Apple has considered bringing the Apple Watch’s digital crown over to other iOS devices such as the iPad, according to a newly-published patent application.
An iPad-specific digital crown could be used for a variety of functions — including controlling the device’s volume, resizing text, zooming in on photos or with the Camera app, and much more.
Like all patents, of course, there’s absolutely no guarantee that this becomes an actual feature in future Apple devices, although it’s certainly interesting to consider the possibilities. Adding a digital crown would incorporate another interface element for the iPad, which could help differentiate it from the larger iPhones.
Photo: USPTO/Patently Apple
It would also add a greater level of design cohesion between Apple’s products, which may have the effect of aiding Apple Watch adoption, since it would make the digital crown a more familiar tool for navigating the UI.
On the other hand, Apple’s never been shy about stating its belief that taking successful interface elements from one product and trying to graft them onto another isn’t a surefire recipe for success. In particular, it brings to mind Steve Jobs’ jokes about the iPhone using the iPod’s click wheel to make calls, or Phil Schiller’s insistence that macOS and iOS shouldn’t be merged — in the way that many other companies are doing with their mobile and desktop operating systems.
Would you like to see the digital crown make its way to other, non-Apple Watch products? Leave your comments below.
Via: Patently Apple
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
3 responses to “Apple Watch’s digital crown could change the way we use iPad”
I’ve contended that I want this for iPhone for one handed scrolling, zooming in/out etc. would be much more comfortable to rest the thumb on the side to accomplish this, with the added benefit of not having my hand obscure the view.
Wouldn’t it make more sense to curve the touch screen around the edge of the iPad and then run your finger along the edge to scroll? Not only would it work better, it would look fantastic.
Too much complexity for an iPad or iPhone. Apple is all about simplifying interfaces. On the Watch it’s a necessary element to control the thing, but on other devices it’s not necessary. I doubt very much it will ever be introduced to the iPad or iPhone. I wouldn’t be a fan of having the extra bump on the side of either device.