Apple files patent to fill in gaps on screen during letterboxed video

Apple filed a patent back in January that offers a possible solution to the gaps that appear on the iPhone screen when widescreen videos are played. Using a Photoshop type-technique, colors are copied from each frame of video and then are used to fill in the gaps. It is a good enough solution to make the video appear to look full-screened in size.

The January patent filing adds to another patent filed in 2006 when the original Apple iPhone was being developed. Fast forward to current times and the Apple iPhone 5 still has the same letterbox problem despite the increase in screen size and in vertical resolution.  While it would obviously be a boon for those who like to watch movies or videos on their Apple iPhone, with the new screen size on the Apple iPhone 5, users of the latter device could really use this on those many apps that haven't been re-sized to fit the new 4 inch screen.

source: USPTO via Engadget