap out of here.

[Brian]

It's certainly better than Flip-3D.

[stryder286]

Maybe the 3d desktop works in conjunction with some type of 3d goggles or glasses there by extending the computing experience out into the space in front of the LCD as well. If this turns out to be the way in which Apple implements the technology, I can see many ways it will be useful.

Any thoughts?

[Falling-Inferno]

Taken from Linux's Concept of A 4 Faced cube.
Thanks k Bye.

cool

[sanjayb]

If anyone can make a 3D environment practical and efficient then it's Apple.