Apple Files Patent for 3D Movie Browser

You never know what patent application will surface from Apple over by the US Patent and Trademark office. Earlier today, we highlighted patents that point to Apple's focus on the development of a Wii-like "remote wand" possibly for the next generation Apple TV. There was however, one other very interesting patent that got us pretty excited - a 3D Movie browser and editor.

"A three-dimensional movie browser or editor is disclosed. In one aspect, video frames are quads in space. A movie plays at full quality by moving the quads in space at a speed of the movie and having a camera follow the quads. A focus frame in the movie is put forward by a cover-flow/dock like expansion around it. Video frames are loaded at a resolution and with an interval that depends on their position regarding a focus point or the optical flow between the frames." 

The filing notes that the implementation of this technology can include applications (such as QuickTime, iTunes, Final Cut, and iMovie), menu systems (DVD menus and DVD scene searching tools) and hardware (such as desktops, iPods, and iPhones.)