Cover Flow

Cover Flow is a graphical user interface in three dimensions for selecting titles, represented by images, in a collection.

The original script, which was distributed free of charge, was bought to a developer by Apple in 2006 to equip the iTunes media player.

Cover flow demo

Here is the history of its use by Apple...

- On 12 September 2006, iTunes is presented with the new interface.
- On 9 January 2007, Apple announced that it will be incorporated it into the iPhone.
- On 11 June 2007, Steve Jobs announced that it will be part of the Leopard operating system for Macintosh.
- On 5 September 2007, iPods are equipped for user to choose among albums.

Apple uses this graphic effect to present covers of music albums, but it can be extended to all images or even as does KDE to everything else...

Generalization

cover flow kde The principle of the interface was echoed by many applications. For example, KDE 4.1 with Cover Switch allows to choose among the windows of applications.
The Compiz Fusion theme for Linux uses the name Shift Switcher for something similar.

Firefox 3.1 also uses the principle to navigate between tabs.
Several Ajax frameworks provide a Cover Flow-like extension.

References and resources