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.  

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.    

Apple Files Nine Trademark Applications for Siri in the US

What an extraordinary week it's been for all things Siri. First there was our report titled "Siri, the Killer Patent" followed by news of Siri's trademark filing in China. Today we discovered that Apple has filed a series of nine trademark filings for Siri in the US. On a few occasions Apple has been known to breakdown an important trademark filing into a series of single filings with each covering a single International Class. This may speed up the process of approval with the USPTO or it may be done to ensure that they'll be protected on several fronts should one or two of the applications run into a snag with an examiner. Apple is covering Siri for a plethora of future application possibilities including those for social networking, education, a variety of travel-centric applications, television programming and a whole lot more. It'll be interesting to see what new Siri services Apple will roll out in 2012. Time will tell.  

Apple Wins another Piece of the Telephonic MacBook Puzzle While new 2011 US Patent Statistics Prove the loonies Wrong Again

The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of eighteen newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. While our report covers a wide range of patents, the main one reveals yet another piece of the telephonic MacBook Puzzle. Today's granted patent represents Apple's seventh patent win on this future product front since September 2010. This particular patent snuck through the application system and just popped up on us as being granted. The second focus of our report today rests with the latest US patent statics for 2011 that proves Apple's critics dead wrong once again. When will they ever learn?