Categories
Close
Menu
Menu
Close
Search
Search

Featured Articles

Opinion

A radial menu for iPhone 5? It's not such a radical idea

Mark

Share:

Print

Rate article:

No rating
Rate this article:
No rating

Mark Bridge writes:

As sure as eggs, there’ll be an iPhone 5. It’ll be announced on 6th June 2011 if you want my guess. And the latest rumours are suggesting it’ll have ‘radial menus’.

A recently-spotted Apple patent application (pct/us2010/035472) notes “Radial menus can provide desired menu selections without the difficulties inherent in drop-down menus. However, there is minimal use as of yet of radial menus in popular computing applications”.

It goes on to talk about a radial menu that could involve non-uniform spacing, shading, highlighting and the use of ‘radial gestures’ for opening sub-menus.

There’s a good chance we’ll see the radial menu used in iPhone 5, it’s suggested.

But hold on a moment.

Back in February, I met Amir Kupervas at Mobile World Congress. He’s CEO at Emblaze Mobile, the company that had created the First Else. The phone – which ran a Linux operating system – was notable for the design and operation of its user interface. In fact, even though the phone didn’t make it into full-scale production, the Else Intuition interface remains.

And yes, it was radial.

Which suggests a radial interface on a mobile phone isn’t such a radical idea after all.

Click here to listen to our February podcast that includes an interview with Amir Kupervas, CEO of ELSE Mobile, or use the ipadio player below to hear the interview on its own. To receive every episode of our free podcasts as soon as they go online, simply subscribe to the RSS feed or download us via iTunes.

 

Comments

Collapse Expand Comments (0)
You don't have permission to post comments.

Opinion Articles

ExclusiveTablets aren't real computers... and that's why they're so popular

Mark Bridge writes:

As any Star Trek fan knows, Apple didn't invent the tablet computer. The crew of the Enterprise regularly used handheld devices that looked remarkably like an electronic clipboard... or an iPad. In fact, engineers in the 1960s were working on tablet devices as the original Star Trek series first aired.

Then there were the Microsoft Tablet PCs from around ten years ago. I bought one - an Acer TravelMate - as my main computer and loved it. I even loved the special pen that was needed to write on the screen.

ExclusiveApocalypse Nokia

Mark Bridge writes:

The phenomenon of 'apocalypse sex' is often seen in movies, comedy shows and advertisements. The end of the world's just around the corner so… hey… what the heck?

I reckon it shares the same emotional basis as being 'demob happy' or having that 'end of term feeling' at school.

And that feeling seems to be in plentiful supply at Nokia HQ in Espoo.

ExclusiveNew sensors can turn your smartphone into a medical tricorder

Mark Bridge writes:

Dr 'Bones' McCoy moves an electronic device over a patient’s leg encased in a plaster case. The device immediately identifies swelling within the cast, alerting the doctor to take action.

But this isn't a medical tricorder being used by the doctor. It's a Google Nexus S mobile phone. And the situation isn't set in the 23rd century. It's now.

ExclusiveDigiMo promises a fast, simple and smart mobile payment solution

Mark Bridge writes:

Almost everyone in the mobile telecoms industry seems to be looking for a perfect payment system that'll transform their mobile phone into some kind of electronic wallet. Yet despite many trial schemes – and a few commercial launches – cards and cash are still favoured by consumers and retailers in much of the world.

RSS
First7374757678808182Last

Recent Podcasts

ExclusivePodcast from Mobile World Congress 2015

Mark Bridge learns about the mobile technology trends at Mobile World Congress 2015 by chatting to James Rosewell of 51Degrees, Dr Kevin Curran from the IEEE and Chris Millington of Doro.

They talk about wearable devices, wireless charging, mobile operating systems and much more... including some of their favourite products from the exhibition.

ExclusiveLooking back at February: from security scares to multiple MVNOs

We're taking a look back at the biggest mobile industry news stories from February 2015, including allegations that the UK's security service tried to breach SIM card security by hacking into one of the world's biggest SIM producers.

We also talk about the planned BT and EE merger, the creation of two new UK virtual networks, some acquisitions in the mobile payment arena and a new Ubuntu smartphone.

ExclusiveA month of mobile: O2 counts on 3, Microsoft counts to 10 and Apple counts its profits

We're back with a month of mobile industry news, including takeover talks and takeover rumours. O2 and Three are said to be discussing a merger... but is there any truth in the suggestions that BlackBerry could be up for grabs?

We also discuss Apple's record-breaking quarterly figures, the highlights of CES and the launch of Microsoft Windows 10, as well as saying farewell to the current version of Google Glass.

RSS
12345678910Last

Follow thefonecast.com

Archive Calendar

«May 2026»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
27282930123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
1234567

Archive