Apple shows off iOS Spaces for iPad in patent filing

A recent patent application, found by Patently Apple, shows Apple's concept for using Spaces on future installments of iOS on the iPad. Anyone following the rumor mill and development patterns surrounding Apple's iOS platform may not be entirely surprised by this patent, though its emergence may signal an arrival soon. According to the patent, "In some embodiments, the device is a desktop computer. In some embodiments, the device is portable (e.g., a notebook computer, a tablet, or a handheld device)."

Looking closely at the above photo, you may notice that the Spaces concept looks like it's running desktop-style apps, like iTunes. Patently Apple suggests that Spaces for iPad and Spaces for Mac OS X 10.7 Lion have extremely similar qualities. That could add fire to the rumor that Lion will be touch-screen-compatible, which could lead to touch-screen desktop class machines (read: iMac Touch).

Spaces on the iPad would make an already powerful iOS much more efficiency-friendly, giving users with productivity goals a way to organize their workspaces and apps without having to scroll through the existing multitasking bar. There is nothing specific in the patent about Spaces for iPhone, though a slightly redesigned version may make sense on a small screen.

Would you like to see Spaces for iPad? Let me know in the comments!