A newly published Apple continuation patent today relates to a next generation Apple virtual store. The patent titled "Enhancing Online Shopping Atmosphere" illustrates that the virtual store will involve some 3D dynamic whereby "Apple Reps" will greet online visitors to assist them with their purchases and/or answer questions about specific products. Apple was granted a related patent titled "Method, system, and medium for representing visitor activity in an online store" in February of this year. Apple's continual push on this front, at minimum, shows us that they're keeping this interesting project alive.

 
There's no missing the point that Apple wants to enter the electronic concert and event ticket business via a new application and system simply called "Concert Ticket +." The system that is laid out in this extraordinarily detailed patent, points to a new iTunes based web service for tickets that will naturally enhance the iTunes music empire. Apple definitely envisions a way to revolutionize the entire current concert ticket process so as to eliminate paper while enhancing the concert or event experience. Today's patent reviews the basics of this new system as well as review the benefits of such a system which could include the concert goer receiving such things as a live recording of the concert they just attended or access to exclusive artist interviews or refreshments. Surprisingly, the patent goes far beyond concerts as well - so as to cover sporting events, amusement park admissions and rides (think Disney), a wedding invitation system and a lot more. In fact, one of the events that the report covers includes Apple's World Wide Developer Conference 2010.

On April 14, 2010, The Canadian Intellectual Property Office published Apple's latest trademark application for "iAd" under application 1475581. The application indicates that Apple originally filed their trademark just two days prior to formally announcing their upcoming web service associated with iPhone OS 4. Formally, Apple's iAd is a new mobile advertising platform which combines the emotion of television ads with the interactivity of web ads. You could still view Steve Jobs' introduction of this new mobile advertising platform beginning at the 44:10 mark of the "Apple iPhone OS 4 Event" QuickTime presentation. The Canadian filing covers "iAd" under Wares and Services which basically covers Apple in all forms of advertising as well as for being an ASP or Application Service Provider through to "Toys" which encompasses "electronic hand-held game units."

 
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 14 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today of which two are industrial designs covering the iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch. Two other notables within this group includes one that relates to a smart garment or smart shoe that may suggest that Nike and Apple may actually be working on a more sophisticated runner in the future and the other patent relates to the iPod touch and its assembly.

 
On April 13, 2010, the US Patent and Trademark Office officially published two newly granted industrial design patents for Apple Inc. covering the iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch. CEO Steve Jobs is listed as one of the inventors for these designs.

 
Apple's engineers may have struck gold again, if this patent ever goes from paper to marketplace, that is. Even Apple's engineers consider the idea of an iPod or iPhone Smart Device Cover, nothing shy of being a Paradigm Shift in the industry. Don't take my word for it, here's what they actually stated in the patent: "Advantageously, the cover or outer covering according to various embodiments can provide a paradigm shift for electronic device covers, which have conventionally been provided for protection of outer physical surfaces of portable electronic devices. Now, the cover or outer covering can operate as an electrical accessory for the portable electronic device." Today's report provides you with the first in-depth peek at this exciting new concept that will revolutionize the device cover segment of the industry. This report covers everything from the basic mechanics to the functionality right on through to applications that could apply to gaming, texting, video conferencing and even a solar panel version that could have your iPod running many times longer at the beach. And – If you happen to be a BlackBerry die hard, then you just might find the solution you've been hoping for: an iPhone with a physical keyboard. It appears that adding iPhone and/or BlackBerry-like functionality to an iPod could be another hot ticket for Apple sometime in the future.

 
Within four of Apple's social networking patents that have come to light in 2010, the most prominent trend of all has been that of location awareness technology. There have been a number of articles written on the dangers of such a feature, one being "PleaseRobMe and the Dangers of Location-Based Social Networks." During Apple's iPhone OS 4 event held on Thursday, Scott Forstall took to the stage to discuss a number of features coming to the iPhone – with multitasking being the most interesting of all. Within this segment, Forstall focused on a new feature-set relating to "Background Location." This report focuses on this brief yet very important feature-set that is directly related to consumer security. As location awareness technology and social networking apps explode on the market over the coming years, you're going to want to know that the iPhone has safeguards in place for you and your family's protection.

 
In yesterday's NFC focused report we covered a unique Point of Purchase application that Apple appears to be preparing in conjunction with a number of highlighted iPhone hardware upgrades. In today's report we're going to open the flood gates to examine how Apple's engineers see the iPhone eventually controlling every single electronics device in your home including the water sprinkler and home security system for starters. As you could clearly see from our opening graphic above, the iPhone will apparently work with Microsoft's Xbox 360, an HDTV and the Apple TV remote. But that doesn't even scratch the surface of what they envision NFC being used for. One wild 3D CAD application shown in this report will definitely open your eyes to some of the interesting twists that Apple is exploring in conjunction with NFC.

 
The Trade Marks and Design Registration Office of the European Union has granted Apple a series of five design wins for the iPod nano on Tuesday and published today. Apple's design team leader is noted on the filing as being Jody Akana, Engineering Program Manager VLSI.

 
Later this morning Apple will be providing us with a "sneak peek of the next generation of iPhone OS software." While I have no idea whether Apple will reveal their intention to add NFC (Near Field Communications) technology or not to OS 4 today – I'm fairly certain that it's on Apple's future roadmap. How do I know that? I know that because Apple has delivered a barrage of NFC related patents in the last month that could warp anyone's brains trying to get their head around the enormity of Apple's efforts. There have been over a thousand illustrations to review and today you're going to see one of these massive filings in detail. Today's patent relates to an unbelievable Point of Purchase (POP) application that will eventually be adding very sophisticated new functionality to an iPhone: Functionality that will go far beyond just using it for a single POP application. Apple introduces us to an NFC-iPhone that will include a built-in scanner, biometric sensor, added camera functionality and a secondary fingerprint scanner for verifying a user's identity to retailers. This report even provides you with two videos illustrating how it will technically work with a future MacBook and/or Apple-TV as well.

 
Maybe if we hold our breath until we turn blue Apple may actually deliver what appears to be that of a new mini tower personal computer. A Mac Pro is clearly classified as a Workstation. This unit continually describes itself – without a doubt – as a modular based "personal computer." The new outer design presents rounded corners and shock absorber stand pads. The internals of the tower design resemble that of Apple's full tower – so it's hard to distinguish between the units. Apple also introduces us to a new USB 3.0 and DisplayPort combination connector for personal computers and media players. If Apple actually delivers on a new lusty mini tower, there's going to be a lot of very happy Macites loudly applauding Apple for finally listening to their faithful core base.

Could one of Apple's Next Great Things be a Desk-Free Computer? I'd like to think not – but Apple seems to think that it could be and I'm not about to challenge their thinking on this one. They've been right about the iPod, the iPhone and over time – I think most of us know that their iPad is headed for the history books as well. With the iPad not even a week old yet – it was nothing short of amazing to read Apple's visionary statement that they "may provide an entirely new category of computer system as compared to desktops and laptops." In fact, Apple went even further by stating that "such an approach may allow the computer system to be a desk-free computer." There's no doubt that this has a certain Apple flair to it that could eventually lead us back to Revolutionary Road. Yet before we get there, I fully expect this to be controversial for some time to come.  

 
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 16 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. The notables within this group begin with two design patents relating to Cover Flow animation and Apple's MacBook Air SuperDrive and then continue with granted patents for a virtual keyboard for media players, video encoding in iChat, iDVD and finally an important multi-touch related patent covering error compensation for multi-touch surfaces.

 
On April 5, 2010, The Trade Marks and Designs Registration Office of the European Union published three of Apple's figurative trademark applications related to Apple Inc's iWorks suite covering "Numbers," "Page," and "Keynote" respectfully. The applications were officially filed on April 01, 2010 prior to Apple's launching of the iPad on April 3, 2010. All three filings are covered under International Classifications 9 (computer software), 39 (storage services) and 42 (Providing temporary use of on-line non-downloadable software for viewing). If you look closely at the Keynote figure noted above, the header of the document states "Q4 2010." Hmm, is Apple giving us a hint of an iWorks upgrade coming this fall?

 
Last November we reported on Apple's preliminary work on Millimeter-Wave and (NFC) Near Field Communication applications.  One of the more unique applications that we presented at that time was Apple's concept of an iTunes Music Kiosk. It now appears that Apple's R&D teams are exploring a second type of concept retail kiosk. This time their focus is on providing consumers with the ability to purchase customized iTunes Gift Cards in a retail environment. The first idea is to enable the consumer to purchase a personalized iTunes Gift Card using either a stock photo from Apple's library or one from their own home photo library as the background of the card. The second idea is to provide consumers with the ability to purchase customized or personalized custom fitted gift cards that will fit inside Apple's retail packaging. Move over Hallmark – there's a new kid in town.

 
Enclosed is a series of new FCC internal photos of the iPad's 3G componentry and a special photo of the iPad under interrogation. Welcome to the iPad Revolution.

 
Enclosed is the FCC's copy of the Apple iPad Product Guide titled "User Manual Final" from code BCG – E2381A.

 
On March 19, 2010, Patently Apple presented a special report titled "Apple Files a Mysterious Projector Patent" which provided an overview of pico projectors coming to Apple's media players, future MacBooks and a possible new product which would combine a pico projector with Apple's AirPort Extreme. Others saw it as a natural for Apple TV and all in all, pico projectors will be for work and play. In today's patent, Apple's R&D team all but confirms that pico projectors are indeed coming to future MacBooks and details a sweeping overview of the system in a patent published yesterday. The patent also generally confirms rumors of HDMI coming to Macs – being that pico projector based MacBooks list this as a possible feature.

 
We first learned of Apple's Head Mounted Display R&D project nearly two years ago to the month. Our first report titled Apple Preparing a Cool iPod Visual Head-Display System covered their preliminary work on their laser based binocular near-eye display and light engine systems. In today's patent we see that Apple is moving this project further along with a first overview of where the project is headed – in terms of ideas and basic objectives. Currently Apple is working on a couple of methods of making this work, including the concept of sliding a smaller iPod or even a smaller iPhone Nano into a dedicated frame which Apple views as a unique docking station of sorts. The Head Mounted Display system may contain its own video camera or accommodate a camera that is already integrated into your iPod touch or iPhone. The system will have some physical controls but other controls may be set off by voice commands and/or head movements that sensors could recognize as distinct commands. The system will likely offer a Picture-in-Picture (PIP) feature which I think is awesome. While you're viewing a movie, TV show or playing a game, you could always have your PIP set to the external world so that you could be aware of someone approaching you. The system will also offer advanced haptics in their earplugs area so as to enhance Movie sound effects. With Apple hiring a wearable computer guru of late – I would expect that this project could get fast tracked. Time will tell - but it sure looks promising.

 
During Steve Jobs keynote in January, prior to introducing the iPad, he had a new message that he wanted to get out to the world. The message was that Apple is a mobile devices company. "How does Apple stack up against all the other companies that sell mobile devices," asked Jobs. Well, "it turns out that Apple is the largest mobile devices company in the world now. It's amazing. Apple is larger than Sony's mobile devices business…it's bigger than Samsung's mobile devices business … and even bigger than Nokia's mobile devices business." And to make his point even larger – we learn today that Apple is going into the mobile gaming business – big time! Apple's patent provides us with a first view of their exciting new gaming accessories that are now in development. Some units are dedicated while others include a unique receptacle system so that your iPod could be inserted to play games with a game pad that even has controls on the reverse side to control your characters jumping and maneuvering. Some units will have a Wii like motion sensing capability while others will wirelessly connect to your home theater or HDTV. One unit even has a dual display configuration. Watch out Sony – Apple is aiming for mobile games and they're out to win!

 
Talk about intrigue. On March 20, 2010 or about a week prior to Apple securing the iPad trademark from Fujitsu, Apple was assigned the trademark of "iSlate," according to Chinese Trade Mark Records discovered by Patently Apple. Apple's subsequent trademark application is dated March 25, 2010. Apparently Apple's trademark mystery may not be over just yet.

 
On April 1, 2010, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals various concepts behind a newly advanced Phishing Shield. Various anti-phishing protections are covered which incidentally indicates that the new evaluator tool and process associated with the phishing shield may in part use the services from either Google or Symantec. Perhaps that's what Jobs and Schmidt were recently chatting about over coffee – ha!