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July 2010

Apple Emblazed in New Patent Infringement Lawsuit

1 - Apple - Patent Infringement - Emblaze Plaintiff 
On July 28, 2010, an Israeli company by the name of Emblaze Ltd., maker of the advanced "Else" smartphone, filed a lawsuit against Apple Inc. for patent infringement. The lawsuit involves a single patent relating to real-time broadcasting over a network that the company claims is used without license by Apple in their iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and QuickTime X in Snow Leopard.

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Apple Reveals Fashion App to Drive Consumers to Online Retailers

1b - Cover - Driving Customers to Online Stores 
Earlier today we presented you with Apple's new Virtual Closet application. That application had a cross-over element to it for shopping online. This second report follows through on yet another Apple patent that was published today aimed at driving consumers to fashion retailers specifically. Apple is obviously working with Ralph Lauren and other designers and fine clothiers to drive sales their way. Those designers and clothiers involved in the program will be able to send out invitations, promotions and cross sell into accessories like jewelry and so on and so forth. It's also a vehicle for Apple's new high-end iAds. The new app will provide a social networking aspect to it as did the Virtual Closet. Apple has thought differently here and is well on the way to delivering a new kind of application that will be the first of many to follow no doubt.

 

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OK Girls – Apple is Introducing the Social Networking Virtual Closet

1 - cover - Apple Inc's Virtual Closet Application 
Apple has obviously been approached by the larger fashion retail chains to come up with some kind of app that could generate sales for them down the road and Apple has hired new engineers to take on this task. In the first of two applications, Apple introduces us to the Virtual Closet - a unique application that could really only be understood and appreciated by women. The application allows a user to catalog and duplicate their real-world closet into that of a virtual one. It allows a user to check out what a combined outfit would look on them before trying it out. It also allows the user to go Virtual window shopping and try out new clothes before buying. The social aspect of the app comes in when the user invites their friends to check out their Virtual Closet, rate their clothes and even allow friends to make a request to borrow an item. If you're a female who loves to share their clothes with friends or happen to be a retailer who has been searching for new ways to reach a new tech savvy audience, then look no further. Apple is working on an app for that!

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Apple's iTravel App to Plug into Hotel Servers for In-Room Services

1 - cover 
Apple's iTravel application services are already expanding and the app hasn't even launched yet. In our first report this morning, we covered a detailed travel itinerary application that will cover every aspect of your travel while the second report focuses on how your iPhone will be able to tap into a hotel's own servers to access multiple in-room services. For starters, your iPhone will act as your hotel key and from there you'll be able to control room settings such as lighting, bath settings, room temperature and so forth. Your iPhone will be able to be your hotel room's TV and stereo remote. You'll also be able to access other services like booking a visit to the hotel's spa or reserving a conference room all from the convenience of your iPhone or other iOS device. You'll even be allowed to check-out via your iPhone or check your room charges before leaving. When it comes to future travel – Apple is out to cover you every step of the way from travel arrangements right through to in-room services conveniently and in style.

 

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Apple Expanding Services for their Future iTravel Application

1 cover - apple inc travel itinerary application 
Apple first introduced us to an exciting future iPhone application dubbed iTravel back in April 2010 which certainly shook things up in the travel industry. In today's patent, Apple introduces us to a more detailed view of a "travel itinerary application" which will be available to walk a traveler through everything step of a flight from preflight activities at the virtual service counter to activities at the airport as well as in-flight and post-flight activities. You'll be able to reserve restaurants at your destination, order a video game for in-flight entertainment, order special in-flight meals, order a specific type of movie while on flight or set-up sightseeing tours – just for starters. Apple has been working with partners like Telus and Air Canada on test marketing various aspects of iTravel – and today's patent application reveals that Apple is still expanding the nature and capabilities of iTravel as was first revealed  - with more is on the way! Stay tuned for part two. 

 

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Q2 Worldwide PC Market Report: Apple on the Rise Again

1b - Cover -- Apple on the Rise Again, v2 
According to a leading market Analysis firm, Apple's rocketing iPad sales propelled Apple into the number five spot worldwide amongst PC vendors – even though Apple now considers themselves to be a Mobile Devices Company, according to Apple's CEO. While Apple's iPad takes off, growth in the netbook market continued to slow, as vendors struggled to deliver new product innovations.

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Apple's Magic Trackpad Comes to Life + Mixed Take on New iMacs

1b - Cover - Apple's Magic Trackpad trademark comes to life, v2 
On January 26, 2010 as the New Year just got underway, Patently Apple broke the news about a mysterious device simply called the "Magic Trackpad." Then in June we presented a special report titled The Next OS Revolution Countdown Begins where we discussed new UI possibilities that would be coming to market over the next few years and specifically pointed to a desktop keyboard/touchpad combination device that could bring multi-touch to the desktop. On July 20, the FCC revealed that Apple had asked for a six month confidentiality period concerning a Bluetooth Trackpad that had to come to market prior to August 10, 2010 when the confidentiality period would end. Today, Apple revealed the Magic Trackpad and it's really cool. At some point in time, if it proves to be a smash hit, Apple could provide us with an integrated design as our special report illustrated. Finally, today's report takes a look at Apple's refreshed iMacs and provides you with our first-take on these sexy new beasts.

 

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Apple Granted Patents for Capacitive Sensing & the iPhone Antenna

1 Cover - Apple Inc wins patent for Capacitive Sensing july 2010 
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 16 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. In our first patent report published this morning we covered many yet to be released iPod designs that included one focused on a nano phone and got to see that Apple is considering MagSafe for iOS devices. The second wave of patents today cover a crucial touch related patent covering capacitive sensing which could fend off rivals trying to challenge Apple in court. Others patents today cover the technology behind the original iPhone antenna, power management in Airport devices and much more.

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Apple Wins Patents for 8 All-New iPod Designs Including a Nano Phone While Considering MagSafe for future iOS Devices

1B - Cover - Apple Inc Granted Patent for Unique iPod Nano Designs Incl iPhone Nano 
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 16 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. The first notables within this group includes one that relates to eight all-new iPod nano designs that definitely describe one of the designs as being a cell phone. The second patent uniquely covers Apple's MagSafe in connection with future iOS based devices like the iPad, iPhone and more.

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The Dell Tale Starts to Unravel and it's a Bombshell

Cover, the dell bombshell, v2
On June 4, 2010 Michael Dell stated that he was considering taking Dell Inc. private "but would not comment when asked what would make him think about the possibility more seriously," reported Reuters. Well, today we likely know the reasoning for that off-the-wall statement. The SEC charged Dell and senior executives with disclosure and accounting fraud yesterday and the story behind it is one hell of a bombshell!

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Apple Reveals Technology Required for Future Miniature Products

1 cover - Apple patent - contactless plug detect mechanisms 
One of Apple's newly published patents today is about detecting a plug placed in an electronic device without physically contacting the plug. What's the significance of such a technology? Well, with devices being designed ever smaller and devices like an iWatch being considered, the traditional design for plug detection isn't going to work. Apple's patent discusses their new solution which paves the way for next generation wearable devices and more.

 

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Apple Finally Designs a Way to Share Your Music Headset

1A - Cover Monophonic Mode Control for iPod, iPhone etc, v3 final 
There are times when you want to listen to your music with just one earbud so that you could also hear what's happening around you. You may be a passenger in a car or bus, be at work or just taking a walk. If you do that today, you'd lose the quality of sound which is in stereo. Apple has now designed a way for you to switch to monophonic mode on your media player so that you could receive superior sound when only using a single earbud. The advantage of the system is that it also allows you to share your headset with your significant other while walking. Each earbud will be set to monophonic sound with a simple click. So finally a couple could be in-tune with their music and be able to share and listen to new tunes at the same time.

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Apple May Introduce a New Design Concept for the MacBook Air

1 - Cover - MacBook Air Hybrid Concept Report - AirBook brand idea - V2 
Taiwan's DigiTimes reported on July 15, 2010 that Apple is preparing their next generation MacBook Air to sport an 11.6 inch display and an Intel Core i-series processor. But the news didn't stop there. The statement that followed was a loaded statement that may point to the MacBook Air gaining a new design and concept. This report looks at two or more possible concepts that might make the cut this fall.

 

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An FCC Document Points to Apple's New Magic TrackPad for August

1 - Magic TrackPad Cover 2 
The FCC released an October 7, 2009 testing report yesterday that may in fact confirm that Apple is nearing the final stages of a Bluetooth device that is thought to be that of a stand-alone trackpad of sorts. This would theoretically support Apple's February 2010 trademark filing for a "Magic TrackPad." This report presents you with the one slip-up in the Apple filing that proves it's a trackpad along with other documents, including one that may actually point to an estimated release date of the Magic Trackpad for sometime in August. 

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Apple Wins Patents for Dashboard & Future iPad Feature

1 - Cover Graphic for July 20 Granted Patents - Multitouch Visual Expander 
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 12 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today of which two were for design patents including one for Apple's 3G iPhone. The notables within the remainder of this group include one relating to Apple's OS X feature known as Dashboard and perhaps most importantly, Apple has won a strategically important multi-touch patent covering a visual expander that may be used in a future iteration of the iPad or other unique multi-touch application.

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A New Docking Device from Apple Set to Simplify Bluetooth Pairing

1 - Apple Inc patent - serial pass-through device - The report's Cover Graphic 
On July 15, 2010, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals various concepts behind a newly advanced docking station-like device. The thinking behind the device is to make Bluetooth paring between two devices a snap, literally. Apple introduces us to a serial pass-through device in the form of a docking station and/or a travelling charger embodiment. Along with paring devices in an easier manner, the device will also add a superior layer of security than is currently available with the Bluetooth standard. Another docking station related patent also surfaced today that covers the topic of inductive power. We point to a few presentations to help you understand this coming revolution.

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Apple Wins Graphics Tablet, Audio Command Patents and More

1 - Cover - Apple granted patents for July 13, 2010 - Graphic tablet and Audio command systems + 
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of ten newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today of which two were for industrial designs. One of the designs is for a family of media player covers for the iPhone, iPod touch and more. In respect to Apple's regular granted patents, the notables within this group include Apple's audio command system for media players and a graphic tablet system that might actually one day extend to the iPad. Then again, time will tell.

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Apple working on a Hot New NFC-iPhone App with Hidden Surprises

1 cover re Product + app from Apple Inc, July 2010 
In May 2010 we were shown Apple's iPhone roadmap in respect to their forthcoming e-Wallet and Shopping companion Apps. Applications that will require Apple to present the market with new NFC (Near Field Communications) enabled iPhones sometime in 2011 (if we're lucky). In todays patent report we'll explore a new Apple patent that reveals that NFC is going even deeper into the next generation iPhone. Today, Apple introduces "Products +" a generic name for a future "benefit management application." The idea behind the patent is that Apple will work with participating vendors – be they a trendy coffee vendor or electronics or book retailer – so that their packaging will sport an NFC tag. This tag will be able to be read by a user's NFC enabled iPhone which could in return surprise the user with hidden benefits ranging from free merchandise to free music and a lot of options in-between. The benefits angle to an NFC enabled iPhone could tip the scale in a any given sale and I think that this has the potential of being an explosively hot feature to kick off the NFC revolution on the iPhone. Today's report presents you with a ton of benefit-related examples.

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Apple Wins MacBook Ambient Light Sensor & Dashboard Patents

1 - Cover - Apple Inc, Dual Purpose Ambient Light Sensor, granted patent july 2010 
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 12 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today which includes 3 design patents covering Apple's Magic Mouse retail packaging, the iTunes icon used on all iOS devices and the OS X spinning cursor symbol. The meatier granted patents of the day relate to ambient light sensors used in Apple's notebooks, Apple's OS X Dashboard feature and several iPod related patents covering the inner mechanics of the device.

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Apple Files Trademark for "My iPhone" Icon

1 - Apple Inc - Find My iPhone icon trademark 
On July 1, 2010, the US Patent & Trademark Office published Apple's latest trademark application for "My iPhone" icon under application 85069782. Apple has filed their trademark under a non-specific International Class covering "Computer software for use in geographically locating and tracking electronic devices." Obviously those responsible for creating descriptions for International Classes haven't gotten around to updating their classes to match new emerging technologies. Today's icon trademark relates to Apple's own "Find My iPhone" iApp available for free at the App Store.

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Patents: The Magic behind GarageBand

1 - Cover - GarageBand Patents 
On July 1, 2010, the US Patent & Trademark Office published three distinct patents detailing the magic behind Apple's GarageBand, a highly popular iApp within Apple's iLife suite. If you're a musician-techie or programmer who loves music, you'll be able to explore various aspects of today's patents covering an audio processing interface, a method and system for music instruction and of course the music instruction system behind GarageBand. The music instruction patent covers how video instruction is provided for in GarageBand while another patent details various aspects of guitar amplifier effects - like the famous wah-wah pedal effect.

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