Apple has been granted a patent (number 8365090) by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office for a “device, method and graphical user interface for zooming out on a touch-screen display,” such as those on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.
In accordance with some embodiments, a computer-implemented method for use in conjunction with a device with a touch screen display is disclosed. In the method, an electronic document is displayed at a first magnification. A gesture is detected on or near the touch screen display corresponding to a command to zoom out by a user-specified amount.
In response to detecting the gesture, the electronic document is displayed at a magnification less than the first magnification. If a document length or a document width is entirely displayed while the gesture is still detected on or near the touch screen display, the electronic document is displayed at a magnification wherein areas beyond opposite edges of the electronic document are displayed. Upon detecting termination of the gesture, the electronic document is displayed at a magnification wherein the areas beyond opposite edges of the electronic document are no longer displayed.
Bas Ording is the inventor.
