Apple has received another patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for the rather strange design of the iPhone and iPad. There is a touch screen on the side of the device. It’s very similar to the touchpad found on previous MacBook Pro models, but we hope it will have a wider range of features.

This can be a very good idea and a very bad idea at the same time

The side screen serves many purposes. It can display control buttons and user interfaces, offer status information like battery life and weather, and even offer additional control options. Imagine adjusting the volume or skipping songs on your iPhone with a dedicated screen on the side, reducing the need for physical buttons AND the home screen. It’s similar to the dedicated play/pause/skip buttons on older Nokia phones, but modernized.

An example shows the music player interface displayed on the side, with song titles, lyrics, volume and playback controls. This could indicate Apple’s intention to create a sleeker, more minimalist design to complement its sophisticated devices should they launch them in the future.

The real innovation lies not only in the simple side display, but also in its ability to adapt to context. Rather than simply replacing physical buttons with virtual ones, the side screens can be modified to display controls and information related to the current activity. This opens the door to a more personalized user experience. Plus, dropping a smartphone would be literal hell, adding yet another thing to worry about if this patent ends up on a future device.

While the official release timeline for this technology is unknown (and will likely remain so for the foreseeable future), this patent reminds us that companies like Apple are constantly trying to create the next big thing in smartphones, given how we’re reaching new heights. in smartphone design. For example, check out Apple’s patent for portable devices here that allows users to control home devices with just gestures.