How copy-and-paste might work on the iPhone
From my point of view (amply discussed in our wish list magnum opus), one of the iPhone’s key lacks is any sort of text selection and copy and paste. It can be frustrating to try and move text from one application to another—my most recent experience was with picture messages that a friend sent me (which the iPhone doesn’t support). I was invited to go to a web page and input a key and password. Unfortunately, not only was the link not tappable, but with no way of copy and pasting the key (a string of random alphanumeric characters), I was forced to resort to either writing it down on paper or waiting until I got back to my computer. I’d go so far as to call that asinine design.
Anyway, one user has concocted a mockup for how copy-and-paste might work on the iPhone. Like me, he thought using two fingers would be one way of doing this, but he envisioned it slightly differently. Take a look.
iPhone Copy and Paste from lonelysandwich and Vimeo.
Personally, I think just dragging with two fingers should be enough to summon the loupe and select text, but I can see the virtues of this solution as well. I just hope Apple comes up with something, since this gaping void is only getting more irritating.
[via Digg]
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Comments (11)
The Iphone was orginally conceived by InterCell in 2000. It worked on MS 'stinger' beta OS.
However, Apple has got it to market in 2007.
Kudo's to Steve and the team for making it real.
Best regards,
Shawn Kalin
Las Vegas, NV
Posted by Shawn Kalin | August 9, 2007 12:55 PM
That literally made me laugh out loud.
Creepy. Cool. And a great idea!
I love you, too, cultish non-offensive Apple guy.
Posted by El Brown | August 9, 2007 12:56 PM
classic! that guy should do more vids with the apple guy (who i also love in a non-sexual way...)
Posted by John Mims | August 9, 2007 4:12 PM
Awesome thinking! Apple has just touched the surface of gesture commands. Your example is a brilliant application of gestures already recognize by the iPhone.
Hey--if you hack the code to incorporate it in your iPhone give me a call!
Cheers,
Stephen
A in your face Mac Evangelist
Posted by brownreese | August 9, 2007 4:17 PM
You could have at least used a video format other than flash so those of us on the iPhone could view the video. :P
Posted by Kavok | August 9, 2007 5:19 PM
The problem with two fingers is that does scrolling on the iPhone. The tap he points is the best way to do it
Separately, the damn "viewmymessage.com" with name and password needs to be firxed - there is NO reason the SMS program cannot parse that and just make that an encoded link to the browser. I predict the next software rev (not bug fix) to the iPhone will have that.
Posted by ebernet![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://iphone.macworld.com/nav-commenters.gif)
|
August 9, 2007 5:42 PM
Hilarious video and great idea. One question though, since it appears that both copy and paste use the same loupe/tap gesture, how would the phone know whether to put you into the blue bar select mode versus bringing up the clipboard? The example being if you already have something copied onto the clipboard, but want to copy something different or want to re-paste what you already have. Excellent idea though. I hope Apple does something like it.
Posted by Eric Erickson | August 9, 2007 8:11 PM
How could you post the video in a format not viewable on the iPhone?!
Posted by Mark | August 9, 2007 8:59 PM
Apple does not like to put people in a 'mode'. Tap and hold with two fingers until glass appears, then drag to select. I don't think this conflicts with other gestures. Or, use his gesture - tap and hold until glass appears, then second finger down and drag first or both fingers to select. For copy, cut or paste, of selection, I see a keyboard key. You should also be able to tap a selection, hold, get the glass, then drag to move it.
More generally, I see a contextual menu gesture. In general, tap and hold, and a contextual menu appears in addition to an info bubble or glass, drag to a command to execute it, release without dragging to cancel. You can do copy, paste, and many other contextual commands this way.
Posted by lepton | August 10, 2007 2:38 PM
That is the most hilarious thing I have ever seen!! Great job and great idea!
Posted by Vicki | August 15, 2007 11:26 AM
What's even worse about the picture messaging on the iPhone is that even if you did take the time to write it down and open it up with SafariMobile the images on the website are displayed with Flash.
Yea, pretty crappy.
Posted by bahamat | August 15, 2007 5:16 PM