Apple 'Grab & Go' sync patent application features... Engadget

Apple's applied for and gotten a ton of patents this year, and while most of them are fairly boring, we're intrigued by this recently-revealed application for a "Grab & Go" sync system -- and not just because one of the diagrams references Engadget. The idea is to simplify sync by pre-packaging sets of data into categories like family, business, and entertainment that a user could just grab, as well as make sharing files between devices like phones, computers, and even game consoles much easier. The software can adapt to fit multiple connection types and add various levels of encryption and security, including requiring devices to be in close proximity to each other in order to sync. All in all, it sounds like a solid evolutionary addition to MobileMe, and we're curious to see if any of this ever ships -- the patent application was just made public, so it could be a while.

[a dark day Posted Nov 5th 2009 2:44PM]

i'm waiting for someone to say that this is somehow not tech news

[One Love Posted Nov 5th 2009 2:57PM]

is this news!???

[Freakin Ijit Posted Nov 5th 2009 3:11PM]

I'm waiting for someone to say what's special vis-a-vis Engadget and July 14, 2008.

[POZ Posted Nov 5th 2009 3:58PM]

Well, the DATE is in the image.. someone look it up to see what the POST is!!

[Rem DX Posted Nov 5th 2009 4:16PM]

I'm happy all your years of ass munching have finally paid off. I really am happy for you guys.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 5th 2009 4:21PM]

Did not see anything with this exact timestamp, but they came real close to giving this to Microsoft:

Jul 14th 2008 at 1:47PM EST:
Jul 14th 2008 at 10:47PM EST:
http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/14/microsoft-adds-universal-nbc-to-xbox-live-marketplace-calls-1/

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 5th 2009 4:23PM]

Did not see anything with this exact timestamp, but they came real close to giving this to Microsoft:

Jul 14th 2008 at 1:47PM EST:
Jul 14th 2008 at 10:47PM EST:
http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/14/microsoft-adds-universal-nbc-to-xbox-live-marketplace-calls-1/

[Veraxus Posted Nov 5th 2009 5:57PM]

Being able to store/download/access files from my iPhone (ie: an accessible file system of any kind) is one of my 3 remaining complaints against the iPhone. In all, the complaints are now:
1. TETHERING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (yes, AT&T is at fault - but I don't care).
2. Adobe Flash (as a web developer, I LOATHE Flash - but I still want it on my damn phone).
3. Native file system/ability to copy files onto/off of the phone via USB and even view some (documents, etc).

I use AirSharing Pro for #3 currently, but native support would be nice.

Oh, and some of that free Google Navigation action too, please. TomTom can go fuck themselves in their greedy, sandy assholes.

[Arkv2 Posted Nov 5th 2009 6:58PM]

Well, it is more like apple's way of saying "Thank you".

[gurkha Posted Nov 5th 2009 7:17PM]

loyalty finally paid off ! go on macgadget~ !

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 5th 2009 8:09PM]

Man, who'd you have to blow to get that!

[Please forgive me Posted Nov 5th 2009 8:48PM]

Apple must be trying to win you guys over. /s

Congratulations.

I'm not sure you can expect the same treatment on the next WinMo patent filing. ;)

[maveric101 Posted Nov 6th 2009 1:37AM]

i was curious, so, this would have been the top article if they visited engadget at that time:
http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/14/lucid-logix-hydra-tech-brings-together-any-gpus-for-powerful-mat/

[Dan Fruzzetti Posted Nov 6th 2009 2:58PM]

Sooo they are trying to patent file and directory permissions? Or are they trying to patent the tarball?

[manifest3r Posted Nov 5th 2009 2:44PM]

as if it wasn't obvious before...

[Parias Posted Nov 5th 2009 2:56PM]

Apple is just returning the favor. : )

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 5th 2009 3:33PM]

No way. See that 666 pointed at the Engadget? It's obvious Apple secretly hates them.
Oh and Google, web pages, and YouTube...

[Dori Posted Nov 5th 2009 3:35PM]

gizmodo is going to go all anti-apple now.

[Pradster Posted Nov 5th 2009 6:30PM]

"you scratch my ass, I scratch yours" I know is supposed to read "back" but given the relationship at display here, ass makes more sense!

[Cy Starkman Posted Nov 5th 2009 11:19PM]

Nah, I reckon it was an internal marketing decision by Apple. "Hey how do we make more news regarding all our stuff", "Why not use tech news site links on our patent images, they won't be able to help themselves"

I also ponder the 666, information is evil perhaps, since all the links are labelled such?

[gyros Posted Nov 5th 2009 3:14PM]

hmm ... why I'm not surprised?

[cashmonee Posted Nov 5th 2009 2:44PM]

OMG! Proof that Engadget is in Apple's pocket!!!

[TrollDestroyer Posted Nov 5th 2009 2:51PM]

Then why are you visiting Apple's pocket? Because you obviously hate Apple.

[cashmonee Posted Nov 5th 2009 2:53PM]

Paddy meet sarcasm. Sarcasm, paddy.

[TrollDestroyer Posted Nov 5th 2009 2:55PM]

.......I don't like Sarcasm. Get him Away! Get him Away!

[httph2rtnblogspotcom Posted Nov 5th 2009 2:56PM]

he was looking for Steve Job's hair...

[One Love Posted Nov 5th 2009 2:58PM]

Yes, but it clearly show that they are history. :)

[piere Posted Nov 5th 2009 2:45PM]

you can tell it's older by the round calculator buttons

[Rick James Posted Nov 5th 2009 2:46PM]

Confirmed! Steve Jobs is Editor-in-Chief at Engadget!

[TrollDestroyer Posted Nov 5th 2009 2:49PM]

Confirmed, Every Villain Is Lemons

[Rick James Posted Nov 5th 2009 2:53PM]

Confirmed, lemons is every villain!

Hmmmmm

[TikiTeko Posted Nov 5th 2009 2:55PM]

Is that cat wearing French Bread as a hat?

[Rick James Posted Nov 5th 2009 2:56PM]

@tikiteko

Confirmed, Its a cat sandwich...Duh;P

[Micmoo Posted Nov 5th 2009 4:53PM]

For the less cultured, Every Villain Is Lemons or EVIL is a Spongebob reference

[richb93 Posted Nov 5th 2009 2:50PM]

All that sucking up to Apple has finally paid off Engadget! ;)

[TikiTeko Posted Nov 5th 2009 2:59PM]

I think Apples are really hard to suck - unless you have a humongous mouth.

[nevilock Posted Nov 5th 2009 2:59PM]

"Grab and go" was inspired by the recent smash and grab at the apple store in NJ.

[nevilock Posted Nov 5th 2009 3:00PM]

Fail. i meant to comment on the comment about the title of the app. =(

[DavidVogt Posted Nov 5th 2009 3:55PM]

You took the words right out of my mouth. Word for word.

[ashasaur Posted Nov 5th 2009 2:50PM]

And there it is...as if we needed ANY more proof that Engadget is at least funded by Apple....this is just the ultimate proof.

[Jack Posted Nov 5th 2009 5:19PM]

You seem to be confused about a couple of things. Specifically, the meanings of the words "ultimate" and "proof".

[va jj Posted Nov 5th 2009 2:51PM]

what sort of black magic is this? " grab and go" thats two tasks so it can't be done on the iphone.

[TikiTeko Posted Nov 5th 2009 2:56PM]

it is the next iPhone's new feature: bi-tasking.

[NHAnimator Posted Nov 5th 2009 2:57PM]

The "black magic" might explain why there are 666's all over the diagram.

[Robbie Hottie Posted Nov 5th 2009 4:53PM]

lol ^^^above trifecta FTW

[Jack Posted Nov 5th 2009 6:05PM]

Yes, which is why the iPod app can't run in the background.

Oh wait... yes it can. And you can get mail in the background, and you can load web pages in the background, and you can get phone calls while you're doing something else, and the list just keeps on going.

You people have never actually used an iPhone before, have you?

[Kaph Posted Nov 5th 2009 6:29PM]

Which is why Spotify runs in the backgrou...oh wait.

[Decoy Posted Nov 6th 2009 12:15AM]

@Jack

I'm impressed. My ugly horrible old K800i can play music while I check emails and messages on it or use the internet, and I'll still receive calls. I guess the iPhone is batting at the remarkable level of the Sony Ericcson K800, in terms of multitasking.

Wait, hang on, this ugly crappy old phone has got this minimise feature, so I can load multiple apps at a time. Huh.

[GalinMD Posted Nov 5th 2009 2:52PM]

Or...it's proof that Engadget is one of the leading sources for technology news.

[manifest3r Posted Nov 5th 2009 2:56PM]

heresy!