Apple's patented the Tablet Mac

Looks like US Design Patent No. D504,899 is one for the Apple history books—it's been rumored freaking forever, we last heard about this last August, but it became substantiated today when Apple's secret plans for a tablet PC were not-so-ruefully revealed. We're not sure how Microsoft is going to feel about this, but perhaps the heated competition will spur sales of PC tablet devices from their current, sluggish pace. At least one thing's for sure: once this device comes out, tablet devices are officially in. And yeah, if you live in the greater bay area, that loud noise you're hearing right now is the sound of Steve Jobs chopping people's heads off.

[Via slashdot]

[Mike Corley @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Makes sense, in act, they even put a screen rotation function in Tiger, which obviously is just stupid on anything other than a tablet.

[treomeo @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

So, can Engadget explain the PTO leaks? Or, if they're not leaks, tell us why this information is available to the general public? It would seem to prevent companies from keeping product development initiatives secret. A primer would be helpful, so we know a) why this happens, and b) what it means to the consumer, i.e., are we gonna eventually see some of this stuff come to market. Thanks.

[Ben @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

This could be very interesting...I might not get a powerbook afterall....

[Brian @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

The purpose of patents is not to keep ideas and inventions secret. Rather, patents serve to openly spread ideas amongst companies while protecting the originator of those ideas. Had Apple wanted to keep this from spreading, they could have held it as an internal secret, however this affords them no protection under the law if someone decides to copy it.

[Foxified @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

apple does alot of stuff, Like the apple gaming systems, and about 100 other product ideas which stay idea's

[Thought @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

There is no doubt that Apple has achieved a very incredible status among companies: they literally set design trends for the computer and the digital technology industry in general.

The writer is correct: if Apple comes out with a tablet PC, that device goes from being a relatively shunned and ignored device into being a very in and must have device. It is interesting that Apple is probably the only company that could pull that off.

[heistgonewrong @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

They're actually illustrations, not photos.

[daniel @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

wow, for the first time apple copied m$, but o well, apple still rules. also i bet it will do well.

[benny @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Time to start saving up for one.

BTW, this information is available to the general public because you can find it at the patent office's website (search for D504,899).

[Logan Kugler @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

From my understanding, you would plug some type of componet into the back of your already exisiting Mac and the device would wirelessly transmit to the tablet Mac which would basiclly be your Mac sitting on your desk just a wireless transmit to it and with the wireless transmit you could control the Mac, in addition to view the screen.

Sounds like a neat idea. It's like the concept of carrying your iMac around the house but without the 25 pound iMac shell. If the tMac is released with something like a 14' () screen for about $500, there will be bound to be many buyers. Something like $1,000 might be a bit rich. I would say 500 is the sweet point.

[inkninja @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

I hope it will be a partnership between Wacom and Apple, like Wacom did for the Tablet PCs! I am so excited for this, especially if the specs aren't crippled.

[Lars @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Whatever the HECK this thing is, I hope it's revealed at WWDC next month.

[Eric.design @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

I love how much smarter Apple is than their fan base! Everytime the naysayers shoot down a product, Apple does it anyway and makes it work.

MS needs a little kick in the butt to maket TabletPCs better.

Apple better come up with a different name than that too.

[Spamcan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

It's not that hard to make a tablet, they could easily take an existing iBook model and flip the screen around. No need to package in a keyboard or mouse, and knowing apple they'd probably sell a stylish dock with USB and firewire inputs to match it. The real problem I see is in modifying OS X to be more tablet friendly. The dock in particular would have to be heavily modified for me to invest in a mac tablet.

[The Tensor @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

If Logan Kugler is right and this is just a lightweight interface for accessing a desktop Mac remotely, then Microsoft has already been there, done that, and abandoned the market. See:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/smartdisplay/default.mspx

and also:

http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,114093,00.asp

[Eric V @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Despite Microsoft's attempt at a SmartDisplay, I bet that Apple will be able to make it work. Apple has probably already looked at MS's angle into the market with SmartDisplay and noticed where and how it failed. Another thing: look at how clean and simple that tablet display is. I only see ONE button on it, as well as very simple geometries. Part of the reason why the iPod took off is because of its easy-to-use, clean, and simple interface. Most people don't want tons of buttons and interface garbage. They want the damn thing to work and work well (less is more).

One problem I see is the ability to carry that thing around. If it's basically another type of interactive display (and not a fully contained computer), people may not want to tote around 2 big things to and from work/elsewhere. We'll be able to tell what it was really designed for when Apple starts to market it.

[Bruce @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

One button. The TabletShuffle!!!!

Who cares if you can't remember the name of that document. Apple won't let you see it.

Perfect.

[Gartner S @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Maybe it could have a lite version of Mac OS X that can work by it self doing basic things like a PDA. Once it is at home the Tablet will work together wirelessly with your principal Mac and your ihome ; )

Sorry4MyEnglish

[Peter L @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

I took that "button" to be a hole for a power adapter, as I assume you will need to charge this thing at some point. Also, as an owner of a Tablet PC, I can honestly say that MS has done a very decent job with it, and I have serious trouble believing Apple can do it better. They may ignite the market because the company is perceived as trendy, but the actual product (like the iPod) will likely be inferior to its competitors.

The currently shipping version of XP Tablet Edition has really impressive handwriting and speech recognition. The sole reason they haven't taken off is because tablets are flat out (pun!) inconvenient, and using them slows you down except for a few very specialized tasks (drawing, marking up documents, etc.). Things like entering a URL in the address bar are very inconvenient, and there's really no way around this except making a lot of bookmarks (because you can't really word-predict [think T9] a URL).

Talking to your computer in public is weird, and typing is much faster than tapping or writing. One button on a tablet would be a HUGE mistake, just as it is with the mouse. I have 4 shortcut buttons and I wish I had more because believe it or not, digging through menus to launch an app is much easier with a mouse than with a stylus.

This is why I bought a convertible tablet. Very few people use their computers in a way that justifies a slate, which is what this appears to be.

[Logan Kugler @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

The Tensor, interesting. I had not seen that before. Whatever happens, Apple will make it work. Jobs is no dummy. He is a strategical marketing genius.

Possibly the concept will relate back to something like GoToMyPC yet with addition Apple only features. What I mean by this is, Apple's tablet Mac would be something you could carry to and from wherever on the planet you are with your desktop Mac still at home. Just plug the tMac into an ethernet and you get a direct high speed connection to your Mac at your home location. Thus this not being not only a wireless tablet display for home use but one that can connect by internet to your Mac (and possibly even start it up if it's shut down over the net).

There are many possibilites for this thing and it will be very cool, that is certain. I'm almost positive Steve reads Engadget so often, so he is bound to see this. I have my doubts as to if he would comment on anything, but good chance he will glance at this.

--------

"I love how much smarter Apple is than their fan base! Everytime the naysayers shoot down a product, Apple does it anyway and makes it work."

Happens all the time. Just look at Frederick Smith, founder of FedEx. He wrote a thesis paper on starting a package deliever service to deliever packages overnight at Yale University and his professor exclaimed that it was the dumbest thing he had ever heard of, but the prof. was suppose to be the expert? Apperantly not so because just look at FedEx now. Fortunatly Smith did not listen to that professor.

[david @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Apple has developed the following that would work well on a handheld PC:

InkWell - handwriting recognition technology
iChat AV - Video and Audio chats
Screen rotation - Hidden in tiger (option click on display in system preferences (you will have to relaunch system preferences to switch back, it's super disorienting)).
Syncing Services - Self explainitory.

I would personally be shocked if apple releases this product anytime soon for the following reasons:
I doubt processors would be fast enough to fit in that form factor to work adequately.
It would be prohibitively expensive. I don't think this could be another iPod when it's about as portable as an iBook and would probably cost about the same.
How could Apple spin the "you need this device" aspect of it? I could certainly think of a lot of specialized uses I would have for it, but the average consumer might not...

[Pete Jenkins @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

yeah, i can see it being convenient for surfing the web, or medical stuff, but i think a tablet pc is a hard sell to the general public

[met @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Why am I not seeing the usual Tablet jokes ?

[K Paul @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

I have to agree with Peter L. on this (post 18). Microsoft has been hammering at the tablet PC idea for several years and iterations now, and it's never really taken off. Everyone oohs and ahhs at the vision of using a PC like a smart piece of paper, but how many times do you really need or want to write on the screen? The mouse and keyboard user interface isn't elegant, but it's a paradigm we've all adapted and grown accustomed to.

Putting that aside...can we really expect Apple to compete with PC manufacturers price-wise on this product? I agree with the person who thought $500 would be a good price and $1K too much.

This tablet might be great as a way of transferring data from, say, a Power Mac to a home entertainment system. But do you need or want to walk around with a tablet to adjust the color settings on your TV, or change the settings on a networked music server?

Having a cool concept is one thing. Actually getting people to view the concept as a necessity is another. The Cube was a great computer, but it was essentially an engineering challenge successfully met. It had no customer appeal beyond being a computer. The iPod was a cool idea--an updated Walkman that made making your own mixes a snap. Still blows me away that iPods don't have FM tuners and sell v. well. Shows you how far FM radio has fallen...

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

People, people, did you actually go look at the patent? It's a design patent, claiming the *ornamental design* as illustrated. It was filed in early 2004, and this story broke last August. See http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/13/apple_tablet_mac/ for example. The story resurfaced because the patent issued.

This means absolutely no more than Apple saying that *if* they were to make a tablet Mac, and *if* they were to make it look and feel like this, *then* they would be protected by a patent. Any good company these days filed patents on anything they can. It doesn't mean they will ever make one. They might, but you can't tell anything from this. A patent like this can be written up and filed in one day.

[hobgoblin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

i have heard two storys of why microsoft dumped the smart display.

1: was that it made a mess of their licencing as it was aimed at home users but there they licenced pr pc, not pr user and risked loosing money as multiple users could use the same computer at the same time. makes a bit sense given the time.

2: was that it could not deliver video and/or game graphics as the bandwidth was not there. games i can understand, but who the hell would use this for playing anything more intense then simple card and similar games i dont get. and video have had a streaming ability for a long time (would require the smart display to do the decoding native tho, forcing the use of a stronger cpu).

if apple can pull it of, good. as i think it was a great idea and it was silly of microsoft to drop it like a hot potato while keeping the tablet pc.

[joe @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

I'm thinking remote/smart display. maybe to go along with a "sonos like" audio/video streaming system.

[Jason Anderson @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

First off, why is screen rotation on anything other than a tablet "Stupid"? There are people out there with screens on their computers that rotate vertically you know. Some screens can be turned in real-time. It's mainly for publishing. It's not "Stupid".

Secondly, I am wary still. This rumor has been around for years with nary a sign of it coming true. The rumors got even more hyped when Apple put Ink handwriting technology in the OS (Which hasn't been used much since it debuted) when Steve said "All that money in Newton Technology has to be good for something."

For one thing, I do hope it actually does come true one day. I bought a Wacom Tablet, but I just couldn't seem to get used to not being able to see my hand while drawing, and when I looked at the tablet, I couldn't see the screen and would keep making mistakes. But if I could draw directly on the screen, perfect! I wouldn't be able to afford it right away, but I might be able to get one one day. So bring it on! Of course, if it comes out, it'd end up being like $2,500.

[Caz @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

#10 i doubt Wacom would be involved. Wacom's technology is about stylus operated tablets, and if you check the illustration for Apple's patent (assuming the illustration here actually are from Apple's patent), you'll see no stylus. The tablet is fingertip operated instead.

Now, this couldn't be direct use of Wacom technology, as Wacom stylii rely on induction coils to communicate with the tablet.

Most other stylus-based systems make use of pressure sensitive devices built over the display; but those are fragile, thin and soft, thus offering no screen protection. The advantage of the Wacom technology for the Tablet PCs is that it fits the need of a stronger, hard display surface, but on the other other hand, it won't work with anything else than a dedicated stylus (correct me if i'm wrong, i'm just elaborating on what i know from Wacom tablets, but i've never actually used a Tablet PC).
That's sometimes better, tho, than having the sensitive react to just anything that's touching it.

Still, maybe that patented device here will make use of a technology that does offer a stronger screen protection as well as the ability to detect fingertip pressure. Future will tell.

[Stitch @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Perhaps people are overestimating the detail of the drawing? what if the "pad" has some kind of very slick and simple integrated support or stand that allows for it to be stood on edge at an angle similar to a display? If this were the case, it is possible that a virtual keyboard (see: http://www.canesta.com/products.htm for an example) could be incorporated into the device, thus allowing use as a tablet, a pc, or something in between.

Certainly the coolness and functionality would be enhanced by this kind of feature addition, moreover recent advances in 'light-based' keyboards make this more feasible than in the past.

[Robbert @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

It seems Amtek's iTablet T01 looks a lot like what Apple has in mind.... Take a look at it at www.itablet.com

[Rombus @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Peter L:
While I agree MS Has done a pretty good job with the current iteration of TabletPC 2K5, you have to admit, Apple could do a kickass hardware package. Think about a 12 inch powerbook in a convertible form factor with onboard super drive, maybe even a g5?

Apple Hardware always seems to have good design. I can�t see why a TMac would be any different.

Hmmm, if this thing is true, and has some good specs, maybe ill look at getting one.

[CaptSnuffy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

never been a mac guy but i have to give props to apple for this

tablet pcs are awesome.

[Gromit @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Peter L:

I'm probably in the minority, but I prefer my slate Tablet to a convertible. I use my tablet in meetings to take notes via OneNote. The slate is lighter and easier to carry around the office. The keyboard would be convenient for a lot of things, but not really for meetings when I need to take notes but I can't peck away at the keyboard without annoying people. I agree about web browsing though, typing in URLs is clumsy even though the latest version of XP Tablet seems to do better with recognizing things like 'http://'.

[Steve @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

"I love how much smarter Apple is than their fan base! Everytime the naysayers shoot down a product, Apple does it anyway and makes it work."

And that's why most of you are Presidents of "Nothing Incorporated".
Apple's Slogan is Think Different, There Mission is to be innovative. There looking forward. Everytime fans start speculating about the next big thing from Apple, they tend to be thinking in cirlcles while Apple is thinking ahead. It's nice to dream, but PLEASE be a bit more creative!

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Everyone please read Jeff's (#23's) post again, because it seems like many of you who are still posting did not.

This was filed a year ago, and there was a big hub-bub around it at that time. Apple has made no moves towards an actual product since then - nothing even on the rumor sites, which you just know would be all over something like this.

They *could* if they wanted to, but they could make blenders if they wanted to also and they're not doing that either. My guess is they've been sitting around watching the consumer reaction to tablets and they filed this patent just to protect themselves. But tablets do not have the consumer support that even Apple could justify taking advantage of.

Nothing much to see here...

[koz @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

As a student at the University of Illinois back in 1987, Apple held a competition to "design the computer of the year 2000"

The winning team was from Illinois and guess what they designed for Apple? A tablet computer:

http://www.thearling.com/text/cacm/cacm.htm

Kind of funny now to read something from almost 18 years ago and see how much of this stuff is actually finally coming around. Oh, and PRIOR ART on yo azz.

[LOE @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

As mentioned, Jobs is a smart marketer. Apple may, or may not, have any intention of persuing the Tablet Mac. This could simply be slight of hand to direct focus away from something else they are in the process of developing.

[Sam @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

What if this isn't a tablet mac at all?

What if its the video iPod?

[Matt Watts @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Seems to me that with Tiger Server now supporting mobile users' home folders this could be a handy extension of a desktop machine. I could see it synching with your home folder so you can read / write emails on the move, take minutes at meetings, access contacts and ical diaries, surf the net from your living room while your main computer's in the study (plug the two back together when you've finished to sync bookmarks, downloads etc). A cross between a Newton and an ibook I suppose.

I'd buy one.

[pat @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

I think it should be a remote control type device, thats like a PDA running some OSX lite thing but has a reasonable HDD, is able to be a phone and is same size as a 20Gb ipod.. Then i'd buy one. Very quickly :P

[hogwallop @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

This looks like the missing monitor for the MacMini to me. The HDvideo-iPod, perhaps...clearly the pieces for Apple's iVideo are falling into place and something is up. MacMni+"Year of HD"+iTunes w/Video+AirPort Extreme+iPad=Streaming "Revenge of The Sith" while I'm laying in bed.

The question of "why no MacTablet?" has always bothered me. Being an artist myself, and Apple's strong connection to the artist and education communities, it has always bugged me that they don't have one and Widoze does.

I, like so many others, have been holding out on purchasing a new PowerBook because I want the G5 in my pocket (well, okay, in my backpack). But I would buy one of these in a heartbeat IF it had what I wanted. I want a flip-around screen design with a keyboard. I want it to be the lightest laptop available too. I guess I can't get both. Dang it. I just want to doodle on my Mac. C'mon Steve. Gimmie Gimmie.

[dt @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

The company I work at has a few tablet PC's the executives think they make them look cool ;) I still don't see them as viable working machines. Most of the time they use the detachable keyboard which defeats the whole tablet idea. The bottom line is that a good input method is just not there.

[dt @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

The company I work at has a few tablet PC's the executives think they make them look cool ;) I still don't see them as viable working machines. Most of the time they use the detachable keyboard which defeats the whole tablet idea. The bottom line is that a good input method is just not there.

[John T. Haller @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

I wonder what's unique here that's patentable. The patent search DB seems down at the moment. This doesn't look much different than Motion Computer's stuff...

http://www.motioncomputing.com/products/tablet_pc_m1400.asp

[SFguy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

All,
developing a tablet PC is a lot more difficult than people are speculating. If Apple were actually developing a Tablet, there would be a lot more buzz than this.

To wit:
they would have to be developing (or licensing) something different than Inkwell. Inkwell doesn't do cursive (does it?) and the last time I tried it, it wasn't competitive with other contemporary HWR (ritePen).

[esz @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

I WANT A TABLET MAC!
(intant hapiness)

[Jeremy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

You missed the point with the tablet its a screen for your ipod. the ipod will serve as a hard drive.

[eric.design @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

"And that's why most of you are Presidents of "Nothing Incorporated""

No, that's why most of them don't get paid big bucks like SJ over there. He creates...they speculate.
Idiots.

[hogwallop @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

The more I think about this, the more I'm convinced that this could be a wireless, thin client, slab/pad that will interface with an Apple streaming HD service, such as Robert X. Cringely is having fun with:

http://www.pbs.org/cringely/

Or, perhaps it�s simply the seatback tray for DayJet ;-)

Honestly, it looks to me like a thin-different (!) tablet that would connect to a MacMini-based DVR or HD-Content Streamer or maybe both. The fact that it would include a full version of the most modern, commercially available, and just plain beautiful operating system would be a bonus. But that might bite into the already thin profit margins of the rest of the Mac family a little too much. However, if it�s as successful as the iPod, who would care?

So perhaps a widget version of the OS, along with an aqua-faced remote to take back control of my home system from those nasty infomercials and FFC-approved PC-infotainment? Not the tablet I was hoping for, but nice all the same. So there you have it. A chicken in every pot and a Mac in every TV.

I�d still like a full TabletMac like those WinDoze folks got. That�d be friggin� sweet.