Apple files patent on translucent windows

can't wait to see that in action in Tiger

I wonder what that is gonna be used for...

...partially, at least:

Press the "volume up," "volume down," "mute," or "eject" key on your keyboard. You'll get a fading, translucent window that passes mouse clicks through to the window beneath it. All that Apple needs to add is the ability to for mouse clicks to affect those settings when the window is unfaded, and that would be basically what the patent would cover.

I wonder what uses they've come up with for those, besides visual command feedback? I guess we'll find out soon enough.

For example when you iSync the ipod and mobile phone instead of closing the program the window can fade when not in use for a period of time so it wont clutter your desktop but it still be open or close the aplication if no window is open.

As said on a previous post similar as volume and keyboard light a translucent window came and go.

Apple is doing the right thing by pattenting everything possible so it wont happen on Longhorn as a brand new feature for the windows world, well, in 2009 when the complete idea of the new operating system will be used in new computers Apple have done several new and cool things that improve the way you work, remember in the 10.1 translucency was a big part of the new things but now is less visible and only were you really need it, this improve the system performance.

Longhorn uses that technology doesn't it? I guess they'll have to do something else.. :D

Sorry fellows, but Apple and MS have a cross-patent agreement that allows the other to license patented technology.

Amount of Apple technology in Windows (and Longhorn): Enormous
Amount of Windows technology in OS X: Negligible

Windows that get out of your way!

If I read this right, this will help designers and peoepl who work with a lot of windows open. It seems like that those windows can remain open, but if you need something on the desktop, you can just grab it without having to hide minimize windows or hide apps.

This could be a real timesaver.

It'll be excellent to see this extended beyond the volume icon...

During the MW2004 Keynote, when they were previewing Word 2004, the tools pallete became translucent after a period of nonuse. Doesn't this interefere with Apple filing the patent?

Apple shouldn't be granted a patent on this. It's too broad. The only thing they should be allowed is the
"through the transparent windows" actions, where actions are passed to underlying windows. Everything else has prior art and Apple is just getting too patent happy.