Just in case
one Apple patent filing wasn't enough for you, another one has just hit the internets -- filed April 26, 2005, and published on the US Patent & Trademark Office's site today. As always, the patent lays out in explicit and excruciating detail what
Apple has in the pipeline. This time, it's a "hand held electronic device with multiple touch sensing devices." Not clear enough for you? If you scroll down far enough, you'll find reference to the possibility of merging of many electronic devices into a single device: "Each device 102 includes both hardware and software components 104 and 106, which are integrated into multi-functional hand-held device 100. It should be pointed out that the multi-functional hand-held device 100 is not limited to only two devices, and may in fact integrate any number of devices." The patent filing goes on to say: "By way of example, the portable electronic device may correspond to tablet PCs, PDAs, media players (music, images, video), game players, telephones, cellular phones, mobile radios, cameras, GPS modules, remote controls, and/or the like." So, in short, it'll be something between anything and everything. Now, invoking the WANL ("we are not lawyers") clause here, we're really scratching our heads at this one -- because if our scant knowledge of patent law is correct, it would seem that prior art would apply. That is to say that surely there are millions of devices out there that have a touchscreen and have multiple functions. Surely one of these patent lawyers has a Treo or a BlackBerry, no? Assuming that those brainiac Apple attorneys know what they're doing, this patent potentially paves the way for an an even awesomer touchscreen-based
iPhone than the
rumors we've already heard about, or other devices that may or may not have something to do with products
to be unveiled next week -- so until then, run along now.
[Via
CrunchGear and
MacNN]
posted Sep 7th 2006 8:48PM
I think we're going to see the true video iPod, iPhone and iTablet rumors all fall into one device with this. Basically a full touch screen ipod with phone and other abilities.
Well, maybe prior art exists, but you can imagine that Apple is patenting their asses off right now after the recent settlements with Creative, et al. I mean, if Creative can get $100 mil for patenting a hierarchical menu interface (like prior art didn't exist there!), then why shouldn't Apple get to patent a device that may or may not do one or more things? Hell, I think I might just try to get a patent on a round thing that you can use to make it easier to move other things, and sue the automotive industry for all they're worth.
How come rumor sites always think there's a new product around the corner when some patent appears? Patent does not necessarily equal upcoming product.
this is a great looking device. it may not be exact shape or dimensions and could possibly be a form of an iphone or "true" video ipod like the article said it would feature touchscreens and would most likely be used like a pda/cell phone like a treo which would shatter the market. it would be even cooler if it ran a windows mobile-esque version of OS X.
Hmm reminds me of one company that patents each and every thought and we all love to hate it M$. Tell me Apple is not tunrning into one too. Say it isnt so..........................
First iTunes Movie Store Movie list has leaked!! :
http://www.ipodhub.net/330/2006/9/04/ipod-movies-unveiled/
The computer as we currently know it, is so successful because it is a multifunctional device. Unfortunately the interface is limits you in where and how you can use it.
In this patent Apple is describing the logical mobile counterpart to the desktop computer. The device described will make mobile computing practical and powerful on a whole new level.
This type of device can morph into many and do it well because it's interface isn't set in stone or plastic. I've spent more than my share on smartphones, pdas, cameras, ipods, gps navigators, etc...
I have a feeling Apple's universal widget device is going to finally allow me to leave my other gadgets at home.
all this optimism is making my communist brain hurt
Apple had the damn heirachial menu in place on the newton because I had one and played MP3s on it 10 years ago!!! Plus the mac had heirarchial apple menus like 12 years ago. Though I think this gizmo, isn't never gonna see the light of day in the next 18 months.
Eww, what's that I hear ringing...
It's the future calling, your iPhone is ready!
It seems to me the novel idea in the patent is the button for switching between modes. It suggests two or more completely discrete devices which can be switched between by using a button quite prominently. Makes sense--add a mode button to an iPod nano and you have a phone instead of a Nano. Press the button to go back to Nano mode. Undoubtedly receiving a call autoswitches to phone mode and pauses whatever is playing in iPod mode. This solves the problem of integration of functionality quite elegantly, as long as the interface is perfected.
I an imagining a square touchpad gridded with numbers, with the "5" a separate center button for help in orienting fingers when dialing by tactile feel only, which switches to a rotational mode like the current iPods, except with a square form factor.
If Apple ran a site asking for dreamt-up devices, I'm sure we'd all be flooding them. No, wait, they better give the winner one of every product they have (along with Applecare) if he/she submit a device that'd kick zune back to the Stone Ages!
This all makes me think of Gilligan's Island. You go some place where ideas have been invented before, but you can only implement them with coconuts. It's the best you can do, but you gotta be happy with it. Hooray for human innovation!
>> I mean, if Creative can get $100 mil for patenting a
>> hierarchical menu interface (like prior art didn't
>> exist there!)
It didn't. Hierchical file system? Yes. Hierarchical musical library? No. The former is not anticipatory prior art to the latter. You have no idea what you are talking about. Please stop.
-p-
hope it has omething to do withthese...
http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/part_1_apple_files_proximity_detector_in_handheld_device_patent_application/
http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/07/apple-patents-bluetooth-remote-with-touch-screen/
If you look at the sentences quoted, the patent is not talking about a device such as a blackberry which is independent and like a mini computer. But rather it is talking about a dependent device which does not specifically utilize its own functions, but utilize many other devices, syncing them together kind of like a streaming device for the products. A very unique idea, I believe.
Always funny to see people who have no clue about patents (=the Engadget staff) comment about patents.
"As always, the patent lays out in explicit and excruciating detail what Apple has in the pipeline." That statement is of course total nonsense. Companies file a lot of patents, and very few of them have anything to do with actual product plans. I have about 20 patents with my former employer (a leading producer of mobile phones) and not one of them was directly connected to a plan to actually release a product with that technology.
Most of my patents were about protecting the company from other company's patents and about simply having a strong patent portfolio that you can use in exchange for licenses for other company's patents instead of having to pay money for licensing.
All I do see about patents is that they are more and more becoming a way to export the litigation culture of the USA (thx; again)
One example: a certain breast cancer gene is patented in such way that you cannot test women for (that peculiar type of) breast cancer without paying a shitload of money to the patenting company.
As a consequence, no hospital in Belgium still tests this because they can’t pay it. Do note that it is not the test that is patented but the gene itself, you cannot test the gene, even with a test of own design.
And we have one of the best and well-funded public healthcare systems in the world.
I’ll patent “the concept of progress” and "the original idea" and sue them all
(Except Georgie boy of course, he doesn't have a clue)
I've filed my patent for 'a thing that can do things'
Um... does anyone else think this sounds a lot like Compaq's original iPaq design with the Sleeve technology??
MPG --
"As always, the patent lays out in explicit and excruciating detail what Apple has in the pipeline."
It's sarcasm, you robot...
As far as I understand this application, Claim 1 says:
1. A hand-held electronic device, comprising: a multi-touch input surface; and a processing unit operatively connected to said multi-touch input surface, said processing unit capable of receiving a plurality of concurrent touch inputs from a user via said multi-touch input surface and discriminating a user requested action from the touch inputs; and a display device operatively coupled to the processing unit and configured to present a user interface.
This is an application for the multi-touch screen input device, where the device can then have multiple roles.
Of course devices with multiple roles have been around for a long time, you couldn't patent that anymore. Whether you switch between the roles with a switch or a main screen (as also found in the patent application) or whatever really makes no difference.
Or, it could just be Steve having an elaborate (and expensive - but hey, he can afford it) joke. "Let's see how vague a concept I can patent..." And if it goes through, hurray! "Creative, can I have my money back now..."
I'm don't really believe apple should enter the phone market it is so saturated...so many company involve nokia,motoral,sansung ,lg, sony, helio, blackberry, ect..... so many....more..what can apple possibly bring to this market ..what?/ a phone with a camera and a mp3 so what??? so many already outhere..most of the phones a window centric..what can apple bring.. wi-fi ..so what ..? that technology is not here or there ...phone are already complicated ...what else do you want to have on it...I don't get it... Apple is all about less is more ...that is why the ipods don't have a tons of crap that people will not use...I like Apple for that they give you only what you need...keeping it simple make there products great....why would they do a phone ..would it hurt ipods ???also...I don't see the benefit ...I hope they don't make a Iphone...look at the motorola rkz whatever it was not selling.....did u know the motorola razor phone is the best selling cellphones...what is apple going to do add to this market .....now a days I can get a phone for free..or 20 bucks..the value of phone is not the same has mp3 ..almost every body has a cellphone..there like pencil ..there everywhere....I hope they don't make a Iphone.
I saw that you have a page that discusses patent-related resources at http://announcements.engadget.com/2006/09/07/second-apple-patent-filing-du-jour/. I wanted to suggest adding www.freepatentsonline.com to the page. This web site has free PDF downloading (instead of having to page through TIFFs like at the US PTO). It is by far the best free patent searching site.