Late yesterday the Hong Kong Patent and Trademark Office granted Apple seven design patents covering Apple's iPad Pro 'Smart Keyboard' accessory along with the iOS 9 icon for the 'Apple News' application and finally an animated GUI element that's a bit of a mystery.

Apple's iOS 9 Apple News Application Icon

Apple's iOS 9 Apple News icon noted above was granted a design patent in Hong Kong yesterday. Not that it really matters now that iOS 10 will be introducing the new Apple News icon as noted below in under two weeks' time when the iPhone 7 debuts. Apple filed for the new trademark in June.

Animated GUI Element

Apple was granted a design patent for an 'animated GUI' element that is unfamiliar to me. If you happen to know where Apple is using this animated element, then take a moment to send in a link in our comment area to show us where it applies. Update Aug. 28: A response noted below in our comment section states that the animated GUI relates to Apple's upcoming iOS 10 iMessages app update.

Apple Wins Five More 'Smart Keyboard' Design Patents

The Hong Kong Patent and Trademark Office granted patent two iPad Pro 'Smart Keyboard' patents in June. Yesterday the Hong Kong office granted Apple an additional five 'Smart Keyboard' design patents numbered from 1600359.8M001 to .8M005.

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