Patently Apple

Apple Patent Reveals Customizable Drum Loops for GarageBand

On January 15, 2015, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that discusses how GarageBand, Logic Pro or combination of these apps can create unique and customized drumming loops for various music genres. Apple's patent application was originally filed in July 2013 and published for the public viewing today.

Three Key Apple Patents Detail Apple Pay and Touch ID Systems

On January 15, 2015, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a series of three patent applications from Apple that detail the specifics behind Apple Pay via Touch ID. The patent filings meticulously detail how the system will work with making future banking transactions or at current participating retailers and for purchasing apps and other digital media online via the App Store, iTunes and future online stores. The sole inventor behind all three patents that were originally filed in 2013 is Apple's software engineer Greg Kerr who came to Apple via the Authentec acquisition. Greg was VP of Software Development at Authentec.

Apple Invents a Home Button that Doubles as a Gaming Joystick

On January 15, 2015, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals a possible next-generation multi-functional iDevice Home Button. In the first mode, the Home Button retains its standard functionality. In the second mode, the Home Button transforms into a pure gaming joystick. The transition from one mode to the other is rather simple through a pressure sensor. This looks like it could be serious fun for gamers in the future.

Samsung Offering to Buy BlackBerry for $7.5 Billion

In November we posted an extensive report titled "BlackBerry and Samsung Form Alliance to Challenge Apple-IBM." It was the first time that those two companies agreed to work together. BlackBerry introduced new authentication technologies in November and a new video conferencing app. It's being reported this afternoon that Samsung is offering to buy BlackBerry out in order to get their hands on their highly valued intellectual property portfolio. Report Update Jan 15: BlackBerry denies rumor

Google to Launch World's First Modular Smartphone in H2 2015

When Google sold off Motorola to Lenovo what some didn't know was that Google retained one of their secret divisions at Motorola called the Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) group that's headed by Regina Dugan. Dugan was the former director of the U.S. Defense Department's fabled Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) which developed the Internet, satellite navigation and stealth fighters. We covered Regina Dugan in a report back in January 2014 regarding Motorola's electric Skin Tattoo project. One of the next big things being developed in Google's ATAP group was "Project Ara," a project aimed at developing a free, open hardware platform for creating highly modular smartphones. There would be a structural frame that would hold smartphone modules that end users would choose and mix and match them to their heart's delight. You could theoretically choose the grade of display that you want, the kind of camera you'd like and so forth. When there's a new module or upgraded one, you'll simply snap it into your base frame instead of buying a new phone. Today we've learned that the Google is going to tippy toe into the new daring market of modular smartphones in the second half of the year. 

Samsung Advances Iris Scanning ID Project for Smartphones

After Apple introduced Touch ID on the iPhone 5S, rumors began to surface that Samsung was working on a biometric ID system of their own involving an iris scanner. Samsung struggled with bringing a fingerprint scanner to their Galaxy smartphones. Later in the fall of 2013 Samsung's first iris scanning invention came to light at the U.S. Patent Office and Patently Mobile covered it extensively. Today Patently Mobile posted a new patent report covering Samsung's latest advances in iris scanning where we learn that they're likely working with a famous Korean University to expedite their research and development.

Apple's iOS "iBooks" Icon is now a Registered Trademark

Apple's iBooks was first announced alongside the iPad at a press conference in January 2010. Today the US Patent & Trademark Office published Apple's latest registered trademark for their iBooks icon that was revised for iOS 7. Apple originally filed for their trademark in the US on October 17, 2013.

Samsung Introduces a Cheap Tizen OS Driven Phone in India

Almost a year ago we reported on Samsung's embarrassing misstep trying to introduce their Tizen OS with Docomo jumping off the Tizen bandwagon at the last moment and instead focused on Apple's iPhone. In September Samsung vowed to advance Tizen OS in smartphones, wearables and beyond yet once again in December embarrassingly dropped the ball by being a no show at a Tizen event in India. In an effort to make up for that gaffe, Samsung officially launched their first Tizen OS based phone in India earlier today.

No Agreement between Apple and Ericsson Leads to Lawsuits

Last month we reported that the Indian High Court had banned Xiaomi from selling, importing and advertising smartphones in their country. In that case it was Ericsson who brought a lawsuit against them regarding Essential Patents. Today it's being reported that Apple and Ericsson are suing each other after failing to reach an agreement over pricing of wireless patents used in Apple's iPhone and iPad.

Samsung to Launch the Galaxy A7 to Compete against Low-End Market Rivals like China's Xiaomi, not Apple

According to a Yonhap report, Samsung on Tuesday revealed their plans to launch its slimmest smartphone later this month at home and in major emerging countries to bolster low-end sector amid the rise of Chinese rivals eating into its shares. That translates to rivals such as Xiaomi – not Apple and their higher-end iPhone 6.

Struggling Quanta is charging into 2015 with MacBook Air and Apple Watch Production to Boost Revenue

Although Quanta's December revenue was the highest for 2014, Chinese-language newspaper Economic Daily News reports that Quanta shipped 4.2 million notebooks in December, dipping 10.6% on month. Its fourth-quarter notebook shipments reached 12.8 million units, falling 6.6% sequentially. The good news for Quanta is that they're beginning to ramp up for Apple's new 12 inch MacBook Air and Apple Watch which is bound to increase revenues in the months ahead.

Apple Granted a Patent for a Superior GoPro-like Camera System

The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 34 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. In this particular granted patent report we cover a single invention that relates to a camera system. What's interesting here is that Apple's invention that was filed in 2012 and appears to incorporate intellectual property from Kodak that they acquired back in November 2013. In one implementation, Apple's invention could directly move into GoPro's territory as the patent specifically mentions the weaknesses of the GoPro devices. Specifically, the patent notes that the new camera system could be secured to various objects, such as a bike helmet or scuba mask, or mounted to the handlebars of a motorcycle or the front of a surfboard. The new camera system also notes that an iPhone (smartphone) could be used under water to take pictures and record sounds in a water environment. Waterproofing is a given. Lastly, we wrap up this week's granted patent report with our traditional listing of the remaining granted patents that were issued to Apple today. 

Apple Granted Patent for Display-Based Speakers for iDevices

In December we posted a report titled "Apple's Patented Idea of Displays Doubling as a Speaker Could Come to Life with New Gorilla Glass from Corning" which covered an MIT Technology Review article about Corning's new glass that had properties that could turn displays into speakers. Apple's first granted patent on this type of invention surfaced last August and today Apple was granted a second patent from the US Patent and Trademark Office that details this invention even further. The invention will apply to flexible OLED displays. According to Apple's patent filing, the kind of display  may apply to a possible future version of Apple Watch in addition to other iDevices and Macs. That could open the door for Siri on Apple Watch down the road. That would fulfill the Dick Tracy component of Apple Watch. Now how cool would that be?

Apple Granted an In-Depth 3D In-Air Gesturing System Patent

The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 34 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. In this particular report we cover a single patent that Apple inherited from PrimeSense about a 3D Air Gesturing System for a future computer or 3DTV. Shortly after Apple acquired PrimeSense we posted an extensive report on the patents that Apple inherited. It included a number of patents regarding gaze and air gesturing controls for a computer or 3DTV which meshed well with Apple's own research noted in our December 2013 report. Then in late December 2014 we posted two reports covering this air gesturing system with a 3D Zoom-based UI and an air gesturing system for future iDevices. We also discovered a patent in Europe last week regarding a 3D Scanning Engine. Today Apple was granted another air gesturing system that was inherited from PrimeSense extending through to a 3DTV.

IBM Granted Most Patents in 2014 with Apple in Eleventh Place

Today the leading producer of global patent databases, analytic solutions and innovative web services released its annual tabulation of the top U.S. patent recipients for 2014. Another banner year for the patent world, 2014 saw annual U.S. patent grants increase by more than 8 percent reaching an all-time high of 300,678 and surpassing the 300,000 mark for the first time.