« April 2010 | Main | June 2010 »

May 2010

Two of Apple's Magic Mouse Patents Finally Surface

1 - Apple Inc, Magic Mouse Patent Fig 9 as Cover 
The world's first Multi-Touch mouse happens to be Apple's new Magic Mouse. It swipes, scrolls, accepts gestures and clicks – even to the tune of offering 3 and 4 click programmable action options. Interestingly, two of Apple's Magic Mouse patents that painstakingly detail this revolutionary mouse just happened to magically appear in the European Patent Office recently with references made to two US filings which were never published on the USPTO's public database listing for some reason. With that said, the two patents presented here today will be of interest to engineering students and those who simply love to understand the magic behind breakthrough products. It should also be noted that Apple's Magic Mouse webpage makes a specific reference to a laser-tracking engine that's more sensitive than traditional optical tracking. The two noted patents presented here today only reference optical tracking. So the switch to laser must have been a last minute implementation prior to launch.

Continue reading "Two of Apple's Magic Mouse Patents Finally Surface " »


Apple Reveals their e-Wallet Companion App Called "Shopping"

1- Cover - Apple Inc, Shopping App patent - may 2010 - b deux 
Let's be honest here. Finding a sales person in a department store these days is getting harder and harder to find, let alone finding one that's well informed or product savvy. So what's the next best thing? Well, according to a new Apple patent, the answer will likely come in the form of a new e-Wallet companion application that will act as your very own private shopping guide. Apple's future e-wallet companion application is simply identified as "Shopping" for now. The app is designed to read RFID tag on products and then on-demand - send you to the manufacturer's web site to get a fuller explanation of what product xyz is all about. It could come in the form of a brochure, presentation or video. Apple introduces us to the concept of creating active shopping lists and will eventually offer us the ability to get in-store maps which is a great idea when you're shopping at mega stores such as IKEA. Yet, it must be said that this application could be mildly controversial in that it taps into the whole privacy debate that is front and center in technology news cycles these days. Although Apple is only one of a few companies that I still trust in the marketplace today, there's still cause to be a little cautious.

Continue reading "Apple Reveals their e-Wallet Companion App Called "Shopping"" »


Apple Describes New QuickTime Player Features with a Twist

A1 - cover - Apple Inc - possible new QT UI 
On May 27, 2010, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals one of the next chapters for Apple's QuickTime Player interface. The new player will offer new features like skip-over content, restart a scene, return to a critical point and recap. The new interface will also contain an optional secondary window that will offer closed-captioning text and more. Yet there could be a twist to the new QuickTime player when used in conjunction with a web browser on a computer or your internet connected television. Today, we could go to Apple's Movie Trailer site and review any number of great films that are on tap for release. In the future, it appears that you'll be able to go from watching a trailer to actually watching a film right from your browser without iTunes. That concept holds a lot of potential and it might be signaling that Apple is thinking beyond Apple TV, the device. Time will tell.

Continue reading "Apple Describes New QuickTime Player Features with a Twist " »


Apple Reveals New iPhone Headset & Advanced Audio

1 - Cover, Apple Inc, Wireless Earphone AssemblyOn May 27, 2010, the US Patent & Trademark Office published two distinct Apple patent applications. The first covers a new wireless earphone-microphone device for use with an iPhone and/or the 3G based iPad. The second patent covers advancing iPhone's audio quality by using audio beamforming with input from a microphone array. This will greatly enhance voice clarity and voice recording of events, for example.

Continue reading "Apple Reveals New iPhone Headset & Advanced Audio" »


Apple Wins Patents for Final Cut Pro & iPod Nano …. Phone?

1 Cover Graphic re Apple Inc Nano Phone .... patent 
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of four newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. The notables within this group include one relating to Apple's MacBook display housing, another for Final Cut Pro's speed effects in relation to video presentations, another relating to wireless transactions made on an iPhone and/or iPod and finally the surprise of the day perhaps. What first appeared as a seemingly simple iPod nano patent, quickly turned into a wild revelation. Apple, as far back as 2006, intended to eventually evolve their iPod nano into that of a nano-phone. Don't take my word for it, read what the patent actually reveals. This isn't the first time that this subject matter has popped up in a patent and begs the question: is a Nano-Phone still a relevant concept?

Continue reading "Apple Wins Patents for Final Cut Pro & iPod Nano …. Phone?" »


Exploring Apple's New e-Wallet Patent on ATM Transactions

1 - Cover - Transaction - Part Three - Apple Patent 
In the first two chapters of this series describing Apple's forthcoming e-wallet functionality, we covered such matters as Apple's iPhone transaction system, the overview of various transactions, the NFC-iPhone tap operation, credit cards, smart/debit cards, check handling and split-billing. In the third part of our series we present you with an overview of Apple's financial patent which focuses on a future iPhone interacting with Automatic Teller Machines or ATMs. Our report walks you through the basics of Apple's Transaction Application interface while exploring some of the more interesting security features it will be offering, such as advanced gestural and voice signature capabilities and a very unique ever-changing numeric pad interface for PINs. There's no doubt that the e-Wallet revolution is on the horizon and with every Apple patent that we are privileged to explore on this subject, we are actually peering through the peep hole of Apple's engineering lab and seeing but a glimpse of the grandeur of Apple's vision of the e-wallet of tomorrow.

Continue reading "Exploring Apple's New e-Wallet Patent on ATM Transactions" »


Apple Files for "WebKit" Trademark

1 - Cover - Webkit, Apple Trademark - Just Text - may 2010 - B

On May 23, 2010, the US Patent & Trademark Office published Apple's latest trademark application for "Webkit" under application 85041789 which was officially filed for on May 18, 2010. Apple has filed their trademark under International Class 009 covering "Computer software for use in developing internet browser software." Apple's trademark specimen directly presents the WebKit Nightly Builds webpage. In Steve Jobs' recently published "Thoughts on Flash" he stated that "WebKit has been widely adopted. Google uses it for Android's browser, Palm uses it, Nokia uses it, and RIM (Blackberry) has announced they will use it too. Almost every smartphone web browser other than Microsoft's, uses WebKit. By making its WebKit technology open, Apple has set the standard for mobile web browsers."

Continue reading "Apple Files for "WebKit" Trademark" »


Apple Files Trademark for Giant "iTunes" Icon for the iTunes Store

1 - Cover - Apple iTunes Icon TM

On May 23, 2010, the US Patent & Trademark Office published Apple's latest trademark for the iTunes icon in relation to the iTunes Store under application 85041463. Apple has filed their trademark under the single International Class 009 covering "Computer software for use in searching, browsing, reviewing, sampling, playing, purchasing, and downloading pre-recorded audio and video content" according to their filing. Apple's website promotes the iTunes Store by simply stating: "Shop the iTunes Store — the world's largest online music store — from your iPhone. Download songs, movies, TV shows, and more.

Continue reading "Apple Files Trademark for Giant "iTunes" Icon for the iTunes Store" »


Apple Files for Giant Figurative "iPhone" Trademark

1 - Figurative Trademark for iPhone

On May 21, 2010 the US Patent & Trademark Office published Apple's latest trademark application for a figurative iPhone design under application 85040770. Apple has filed their trademark under International Class 009 which covers a "Full line of electronic and mechanical parts and fittings for mobile phones and portable and handheld digital electronic devices" according to their filing. The full classification description is laid forth in our report. Apple's trademark will be primarily used on iPhone related retail packaging from Apple and third party developers.

Continue reading "Apple Files for Giant Figurative "iPhone" Trademark" »


iAds: An Apple Patent Focuses on a New Targeting Ad System

1 Cover - iads - apple details a targeting ad system

On May 20, 2010, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals various concepts behind a newly advanced targeting advertising system that is likely associated with Apple's forthcoming iAd service. Apple's patent generally relates to providing dynamically priced advertisements to all manner of electronic devices. The new targeting ad system describes relationships between advertisers, an infrastructure owner and a user that may be the target of advertisements from the advertisers. The heart of the patent details the system itself and then provides us with examples of how it will be implemented. Many of the scenarios involved in the patent are based on a future iPhone with built-in NFC capabilities.

Continue reading "iAds: An Apple Patent Focuses on a New Targeting Ad System" »


New Functions & Marketing Twist for Apple TV in the Works

1 - cover - apple tv learn-remote feature

On May 20, 2010, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals one of the next chapters for Apple TV. While Apple TV is considered to be a hobby device for Apple, the fact is that they continue to evolve the device in their labs. This particular patent covers Apple TV's proposed function simply called "Learn Remote." Apple TV will be able to be controlled by future HDTVs from Sony, Samsung and Hitachi or even a DVR from DirecTV. Yet for the most part, these functions are already found and explained on Apple's website. The second aspect of this patent involves a possible winning marketing twist that could involve Apple TV being able to present a "Simulated iPhone" on a future HDTV so as to allow users to make a phone call or perhaps better yet, interact with one of a Gazillion iPhone Apps or even access one of their new iBooks. Apple tries to hide this feature by illustrating its presence on an illustration yet refusing to elaborate on this point. That's fine, I just did and I'm sure that your imagination could think of other interesting spin-off possibilities for this powerful marketing twist.

Continue reading "New Functions & Marketing Twist for Apple TV in the Works" »


Apple Files Figurative Trademark for MobileMe iDisk

1 - Cover - MobileMe iDisk Figurative TM 
On May 19, 2010, the US Patent & Trademark Office officially published Apple's latest figurative trademark application covering MobileMe iDisk under application 85037005. Apple has filed their trademark under two International Classes covering computer services and software. Apple's MobileMe iDisk Quick Tour video states that "with MobileMe you get an iDisk where you could keep all of your important files. It's like having your own personal hard drive on the web." Apple's figurative trademark tries to capture that marketing imagery.

Continue reading "Apple Files Figurative Trademark for MobileMe iDisk" »


Apple Files Trademark for a Distinctive Retail Store Layout

1 Cover - Apple Store layout with color 
This afternoon SlashGear pointed to new US Patent & Trademark Office trademarks for Apple under applications 85036990 and 85036986 pertaining to an Apple Store design. These application numbers don't yet officially appear in the USPTO database. Apple has supposedly filed their trademarks for the Apple Store design under International Class 035 covering "Retail store services featuring computers, computer software, computer peripherals, mobile phones, consumer electronics and related accessories, and demonstration of products relating thereto." The filings present a mark that "consists of distinctive design and layout of a retail store." The first illustration is presented above in color. A secondary black and white illustration and a retail store photo is presented in this report.

 

Continue reading "Apple Files Trademark for a Distinctive Retail Store Layout" »


Apple Wins Huge with MacBook & Media Player Patents

1 - Cover - Media Player Module Controller & MacBook Trackpad 
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 16 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today which included two design patents. The notables within this group include one for Apple's MacBook trackpad, another for their Universal Docking Station, another for Cover flow and perhaps the most important of them all, a crucial patent covering Apple's innovative media player module-controller: the brains controlling applications such as iPhoto and iTunes on devices such as the iPod touch and iPhone.

Continue reading "Apple Wins Huge with MacBook & Media Player Patents" »


Apple Files Trademark for Giant "Remote" Icon

1 - Cover - iPhone Icon for Remote - may 2010 
On May 18, 2010, the US Patent & Trademark Office published Apple's latest trademark relating to the "Remote" Media Player icon under application 85036427. Apple has filed their trademark under the single International Class 009 covering "Computer software for remote management of computer software for use in searching, browsing, reviewing, sampling, playing, purchasing, and downloading pre-recorded audio and video content" according to their filing. Apple's webpage for Remote states that "Remote is a free, fun, and easy-to-use application that turns your iPhone or iPod touch into a remote control. So wherever you are in your house, you can control the music in the iTunes library on your computer and your Apple TV with a tap or flick of a finger."

Continue reading "Apple Files Trademark for Giant "Remote" Icon" »


A New Social Workflow Patent from Apple Highlights Facebook

1 - A New Social Workflow Patent from Apple Highlights Facebook - cover graphic 
Last Wednesday the Business Insider reported that a mobile industry insider confirmed to them that Apple was building Facebook features into iPhone OS 4. Perhaps "Apple's new hooks into Facebook," reported Frommer "will make this sync process part of the phone's operating system and not just a feature of the Facebook app." Coincidentally, a recently published Apple patent sheds light on this very subject under the scope of a fuller social networking application concerning various workflows including an "Add Contact" workflow and a "Social Networking" workflow which specifically highlights an exemplary Facebook example. This report covers Apple's "Workflow" patent that is indeed presented as a possible future iPhone OS upgrade consideration.

 

Continue reading "A New Social Workflow Patent from Apple Highlights Facebook" »


Apple Reveals a Powerful Location-Based Service for the iPhone

1 - cover - new iphone service delivers temp location-based apps 
Within the sixteen patent applications that were published by the US Patent & Trademark Office for Apple Inc today, a single gem emerged. It's a very powerful new concept for a location based application service that is one of the most ingenious ideas that have surfaced on this subject in some time. The idea is simple. Deliver a location based service to information savvy iPhone users that wish to receive temporary retail and service-based applications. Imagine standing at the entrance of a restaurant and viewing their menu on your iPhone or entering a public library and being able to access their database. The minute you leave the library or the front of that restaurant, the app disappears so that you don't clog up your iPhone with hundreds of local business apps. I don't know if Apple will tackle this at their upcoming developer conference, but this is a phenomenal opportunity for hungry developers and/or Business Form companies looking for a new avenue for revenue. There are millions of non-geek business owners who are going to want in on this service so as to attract new tech savvy iPhone using clients. Snooze on this opportunity and you'll Lose.

 

Continue reading "Apple Reveals a Powerful Location-Based Service for the iPhone" »


Apple Files Trademark for "Calendar" Icon

1 - COVER - CALENDAR ICON 
On May 13, 2010, the US Patent & Trademark Office published Apple's latest trademark related to their iPhone "Calendar" icon under application 85033749. Apple has filed their trademark under the single International Class 009 covering "Computer software for personal information management, data synchronization and sharing, automated reminders, and event scheduling," according to their filing. Apple's webpage states that "Calendar works with Yahoo!, Google, Microsoft Outlook, iCal, MobileMe, and Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync for Enterprise to bring everything together."

Continue reading "Apple Files Trademark for "Calendar" Icon" »


Transaction: Apple's e-Wallet App Finally Surfaces in a Patent

1 - Cover - Transaction - Orange bb 
On April 16, 2010 a savvy investor posted a great report on The Motley Fool investor site in which he stated that "Mobile purchases [and] p2p payments using phones - is a utopia that many telcos, banks, and scheme operations have been looking at for years." On May fourth, the news broke that Visa and DeviceFidelity have been working with Apple on turning your iPhone into a credit card that could be used in restaurants and other retail establishments. Market trials actually begin this summer. At the heart of all this news, of course, is Near Field Communications (NFC) technology. Patently Apple has reported on several new NFC related Apple patents targeting concert tickets, travel and others in recent weeks and today we're finally beginning to roll out a new series of Apple patents relating to financial transactions. In fact, that's the generic branding associated with a new Apple Application shown on iPhone patent figures: Transaction. Today, Patently Apple presents you with two reports covering "Transaction" beginning with Transaction 101. Yeeees – Welcome to Transaction: The financial utopia of tomorrow.

Continue reading "Transaction: Apple's e-Wallet App Finally Surfaces in a Patent" »


Transaction 2: Apple's e-Wallet App Finally Surfaces in a Patent

Cover - Transaction - Part Two 
In part one of this series we provided you with a basic overview of Apple's forthcoming financial application code named Transaction. In part two you'll see a multitude of screenshots related to financial instruments like credit and debit/smart cards, check handling and even group invoicing or split-billing – a common social interaction of splitting a restaurant bill with friends. Patently Apple's report is simply an overview of the iPhone Transaction application patent. For those of you who are bankers, accountants and/or retailers wanting to know a little more about Apple's new financial centric application, we provide you with direction as to where you could find more in-depth patent detailing on each and every topic covered here today.

Continue reading "Transaction 2: Apple's e-Wallet App Finally Surfaces in a Patent" »


Apple Files Trademark for "TuneKit"

1 Cover - TuneKit 
On May 12, 2010, the US Patent & Trademark Office published Apple's latest trademark application for "TuneKit" under application 85031150 just four days after publishing Apple's "iTunes Live." Apple has filed their trademark under International Class 009 covering "computer software to enable users to program and distribute audio, video, text and other multimedia content via communications networks." Apple's TuneKit provides developers with a library of resources to use in creating iTunes LP and iTunes Extras as a framework that abstracts the WebKit Rich Media technology leveraged by iTunes. You could obtain a PDF of Apple's TuneKit Programming Guide v1.0 here.

Continue reading "Apple Files Trademark for "TuneKit"" »


Apple Wins Patents for iPad Docking Stations & iPhone Multi-Touch

1 - Cover - iPad docking stations - iPhone multi-touch, b version 
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of ten newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. The notables within this group includes one that relates to present and future iPad docking stations, another covering the iPhone's Multi-Touch and sensor technology and finally an interesting one that relates to automating call forwarding between a land line phone and an iPhone. It should also be noted that Apple has won two iPod related design patents.   

Continue reading "Apple Wins Patents for iPad Docking Stations & iPhone Multi-Touch " »


Apple Files for "iTunes Live" Trademark

1 - Cover - iTunes LIVE TM 
On Friday morning, a series of "Made for" trademarks from Apple's were published by the USTPO covering Apple's iPod, iPhone and iPad. In an unusual move by the USPTO, Apple's trademark filing for 'iTunes Live" was published yesterday, Saturday May 8, 2010. With that said, Apple's dual filings are found under applications 85030139 and 85030144 which are respectfully covered by International Classes 035 for "Online retail store services in the field of entertainment," and 041 for "Entertainment services."

Continue reading "Apple Files for "iTunes Live" Trademark" »


The Mobile Platform War Continues Between Nokia and Apple

1 - Cover - Nokia vs. Apple - May 2010 
Nokia first sued Apple in October 2009 alleging that the iPhone infringed on ten of their patents - and Apple humbly replied with a countersuit of their own two months later. In April 2010, Patently Apple covered Intel's developer conference in a report titled "Apple's iPhone in Intel's Crosshairs." In that report we pointed to how Intel focused on a partnership with Nokia concerning MeeGo, a software platform to take on Apple's iPhone OS along with Microsoft's future mobile phone platforms and so forth. There's no doubt that in order for MeeGo to be successful, Nokia must at least appear to be both yesteryear's pioneer and tomorrow's visionary in the mobile arena. Yet the future visionary angle is one that Apple has claimed for themselves. During Apple's iPad Special Event in January, Steve Jobs stated the following: "Apple is a mobile devices company: That's' what we do. By revenue, Apple is the largest mobile devices company in the world, now. It's amazing." He went on to point out that Apple was larger than Sony's mobile devices business… that it was bigger than Samsung's mobile devices business and "by revenue, it's even bigger than Nokia's mobile devices business, with all of the handsets that they sell." Yeeees, the war between Nokia and Apple is as much about psychological marketing warfare than it is about patents. It's going to be a very long drawn out public war for the minds of consumers for years to come. Yet in the short term, this report covers the patents that Nokia is claiming Apple is infringing on.

 

Continue reading "The Mobile Platform War Continues Between Nokia and Apple" »


Apple Files a Series of New Trademarks for iPod, iPhone & iPad

1 - TM - DRAWING - made for iPod, iPhone, iPad 
On May 7, 2010, the US Patent & Trademark Office published four of Apple's latest trademark applications covering a series of "Made for" insignias covering various combinations of products including the iPod, iPhone and iPad. Our cover graphic represents the first of the four designs.

Continue reading "Apple Files a Series of New Trademarks for iPod, iPhone & iPad" »


Apple Reveals Extraordinary Multifunctional 3D Widgets

1 - Cover 
A week ago today, a new patent of Apple's surfaced detailing a future OS X 3D feature relating to ambient light. In today's published patent, Apple takes their future OS dashboard into hyper-drive with 3D widgets. These next generation 3D widgets will actually provide different features, attributes and/or distinct functionality depending on which side of the widget you click on. The user will be able to lift and rotate the widgets to expose these various functions and could be an extraordinary tool that will save you time and useless repetitiveness. With Google running scared of Apple's possible next moves and/or ramp-up into 3D variations of OS X and iPhone OS, they just acquired BumpTop on May 2, 2010. Here's a video of it if you've never heard of BumpTop before. The question becomes, what does Google know about Apple's 3D operating systems that have them on the run?

Continue reading "Apple Reveals Extraordinary Multifunctional 3D Widgets " »


Apple Takes a Giant Leap in Biometrics with Heart Sensors

1 Cover - Giant Leap in Biometrics 
Apple's first high-end enterprise quality biometric security system patent surfaced back in March of 2009 and with today's patent, Apple takes a giant leap forward in biometric security. In today's patent we discover that future iterations of the iPhone could very well support sophisticated embedded heart sensors to monitor the user's heart and record such data for future identification purposes when making banking transactions or protecting highly sensitive documents or data. This will play a part of a future patent report due later this month. Today's patent further confirms that a future iPhone will indeed support a pico or pico-like projector.

 

Continue reading "Apple Takes a Giant Leap in Biometrics with Heart Sensors " »


Apple Files Two Distinct Trademarks for iPad

1 - Cover - iPad Trademarks 
On May 5, 2010, the US Patent & Trademark Office published two of Apple's latest trademark applications covering a figurative design representing the iPad under application 85025647 and another covering "Made for iPad" under application 85025637. Apple has filed both trademarks under International Class 009 covering a "Full line of electronic and mechanical parts and fittings for handheld computers and portable and handheld digital electronic devices…" The full description of this class for both trademarks is listed in the report.

Continue reading "Apple Files Two Distinct Trademarks for iPad" »


Apple Files "Made for iPhone" Trademark

1 Cover - MADE FOR IPHONE TM 
On May 5, 2010, the US Patent & Trademark Office published Apple's latest trademark application for "Made for iPhone" under application 85025627. Apple has filed their trademark under the sole International Class 009 covering a "Full line of electronic and mechanical parts and fittings for handheld computers and portable and handheld digital electronic devices…" The full description of this class is listed in the report.

Continue reading "Apple Files "Made for iPhone" Trademark" »


Is Apple Test Marketing iTravel in Montreal? Shhhh….

1 Cover - iTravel in Test Marketing - final b

On April 21, 2010 Patently Apple presented a report on an a high profile Apple patent relating to the travel industry which covered an iPhone application called iTravel. It's been the buzz of the travel industry ever since. The timing of the report couldn't have been any better, considering that the Travel Distribution Summit is set to begin on June 17, 2010 in London. One of the noted keynote topics at this year's Summit covers "How to build the perfect travel app." Well, with Apple working diligently on iTravel - the perfect travel app may already be in waiting. In fact, it appears that Apple is currently in the process of test marketing some aspects of iTravel with Air Canada in Montreal. The limited test market is covering five travel destinations: Montreal, Vancouver, Toronto, Paris and yes, London – where the travel summit is set to take place. In a coordinated ad put forth by Air Canada, Apple and Telus in Montreal's English daily newspaper called the Gazette on April 29, 2010 – we're able to see Apple's iPhone with various iApps coordinated for the busy traveler. The service is initially using a 2D Matrix barcode system which was covered in Apple's patent – as was the concept of the "unmanned baggage kiosk." That's kind of buzz, really, to see Apple's April patent in action so quickly, even if it's only in-part: But Shhhh, it's a secret.

Continue reading "Is Apple Test Marketing iTravel in Montreal? Shhhh…." »


Apple Wins Major Patents for an Original Mystery iPhone Design, the iPod Clickwheel, iPhoto and a New Ad Based Processing System

1 Cover - iPhoto granted patent 
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of twenty newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. The notables within this group include a design patent relating to what Apple describes as an Original Mobile Device design – which appears to be that of an iPhone without the traditional physical "Home" button. Other interesting granted patents published today include one for Apple's iLife based iPhoto application for amateur photographers and another relating to Apple's famous clickwheel. The last patent in this group, could be considered a sleeper. Apple apparently has acquired a patent concerning location based technology that may assist their upcoming iAd services. The patent introduces us to both a server data processing system (SDPS) and a receiving data processing system (RDPS) which are likely to play a major role in the bigger scheme of things going forward.

Continue reading "Apple Wins Major Patents for an Original Mystery iPhone Design, the iPod Clickwheel, iPhoto and a New Ad Based Processing System" »