Apple rumor roundup: iPhone patent 4.0 edition
By Nilay Patel 
posted January 15th 2010 12:28PM
posted January 15th 2010 12:28PM
On today's edition of the never-ending Apple rumor roundup, we take a quick detour into the murky realm of the United States patent database, topped off with a charming unsourced tip and some delightful analyst conjecture. Let's blaze.The rumor: A recent Apple patent application for a capacitive touchscreen-specific stylus may or may not mean The Tablet uses a stylus for input.
Our take: We've already promised to eat our hat if Apple puts a removable battery in the iPhone, so what's next? A shoe? We will eat a shoe if Steve Jobs introduces a product that requires the use of a stylus. Besides, this product already exists: it's called the Pogo Stylus, and it's not exactly rocking minds (although we are intrigued by Inklet). Apple likes to file silly broad patent applications and see what it can get away with -- it's never been wise to read too much into them.
The rumor: Another Apple patent application hints that portable DVR functionality is coming to the iPod / iPhone -- you'll be able to grab TV and radio content from cable, satellite, OTA, or using "services" with your portable device and then load that into iTunes. Not only will you be able to connect new iPods to a cable box to record shows -- channel changing and everything -- but Apple's going to release an accessory for older iPods to enable this functionality as well.
Our take: This would be like a dream come true for the consumer, and a crazy heroin nightmare for Apple to actually implement -- can you imagine an iPod with a freaking CableCARD slot? Neither can we. Besides, it's not like Apple to push content sales from anything other than the iTunes Store, and it's especially not like Apple to extend functionality to older iPods when it can just release a newer one in a slightly different metallic finish. Next! The rumor: The extremely well-known Robert Chen of Goldman Sachs says a new iPhone will go into production this April with availability in June or July, and that the back of the phone will be touch-sensitive plastic, much like the Magic Mouse and that Synaptics Fuse demo unit we just played with. AppleInsider takes this a step further and points to -- what else? -- an Apple patent application describing something just like that.
Our take: Surprisingly, this one of the more plausible rumors we've heard yet. Taken alone, it certainly seems to make sense: the iPhone release schedule up till now would indicate a new model coming in June, so production could certainly begin ramping up in April, and hey -- why not a touch-sensitive back panel? It would certainly make gaming much more interesting. That said, Goldman Sachs and Robert Chen are in this game to make money and we're unfamiliar with his track record, so we're not assuming any of this is accurate. Still, a nice mix of the insane and the believable here -- someone's been practicing at home.
The rumor: iPhone OS 4.0 is coming soon -- a "prominent app developer" sent CNET's Rick Broida an email saying they'd "submitted an updated app for the new iPhone OS 4.0 software." That obviously means iPhone OS 4.0 is coming, like, tomorrow.
Our take: We haven't gotten any independent tips about this email, so maybe only Rick got it. Even still, we still think that whatever Apple's doing next is based on the iPhone OS -- and we've also heard that updated builds of the iPhone OS are under strict lock and key because they contain many references to The Tablet. We also think it's obvious we'll see iPhone OS 4.0 at some point in the next few months -- if not in the next two weeks at the stlll-unannounced tablet launch, then in two months at the now-traditional March iPhone SDK event.
So yeah, things are starting to heat up, and this latest batch of rumors seems ripe for some hysterical misinterpretation. We would say we can't wait... but we can.
Oh right.
Got any news?
@MarkAnderson Have you tried some of the other links on the site? Bit of a lottery, but sometimes it works.
@Rebajas
It's the kind of lottery you always lose.
@Rebajas
Indeed. Most of them have news as opposed to ramblings about what some company might or might not do.
That was kind of the point.
@a dumb cat Not sure you always lose, I saw a news article about Google recently... oh, and one about Verizon last week.
@MarkAnderson Yeah, but if you go to an article called 'Apple rumour roundup' you have to expect it isn't going to be very substantive?
@Rebajas
I'm a hopeless optimist.
@MarkAnderson Here's some Apple News for ya:
http://www.androidspin.com/2010/01/15/apple-cofounder-loves-the-nexus-one/
"Steve Wozniak, gadget guru, and cofounder of Apple computer, has made a confession: he bought the Nexus One and it is his favorite gadget.
According to an NBC affiliate in the San Francisco bay area, Wozniak did not mention the Nexus One by name, but rather said “Well, it is the latest one. It’s a non-Apple product, but it’s a gadget that just came out yesterday.” The Woz gave this statement just 24 hours after the Nexus One was officially unveiled."
@RMGH http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/tech/Wozniaks-Shocking-Admission-Hes-a-Google-Lover-81358352.html
@RMGH
Hmm,, if you knew anything about Woz you would know he just loves gadgets. It's not like he only uses Apple stuff. Hardly news.
Try harder next time
@MarkAnderson
We know you're just trying to cultivate some sort of following. You only post on these threads so you can come back and see a dozen "Yes, Mark, you are totally right" responses to your meaningless post.
This just in: founder of large technology company is not a rabbid fanboy for any one company's products like losers on the Internet.
@RMGH
That's cool... Wox bought a Nexus One. And other people bought 19,999 of them in the first week.
Fantastic sales numbers, I say.
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/01/nexus-one-sales/
@pukerocket
It's not my fault you're jealous and everyone hates you.
And you smell of wee.
@Michael Scrip Compare sales numbers to droid or iPhone and u will see how bad those numbers are.
@pukerocket RMGH wasn't even trying to make a stab at Apple. Blame the source link for your hilarious paranoia.
@xmiketheripperx Obvious troll is obvious.
@MarkAnderson
It's not about news, it's about awesome Photochops of unicorns.
@Cy Starkman
In that case I approve of this post.
@pukerocket Rumor-mills to weave.. before the real dress, is like wearing a clothe of the vain emperor, and we all know what happened to him, don't we? Reading the article, I think the most possible case is what Mr. Sachs of bloomberg had stated, that iPhone will have a 5mp cam and some updates to the OS.
Apple has been very good of concealing their product to the curious cats -- I'm talking about their tablet -- even just 12 days from the official statement all we have are rumors only.. http://bit.ly/apple-tablet-details-compiled
Its starting to became clear, that it is on these rumors Apple makes their product unveiling more exciting (They use anticipation to build a tremendous longing for their products)
@Dale P
Well, he has Apples' newest iPhone too (like 3 of them), since iPhones come out every Summer. So, its not like he loves Google either. He's just a rich geek who likes new toys.
Mark Anderson is a hopeless Nokia fanboi. I didn't expect much more.
O boy! Apples rumours, rumours, rumours...
January 26/27 is right around the corner :)
Thanks Engadget for the rumour roundup.
@Dusty
This patent does not mean that the use of the stylus will be required, simply that both stylus and finger will work. I, for one, would love to be able to use the tablet as a sketching pad, and I have passed the Finger level in Drawing Warz a long time ago.
@Dusty
you spelled "rumor" wrong four times in one post ;)
@brookey86
Haha ya I noticed that afterwards. My bad :P
@brookey86
That's the British spelling.
@JeanMichel Decombe . and the patent was filed in july of 2008. meaning it was probably first dreamed up a year before that.
Apple knew that some folks would want a stylus even with the lack of a requirement and they probably wanted grab a little cash in royalities over the issue so they filed the patent. and then licensed it to places like the Pogo folks (who release in Nov of that year). win for both. they even use the Pogo in the Apple stores with those new pay devices.
@Dusty
i do appreciate that they put these all in one post.
name change: iGadget.
@kantbstopped519
Srsly... If steve jobs farts i'm sure engadget will be the first to let us know they are coming out with some sort of patent for it control your ipod stereo system.
Isn't the fact that Apple will schedule an event in the near future still just a rumor at this point?
http://www.apple.com/pr/events
@EricS Yeah but at least this is a rumour that will be confirmed or expelled by the middle of next week.
@EricS
I so hope they do not announce a tablet. Just to piss people off.
I hear from an analyst friend of mine that it will have super-duper-wowee-multi-multi-touch. Basically it will allow input from not only all ten fingers but toes, nose, tongue, elbows and eyelids...it helps faster typing!
This will then become the de-facto basis of input in all devices and anyone not using it will be constantly vilified like the non-fruity scum that they are. Heathens!
@Tes
I so wish it will have a stylus and watch as Engadget does a 180, stating it's the best method of input EVAR! I mean, wasn't it just a couple of days ago they were going coco about an app that turns MacBook touchpads into drawing tablets. Now if that's what comes with an Apple tablet, even I would find that compelling and Engadget will look rather foolish.
@Tes Stylus might be more applicable at larger sizes than on the iphone. Depends if they are going to have handwriting recognition or similar.
@Tes Well, we were into Inklet because it extends the functionality of the trackpad in a new and interesting way -- which is not at all like requiring a stylus to use a product.
@Tes.so since you have the scoop, my roommate wants to know if he can use 'my third leg' (his words not mine)
@Tes
Also I don't think Engadget had a problem with styli themselves, but with the fact that WinMo 6.1 almost REQUIRES you to use one. And that is a valid concern.
What about the rumored FM radio for the 3GS/ 3rd gen touch with iTunes link? It was first spokb about a while ago, since the newer device have an FM receiver in the broadcom chip
@Jamma
Not related at all, but why how I was happy when leeds beat united at old trafford! Beckford has to stay!
@Seven
meant to say "my how i was.."*
@xberxinfinity You're such an eloquent Wordsmith.
macrumors.com is the site to read these and other boring apple-related rumors. engadget.com should concentrate on released or officially announced products. all these rumors are just some sort of ad campaign for apple, even if apple is not directly spreading them.
@sottil
But you have to remember, in order to get invites to Apple events (important to a popular tech blog, well, MOSTLY "tech" blog) you have to kiss it's ass and grovel at it's feet. One might assume that also means proving free publicity at every possible opportunity by re-posting the same asinine product rumours for the Nth time.
Oh, and NEVER CRITISISE APPLE. iLounge did once, and they were banned from Apple events.
@sottil The comments are funnier here though...
@CJ
your explanation is very likely correct and shows how indirect marketing works (even if the product does not or will never exist).
but sales of other existing apple products profit from apple being
constantly present in the media.
@sottil No he's not. Engadget and Gizmodo get invites because they are the single biggest gadget blogs on the earth. Period. (unless Apple ban all Gawker-related sites? :o)
Beside, are you really claiming that Engadget has never criticised Apple? As much as I would love to get a high rank, Engadget is just giving us what we want and last; 'Apple rumor roundup' says it all, you don't HAVE to click.
@Jakob
this site is about gadgets and not about rumors. with your reasoning they could just as well post anything (even if it is made up)
and tell me not to click on the link if i don't like it.
i like engadget as long as they concentrate on actual products
and not on pointless rumors (or better said wishful thinking) somebody spilled into the net.