Next iPod to have touch screen on back
By Jonathan Schlaffer
Or at least it does in a patent filed by Apple regarding its “next gen” iPod. But isn’t every iPod the “next gen.” I’m getting a little confused, back to the matter at hand; Apple seems to think that the touch part and screen part don’t necessarily have to go together.
The iPod will feature a touch sensitive track-pad like device on the back of the unit which will have two levels of sensitivity. When you hover your finger over the touch part, a “ghost” interface appears on the front of the unit; you then your finger on the back of it to navigate the various options, by sliding your finger around you can scroll through or get to different options, pressing harder selects and activate said option. Gizmodo has more about what the patent covers.
This will allow for smaller iPods, iPhones and maybe even allow the Shuffle to finally have some kind of display, I really do hate audio players that have no display, including the Shuffle, the Creative Stone… and any other that doesn’t have a display but that’s another rant post for another time.
It also allows every device from Apple to have a touch interface without smudging up the primary display with your disgusting Cheeto and grease encrusted fingers. If you’ve been eating Cheetos, I won’t let you use any of my computer stuff until you’ve thoroughly and I do mean thoroughly washed your fingers, true story.
What we have here is an interesting concept but I really don’t see it making into any Apple product until next year, we certainly won’t see it this year.
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