Archive for the ‘patent’ tag
Reiner: Apple Has An Agressive Strategy
In a week after the story about the lawsuit Oppenheimer analyst Yal Reiner wrote a research note, where it is said that Apple started warning Motorola and HTC in as early as January 2009. The Cupertino’s company was not so happy to see that rivals’ new products look like iPhone (or at least use the same concepts).
Apple COO Tim Cook even commented on this situation:
“Apple will not stand for having our IP ripped off, and we’ll use whatever weapons that we have at our disposal”.
The words were presumably about Samsung, LG and Nokia (Palm is not mentioned as its sales numbers are not so considerable).
Apple Filed Patents For Cooling Methods
Few days ago Apple filed 4 patents about methods of cooling its devices. Company’s products have never been known for the problems of overheating but we can definitely assume that new versions will be more power hungry and thereafter more heat consumable in the future.
This is a list of new patents:
- “Methods and Apparatus for Cooling Electronic Devices Using Flow Sensors”.
The technology is about using sensors that determine air velocity in a device to adjust the fan speeds and computing power.
- “Methods and Apparatus for Cooling Electronic Devices Through User Interfaces”.
The patent describes using input/output ports to increase airflow through a device.
- “Methods and Apparatus for Cooling Electronic Devices Using Conductive Hinge Assemblies”.
The talk is about using notebook screen’s hinges as heat exchangers.
- “Methods and Apparatus for Cooling Electronic Devices using Thermoelectric Cooling Components”.
The document explains using Peltier Effect for active components cooling.
HTC is hiring patent counsel
The job was posted on February 10th. Just in time!
“In this position, you will join HTC America, Inc. at one of its most exciting phases.”
You can find more details .
Apple and HTC commented on the lawsuit situation
When HTC found out about Apple’s actions, the company told Gizmodo website they will defend their technologies:
“We only learned of Apple’s actions based on your stories and Apple’s press release. We have not been served any papers yet so we are in no position to comment on the claims. We respect and value patent rights but we are committed to defending our own innovations. We have been innovating and patenting our own technology for 13 years.”
Steve Jobs expressed his opinion in the official press release:
“We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it. We’ve decided to do something about it. We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours.”
It is interesting, that 14 years ago it was Steve Jobs who said: “We have always been shameless about stealing great ideas.”.
Wow! It looks like Steve Jobs totally changed his mind?
Speaking About Reasons of Apple’s Actions
After the news about Apple’s lawsuit many of us have been wondering why Apple did this. Obviously, the thing is not about money as the company already has $40 billion of cash and investments. Digital Daily’s editor John Paczkowski thinks the reason is a desire to extend iPhone’s growing lead on the market.
“Apple is suing to make an example out of HTC and lengthen the engineering time-to-market for Android handset builders.”
While other Android smartphone manufacturers will spend their time solving a problem with developing of noninfringing technologies to avoid lawsuits, Apple will continue to iterate the iPhone.
Ok, this is clear, but why Apple accused HTC now?
Apple Accuses HTC of infringing its patents!
Yesterday morning began with shocking news about lawsuit that was filed by Apple against HTC. As it turned out, Cupertino’s company is accusing smartphone manufacturer of infringing 20 Apple patents tied to the iPhone. Google Nexus One, Droid Eris, T-Mobile G1, Touch Pro2, Touch Diamond and the Imagio are listed as exhibits in the litigation.
Copies of the suit can be read and . Short list of patents at issue is under the cut.
Apple Wins Patent for IM Chat
Apple has been granted a patent relating to the iPhone’s IM Chat. Apple’s invention relates generally to a user interface for displaying an exchange of messages during an instant messaging session, and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for displaying instant message exchanges in a manner that graphically differentiates the participants in a conversation.
The patent number is 7,669,134, originally filed in Q2 2003. For more information, .
Apple files for “Magic Trackpad” trademark
Patently Apple reports that Apple filed for the ‘magic trackpad’ trademark. US Patent & Trademark Office published application on February 26, 2010. ‘Magic Trackpad’ likely refers to an external peripheral device for desktop computers or laptops plugged into external displays. There has been speculation about some sort of multi-touch “trackpad gadget” from Apple. Maybe Apple will provide desktop users a way to take advantage of some external multi-touch system.
The application requests registration in International Class 009 under a number of categories relating to computer hardware and software, as well as several types of peripheral devices:
International Class 009: Computers; computer software; computer operating system software; computer utility software; computer hardware; computer peripherals; scanners; touchscreens; keyboards; computer mice; trackballs; trackpads; touchpads; light pens; joysticks; game controllers; graphics tablets; digitizers; cables and connectors; flash memory drives; USB drives; solid state storage devices; barcode readers.
Apple granted patent on capacitive multitouch displays
US patent organization just granted Apple a patent filed back in 2004 on capacitive multitouch displays. Patent #7,663,607 describes a “transparent capacitive sensing medium configured to detect multiple touches or near touches that occur at the same time” by way of two sandwiched layers of conductive lines hooked up to an appropriate circuit, and also covers a specific type of multitouch display with a similar two-layer capacitive sensor made of glass.
There are other types of capacitive sensors on the market, but Apple’s touchscreen is still the best. While the implications of this patent are still unclear, it’s certainly gives hard times for many Apple’s competitors.
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Nice iPhone 4G Concept With Rumored Features Roundup
As always before the release of a new device many designers and regular users make interesting concepts. Here is a new one for iPhone 4G:
The author also provided a probability percentage value for each functionality of seeing it actually implemented:
- Removable battery (30% probability)
- Flash LED (50%)
- Back (Case) touchscreen, like the surface of the Magic Mouse (75%)
- Front camera (70%)
- Contacts on the Home Screen, as shown by a recent patent (70%)
- 64GB flash memory (60%)
- Dual-core processor and more RAM (80%)
- OLED display (90%)
New iPhone OS to Bring Contacts On Home Screen
According to a new application filed by Apple, the new and upcoming iPhone OS could offer contact icons on the home screen. These icons can be used to invoke apps, retrieve and display contacts information, or can be modified to display related info, tied to an individual contact. This patent, which was filed back in July 2008.
The icon can also be used to invoke one or more applications that are personalized to the contact. The icon can be modified to display information related to the contact. In one aspect, an icon associated with an entity can be temporarily displayed on the mobile device based on the proximity of the mobile device to the entity.
The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office today has accepted Apple’s filing. This could probably mean that we may soon see this feature being introduced in the upcoming iPhone OS 4.0, which is expected to be announced with the next-gen iPhone in summer.
Apple patents an iPod Touch expansion to connect SIM Card
U.S. Patent & Trademark Office has published a new Apple patent on a removable module designed specifically to add new features to the iPod Touch.
The Apple device can read the circuit cards (ICCs), the chip cards, memory cards, and even the SIM card. The operation is not simple and is not quite clear. Maybe some day we will ba able to use SIM cards in iPod and SD in iPhone?
via ispazio
Foxconn will produce iTablet for Apple
DigiTimes reports that Foxconn Electronics has been named as Apple’s manufacturing partner for its much-anticipated tablet.
The device is expected to hit the market in the first quarter of 2010, with initial shipments from Foxconn being in the 300,000-400,000 range. The device will have a 10.6-inch display.
Apple patents in-call iPhone chat and file transfer
Apple has explored the ability to transfer a file from one cell phone to another during a connected call, according to a new patent filing revealed this week.
the new filing includes descriptions for sending text messages, e-mails, contacts, documents and more to a caller while two phones have established a voice connection.
“While a user of a mobile device is using telephony services, the user may want to send a message or a file to another part. To send this information, the user may have to disconnect the call, and then perform a lookup of the caller’s contact information prior to being able to send the message or file. This multi-step process can be tedious for the user.”
With this new method, you won’t need to disconnect to send a file or some text data. Patent states that data could possibly be sent over a variety of network options, including GSM, GPRS, Edge, Wi-Fi, WiMax and Bluetooth.
via
iPhone users will learn how to sing well
Apple has published a patent application in which they explore how to provide a Karaoke experience on the iPhone. Not only would users be able to sing along with their favorite songs, but Apple wants to give real-time feedback to singers letting them know how they are doing.
The systems and methods for providing users with real-time feedback while they are singing on key/pitch and providing real-time feedback to the user while the karaoke song is being sung. The feedback will be positive feedback if user is on key/pitch and it will be negative feedback if user is off key/pitch.
Apple suggests that this system could actually improve the quality of people’s singing. One novel way to accomplish this would be to measure the pitch of the singer’s voice and if it were to be too low, the device could exaggerate the low pitch of the user’s own voice to encourage them to sing higher.
Apple clearly depicts pictures of the iPhone’s iPod application with an additional menu option for “Karaoke”. The interface for the Karaoke section is also shown above. We don’t know if Apple will pursue this option in a future version of the iPhone software, but it’s a fun and interesting proposition.
via macrumors