In this final chapter of the Tablet Prophecies, we're going to take a look at possible Future Twists that could have explosive consequences for Apple in many ways. Some twists have stemmed from a single patent alone, while others have come together by connecting the dots between various patents in a very careful and deliberate manner. For instance, we know that Apple is seriously thinking of a business form twist for a tablet considering that they were granted an ink engine patent to support that direction. We know that Apple is likewise considering a notebook tablet twist - and in this report, we'll illustrate a very unique twist involving new sound sensors. But there seems to be a bigger picture forming here that is the twist of twists. Perhaps it's just me, but one of these twists could put Apple into revolution mode once again - perhaps in a way that no one ever saw coming. Hold on, because the last chapter of the Tablet Prophecies - is going to be a lot of fun.
In part one of Apple: The Tablet Prophecies – we began with the question: What is it about tablets that gets the masses all worked up? By the end of that chapter, I think most were able to see why the excitement surrounding Apple's new tablet has been justified. By drilling down into Apple's patents, we were able to demonstrate the depth of engineering that has gone into crafting this unique tablet. Apple is, afterall, reinventing the tablet and not simply regurgitating the same old desktop experience into a tablet form factor like their competitors have done unsuccessfully. Just saying that they have a tablet means little, considering that they introduced the tablet a decade ago. How embarrassing it will be to have Apple, yes - little Apple, actually sell more tablets in a single year than they could pull off in a decade: S-L-A-P.The difference is that Apple actually T-H-I-N-K-S things through. They go down the rabbit hole for us - and grok over the tiniest of details so that they could actually give us a unique experience with each and every device they design. Apple's obsessive design team leader, Jonathan Ive, is relentless – and it shows in every product they ship. The same is true for Apple's software, under the watch of Bertrand Serlet. In part one of this special report, you read about Morphing Controls, next generation Floating Controls, Touch Zone back panels, Virtual Keyboards and more. Today the adventure continues as you'll learn about yet more details regarding Apple's forthcoming tablet that will pump you up for next week's announcements. Get ready: here's part two.
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 10 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. The notables within this group include one relating Apple's touch technology in respect to a soft key interaction indicator, another relating to an SATA storage device, yet another relating to everything you wanted to know about assembling an iPod and finally, a granted patent for the iPhone's Account Information Display which notes Steve Jobs as one of the inventors.
What is it about tablets that gets the masses all worked up? I don't know. Yet what I do know is that with Apple's forthcoming tablet sporting high-end accelerometers, GPS and Google Maps, I don't think that any of us will be going around in circles in the desert for 40 years trying to find the Promised Land. "Apple - Reinvents the Tablet," the headlines will read the day after Steve Jobs holds up the tablet to the shouting masses who will be pleased with the sacrifice Apple has made. Others will begin to smelt golden copies of the anointed tablet – but none shall prevail. Yet until that day arrives, the masses are starving for some real news about the coming tablet. What will it offer, pray tell. In part one of this short two part series titled The Tablet Prophecies, we'll first take a look back at some rather interesting tablet-specific applications that Apple has been working on to make their first tablet unique. Then in part two we'll take a look back at some great tablet-specific hardware features that Apple has revealed to us in various patents over the years. Who knows, perhaps some of the coolest applications and hardware features you'll read about this week will actually debut on Apple's' first iteration of the tablet next week. For now, let's dig right into Apple's Tablet Prophecies and find out what we could be in store for.
In December 2009, Patently Apple presented one of Apple's most exciting patents of the year which took us into the futuristic world OS X-3D. The patent presented us with a view of a sophisticated head tracking system that would allow the user to view different angles of a graphic, simulation model or even a chart using Apple's iWork based 'Numbers' application. Then last week in a posted report covering Intel's CES Keynote 2010, I presented the possibility that Apple would likely update their iLife Application suite applications iPhoto and iMovie in concert with the release of Apple's futuristic OS. The work at Intel's labs definitely sparked that idea, specifically in creating Avatars using iMovie. Today, I was presented with two simulations of what Apple's futuristic OS could look like working with medical and engineering applications. The simulations were done on an iMac and I think that you'll find them to be absolutely fascinating. As long as you know that they're simulations and not secret tests that I've discovered, we're okay with a little fun on a Friday: Check it out!
In October 2009, Apple stunned many in and outside of the Mac community with a patent about an Apple hardware subsidizing plan that would in effect consist of an enforceable ad program mechanism.The straight forward deal would be simple: if you want a subsidized iPhone or even a free one, for example, then you'll have to abide by some rather basic rules involving interaction with ads that would periodically appear on your system. Why this initiative-to-be upset so many people is still a mystery to me. Then on December 21, yet another patent surfaced indicating that Apple would put ads on media players accessing Apple's App Store. On January 4, AllThingsD, Kara Swisher - broke the news about Apple buying Quattro Wireless which quickly spread throughout the Mac community via sites like MacSurfer, 9 to 5 Mac, MacDailyNews and others. In hindsight, we now see that Apple's patents actually provided us all with a clear heads-up on a new direction that Apple was considering for internet services. In context, yesterday's published patent added yet another twist in the wireless ad game. While the patent begins with providing touch screen based media player users with a rather valuable method of creating highly functional contact icons for their home page, it quickly shifts to exposing Apple's ulterior motives relating to ad placements. Though to be honest, it could end up being a nifty idea, really.
Every once in a while we're given insights to systems that could be game changers and while not apparently sexy at the moment, Apple surprises us with a peek at their coming Smart Home Energy Management Dashboard System that packs a punch. Apple's patent reviews technology related to this system that many simply know as HomePlug Powerline Networking. HomePlug Powerline Networking turns every power outlet in your home or office into a conduit for audio, video and data. Wireless technologies could be prone to dead-spots and fading - but with HomePlug certified adapters you just plug them in and within minutes you have high speed internet coming out of every plug in the house. You could do the same thing for HDTV and iTunes. Get ready folks, because this looks like Apple is ramping this up for sometime in the near future. And, let it be said, could be yet another tablet application.
On January 14, 2010, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals one of the next chapters coming to Apple's Media Players. In Q4 2010, Apple introduced their fifth generation iPod nano that introduced a video camera and a new way to not only listen to the radio, but to pause and tag it as well. While today's patent covers this new iPod nano feature – it also goes to where Apple's media players could venture into next: HDTV. In the very same manner that radio is handled today, the patent carries this concept through to television - Not only for watching it, but for recording it as well, even on the go. To me that sounds a lot like a portable DVR - and that would be very cool. The patent makes it crystal clear that it will handle programming that is found on over-the-air radio or television (TV), satellite radio or TV, cable TV or music services, Internet streaming broadcasts and so forth. With the iPod Classic, you'll use the scroll wheel to turn the channel and the larger media players will have a virtual dial with a more elaborate interface. All in all, Apple is aiming to add cable or satellite TV to their media players and to confirm that, the USPTO just published a push button antenna patent from Apple just after Christmas.
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of seven newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. The notables within this group include one that relates to Apple's Final Cut Studio's Motion technology, two patents for MagSafe that relate to both the design and technology behind it, another one covering a power savings technology relating to reducing replay occurrences in processors and finally, Apple wins their third iPod nano third generation design patent.
In October 2009, Patently Apple pointed to Intel being On the Cusp of a Whole New Industry and presented you with an insider's view of what Intel had been promoting and marketing behind the scenes in respect to the next wave of 3D TV and other interesting subject matters. In Otellini's CES keynote, he shared his belief that "we're on the cusp of a new era in computing."More importantly, Otellini and his 3D lab team treated us to some very powerful conceptual imagery; Imagery that most definitely could translate into explosive new Apple products in the coming years. Beyond that, Otellini emphasized SmartTV, the power needed to power all forms of 3D content and introduced us all to the Home Energy Management Dashboard that will definitely become a part of our in-home strategy down the road.
On January, 7, 2010, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals one of the next chapters for Apple's hard drive systems. According to Apple, "Hard drives can be susceptible to mechanical failure or damage due to a physical shock or vibration. Thus, certain hard drives utilize sensors that detect the physical orientation, surrounding environment, or movement of the hard drive and, thereby, detect the occurrence a shock event. One such sensor is an acceleration sensor. One problem with existing shock sensing mechanisms is that additional components, such as an acceleration sensor, are required to enable shock detection based on surrounding environmental conditions. The additional components can add cost, use limited circuit board space, and increase hard drive circuitry size." Apple's patent addresses deficiencies in the prior art by providing systems, methods and devices that enable the detection of a shock event in a less complex and costly manner without the need for sensing surrounding environmental conditions. Secondly, Apple introduces us to what they describe as an intelligent storage device. Apple's technology will cover the iPhone, Mac desktops and notebooks. The only thing missing in this patent is a reference to future solid state drives.
On January 7, 2010, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals one of the next chapters for Apple's multi-touch screen technology. Apple's patent generally relates to displays having pixels that include capacitive elements, and more particularly to displays in which capacitive elements of the pixels that form part of the display system that generates an image on the display also form part of a touch sensing system that senses touch events on or near the display. Additionally, the patent focuses on displays including pixels with dual-function capacitive elements that translate into fewer moving parts and/or processor steps that could deliver thinner, brighter displays. While Apple's patent, in general, could only be truly appreciated by someone with a Ph. D in this particular discipline, we mere mortals are able to see that Apple will use this next generation touch screen technology on their iPhone, iPod touch and yes, a touch screen MacBook or future MacBook-Tablet. Apple's new displays will in part, utilize LTPS screen technology which is said to be lightning fast.
