We've seen plenty of patent applications from Apple describing a
tablet and its
interface over the years, and this morning another has been making the rounds, purported by many to give a glimpse at that device's internals. Sadly, after reading through the details, this "Display Housing for Computing Device" sounds like a plain 'ol laptop case to us. It describes "a portable computer including a base and a lid, the lid being coupled to the base via a hinge, and wherein the housing corresponds to the housing of the lid or the housing of the base." There are repeated mentions of a hinge and of the processor being separate from the display housing; one of the figures (included below) even shows a rather standard-looking -- if button-deprived -- laptop. So, sadly, we're thinking this isn't the super-slim keyboard-less Apple tablet/MID you've all been waiting for, more likely just a stiffer lid for a next-generation MacBook. One interesting note: the text spends quite a bit of time discussing means for a glowing logo on the back. Is this the beginning of
another patent battle, this time with HP over its similarly illuminated
dv5? We sure hope not.
Update: Actually, on a second read through the claims, we'd say this has even
less to do with a supposed tablet -- our guess is that this is a patent application for the unibody MacBooks.
[Via
Electronic Pulp]
posted Feb 3rd 2009 9:03AM
In other words................Bill Gates will be taking a dump in the staff toilet right next to the canteen at 09:40AM today.
HUHUUU Cool!
Fig. 2 actually shows a toaster heating plate
Two trackpad buttons? Nahhhhh....
You SURE this thing belongs to apple? ;-)
Are you guys stupid? When were you born? Yesterday? That “Tablet” image you show first is the monitor casing for the old PowerBook G3 - about 8 years old now.
From the read link:
Update: As one helpful anon pointed out, the first illustration was actually that of the old PowerBook G3’s monitor. And no, I wasn’t born yesterday, just didn’t start using/learning about Macs ’til a few years ago.
Boy this jumping all over apples seemingly trivial patents is getting a little tired now.
Where are Microsofts patents? They must have thousands....
and THAT, sir, is how steve jobs makes a netbook. ... by rereleasing an archaic laptop.
@Adderz: Engadget can only report boring Apple patents. If they reported MS patents as well, they'd be deemed "too neutral".
Palm has once again what to copy!
Hahaha
you know there already a tablet out for apple well apple specifically didn't put it out but it's apple approved
http://odetoapple.com/2008/axiotron-modbook-first-apple-authorized-tablet-mac/
personally i think it show's behind/through the screen multiple isights (esp as none shown elsewhere)
if you rummage about you will find previous rumors implying this was in the pipeline about a year ago...
Genius!
This story was so exciting that I almost slipped into a coma...
When Apple patents something exciting, feel free to let us know but in the meantime, feel free to ignore dross like this. I'm sure they raise hundreds of patent applications each year, much like other companies, and we don't need information on each of them, particularly when they are as "interesting" as this one. I mean, you almost seem to admit that this is a non-story and not interesting in the article.
I count 24 keys. Leave it to Apple to introduce a reduced instruction set alphabet.
meh, vowels other than a and e are overrated anyway.
They're patenting "portable computers" with a lid and a base now? Surely that can't be it.
Me thinks new macbook air in June?