An Apple patent has revealed that future iPhones could effectively have multiple Action buttons, as all three buttons on the left side of the phone could be user-configurable.
The same patent suggests similar capabilities could be available on other Apple devices, including iPads and Macs…
An electronic device detects a first input on a first input area, separate from a display of the electronic device, comprising detecting a first portion of the first input followed by a second portion of the first input. In response to detecting the first input on the first input area: With the first portion of the first input meeting criteria set 1 or more, the electronic device displays a first preview corresponding to a first operation of the first application. With the second portion of the first input meeting criteria set 2, the electronic device performs a first operation of the first application. With the second portion of the first input meeting criteria set 2, the electronic device performs a second operation of the second application.
The wording is a bit confusing, but the illustrations provide the clearest picture of what the company is thinking.
This drawing shows a representation of the actual phone, with the Action button and two volume buttons highlighted on the left, with a 3D image of the phone's screen.
The interface allows the user to select individual buttons and assign functions to them in much the same way we do with Action buttons today.
In this example, the volume down button is configured to call a favorite contact:
The document describes the use of haptic motors to provide tactile feedback when buttons are used.
The drawings primarily show an iPhone, but Apple notes that the patent also applies to iPads and Macs.
In some cases, the device is a portable communications device, such as a mobile phone, that also contains other functions, such as PDA and/or music player functions. Examples of portable multi-function devices include, without limitation, the iPhone […] and iPad devices from Apple Inc., headquartered in Cupertino, California. Other portable electronic devices, such as laptops or tablet computers that have a touch-sensitive surface (e.g., a touchscreen and/or a trackpad), are optionally used.
Touchscreen Mac advocates may be excited by that news, but note that the full phrase is "a notebook or tablet computer with a touch surface"—and in addition, Apple includes both trackpads and physical capacitive buttons in the touch surface category.
As usual, it's worth noting that Apple patents things it never implements, but given the history here, first the Action button and then the Camera Control button, it seems like we can expect this trend to continue.
Chrome on Android is a great browser out of the box, but you can make it even better. These tips and features will help you browse the web faster.
When you compare smartphones from nearly two decades ago and today, you can't help but notice that they've gotten worse in a variety of ways.
Just like the .exe file on the Windows operating system is used to install software, the same is true on the Android operating system. APK files on the Android operating system are used to install software on the system. So how to download and install APK files on Android devices, please refer to the article below of WebTech360.
Are you bored with static wallpapers on your phone? Try this method of turning videos into beautiful wallpapers for Android.
The lock screen on your phone or tablet is a tool designed to prevent strangers from accessing your device. Because of this importance, setting up the lock screen in the safest and most reasonable way is something every user should do. The article below summarizes 4 things you should apply to the lock screen on Android and iOS to master the above feature and protect your device from unauthorized access.
Today's technological developments can allow you to directly extract text from images captured with a smartphone camera.
As soon as you update your iPhone to the official iOS 16 version, you will be able to set an iPhone wallpaper without covering your face when adjusting the wallpaper according to the depth effect.
While Apple's Photos app is useful for basic tasks like cropping photos, it doesn't offer many advanced editing features. And that's where a third-party photo editor comes in handy.
Developer options on Android devices are hidden by default, to avoid changes that affect the system. The following article will guide readers on how to enable developer mode on Android, illustrated on the Samsung Galaxy S9, and how to disable this option if you no longer use it.
Smartphones and tablets can easily fill up with storage, especially if you've been using them for a while. Here are some ways to free up space on your Android device.
Deleting apps you know you won't use is a great way to save storage space and minimize background processes on your phone.
It's easy to think of screenshots as temporary, but many of us never delete them. The danger is that some of them can become gold mines for hackers, identity thieves, or even just curious friends.
Many people think that their Samsung phone battery can no longer meet the daily needs. But after turning off these overlooked settings, the battery can easily last all day.
Current web browsers on computers or phones all have the option to delete browsing history, such as deleting browsing history on Chrome, deleting browsing history on Firefox,...
You can use iCloud Keychain or iCloud Keychain to save your passwords and easily access them on your iPhone. Here's how to recover deleted passwords on your iPhone.
