Patently Apple

Apple Patent Explores Advancing iPod Classic

It has recently been said that the days of the dedicated music player have come and gone – and with the advent of the new iPod Nano adding features like an FM radio with iTunes Tagging and video recording, the argument could be made that the iPod Classic is need of an identity facelift.  Today, the US Patent & Trademark Office revealed a patent application that could point to one of the possible next chapters for Apple's iPod Classic. The patent introduces us to the concept of "switchable sensor configurations."  That basically boils down to adding swiping and gesturing capabilities to the iPod Classic's traditional scroll wheel. This would allow the iPod Classic to add much of the same types of apps that the Nano just received in addition to introducing the ability to control applications and enter text better and so forth. Apple first advanced this concept in March 2008 when it presented us with the notion of adding Cover Flow and business apps to the iPod Classic and more recently, presented us with the Classic having the ability to use zooming features.  It's evident that Apple is exploring ways to advance the iPod Classic without destroying its unique place and retro look within their media player line up.

Apple Wins 3G iPhone Design & iPhone Battery Audio Alert Patents

The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of six newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. The notables within this group include one relating to a design win for Apple's 3G iPhone, a granted patent for the iPhone's low battery audio alert, which some feel isn't working all that well, a granted patent regarding hot plugging and one dealing with a connector determination process.

 

Find out where Apple's latest iTunes Tagging Technology is Going

Apple introduced their next generation iPod Nano yesterday which comes with a new marketing feature called "iTunes Tagging." This nifty little feature is going to be hot and one of the most appreciated features over the years. We've all been there. We hear a tune on the radio and missed the DJ's description of the tune – or they ripped it off too quickly to catch. Yikes – it's a tune you want, a tune you can't get out of your head and you just can't find the name of that tune. Well, for those buying the new iPod Nano, that's an inconvenience of the past.  Apple's new iTunes Tagging allows you to see the metadata pertaining to that tune and allows you to tag it so that when you get home, the tunes information is simply sitting in a file on iTunes ready for you to review and buy it.  Tagging is simply a click of the iPod's click wheel. Apple's latest feature has been in the works at Apple for years. Apple finally executing on this feature fulfills one of their 2008 patent applications which richly details the advances of tagging and where it could be going in the bigger scheme of things.   

  

Apple Patents Focus on Chinese iPhone Features

A US investment bank is predicting that by 2011 the largest portion of Apple's revenue will come from the iPhone. To get there of course, Apple's iPhone must do well in China. So it stands to reason that Apple's engineers are burning the midnight oil to get the iPhone experience just right for the largest market in the world.  Apple's patents show us how the iPhone's virtual keyboard is available in Chinese and that a special application is set to accept handwritten input of characters on the iPhone, much like the way that Apple's MacBook does using OS X Snow Leopard's innovative Chinese character input.

Apple Wins Crucial iPhone Cryptography Patent

The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of six newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. The one patent that stood out by far, was one relating to the cryptography technology behind Apple's iPhone. Apple's new iPhone OS 3.0 now allows iPhone and iPod touch owners to order movies, music videos, television shows and more over cellular or Wi-Fi networks. Apple's cryptography technology ensures that user transactions are made securely. It was noted that two out of three of the engineers credited on this patent were from out of State which could mean that Apple acquired parts of this technology in order to quicken the iPhone's security features to market. Other patents revealed today included an industrial design win for Apple's Universal Dock and a patent relating to subtractive computer display technology.