Patently Apple

Apple is Granted 34 Patents Covering a Wide Array of Technologies Including a MacBook Security Latch & More

The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 34 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. In our third and final granted patent report of the day, we cover the mechanics behind Apple's fifth generation iPod nano and more importantly, a unique security latch for a possible future MacBook Pro that will include a pivotal and detachable camera. To top off today's report we provide you with a list of 26 other inventions that Apple received granted patents for. 

Apple Granted Key Patents for Multi-Touch & UI Gesturing

The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 34 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. In our second granted patent report of the day we focus on two of Apple's foundational patents covering Multi-Touch input discrimination and user interface gestures that relate to all iOS input gesturing and in-part covers devices such as Apple's Magic Trackpad, Magic Mouse and next-generation OS X based trackpad gesturing on the MacBook Pro. 

Apple Granted 4 Design Patents & an all-new Online Shopping Security System that has yet to Surface

The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 34 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. In our first granted patent report of the day we cover Apple's four new design wins covering a docking station and three iOS elements. Yet the big surprise this morning is for an all-new invention relating to user security while shopping online. This is the second such surprise within a year. The first one we covered discussed a new Anti-Big Brother surveillance system. This appears to be a part of a huge project at Apple that may be a part of a future iWallet application.

Apple's iPad Mini will Account for 65% of iPad Shipments in H1

In December we reported that Apple was to greatly expand iPad mini production in 2013 and we could now understand why. DigiTimes is reporting this morning that LG is currently shipping 3.5 to 4 million iPad mini panels a month. The research firm WitsView stated that 65% of Apple's tablet shipments will be for the iPad mini. This explains LG's current drop in panels for the iPad 4 which is quoted as being as high as 90%. Apple is also known to shift orders between suppliers as needed without explanation.

Apple Opened 41 New Retail Stores in 2012 & iOS 6.1.2 Becomes the Most Popular Version of iOS in Less than a Week

Apple opened 41 new retails Stores in 2012 but some think that Apple should be doing better. On another front, iOS 6.1.2 becomes the most popular iOS version ever and it only took a week to do it.  

HP Moves Aggressively into 7" Tablet Market & LG to Adopt WebOS for Future Smart TVs

Under the blind leadership of Leo Apotheker, HP's brilliant move into tablets with WebOS was yanked out of existence after only being in the market for 30 days. Under Meg Whitman, HP is back into the tablet business. The announcement was made in Barcelona late yesterday at the Mobile World Congress event that runs until Thursday. HP is moving back into the market very aggressively with a new 7 inch tablet that will begin to roll out in April. But there was also some fascinating news about WebOS that will be officially announced at some point in the next few hours or days. Report Updated February 25 at 1:50 PM MST.

Apple's Third-Gen iPad mini Display to Push Pixels Past 400ppi

We reported at the beginning of the month that Au Optronics was piloting the production of the iPad mini 2 with a display pixel count of 324 pixels per inch. Today, news out of Korea states that sources have confirmed that Apple has asked LG to deliver a premium class iPad mini display for their future iPad mini 3 pushing pixel density to over 400 pixels per inch for the 7.85 display. Report Updated at 3:45 PM MST

New Google Patent Reveals Chrome OS for Future Tablets and a New Tablet Idea that Copies another Apple Concept

Earlier this month Patently Apple slammed Google for their blatant attempt to copy Apple's Retina display before it was made official late this week. Today, our Patent Bolt site is reporting on a new patent application from Google that once again copies ideas from a couple of Apple patents filed back in 2011 and 2012. The Google patent is about a touch sensitive tablet housing that could manipulate interface elements by the user's own touch.

Is Huawei's New Phone Infringing on Apple's Virtual Clickwheel?

The website Phone Scoop revealed Huawei's new smartphone earlier this morning. One of the photos of Huawei's new home screen clearly illustrates that that they've implemented a new virtual clickwheel to access key apps. The question becomes, is Huawei's virtual clickwheel infringing on any of Apple's patents. 

Apple's 2012 Growth by Revenue Region Revealed with Charts

A new report this morning states that Apple manages its businesses on a geographic basis. With the release of the company's December quarter results, management created an additional revenue region called "Greater China" and now reports revenue from other countries in the former Asia-Pacific revenue region as "Rest of Asia Pacific."

Google Glass V1 will be an iPhone Accessory & Google Glass V2 will double your Fun

On Wednesday we reported that Google's Glass Project was ramping up and we presented a nice collage of Google Glass and a video. While updates are now coming in from various sources, there are two keys. One is that the price is going to be about $1500 and it will be available for the iPhone. The Verge confirms that "The device gets data through Wi-Fi on its own, or it can tether via Bluetooth to an Android device or iPhone and use its 3G or 4G data while out and about. There's no cellular radio in Glass, but it does have a GPS chip." It'll be one hell of an expensive iPhone accessory, but the benefits may worth it. And just as we're getting ready for Google Glass for Q4 2013, a new Google patent was discovered by Patent Bolt today that reveals Google Glass Part 2 is already in the works. Google Glass 2 is all about Binocular Vision. Google Glass part one is about the famed monocular design for a single computerized lens and camera while their future Binocular design will be for dual lenses and cameras to double your fun.  

Apple Finally Abandons their Iconic "Newton" Trademark

In 2010 we reported on Apple renewing their classic Newton trademark that supported Apple's ground breaking 1987 Newton PDA. In 1997 Apple's then iCEO Steve Jobs abruptly dropped their PDA known as Newton as a cost cutting measure in an effort to save the company from Bankruptcy. Patently Apple has just discovered that Apple has now officially abandoned their iconic Newton trademark. The Canadian IP Office shows that it was officially deemed abandoned on February 12, 2013.