Latest rumour: Apple's 3G iPhone going touchy-feely?

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Monday, 28 April 2008 12:58

Your IT - Mobility

Looks like the iPhone rumour mill is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon, with the latest suggesting the fruity behemoth will add a haptic, tactile-feedback giving, vibrating screen to its successful, and most touching, über-gadget.

Oh, please let it be true – haptic technology for the next iPhone! Apple has – according to Apple news site Palluxo – secretly begun discussions to license the technology from Immersion Corporation.

Unfortunately, the cat has been let out of the rumour bag by none other than senior Apple executives – or so it is claimed. Either it’s a leak sanctioned by the big SJ, or an Apple executive leak at day keeps news of real Apple iPhone developments at bay.

But what’s not to like about a tactile feedback giving next-gen iPhone? Pressing keys on an iPhone empowered with the technology would mean that your fingertip would feel a slight buzz, confirming that a key has indeed been pressed.

Nokia’s iPhone-esque Tube 5800 phone is meant to have it, also licensed from Immersion, while phones from Samsung, LG and others already do – with over 10 million phones on the market already sporting Immersion’s haptic, tactile touch heaven.

Plus, there’s an Apple and Immersion connection which is too juicy to pass up. Immersion’s new President and CEO is Clent Richardson. Who the heck is he?

According to Immersion’s press release, a portion of which I found at News.com, Richardson is described thusly:

“Previously, at Apple, he reported to the co-founder and CEO as vice president of worldwide developer relations and worldwide solutions marketing and built and led a global team that established and strengthened developer and customer relationships around the world.”

The mini-bio continues: “During his more than five years with Apple, Richardson was also senior manager of evangelism, responsible for building and leading a worldwide team that managed global strategic relationships with Adobe, AOL, IBM, Microsoft, Motorola, Sun, and other industry leaders for all Apple divisions.”

So, given Richardson’s previous employment, why wouldn’t he want the world’s sexiest smartphone to have the technology he now represents?

So, what kind of haptic feedback could the iPhone incorporate – just the standard buzz, or the new multi-buzz feedback I’ve been hearing about? Please read onto page 2.