Patently Apple

Apple Emblazed in New Patent Infringement Lawsuit

 
On July 28, 2010, an Israeli company by the name of Emblaze Ltd., maker of the advanced "Else" smartphone, filed a lawsuit against Apple Inc. for patent infringement. The lawsuit involves a single patent relating to real-time broadcasting over a network that the company claims is used without license by Apple in their iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and QuickTime X in Snow Leopard.

Apple Reveals Fashion App to Drive Consumers to Online Retailers

 
Earlier today we presented you with Apple's new Virtual Closet application. That application had a cross-over element to it for shopping online. This second report follows through on yet another Apple patent that was published today aimed at driving consumers to fashion retailers specifically. Apple is obviously working with Ralph Lauren and other designers and fine clothiers to drive sales their way. Those designers and clothiers involved in the program will be able to send out invitations, promotions and cross sell into accessories like jewelry and so on and so forth. It's also a vehicle for Apple's new high-end iAds. The new app will provide a social networking aspect to it as did the Virtual Closet. Apple has thought differently here and is well on the way to delivering a new kind of application that will be the first of many to follow no doubt.

OK Girls – Apple is Introducing the Social Networking Virtual Closet

 
Apple has obviously been approached by the larger fashion retail chains to come up with some kind of app that could generate sales for them down the road and Apple has hired new engineers to take on this task. In the first of two applications, Apple introduces us to the Virtual Closet - a unique application that could really only be understood and appreciated by women. The application allows a user to catalog and duplicate their real-world closet into that of a virtual one. It allows a user to check out what a combined outfit would look on them before trying it out. It also allows the user to go Virtual window shopping and try out new clothes before buying. The social aspect of the app comes in when the user invites their friends to check out their Virtual Closet, rate their clothes and even allow friends to make a request to borrow an item. If you're a female who loves to share their clothes with friends or happen to be a retailer who has been searching for new ways to reach a new tech savvy audience, then look no further. Apple is working on an app for that!

Apple's iTravel App to Plug into Hotel Servers for In-Room Services

 
Apple's iTravel application services are already expanding and the app hasn't even launched yet. In our first report this morning, we covered a detailed travel itinerary application that will cover every aspect of your travel while the second report focuses on how your iPhone will be able to tap into a hotel's own servers to access multiple in-room services. For starters, your iPhone will act as your hotel key and from there you'll be able to control room settings such as lighting, bath settings, room temperature and so forth. Your iPhone will be able to be your hotel room's TV and stereo remote. You'll also be able to access other services like booking a visit to the hotel's spa or reserving a conference room all from the convenience of your iPhone or other iOS device. You'll even be allowed to check-out via your iPhone or check your room charges before leaving. When it comes to future travel – Apple is out to cover you every step of the way from travel arrangements right through to in-room services conveniently and in style.

Apple Expanding Services for their Future iTravel Application

 
Apple first introduced us to an exciting future iPhone application dubbed iTravel back in April 2010 which certainly shook things up in the travel industry. In today's patent, Apple introduces us to a more detailed view of a "travel itinerary application" which will be available to walk a traveler through everything step of a flight from preflight activities at the virtual service counter to activities at the airport as well as in-flight and post-flight activities. You'll be able to reserve restaurants at your destination, order a video game for in-flight entertainment, order special in-flight meals, order a specific type of movie while on flight or set-up sightseeing tours – just for starters. Apple has been working with partners like Telus and Air Canada on test marketing various aspects of iTravel – and today's patent application reveals that Apple is still expanding the nature and capabilities of iTravel as was first revealed  - with more is on the way! Stay tuned for part two. 

Q2 Worldwide PC Market Report: Apple on the Rise Again

 
According to a leading market Analysis firm, Apple's rocketing iPad sales propelled Apple into the number five spot worldwide amongst PC vendors – even though Apple now considers themselves to be a Mobile Devices Company, according to Apple's CEO. While Apple's iPad takes off, growth in the netbook market continued to slow, as vendors struggled to deliver new product innovations.

Apple's Magic Trackpad Comes to Life + Mixed Take on New iMacs

 
On January 26, 2010 as the New Year just got underway, Patently Apple broke the news about a mysterious device simply called the "Magic Trackpad." Then in June we presented a special report titled The Next OS Revolution Countdown Begins where we discussed new UI possibilities that would be coming to market over the next few years and specifically pointed to a desktop keyboard/touchpad combination device that could bring multi-touch to the desktop. On July 20, the FCC revealed that Apple had asked for a six month confidentiality period concerning a Bluetooth Trackpad that had to come to market prior to August 10, 2010 when the confidentiality period would end. Today, Apple revealed the Magic Trackpad and it's really cool. At some point in time, if it proves to be a smash hit, Apple could provide us with an integrated design as our special report illustrated. Finally, today's report takes a look at Apple's refreshed iMacs and provides you with our first-take on these sexy new beasts.

Apple Granted Patents for Capacitive Sensing & the iPhone Antenna

 
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 16 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. In our first patent report published this morning we covered many yet to be released iPod designs that included one focused on a nano phone and got to see that Apple is considering MagSafe for iOS devices. The second wave of patents today cover a crucial touch related patent covering capacitive sensing which could fend off rivals trying to challenge Apple in court. Others patents today cover the technology behind the original iPhone antenna, power management in Airport devices and much more.

Apple Wins Patents for 8 All-New iPod Designs Including a Nano Phone While Considering MagSafe for future iOS Devices

 
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 16 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. The first notables within this group includes one that relates to eight all-new iPod nano designs that definitely describe one of the designs as being a cell phone. The second patent uniquely covers Apple's MagSafe in connection with future iOS based devices like the iPad, iPhone and more.

The Dell Tale Starts to Unravel and it's a Bombshell

On June 4, 2010 Michael Dell stated that he was considering taking Dell Inc. private "but would not comment when asked what would make him think about the possibility more seriously," reported Reuters. Well, today we likely know the reasoning for that off-the-wall statement. The SEC charged Dell and senior executives with disclosure and accounting fraud yesterday and the story behind it is one hell of a bombshell!

Apple Reveals Technology Required for Future Miniature Products

 
One of Apple's newly published patents today is about detecting a plug placed in an electronic device without physically contacting the plug. What's the significance of such a technology? Well, with devices being designed ever smaller and devices like an iWatch being considered, the traditional design for plug detection isn't going to work. Apple's patent discusses their new solution which paves the way for next generation wearable devices and more.

Apple Finally Designs a Way to Share Your Music Headset

 
There are times when you want to listen to your music with just one earbud so that you could also hear what's happening around you. You may be a passenger in a car or bus, be at work or just taking a walk. If you do that today, you'd lose the quality of sound which is in stereo. Apple has now designed a way for you to switch to monophonic mode on your media player so that you could receive superior sound when only using a single earbud. The advantage of the system is that it also allows you to share your headset with your significant other while walking. Each earbud will be set to monophonic sound with a simple click. So finally a couple could be in-tune with their music and be able to share and listen to new tunes at the same time.

Apple May Introduce a New Design Concept for the MacBook Air

 
Taiwan's DigiTimes reported on July 15, 2010 that Apple is preparing their next generation MacBook Air to sport an 11.6 inch display and an Intel Core i-series processor. But the news didn't stop there. The statement that followed was a loaded statement that may point to the MacBook Air gaining a new design and concept. This report looks at two or more possible concepts that might make the cut this fall.

An FCC Document Points to Apple's New Magic TrackPad for August

 
The FCC released an October 7, 2009 testing report yesterday that may in fact confirm that Apple is nearing the final stages of a Bluetooth device that is thought to be that of a stand-alone trackpad of sorts. This would theoretically support Apple's February 2010 trademark filing for a "Magic TrackPad." This report presents you with the one slip-up in the Apple filing that proves it's a trackpad along with other documents, including one that may actually point to an estimated release date of the Magic Trackpad for sometime in August. 

Apple Wins Patents for Dashboard & Future iPad Feature

 
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 12 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today of which two were for design patents including one for Apple's 3G iPhone. The notables within the remainder of this group include one relating to Apple's OS X feature known as Dashboard and perhaps most importantly, Apple has won a strategically important multi-touch patent covering a visual expander that may be used in a future iteration of the iPad or other unique multi-touch application.