Apple patent application reveals ad-supported OS, desktop Armageddon

You know, a lot of patent applications are company attempts to guard against the future however it might play out. But sometimes they predict the product pipeline as did this application for what ultimately became Apple's new Magic Mouse. So seeing an Apple patent application for "Advertisement in Operating System" attributed to "Inventor" Steven Jobs himself is enough to send chills up the spine. The idea is to make the OS free or at a reduced cost, something Google knows a thing or two about. Unfortunately, the idea presented would offer "visual or audible" advertisements that "disables one or more functions while the advertisement is being presented." Ugh.

[Thanks, Mike]

[Covarr Posted Oct 22nd 2009 8:15PM]

"Boom! Hea--BUY AN iPHONE TODAY. Your game will continue in 20 seconds.--adshot! Wait what? Dammit!"

This is not the OS for gamers.

[dalismoustache Posted Oct 22nd 2009 10:31PM]

A free OS you say? That's surely never been done before (wink wink).

I highly doubt this would ever see the light of day outside of some kind of crippled trial version of OSX designed to be installed on non-Apple hardware, which in and of itself is highly unlikely. It could possibly help bring in some more users, but the headaches involved in developing wider (official) hardware support on the platform would be immense, and likely outweigh any possible gains.

That being said, between this patent and MS' inclusion of ads in Office Starter (or whatever the kids are calling it these days), things are just getting silly.

[Weet Posted Oct 23rd 2009 11:35AM]

I hate advertising.

[Nicnac Posted Oct 23rd 2009 2:19PM]

is this from the same source as Apple threatens a family to keep quiet about exploding batteries?

[whisperinyourEar Posted Oct 23rd 2009 5:14PM]

Boss: Get that report on my office in the next hour or your fired!!
worker: yer sir!

As the worker starts his pc up he's feeling good because all he needs is 40 min to finish his work.

PC boots up

Hello this is Mac OSX, I have been watching you through the webcam and anytime I play ads you get up and wark away so now I am in lockdown mode and you have to watch ads for the next hour or I will format myself. Goodbye

Worker: NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 15th 2009 7:19PM]

Not to fear everybody. I filed a patent application months before Apple and Steve that basically invalidates their patent. If they want to pursue it, they will have to find me, otherwise risk being sued years from now for retroactive royalty payments.