Apple wants to make it easier to capture visual media on the iPhone, iPad

Apple wants to make it easier to capture visual media on the iPhone and iPad. The company has been granted a patent (number US 11706521 B2) for  “User Interfaces For Capturing And Managing Visual Media.”

About the patent

The patent relates generally to computer user interfaces and, more specifically, to techniques for capturing and managing visual media. In the patent, Apple notes that (no surprise) users of smartphones and other personal electronic devices are more frequently capturing, storing, and editing media for safekeeping memories and sharing with friends. 

Some existing techniques allowed users to capture images or videos. Users can manage such media by, for example, capturing, storing, and editing the media.

However, Apple says that some techniques for capturing and managing media using electronic devices “are generally cumbersome and inefficient.” For example, some existing techniques use a complex and time-consuming user interface, which may include multiple key presses or keystrokes. 

Apple says that existing techniques require more time than necessary, wasting user time and device energy. The company’s technique provides electronic devices with faster, more efficient methods and interfaces for capturing and managing media. 

Summary of the patent

Here’s Apple’s abstract of the patent: “Media user interfaces are described, including user interfaces for accessing media controls or settings (e.g., accessing controls and/or settings to capture photos and/or videos to capture videos).”

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