Apple Hints at Future 3D-Capable iPhones in New Patent Applications

[Michael Essany]

If you're among the crowd who feels it's never too early to think about a next generation iPhone, you're going to love this. Of course, if last month's release of the iPhone 4 is still too fresh (or too frustrating) in your memory to even contemplate a 5th generation iPhone, I can understand that as well. Nonetheless, some clues may have surfaced about a new attribute headed for a future generation iPhone.

According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Apple has filed two patent applications for features that would allow a future iPhone to capture both video and still pictures and then acquire from that digital content the information needed to render an object (in the video or photo) in 3D. The result? The creation of a world of 3D imagery within your own virtual environment.

But how would it all work? Well, based on the information gleaned from one of the two patent applications (and corresponding diagrams), it appears that the iPhone will ultimately capture more than just photos and videos. That is, when capturing such content, the device may also employ everything from GPS to motion sensors in order to generate the aforementioned three-dimensional rendering of the your surroundings.



The other application ("Three Dimensional Navigation Using Deterministic Movement of an Electronic Device") takes this concept further by addressing how one can do more than just record images or video in 3D. Instead, this patent application contends with actually navigating a 3D space and enabling recording for future playback.

From the patent: "By walking with the device in the user's real environment, a user can virtually navigate a representation of a three-dimensional environment. In some embodiments, a user can record an object or environment using an electronic device, and tag the recorded images or video with movement information describing the movement of the device during the recording. The recorded information can then be processed with the movement information to generate a three-dimensional model of the recorded environment or object."

Of course, one could debate just how practical or useful such technologies would prove on a forthcoming iPhone update. But Apple has clearly endeavored to make the iPhone and all future generations more than just a smartphone. If so, these 3D escapades could certainly add another unique "dimension" - pun intended - to the iPhone's arsenal of futuristic attributes.

Apple Insider

[plumoso]

That be nice a hope they make the new iPhone w a big screen,,,iPhone 3G ,,iPhone 3GS,,now iPhone 3d wow

[MooShoo]

Interesting. Before we get to gen 5, can we work out gen 4. Just saying.

[sobeniceguy2]

nice

[macsoldier]

Apple again going above and beyond

[thekid05]

wow thats cool...Wonder how long its gonna take to jailbreak that bad boy lol

[BBR123]

Apple again going above and beyond

you mean by copying what Nintendo is already doing and has already released with the 3DS. I guess so lmao

[ssfirme]

Let's release the jailbreak for this one first then worry about that later

[kuhndsn]

you mean by copying what Nintendo is already doing and has already released with the 3DS. I guess so lmao

Not just a bit different... But a huge difference in the two... You are comparing an apple from an orange.


This would be a cool feature for engineers, police, insurance appraisers, military...ect...

[macsoldier]

you mean by copying what Nintendo is already doing and has already released with the 3DS. I guess so lmao

you know it will be way better, Apple is great at rebounding off of another product. They always find a way so people will be willing to spend the extra money on the product.

[kuhndsn]

Let's release the jailbreak for this one first then worry about that later

WHAT??? Does this have to do with the news topic?

you know it will be way better, Apple is great at rebounding off of another product. They always find a way so people will be willing to spend the extra money on the product.

examples?

[eZStaR]

you mean by copying what Nintendo is already doing and has already released with the 3DS. I guess so lmao

LOL COPYING NINTENDO!

Mate, you need to closely read what Apple is trying to do and what Nintendo has already done.
One thing that every one has to agree on is Apple ALWAYS delivers. They have always added such features which make them #1, which no other phone/device has ever released, aka gyroscope. And obv pretty soon you can see HTC and moterola copying them.

Have you even seen the features that iPhone has which no other phone has ever attempted to do? I mean really lol.

[The_Ben]

WHAT??? Does this have to do with the news topic?



examples?

Here are two:
1. Mobile internet browsing (did anyone use it as much as they do today, post-iPhone 2G era)
2. FaceTime (the feature itself existed for more then a couple of years, but nobody ever used it...at least not that I know of ).

[iLoveWindows&iPhone]

Magical 3D?

[LSZ33]

@The_Ben... KuhnDSN was referring to ssfirme's request for a jailbreak. Let's not jack this thread with jb talk. Seriously.

[santacruzlocal]

<--- Hates 3D

[rampagebegins]

Pointless

[delusion950]

this sounds pretty nice id love to see this on my future device.

[Slyppry]

The next "Big Thing" in technology is almost always a result of someone standing on the shoulders of the "Last Big Thing". That is how we progress to make better products.

Where would cars be if everyone simply kept the design to the original product, even though it is made by a new manufacturer? Wood spoke wheels?

Apple sells high end products - Fact. Many of their products operate very similarly to competitor products, but with price tags often double (or more) than the other leading products - Fact. To overcome this, they work and work at older technologies or ideas to offer a better product (or one that is now a useable concept now that they have worked out the bugs), even if sometimes it is only marginally so.

Though their newest devices appear to be ground breaking technology, they are really utilizing the same ideas that have been out there for a long time, they have just taken the time and initiative to work these ideas into one device, and to make sure that all of these ideas play nice together. Other phone companies often follow in Apple's footsteps, trying to catch up all day, only to be blown out of the water again by Apple's next "Big Thing". Until one of the other manufacturers figures this out, and gets ahead of the curve, it is likely that Apple will continue to astound the populace with the ordinary... but at least it is shiny and cool!

The biggest drawback to Apple is their "Big Brother Attitude". The App Store is great, dont get me wrong, I just dont believe that there should be someone in control of what I can and cannot purchase, as long as the items I wish to purchase stay within the boundaries of the law.

Hence the Jailbreak.

I do not agree with those that use it to circumvent copyright protection on Apps that they would normally have to pay for.
I do not agree with using the Jailbreak to modify Apple's proprietary software.
I do agree however with using it to allow us access to normal functions of the device, functions that are limited due to that "Big Brother Atttitude".
I also believe that we should have the right to "unlock" our phones, our personal property that we paid for (either through a subsidy or outright in my case) for the use with another Carrier. I think it is ridiculous that we cannot switch carriers on our own device without voiding the warranty with a Jailbreak. Apple and AT&T need to put their heads together and work something out, maybe even a charge for the unlocking, I dont care. I want to stay on the good side, I dont want to have to Jailbreak, but AT&T offers second rate service and horrible customer service and I refuse to pay the Rates that they REQUIRE for this phone. T-Mobile has lower rates (Recently confirmed by a Employee at a local AT&T Store believe it or not) and far superior service. It should be my choice which carrier I use, especially since I bought this phone from an individual, not the carrier or manufacturer.

Just a thought or two, I have a very busy mind...

[whereswaldo]

I like the sound of the iPhone 3D