Could this be the navigation of a future Zune Phone? It's from a patent filed by Microsoft for "Tile Space User Interface for Mobile Devices," and it looks suspiciously similar to a certain other phone based on a music player. Hmmm… It's got a bunch of big ol' icons that you can apparently click on to get to different options. How innovative! I wonder what the potted plant button does. I'm sure the scales of justice button just acts as a permanent speed dial to 1-800-LAWYERS, but I guess we'll need to wait for official confirmation on that one.

In any case, it seems pretty clear that Microsoft is indeed working on a phone version of their not-quite popular music player, hopefully one that'll come with the WiFi uncrippled so it can adequately compete with the Apple monstrosity due to hit stores this summer. — Adam Frucci

Patent Page, via Gadget Lab