Apple iPhone-Style 1 Inch Touch Screen Leaked, But What’s It For? (Rumour)
Written by John Thompson on July 9, 2010 · Filed under Tech
Well this is certainly an interesting way to end the day! Apple rumours site Apple.pro have leaked a small, Apple iPhone-styled, touch screen. What’s interesting about that? You may ask. Well, for starters it’s only 3cm square, which equates to just over an inch.
Normally, when an Apple prototype is leaked, it’s linked to a certain product, such as the iPhone 4 or the unibody aluminium Macbook Pro shell. However, no one knows what’s in store for this small device, although we bloggers do love to speculate…
The rumour mill is no doubt in overdrive right now, and we are no exception to that. What could Apple do with a 3cm square touch screen? I’d love to (realistically) tell you that we’re looking at what’s going to be the Apple iWatch, but I’m a little more skeptic than that. I think that there’s a good chance that the small screen could be used as part of an existing product, or at least an extension of a current line of products.
We could be looking at an early prototype of a next (next, next) generation iPod Shuffle. After all, with no screen to speak of, the current one is pretty difficult to get around effectively. A small screen such as the one leaked could offer a visual way to control what’s currently being played on your device.
Of course, many people have many different ideas about what the screen could be utilised for such as a small remote control for an Apple TV / Mac Mini or perhaps we might actually end up seeing an iWatch that was recently the subject of a mocked up design concept product – who knows perhaps we could see Dick Tracy style video calls on your watch using Apple’s Facetime video calling?
I’m sure many of you will no doubt disagree with me, but what do you think it will turn out to be? Much ado about nothing, or part of the next big thing in Apple products? Knock yourselves out in the comments, folks!
Via – Engadget
I do disagree with the idea it could be for a new shuffle, because it would sort of remove the point of it. Apple have stuck without a screen for a while now, and I don’t see that changing.
As for the other ideas, I have seen them being bashed around, but with it being such a small screen, a watch, might be the answer.
My initial reaction is that is probably just something as simple as a new trackpad design for the Macbook range – but at only 3cm square that seems too small!
With the iPod (touch) coming round to getting another revamp, I won’t be surprised if this is ‘component’ is incorporated into the design.
Or… is it just simply a solar panel?! Apple (logo) can then go green!
My guess is the iWatch, I think if it had bluetooth to connect to an earpiece and played music to it then it could be amazing. I wouldn’t hold your breath on the dick tracey style facetime thing though! :-)
Ahh wow, Facetime on a watch. Thanks Claire, now I’ll be bitterly disappointed every year until we see something like that!!
I just can’t get my head around an iWatch – it just seems so normal! but then that is what I love about Apple, their innovation.
Has there been any update to this story?
It could be a shuffle if it just shuffles music, with the screen part being for photos only (like a photo frame keychain). Could be the direction Apple is going in.
It couldn’t possibly be for personal 3D specs, could it?