Apple patents nanophone concept

Touch-based back cover

Apple patents nanophone concept

30 July 2009 9:34 GMT / By Duncan Geere

Apple has filed a US patent for what appears to be some sort of iPhone nano. The design is complex, and has a display taking up one full side of the device, with a force-sensitive touch-based surface covering the other.

In the filing, phone calls, text messages, a traditional iPod music-playing interface and a UI for taking photos. The latter point is yet more evidence that Apple's preparing to throw cameras on all its products - even the smaller ones.

The images of the front display show, variously, a numeric keypad, a full QWERTY keyboard, an iPod-style clickwheel, and a clickwheel with a menu next to it.

Apple patents many concepts without them making their way to market, so there's no evidence yet that this is something you'll be able to buy in the future. However, it's an interesting insight into what the company is thinking at the current moment in time.

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Comments

  • Well the design above seems to indicate that no one ever misdials on their mobile phone - you have to enter the number and press dial. And hope that the other end hangs up first - obviously if 2 of you have nanoPhones then neither can hang up. Posted by adrianaitken, United Kingdom
  • Its a touchscreen device. Why have a button to hang up without making a call. Probably this button appears as soon as you have a connection Posted by ahha, Netherlands

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