Apple patent hints at integrated webcams for future iMacs, notebooks

A patent application has recently surfaced that may indicate Apple's intention of building webcams directly into future iMacs and notebooks. In keeping with Apple's habit of patenting technology that everyone is already using, the March 2004 filing shows plans for a webcam built into the screen-side latch of a notebook (much like the cams that Sony has been integrating into their machines for years). Unlike past offerings, however, the Apple patent presents the bold and innovative concept of allowing the webcam to rotate about its horizontal axis. Think Different? You bet!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[Bob Aman @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

Actually, the rotating bit isn't even original either. The first laptop I ever saw with the webcam built-in had that feature...

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

My sarcasm detector hasn't warmed up fully. My Sony PCG-C1VN has a swivelling camera above the display. It turns up and down, and auto-flips the images so the inverted camera still takes upright images. It doesn't swivel side to side, like the Apple drawing, however.

[Junyi @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

It's called sarcasm.

[TZK @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

I think they were being sarcastic.

[emehrkay @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

if a seed can be patented, then im sure they can get this one through

[Zadillo @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

Sarcasm aside, from reading the article and looking at the additional pictures, I don't think Apple is trying to patent just the basic concept of a camera integrated into the lid (like the Sony Vaios). It would seem they were filing a patent on a particular approach to doing something similar, but with some things that look to be unique, at least for a laptop (I noticed one of the patent images shows the camera as apparently being removable (that is, you can see the camera removed from the bevel, with a wire still connecting it to the laptop). It also appears that, aside from rotating like the Sony Vaio cameras do, they seem to indicate it being able to be rotated 360 degrees from left to right as well. So, having said that, I'm not completely sure it's fair to chalk this up to "Apple patenting something that is exactly the same as what Sony and others have already been doing".

[pableu @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

This ist just frackin' stupid.. funny, though, that they weren't fast enough to patent the ID3-Navigation on MP3-Players ;-)

[JK @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

Learn a little about how the patent process works, then complain about that. This is the game. Actual innovation doesn't matter all that much.

The point is, don't just single out Apple... At an old job (guess what? i got disillusioned!) I wrote some patents for Sun that were very obviously "unpatentable"

At this level, the game is about how many patents do you have, not about the quality & importance of each one.

The game is total bullshit, too. The patent office stifles innovation these days. It does not, as was its founding principle, encourage innovation.

[narco @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

Maybe Apple got sick of all these other people patenting their iPod technology, so they're want to get even.

Fishes,
narco.

[MaxSMoke @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

Further proof that Apple doesn't "Innovate" anything. They just take existing ideas and repackage them, then rely on their obsessive fans to push their junk on others. Tools.

[Rus @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

To all those making the fuss over iPod being previously patented ... if Creative has such a case ... where's the suit?

[Nick @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

>>Further proof that Apple doesn't "Innovate" anything. They just take existing ideas and repackage them, then rely on their obsessive fans to push their junk on others. Tools.<<

You're the tool. Didn't you read the post above that said some of the technology is different? You're just another Apple basher who whines without factual basis. STFU.

[Thor @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

Asus 12" Laptops have swiveling cameras where the latch usually is and most other sizes have a stationary camera... and seeing as Asus is the maker of all Apple AND sony laptops this wouldn�t really be a far fetched idea..

[iomatic @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

Ditto that nick. That guy probably also thinks Fox News is 'unbiased and factual'. Myopia of the mind� it's spreading!

...

[JC @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

Uh kids, there is no product to pick apart, just a conceptual drawing.

[hall @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

yeah...Apple want to get even :))

[Will @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

Patents don't give you rights to an idea, they give you the rights to an *implementation* of an idea. You don't patent ideas.

[Artos @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

I wonder if there could be a practical purpose to having the webcam active when the clamshell is closed (facing outwards)?

[Curtis McMinn @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

I think it stupid people can say that apple doesn't innovate. Who does, Microsoft? Look at Vista lately? Ha. What innovation there, buddy.

Also, this whole industry relies on each other for innovation. I think some people just stupid for saying a company doesn't innovate. Anyone use an iPod lately? Sure, the concept is similar to the walkman, etc. But, the iPod was innovated BY APPLE.

Idiots.

[myk @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

Arthus. I think the rotation is for possibly taking a pic or video of someone in front of u. I don't think its for when the clamshell is closed.

[Srikanth Vellore @ Dec 19th 2005 2:37AM]

Perhaps in today's context it is wrong to interpret 'Innovation' to mean 'invention'. Unlike the inventions of yesterday, which were based on more direct human experiences, today's innovation is based on pre-existing ideas. And i don't see this as fundamentally different from "inventions" anyway.
A contextual redesign today may be as relevant or significant as yesterday's 'invention'. If repackaging an old idea and marketing it in a fresh manner is what it takes to drive an idea into the market as an innovation, then Apple should at least be given credit for being by far the best Company in this business. At least they bring an indisputable elegance to the product like no other Company has shown capability for.
So maybe today, [Apple's] innovation is all about the manner in which a product is 'introduced' into the market, the assciated GUI, packagaing etc. (and not to mention the way they seem to send other companies like Microsoft, Sony etc. back to their drawing boards)!