Patently Apple

Patently Apple Asks for Your Patience While we're Under Construction

Patently Apple is making some changes over the next quarter and some glitches are bound to occur during that time. We ask for your patience. Thank you. Beyond that, see our message after the break.  

New Virtual Controls from Apple Point to a Future iMac Touch

On February 2, 2012, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that describes new virtual controls for a desktop with a touchscreen. This once again illustrates that Apple may be working on an iMac Touch desktop computer. Considering that a company by the name of Perceptive Pixel will be introducing a 27" slanted Touch Display through various vendors later this year, Apple should step up this project from patent concept to reality sooner rather than later. In today's report, we'll show you a very cool video that'll make you lust for one of these new systems, I'm sure.  Note: An important update has added to this report at 1PM MST.  

Apple Wins iPhone Patents for Location Tracking, Hybrid Antenna & More

Today, the US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of thirteen newly granted patents for Apple Inc. In today's patent report we focus on Apple's original hybrid antenna, their reinvention of photo management for smartphones and their first patent win for location tracking. In May 2010, location tracking became the focus of a senate hearing where both Apple and Google executives faced a grilling from Senator Minnesota Democratic Rep. Al Franken. Apple's Bud Tribble confirmed that Apple doesn't share personally identifiable information with third parties. Even though that was reassuring, the issue isn't going away any time soon. Just last week the Supreme Court basically stated that law enforcement must obtain a search warrant if they're to use GPS and location tracking technologies on suspects. Something tells me that this won't be the last time that the issue of location tracking abuse is brought into question. For now, we simply appreciate the tamer side of Apple's location tracking used for route planning and all things touristy.  

Intel Looks to Challenge Apple's iTunes on Future Ultrabooks

With Apple having snubbed Intel's every offer to win them over to their mobile processors, Intel is deadly focused on challenging Apple's MacBook Air and eventually their iPhone and beyond. In 2013, Intel will be introducing the Haswell processor that will allow Intel's Ultrabook to offer a very smart ultrathin notebook-tablet form factor that will be able to challenge Apple's mobile platform. Yesterday, Intel showed how they're ramping up on the software side of the Ultrabook by signing an agreement with RealNetworks to purchase approximately 190 patents and 170 patent applications worldwide, as well as next-generation video codec software, for $120 million. As part of the agreement, Intel will acquire RealNetworks' foundational streaming media patents, expanding Intel's diverse and extensive portfolio of intellectual property. Translation: We're going to challenge Apple's iTunes on Ultrabooks and beyond in the very near future. 

Apple's Second Siri Patent Discusses All Things Hands-Free

On January 26, 2012, the US Patent & Trademark Office published Apple's second Siri centric patent. Our first report on Apple's Siri was titled "Apple introduces us to Siri, the Killer Patent," which described a large basket of concepts and possible future applications. In Apple's second Siri patent, it's all about the "hands-free Context."  

Apple introduces us to the Wild World of Coded Magnets

Once in a while we're treated to a new Apple invention that virtually contains a new self-contained world of possibilities and vocabulary to enrich it. It comes out of the blue and feeds our need for meaty new technology brimming with potential. Today is such a day. This is such an invention. Apple's invention reveals a wild world of programmable magnetic devices, and more particularly, to security for computing devices and peripherals that may be provided by programmable magnets. And yet, it reveals so much more than that. Apple envisions this technology eventually working into iOS devices to produce wild haptic effects using Ferrofluids on touchscreens and virtual keyboards. It will also allow Apple's iOS to present light based points on the display as a way to guide a user through a process like a teacher. This is wild stuff folks and it only scratches the surface of what's to come. Grab a coffee, sit back and really enjoy one of the most fascinating patent applications to have surfaced in some time. Update 4 PM MST: Apple reveals inductive charging and/or other wireless charging using coded magnets coming to a new MacBook Dock in a secondary patent.  

New Motorola Lawsuit Claims iPhone 4S & iCloud Infringe on their Patents

According to court documents, Motorola has launched their second patent infringement lawsuit against Apple in Miami, Florida. In Motorola's new complaint they claim that Apple is infringing on six additional patents ranging from concealing an external antenna on a cell phone on through to a wireless messaging system. Motorola is mainly focusing on Apple's iPhone 4S smartphone and iCloud services as being the product and service infringing on their patents. It's safe to say that Google has given Motorola the green light and their blessing to proceed with this case.