On June 30, 2011, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals various new advanced vicinity sensors coming to future iPads. Apple's patent makes it clear that vicinity sensors will be a tool that will fit into the enterprise quite nicely. New vicinity sensors coming to the iPad include RFID, Infrared and Ultrasonic. The latter utilizes advanced 3D scanning and imaging capablilities. The advanced sensors are designed to locate office equipment anywhere within an enterprise and could actually devise floor plans to properly located devices. Users will also be able to drag document icons to the printer or videos and/or art to a video projector for a presentation using Keynote or Power Point. Without a doubt, Apple is aiming to further advance the iPad into the enterprise.  

 
On June 30, 2011, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals one of the next chapters for docking stations. Apple's current docking solutions are primarily restricted to iOS devices and are basically passive in nature. Today's patent application reveals Apple's intentions of expanding docking solutions to the MacBook while introducing us to the smart-dock. This next generation docking station will be location-smart or location-aware. For example, the proposed dynamic docking station could automatically be set to work with your living room devices such as your HDTV and/or stereo and then switch its configuration to work with other peripherals when you transport it to your office, car or elsewhere. 

 
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 10 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. The three notables that stood out from the pack this morning include one for Apple's workflow Automator, Apple's keyboard with numeric pad design and a patent covering the laminated window assembly for devices like the iPhone and iPad. In addition to granted patents, Apple has filed for three US trademarks this morning covering their new Final Cut Pro X, Motion and Compressor icons. 

 
On June 24, 2011, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals one of the next chapters for Apple's iTunes. Apple's revelation pertains to a new elaborate system that will essentially allow users to borrow tunes on a limited time basis before asking them to buy the tune or have it erased from their playlist. When you understand the principles behind Apple's coming Music Match system for iCloud, then you could easily see how Apple could implement this proposed borrowing system. Apple will be able to scan and monitor each tune's time limit on your devices. The music industry needs to get more tunes into more users devices and the old marketing systems of yesteryear aren't delivering as they should. While Apple's proposed borrowing system is definitely a big marketing gamble for both Apple and the music industry, it could also be one of the most ingenious marketing moves in recent times.  Report Updated with news of a new shock dampening mount for hard drives.

 
On June 23, 2011, the US Patent & Trademark Office published Apple's patent application titled "Image Capture Device Having Tilt and/or Perspective Correction. Apple's patent generally relates to image capture devices in electronic systems, and more particularly to image capture devices having the ability to correct for tilt and/or perspective distortion. Although it's not the most interesting patent application of the year, there was definitely a hint of camera watch that could use Apple's new camera technology that was worth noting. In other IP News, the application that Apple made last summer covering their stunning glass structured Apple Store is about to officially get trademarked. It's definitely the coolest retail store design that I've ever seen, and I think that most would agree.  

 
On June 23, 2011, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals various concepts behind a newly advanced directional audio interface. In one scenario, a specialized effect with a new kind of headset on would create an invisible spatial arc over the user's head that could control iPod menus through air gestures. Alternatives work with sensors in the iPod so that a user could map out movements to specific menu actions as our opening graphic illustrates. Apple's patent provides us with a mix of practical and very futuristic concepts on how we'll be able to control our iPod menus in the future through new audio interfaces. Concepts that will drive the competition mad once again.  

 
On June 23, 2011, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals one of the next chapters for AppleTV. The proposed system is described by Apple as being an enhanced TV widget paradigm. While Google has gotten an early start in this arena of TV meets the Internet, the system is basically working with static widgets. Apple's paradigm involves taking widgets to the next level of live widgets that will interact with TV shows like NBC's "The Voice" so that users could directly vote for their favorite candidates from their HDTV effortlessly. The system will also work with live sports like football with other live content is in the works. The system still involves Apple's AppleTV set-top-box but with a twist. It will finally hook up with regular Cable TV networks! Now that could be hot!  

 
On June 21, 2011, the European Patent & Trademark Office officially published six of Apple's figurative trademark applications for Final Cut Pro X Graphics. Apple has filed for Final Cut Pro X, Motion 5 and Compressor 4 figurative trademarks in both color and black-and-white. All of the applications were filed under three International Classes covering computer graphics software relating to computer software for use in all facets of video and motion picture production and telecommunications. The third International Class specifically relates to application service provider services that may actually cover future iCloud services. The class description includes "hosting computer software applications and web sites of others on global computer networks." The trademark applications coincide with the release of Final Cut Pro X today. Report Update: Apple files for iPhone 4 Design Trademark in China.

 
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of nine newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. There were four patents that stood out from the pack this morning. The first covered Apple's original Front Row multimedia app which debuted in 2005. The second covered the iMac's unique edge-to-edge glass cover that came to market in 2010. The third covered one of the original iPhone user interface patents that described the use of touch-activated icons and apps as well as its virtual keyboard and more. And finally, an interesting patent about a proprietary MicroDVI connector surfaced this morning that is likely referring to Apple's Mini DisplayPort connector. All in all, today's round of granted patents proved to be a rather interesting mix of technologies. 

 
Pre-orders for Hewlett Packard's TouchPad begin today at Best Buy and Future Shop in Canada for availability on July 15. HP's WebOS could drive their upcoming tablet to third spot behind Apple's iPad within the next 18-24 months. Jonathan Rubenstein, who was Senior VP of Apple's iPod division, is behind the rise of WebOS and HP's TouchPad website which actually has some class. Rubinstein who worked with Steve Jobs as far back as NeXT understands Apple and how to compete with them. HP's ability to drive WebOS to their entire hardware line-up of desktops and laptops within the next 6-18 months is going to give them a huge advantage over competitors. And with HP's CEO Leo Apotheker hinting of licensing WebOS earlier this month, HP could be the dark horse to watch out for going forward.  

 
On June 17, 2011, the US Patent & Trademark Office published documentation relating to the legal transfer of the "Airdrop" trademark from Urban Airship to Apple. Urban Airship was only granted their certificate of registration last month which put a little pressure on Apple to acquire it, pronto. On this same day, Patently Apple has discovered that Apple has filed applications for their AirDrop trademark in China and iCloud related service "Photo Stream" in Canada. The latter may act as Apple's priority filing. Updated July 26, 2011.

 
On June 16, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals one of the next chapters for Apple's FaceTime videoconferencing application. Simply put, Apple understands that in this mobile world that we're now living in, FaceTime videoconferencing won't always take place on your nice stable iMac desktop but rather on the go. Apple's patent discusses fine tuning FaceTime videoconferencing so as to take advantage of face recognition software that is able to figure out where the center of your mobile display is while you're moving about. In theory it sounds interesting, but it's one of those features that you're going to have to test out yourself when it arrives – just to see if Apple has hit the mark on this one. Stabilizing video is going to be important feature going forward. And if you've ever shot video on an iOS device before, then you're fully aware that we need better stabilization technology badly!