On August 4, 2010, the US Patent & Trademark Office published Apple's latest trademark application for their famous Glass Store Architecture. The design covers Apple's Fifth Avenue retail store in N.Y under TEAS Plus Application 85097331. Apple has already filed a trademark covering their Distinctive Retail Store Layout and possesses a patent covering their in-store glass staircase. With Apple's new store in Shanghai China following their glass architectural styling, it stands to reason why Apple is now trying to formalize this design as a unique Apple trademark.
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 18 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today covering everything from industrial design wins for Apple's 2008/2009 iMac and their Apple TV along with other patents relating to the iPhone's original 2007 multiband antenna, iPhoto, iMove and more. It should also be noted that CEO Steve Jobs is credited on two of today's granted design patents.
On August 2, 2010, China's Patent Office officially published Apple's registered iPad case design under number 1000992.4. Apple's iPad case has a microfiber interior and reinforced panels provide structure. The case could fold down so as to act as a stand for giving work related table-top presentations or slideshows and could be used casually to watch a movie or even use the onscreen keyboard. Apple introduced the iPad case on the day of iPad's launch.
Prototypes have recently surfaced using Apple devices to show off a new tactile feedback technology. The company behind this next generation tactile technology is Senseg. Senseg's technology isn't powered by mechanical motors like older technology but rather based on virtual touch technology. This means that it doesn't have any mechanical parts that could wear-out. Senseg E-Sense™ software could produce localized tactile feedback in small areas of the surface of the device without having to vibrate the whole surface.
