Apple patent points to live Leopard desktop
updated 10:10 am EDT, Thu April 19, 2007
Apple patent: live desktop
A new patent application filed by Apple suggests that the Cupertino-based company will introduce live desktop graphics in its forthcoming Mac OS X Leopard operating system. The filing, titled "System and method for computing a desktop picture," appears to use the company's Core Image technology to offer choice to users for customizing the desktop, which can change when launching different applications such as iTunes or QuickTime. The patent also describes animations and transitions, allowing users to choose or create a scene that can change colors over time to reflect the current season. Apple offers one example of seamless transition between multiple desktop pictures as changing the color gradation based on the time of day to mimic the changes in the colors of the sky. Apple is expected to unveil new features not yet disclosed at its upcoming World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June.
multiple desktops
04/19, 10:18am reply
I would love to see multiple desktops, which is common in KDE and Gnome.
dynsight
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2005
Uh oh...
04/19, 10:23am reply
I wonder what effect this patent will have on the "My Dream App" developers, who are currently working on an app that will change the desktop based on outdoor conditions and the time of day.
jamiec
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2006
re: multiple desktops
04/19, 10:32am reply
That's already been announced and is way cooler than anything I've seen on other platforms. It called "Spaces."
glasshalffull
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2007
Uhm, wha..?
04/19, 10:51am reply
Doesn't apple already have this?
/System/Library/Frameworks/ScreenSaver.framework/Resources/ScreenSaverEngine.app/Contents/MacOS/ScreenSaverEngine -module "RSS Visualizer" -background
Just run that in the Terminal (it's all on one line)
Rosyna
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2001
multiple desktops
04/19, 11:53am reply
They are adding this to Leopard. It's called Spaces.
Check it out:
http://www.apple.com/macosx/leopard/spaces.html
libraryguy
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: Jul 2002
Huh?
04/19, 03:28pm reply
I clearly remember desktop backgrounds that change with the time of day going back to about 1992 in XWindows on SGI Indigos. It had "recipes" (as re-termed in the patent) that changed the background sky color, weather (clouds, etc.) and even the phase of the moon to make it "right" for the time of year. I don't see what's new with this concept. I'm sure w/today's technology you can render it in greater detail w/the GPU and expand on the concept, but it seems like there's lots of prior art here, not to mention this is incredibly obvious.
It would be cool if this all affect other non-background elements (snow piling up on windows, etc.) although I think I've seen this kind of theming elsewhere as well. Didn't Aaron (the OS 9 theming program) do something similar?
W
VValdo
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: May 2001
shouldn't be patentable
04/19, 06:09pm reply
Running a graphical program (like a screensaver) on the desktop is old technology. I've run an X11 screensaver as my X11 desktop now and then for years - I'm pretty sure before there was such a thing as OS X. For that matter Microsoft's Active Desktop allowed this in 1997. This shouldn't be patentable.
resuna
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2005
Video background
04/19, 07:19pm reply
I've done video backgrounds before, i always have this running on my powerbook. Here is a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiAvPMVmMIQ
Darwiniandude
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2007
OSX Planet
04/19, 07:21pm reply
Oh, and this is great too... i live solar system relevant to the time of day you can view from anywhere, on your desktop. http://www.osxplanet.com/
Darwiniandude
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2007
Snow
04/20, 03:10pm reply
No, that was Snow which you still find here: http://dropmix.xs4all.nl/rick/MacSnow/
You'll find the OSX edition too: http://dropmix.xs4all.nl/rick/MacOSXSnow/
I recall you had do shake off the windows when returning from lunch - awsome app!
robban
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2006