Yet perhaps one of the true surprises that emerged from this new patent filing was the revelation that future Google based tablets won't be running on Android as suspected but rather on Chrome OS.

Apple: Cut the Copycats' Fuel-Line to Fame

While I'm not a fan of Google's by any stretch of the imagination, savvy if not ruthless competition is good for Apple. If Apple's competition is pushing ideas that Apple is simply happy to sit on, then that's their choosing. But I have to admit that it's getting a little tiresome to continually see Apple's original ideas being picked off by these copycats.

While I fully understand Apple's passion for perfection, the "rest of us" would be content with Apple rolling out more cool features at a faster pace that could be perfected over time, like Siri. I'm not saying that Apple should put out crap – like they did with Maps, I'm just saying that Apple should be putting more of their ideas out into the marketplace at a little quicker pace so as to cut the copycats' fuel-line to fame.

A case in point: Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Note 8 will introduce a new Wallet Service to rival Apple’s Passbook. Yet Apple has been working on an electronic wallet far longer than Samsung. 

At the end of the day, who will be first to market with next generation tablets with smart housing controls? While only time will tell, I think you know who I'm cheering for.