Apple patent hints at “advanced multitouch,” iPhone copy / paste

By Nilay Patel | February 19, 2008

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Peripherals

Although the MacBook Air’s multitouch trackpad is pretty nifty, it looks like Apple has even grander plans in store — a recent patent filing describes the MBA’s current features as “Basic Multitouch” and contains descriptions of “Advanced” touch operations like system control, file management and browser navigation. While the filing details using a combination of the thumb and two fingers to cut, copy and paste — something that seems awfully relevant to that little iPhone thing Apple sells — what we’re most intrigued by is the description of the “side pinky swipe” to control system functions like volume and screen brightness. Since the side of the pinky produces a different shape than your fingertip on the touch sensor, the system can automatically recognize it, making it ideal for quick adjustments — we’re already dreaming up lists of macros to trigger. Of course, there’s no telling if and when we’ll ever see this stuff in a product, but it’s probably not a coincidence the iPhone, iPod touch, and MacBook Air all use the same Broadcom touch controller — let’s hope those long-awaited new MacBook Pros join the club, eh?

[Via AppleInsider]

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