News tagged ‘patent’
Apple Patents Foldable iPhone with Flexible Display
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has recently published Apple’s patent application describing a foldable iPhone with flexible display.
The body of the handset will be foldable and may use different types of hinges. To make the smartphone display flexible enough, it would be placed in a way that would allow it to bend when the housing moves.
Siri to Come to Messages App – Patent
Apple is reportedly planning to integrate Siri to the messages app to help people check and schedule events on their calendars and make payments using the virtual assistant.
Top 10 Stories of the Week
It is Sunday today, which means we should take a look at the most interesting posts of the last couple of days.
Most of the articles this week deal with Apple’s iOS 10 and macOS Sierra 10.12 as well as with the new AirPods and iPhones. Below you can find the list of the posts worth your attention.
Apple Patents New Find My iPhone System
Apple has been granted a patent for a system capable of detecting the location of a lost or stolen iPhone even when the device is powered off. The next iteration of the Find My iPhone feature may help to reduce the number of stolen and never found phones.
Apple Watch to Identify Owner Using His Heart Rate
Future Apple Watch may use a person’s heart rate to identify the owner. According to the latest patent filed by Apple, the company is working on a technology capable of using a new method of securing data and identifying different users.
Top 10 Stories of the Week
It is Sunday today, which means that it’s time I told you about the most interesting posts of the last couple of days.
Samsung to Pay Apple $119.6 Million for Infringing on ‘Slide to Unlock’ Patent
Apple has won an appeal in the court case against its South Korean rival Samsung over the ‘slide to unlock’ patent. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled that Samsung is guilty and has to pay Apple $119.6 million for infringing on its patents. The report about this ruling comes from Bloomberg, which is a reliable source.
New Details About ‘AirPods’ Trademark Appear Online
As it was reported earlier this year, Apple wants to make a term “AirPods” its new trademark and looks like very soon the desire of the company will come true. According to reliable sources, the trademark is now undergoing the review process. This means that soon the name may be used in the new product, for example, the widely-rumored wireless headphones shipped alongside the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.
Samsung vs. Apple Court Case: Samsung Continues to Struggle
Even though the court has ruled that Samsung infringed on Apple’s patents related to the design of handsets, the South Korean tech giant refused to admit its fault. As it has been announced earlier today, the Supreme Court of the United States will hear the appeal of the company later this year. With this appeal, Samsung plans to persuade the judges that the court ruling was unfair and that the company is not guilty.
Small Texas Firm Accuses Apple of Using Its Battery Technologies
A firm called Somaltus, LLC has accused Apple of infringing on its 2010 patent describing advanced battery technologies. Somaltus is the same firm that filed identical lawsuits against other major vendors, namely, Samsung, Sony, Asus, Lenovo, and Toshiba.
Apple Settles Cover Flow and Time Machine Lawsuit for $25 Million
Apple has agreed to pay a firm called Mirror World Technologies, which is a Network-1 subsidiary, $25 million to settle the lawsuit and license the patents that describe a system that is capable of storing the files in a kind of chronologically ordered layout. Apple uses a similar system in Time Machine and Cover Flow and this infringes on the 1999 patent granted.
Apple-Branded Amazon Echo Rival to Feature Camera, Facial Recognition?
Earlier this week, first rumors about Apple’s plans to release an Amazon Echo and Google Home rival appeared on the Internet. Today, a new report from CNET reporters has surfaced online that suggests that the rumored device may feature a camera and facial recognition capabilities to help users perform additional tasks unavailable for rival devices. In particular, the report says the upcoming gadget will detect people in the room and use this information to improve their user experience. The report comes from sources aware of Apple’s future plans, so I guess we can believe it.
Apple Patents Method of Embedding Touch ID into Display
Apple has been granted a patent describing a method of embedding the Touch ID fingerprint sensor right into the display of the mobile device. This patent proves the rumors suggesting that the Cupertino-based tech giant is planning a major redesign of the iPhone lineup aimed at ditching the headphone jack and the Home button to reduce the thickness of the device. Together with the rumored OLED display and new iOS version, the aforementioned changes can result in a completely new user experience.
Apple Granted Patent for Enhanced iPad Smart Covers
Apple has been granted a patent for several advanced Smart Covers for the iPad that enhance the functionality of the tablet and allow user to perform a number of actions that make the usage of the device even easier. The Smart Covers described in the patent can serve as additional screens for displaying notifications and widgets that’s why they can become a new way of interaction between a user and the iPad.
Another Former Google Car Expert Hired by Apple
Apple has hired a former Google engineer who was previously engaged in the development of electric car charging systems. According to the latest rumors, Kurt Adelberger, who left Google in 2015 and joined Apple shortly after, is now listed as one of the inventors of the "Mediator device for smart electric vehicle charging", a technology described in Google’s recent patent application. It is currently unclear whether Apple had known about Adelberger’s background before it offered him a job last year. Anyway, his experience will likely be used during the development of the widely-rumored Apple’s car codenamed “Project Titan”.