Apple working on Spaces-like feature for iPad, patent suggests

Software

According to patent filings discovered by Patently Apple, Cupertino-based tech company Apple may be working to bring a Spaces-like feature to its iPad tablet. Spaces, which first debuted in Leopard (Mac OS X 10.5) back in 2007, allows users to manage multiple, virtual desktops to aid window organization and management — the feature has been standard in a handful of various Linux window environments for nearly a decade. It is unclear if the function will be used as a card-based application switcher, like the ones found on webOS and the BlackBerry PlayBook; as a true, multi-desktop, multi-tasking application; or if this is just another one of those things Apple decided to patent just in case. Either way, the feature looks interesting… we wouldn’t be opposed other tablet operating systems manufacturers re-engineering a feature like this for their own OS.

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6 Comments
  • http://rt-now.com/ Rob T

    This looks pretty cool

  • RSL

    This looks pretty cool as android

  • http://twitter.com/imhike London Snoward

    If this is for iPad, why is their OSX application in the spaces

  • Anonymous

    Sorry, this can’t be patented, KDE has had this for YEARS in Composite effects. Nice try Apple!

    • http://www.facebook.com/rob.mahon Robert Mahon

      Alas, though this functionality exists all over, they’ll probably patent the mobile use of it to be able to get it. It’s blindingly obvious, and there’s probably already other versions in the mobile arena that will cry foul when Apple later sues them, but it’s going to happen.

  • Anonymous

    I’m glad to see apple catching up in this area … it’s been a part of just about every other modern mobile os for some time now. The cute little icons are dated.

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