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New logo, trademark lend credence to Bungie 'Destiny' project
Doing the detective work of any good fansite, HBO.org has turned up more evidence of the rumored "Destiny" MMOFPS in development at Bungie Studios / Bungie Aerospace / whatever Bungie wants to call itself. The site discovered that a company named "Podophobia Entertainment," formed by Bungie head Harold Ryan and music composer Marty O'Donnell, had registered a trademark for "Destiny" with the image seen above. The filing is classified under "Computer game software; Computer game software downloadable from a global computer network; Video game software; Virtual reality game software." "Destiny" is just the latest in a series of filings by the Halo dev studio, most recently incorporating "Bungie Aerospace" and trademarking "Crimson" for use with "Computer game software downloadable from a global computer network; Computer game software for use on mobile and cellular phones; Downloadable computer game software via a global computer network and wireless devices." As you might expect, Bungie has remained quiet on the filings and has yet to respond to our requests for comment.
Facebook granted patent for tagging digital media
It's taken the US Patent and Trademark Office four and half years to consider it, but Facebook now finally has a patent on one of its central features: photo tagging. Applied for in October 2006 and just granted this week, this legal doc gives Mark Zuckerberg and a couple of his buddies credit for designing a method for identifying users in "a selection of an item of digital media." That could be photos, video, audio, or text -- the main drive of the patent is that it lets people associate a given chunk of media with a person and inform others of this association. The wording of Facebook's claims is rather specific -- you have to, for example, allow the identified person the opportunity to reject the identification -- so having this patent need not necessarily preclude other sites like Flickr from engaging in similar, but not identical, behavior.
Samsung Galaxy S II US carrier names revealed: AT&T Attain, Verizon Function, and Sprint Within
Anticipation, thy name is Galaxy S II. Or is it Galaxy S 2 Attain? Perhaps it's Galaxy S 2 Function or Within, it all depends on what carrier you prefer, really. You see, the sleuths at Pocketnow have unearthed a silicone case for sale that lists those three names as the particular branding Samsung's new flagship smartphone will enjoy with AT&T, Verizon and Sprint, respectively. That, combined with earlier trademark filings by Sammy asking for Galaxy Attain, Function and Within registrations, would lead us to believe that we are indeed looking at the final product monikers. T-Mobile is notably missing from the list, but we suspect that may be because its variant of the Galaxy S II is materially different in design to the original GSII. The good news for everyone else is that the same silicone case will be interchangeable among AT&T, Verizon and Sprint devices, leaving very little room for those guys to screw things up.
Bungie Aerospace Corporation trademarks 'Crimson,' mystery continues
Bungie's trademark frenzy continues with the discovery of a trademark filing for "Crimson" within the past several days. GameSpot UK spotted the listing on the US Patent and Trademark Office website, which denotes "Crimson" as being "Computer game software downloadable from a global computer network; Computer game software for use on mobile and cellular phones; Downloadable computer game software via a global computer network and wireless devices." Presumably, whatever "Crimson" is won't be all three of those things. Interestingly, the filing applies to newly incorporated Bungie Aerospace (rather than Bungie Studios proper), while Bungie's previous trademark applications were all filed by a proxy corporation (as to hide their origins). As with previous reports, we've contacted Bungie for a comment, but don't expect to hear much back. Nor do we expect to hear anything at E3, as the studio has specifically said it won't be attending this year's show.
Microsoft patent pictures networked, personalized profiles for Kinect-like system
A newly published patent application, submitted by Microsoft to the USPTO back in October 2009, describes the personalization of a "gesture-based system" -- presumably, what would become Kinect -- through detailed user profiles that could be stored on a network. It's anyone's guess if this is a glimpse at where Kinect profiles are going (through potential updates) or what they could have been. The patent outlines a "gesture profile" that could record user preferences for various tasks and system commands. "For example," the application proposes, "a user may prefer to use a checkmark to indicate 'checked' while others may use an X. A user may have a different manner for performing the gesture, such as quicker or more exaggerated motions." Over time, "the system may more fully identify and/or distinguish the user's gestures, thus providing more accuracy and speed for gesture recognition." The proposal also suggests that such a profile could be "roaming in a network." In other words, the user's gesture profile could be connected to any number of potential devices (as pictured). Networked profiles, too, good be updated by the system to make "intelligent" changes to an application's default gesture data based on the users' region. As the patent writers warn, "Different cultures may use similar gestures to impart markedly different meanings." "For instance, an American user who wishes to tell another user to 'look' or 'use his eyes' may put his index finger on his head close to the distal side of his eye," the writers continue. "However, to an Italian user, this gesture may be interpreted as a reference to the mafia." And that's always awkward when you're playing with that shady, old Italian guy.
Microsoft patents apps that let you buy things, Ballmer to go on licensing spree?
Many of us use apps to buy stuff these days, whether its grabbing the latest e-book from Amazon, or a Groupon for a day of pampering at the local spa. Seems obvious now, but it wasn't (at least according to the USPTO) in 2004, when Microsoft filed a patent application for the idea -- and that application was recently granted. The patent claims a way to make purchases through an network-connected portal with a "streamlined interface" (to "streamline" the process of parting you from your money, no doubt). The portal maintains a list of selling sites and exchanges info as needed to let buyers pick up what the seller's putting down. Now, we aren't intimately familiar with the ways shopping apps work, but the patent language appears broad enough to cover apps that make internet purchases without using a full-on web browser -- though only a federal court can say for sure. The only other question is, what are Ballmer and his boys going to do with these newly granted IP powers?
Apple awarded iPhone 4 design patent
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently awarded Apple with 18 fresh patents according to documents released by the government agency this week. Among the 18 new patents, one specifically addresses the design of the iPhone 4. In the newly granted patent, filed by Apple in September, 2010, the Cupertino company details its flagship mobile device in words and illustrations. The patent covers "the ornamental design for an electronic device with graphical user interface" and depicts the distinctive, minimalist industrial design of the iPhone 4, including the infamous stainless steel antenna that loops around its outer edge. The USPTO also furnished Apple with a similar design patent for the iPod touch released in 2007, patents for iTunes and Apple TV, and a technical patent for a touch display with integrated RFID components. [via Engadget]
Apple granted patent for a 'reduced size multi-pin connector,' namedrops USB 3.0 and DisplayPort
Apple has just collected the US Patent Office's approval to add another to its vast hoard of patents. This one, numero 7,918,689 in the USPTO annals, describes a multi-pin male plug connector and a corresponding female receptacle, with the innovation being a reduction in size thanks to a single row of contacts. You can think of it as Apple's next generation of 30-pin connectors, or rather the next generation as the company envisioned it back in late 2008, the date of filing for this document. Back then, while the age of the click wheel was still upon us, Apple wanted to transfer USB 3.0 and DisplayPort signals over its newfangled plug, aspirations that were codified in claim 11 of its patent. We may now be a solid 30 or so months removed from that doc hitting the Patent Office's inbox, but the desire to have advanced data transfer tech integrated straight into the company's proprietary connectors is unlikely to have withered. Would it be a stretch to expect Apple's now working on a similar solution for the Thunderbolt interconnect -- whose plug looks identical to the one used for DisplayPort -- that is presently gracing its MacBook Pro line? %Gallery-120503%
Apple expands App Store trademark in Europe
Two filings published by the European Trademark Office last week suggest the battle for the term "App Store" will expand to new product categories and new turf. Patently Apple reports that the first request from Apple, filed on March 30, expands the use of the term "App Store" from four international classes to ten. The second application, filed on March 31, covers the App Store graphic (much like the image pictured here). Apple submitted its trademark applications in Europe as Microsoft filed its second objection to Apple's registration for the term "App Store" with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Apple also recently filed a lawsuit against retail giant Amazon for naming its new mobile software marketplace "Appstore." Microsoft, Amazon and other software makers may now face similar challenges using the words "App Store" in European markets. Aside from renewing its duels with Microsoft and Amazon on a new continent, Apple's latest filings in Europe expand the "App Store" trademark into six new product categories, like games, electronic publications, educational products and hardware. Notably, one of the new product classes -- International Class 36 for those keeping score -- refers to financial affairs, credit card services, debit card services, home banking and various methods for conducting electronic transactions. Patently Apple observes this class of products goes beyond typical online transactions for buying apps and music. Could Apple's attempt to expand its "App Store" trademark into financial products hint at new electronic wallet services tied to its mobile devices? Both of Apple's new trademark applications for the term "App Store" and the associated graphic are currently marked as "under examination" by the European Trademark Office.
Apple patent application reveals plans for external battery pack, spells further trouble for HyperMac
Way back in September of last year, Apple filed a patent-infringement suit against HyperMac, the folks behind these external batteries. At the time, it looked like Apple was protecting its patented MagSafe power connector, but a newly released USPTO application for a "Power Adapter with Internal Battery" might reveal a more accurate view of the company's litigious motivations. From the look of things, the outfit intends to make its mark on juicing solutions with what is basically a wall charger packing an internal battery. According to the patent filing, the contraption would include a processor for parceling energy to the host device as well as the adapter, and could also incorporate a supplemental energy source like a solar cell. Among other things, it would also communicate with the device being charged to allow users to monitor the juice stored in the extra battery. If the thing does end up making it to market, it looks like HyperMac could have a whole lot more trouble on its hands than a little patent-infringement suit.
Microsoft keeps gunning after Apple's 'generic' App Store trademark, brings in a linguistics expert
We'd say this was getting silly but that would imply that it wasn't already. Microsoft and Apple are still at each other's throat over the latter's trademark application for the term "App Store," with Microsoft now bringing in a Dr. Ronald Butters, Professor Emeritus at Duke University and a man with a taste for hardcore semantics. He says the compound noun "app store" is perfectly generic in that it "does not merely describe the thing named, it is the thing named." In a wildly geeky turn, he references the potential for someone discovering a use for masers and trying to trademark the term "maser store" in response, which would seem immediately and logically absurd. An app store, says the good doctor, is no more capable of being trademarked than a grocery store or a stationery store or a computer store. Of course, as with most trademark disputes, what's truly at stake here isn't linguistics, but a big fat wad of consumer goodwill. Having previously been quite uncomfortable with the idea of buying additional software for his mobile phone, Joe Consumer has nowadays grown quite accustomed to dropping little chunks of change on smartphone apps, and the terminology that sets his mind at ease most readily is indeed "app store." Preventing others from using that well established moniker would clearly be a significant competitive advantage for Apple and it's pretty hard to argue with its contention that it's responsible for generating the goodwill that sits behind it. Then again, we reckon Android's Market, webOS' admittedly small App Catalog, and other moves by the likes of RIM, Nokia and Microsoft itself with WP7, haven't done the app store cause any harm either, so in purely ethical terms it still seems a little rich for Apple to be claiming the app store crown all to itself. As to the legal battle itself, it's descending into quite amusing minutiae, but its outcome will be of great interest to most of the aforementioned mobile ecosystem purveyors.
Google scores a patent for its 'Doodles'
Google's Doodles have certainly come a long way from their humble beginnings, but the company has now pulled off what may be its most jaw-dropping feat yet -- it's just been awarded a patent for them. Described as "systems and methods for enticing users to access a web site," the patent credits Google co-founder Sergey Brin as the sole inventor, and it comes more than ten years after Google first filed the application. As you might expect, the patent seems to cover some fairly broad territory, although it's not clear how or if Google actually plans to enforce it -- either way, we can only assume that some other companies who enjoy having a bit fun with their logo from time to time might have something to say about it.
Nokia collects design patent for a tablet, evokes N8 aesthetics (update: there's another one!)
It's no secret that Nokia's been casting an interested eye over the tablet market and now we have a bit of extra evidence to show its intent, courtesy of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The federal bureau has just published a design patent granted to the Finnish company for a tablet device, which was applied for on May 28th, 2010. Sadly, that date tells us what we're looking at is most probably a shelved MeeGo machine that never made it to market rather than an upcoming world conqueror, but still, here it is for all of us to gawk at and admire. Judging by the 3.5mm headphone jack outline -- which, like the rest of the dotted lines on the sketch, isn't covered by the patent -- we're likely looking at a 9- or 10-inch slate, whose design reminds us most acutely of Nokia's N8 phone. See more pics in the gallery below before returning to your mind cave to fantasize about what might have been... or might still be. Update: Electronista notes that Nokia's filed for and received the rights to a second tablet design patent, this one eschewing the N8 inspiration for a more generic shape. See it pictured after the break or at the second link below. [Thanks, Pradeep] %Gallery-119124%
Apple patent woos with tales of ultra-slim audio connectors for lusciously thin devices
We're still a long way from reaching the point where our gadgets can't get any thinner and, while the 8.7mm iPod Shuffle is just about king of the hill for the moment, Apple is already envisioning a future where where the humble 3.5mm audio jack is too thick. A recently revealed patent application called "Low Profile Plug Receptacle" describes a number of different ways to create audio ports that are thinner than current models but yet won't take us back to the sinister miniUSB adapter days of yore. One of the potential solutions has a "semi-flexible" housing that expands willingly to receive your headphones' clumsy attentions, while another is recessed beneath a pair of doors that flip open to make room when the plug is inserted. As always with these applications there's no reason to believe they'll be ever appearing in a consumer device, but that doesn't mean we can't dream of a future where the gold-plated jack on your buds is thicker than the bulkiest part of your phone.
Apple patent application for 'Dynamically Generated Ring Tones' could make magical videos of your friends
Ever wish life was like a movie, that theme songs went to highlight your every dramatic action? This patent application from Cupertino isn't quite like that, but it's close, basically creating dynamic music videos for your friends when they call. It describes a means of stitching together video and audio sequences of the caller and dynamically composting them to create a beautiful little ditty celebrating your BFF -- or your mother in law, as it were. Such sequences are to be generated by so-called "seed" songs or videos, content that can either be stored directly on the recipient's phone or pulled from Genius data stored in the ether. There's potential here for great stuff, but we already dread a future where data comes from browsing habits and instead of cool tunes and video sequences we're served jingles and McDonald's commercials.
HTC seeks EVO View 4G trademark, all but confirming WiMAX tablet for Sprint
Not that we were doubting the veracity of our tipster's info, but here's a nice fat slice of pseudo-official confirmation of what we were told a couple of days ago. HTC has laid claim to the trademark of "HTC EVO View 4G," confirming our indications that an EVO View tablet would be coming to Sprint's Now Network. That postulation is also supported by the fact that the EVO branding has only ever appeared in association with Sprint as well as some pretty compelling circumstantial evidence. There is an interesting new piece to the puzzle, however, in the 4G appendage to the device's name, which would imply that we're looking at our first WiMAX tablet -- something Sprint promised for this year and looks set to unveil at the upcoming CTIA 2011 trade show. Our expectation is that the EVO View 4G moniker will be attached to HTC's1.5GHz Flyer, a 7-inch Android Gingerbread slate with aspirations for Honeycomb glory in its near future. Only one way to be sure though, keep an eye on our CTIA coverage and we'll let you know as soon as the official bird chirps out the official word.
Apple working on video ringtones
Patently Apple recently uncovered a patent filed by Apple that describes methods for creating video ringtones for telephonic iOS devices like the iPhone. The technology is designed to allow users to automatically combine sound and video from various sources, including iTunes and iMovie, to create custom audio-visual alerts for incoming phone calls. Patently Apple describes multiple ways the patent pending feature could automatically combine audio and video to create custom visuals for each incoming call. In a simple example, visuals displayed on the device would react to associated audio much like a visualizer in iTunes. In another example, a layered composite could be assembled from multiple video or photographic sources. These layers could be independently animated based on different characteristics in the audio track, such as its mix of high and low frequencies. The visuals would not be limited to 2D content. Apple's system could offer visual effects in 3D space, including movement, appearance, shape and differing camera angles. The patent also describes a means for callers to send the "seed" information about a particular song or video. These caller "signatures" could further alter the visual experience for the recipient or offer dynamic links to relevant content for the receiver to check out later. Aside from offering a unique new method for verifying the identity of incoming callers, Patently Apple suggests this technology could bring social networking concepts to ringtones by allowing users to share their latest favorite songs and videos with the people they are calling. The general concept of an animated ringtone is not new. App developers like iFoneTec already offer video ringtone software for the iPhone and Android platforms. (Note: iFoneTec's iPhone app appears to require a jailbroken device.) Existing video ringtone solutions appear limited to playing the same video clip every time a call comes in from a specified contact. Apple's proposed new technology seems to offer a more dynamic and extremely customizable experience that can be configured to some extent by both the caller and the receiver. Of course, Apple often files patents for technologies that never find their way into shipping products. It's unknown whether or not we'll ever see Apple's dynamically animated ringtones on the iPhone. The technology described in the patent would certainly showcase the media capabilities of the iPhone and offer a variety of new opportunities for users to express themselves. Apple's patent, credited to Brian McKnight and Michael Neuman, was originally filed in the third quarter of 2010.
Apple seeking new paradigm for educating students with special needs
According to a report from AppleInsider, the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) this week disclosed a recent patent application for delivering educational content to students in a classroom setting. Filed by Apple in August 2009, under the title "External Content Transformation," the patent describes new methods for a host computer to deliver content to multiple client devices in a format that accommodates the individual needs of each user. Apple's concept aims to help educators address the diverse learning needs of every student in their classrooms. For example, a teacher could use Apple's technology to more effectively deliver the material for a lesson. Based on individual preferences, some students may see the content in a larger font size while their classmates simultaneously receive the same lesson as synthesized speech or in Braille. "A host device can share content with many users, without needing to do significant processing on the host device to accommodate users' needs and preferences," states Apple's patent application. Apple's patent highlights the concept's potential to address the specific needs of students with disabilities, including descriptions of new formats tailored to address the impairments of each individual user. Content would also be adjusted to suit a user's custom system settings or preferences.
Apple patent application opens the door to free-form acoustic gesture commands
Another Apple patent application has come to light that's making us stop the daily grind for a moment and ponder the possibilities. This one talks about scattering a bunch of acoustic transducers (basically, microphones) throughout the case of a laptop. No, they aren't there to pick up the sweet sounds of your humming along with Rihanna and, while the application doesn't make it perfectly clear what their purpose is for, we're liking Patently Apple's conclusion that this is to enable acoustic commands. The application describes a microprocessor that can "interpret electrical signals generated by the one or more acoustic transducers as input." The idea is that these transducers detect a finger making contact with the chassis and register those vibrations as gestures. A similar concept is demonstrated in a video below, so watch that then start dreaming. Dragging your finger along the bezel to scroll? A non-capacitive touchpad as wide as the keyboard? Music games that finally let you show off your finger drumming prowess?
Apple patent shows new "smart bezel" for tablets
An Apple patent was published this week that details a touch sensitive, smart bezel for its tablet devices. The bezel would include touch sensors, pressure sensors, light emitters, haptic actuators and accelerometers. With this array of embedded sensors, a user could touch the bezel and control volume, adjust brightness and more. This patent also describes the use of the bezel to wake up a device, unlock a device and toggle a device on and off. Such a design could allow for the development of a home button-less iPad, a device that was rumored earlier this year by BGR. The smart bezel is similar to, but more advanced than the touch-sensitive gesture area of the Palm Pre Plus and the Pre 2. This type of smart housing may also make its way into Apple's notebook line where embedded sensors would be used to detect I/O activity. This is not the first patent to introduce the use of an intelligent bezel in a tablet device. Earlier this month, Apple was awarded a patent for a bezel that controls volume, adjusts brightness, lets a user zoom, and even functions as a game controller. An earlier patent describes touch-sensitive areas that could replace buttons on a device such as the iPad. Together these patents suggest Apple is looking at alternative input mechanisms that could drive the next wave of innovation in the tablet market. [Via Cnet]
