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Apple Patent Shows Interest in Film Production, Script-Integrated Storyboards

A recently published patent application titled “SCRIPT-INTEGRATED STORYBOARDS” by Apple shows the company’s interest in stepping even deeper into the world of motion picture production.
The patent application explains how it would serve as a tool for film and video editors and producers. Storyboards are a way that people involved in a film’s production can communicate [...]

Apple Awarded iPhone and Multi-Touch Device Patent

Fresh on the heels of what would seem to be an innovation war between Apple and Palm, the United States Patent Office has awarded Apple the patent on the multi-touch and touch-screen input methods in question.
The massive patent is titled Touch screen device, method, and graphical user interface for determining commands by applying heuristics, and [...]

Apple Patent Aims to Integrate Calendar App and iPhone Mapping [U]

A recent Apple patent details a tight integration between navigation and the Calendar and Address Book applications. Unwired View reports that the Apple dubbed “Integrated calendar and map applications in a mobile device,” may be tied into future iPhone firmware updates.
The workflow of the purposed integration seems rather straightforward. A user enters in their [...]

Apple Working on Cold Weather Multi-touch Capable Gloves

MacRumors reports of a recent Apple patent application that has been released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, detailing the use of gloves that will allow a user to operate a broad array of electronic devices.
As any iPhone/iPod touch user residing in a northern climate will know, when the temperature drops significantly, it [...]

New Patent Outlines Swipe Gestures for Touch Screen Keyboard

MacRumors points us to a new patent application titled Swipe Gestures for Touch Screen Keyboards that was unveiled by the United States Patent Office today.
The patent application gives credit to Wanye Westerman, who along with his partner John Elias were brought onto Apple’s touch technology team after founding Fingerworks. While it may not be [...]

Apple Sued Over Alleged Apple TV Patent Infringements

A lawsuit has been filed against Apple, accusing the company of infringing on certain patents pertaining to the Apple TV, Airport Express, and Macintosh personal computers.
The lawsuit was filed Tuesday, by EZ4Media in Bannockburn, Illinois. The patents in question were obtained by EZ4Media (UEI) in March. They say that Apple hired three former UEI employees [...]

Apple Patent Reveals 3D Desktop User Interface

Among the host of patent applications released today shines a gem above the rest, a 54 page filing divulging research conducted in 2007 that displays a “Multidimensional” or true 3D desktop user interface.

Macrumors reports that one in the series of these patents, dubbed Multidimensional Desktop, contains diagrams that reveal how the desktop [...]

Apple Exploring Infrared Hover Technology For User Input

A patent filing from Apple published today, outlines the company’s exploration with infra-red technology, specifically in allowing users to invoke functions without having to actually touch a surface or display.

DISPLAY INTEGRATED PHOTODIODE MATRIX: The use of one or more proximity sensors alone or in combination with one or more touch sensors in a multi-touch panel [...]

Apple Files Patent For Liquid Cooled Portable Computer

Submitted by Apple Inc, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application titled Liquid Cooled Portable Computer, on Thanksgiving Day 2008 (November 27th).
The patent mostly relates to methods for cooling notebooks, however may be extended into portable media devices such as the iPhone and iPod touch. The patents describe some heat-transfer methods, specifically [...]

Patent Infringement Lawsuit Targets iPhone and Mobile Web Surfing

A new lawsuit charges Apple with violating certain patents regarding the iPhone’s Safari Mobile web browser, and the way a user can pinch, zoom, rotate and view web pages. As the Supreme Court tightens its patent policy, this one might be a little trickier to defend.
EMG Technology, LLC claims that Apple is in direct violation [...]

Apple Patent Reveals Dual Backlit iPhone Status Indicators

An Apple patent has been published showcasing Apple’s intentions to conserve iPhone battery power, by allowing users to check the status of their iPhones with dual backlit status.
The patent is primarily focused around conserving power and allowing users to easily check the status of services such as Email, phone calls, low battery warning, SMS messages [...]

10 Apple Patents to Keep Your Eyes On

Apple is on the cutting edge of technology innovation, and in order to properly protect themselves from copycats, they patent things like crazy. Silicon.com has rounded up and rated ten of the most interesting and absurd Apple patent submissions to keep your eyes on.

It’s important to remember that most of the concepts in these [...]

New Apple Patents Reveal Snow Leopard Tech Enhancements

Apple’s next major improvement to its operating system OS X will be primarily under the hood, delivering massive performance boosts, code refinement and overall architecture stability. Delivering on the promise Apple has made for Snow Leopard, InformationWeek points us to three new patents filed by Apple, revolving around the core technology being used in Snow [...]

Apple Patent Application Reveals RF Module Plans, Connectivity

Apple has filed for a patent application that would enable all or most of its gadgets and products to be connected via RF modules and the internet. This could further innovation with “out-of-the-home” connectivity, in an increasingly connected and wireless technology environment for consumers.
Apple is suggesting the use of tiny RF modules scattered all [...]

OS X Dock Patent Finally Awarded to Apple, Nine Years After Being Filed

Nine years after receiving the original patent filing, the United States Patent and Trademark Office has finally awarded Apple Inc, and inventor Steven P. Jobs the patent for the OS X Dock.
The original patent was filed on December 20, 1999 and aside from Apple Inc, three inventors were listed on the file, Bas Ording, [...]

New Patent Filings Purpose Improved iPhone Interface and Message Notification

Two recent Apple patent filings have been released by the US Patent & Trademark Office that could provide improvements to the iPhone’s interface and message notification.

The first of which, will provide a way for users to change preferences from one or multiple applications directly from the iPhone’s home screen. Filed in December by members of [...]

Clever Runners Force Apple to Patent Nike+iPod Sensor and Shoes

In a recently published patent filed by Apple, only authorized garments would work with your Nike+iPod Sport Kit combination. The patent has been set in place to thwart runners and athletes from using non Nike branded garments, or placing the Nike+iPod sensor in other shoes, jackets or garments.

The patent was published in March of 2007 [...]

Apple Filing Shows Future Potential of Nike+iPod; GPS, Ads and Sensors

A new filing by Apple shows the future potential that Nike+iPod has. The 20 page filing explains how the system could be used for real-time performance feedback, providing status of athletic gear, and possibly utilizing core location features to determine your location and convey advertisements as you run by establishments.

Whether Nike builds this directly into [...]

Apple Admits: Kane Kramer Invented the iPod in 1979, Not Our Idea

In order to avoid potential legal issues in a patent dispute case with Burst.com, Apple has finally admitted that a British man named Kane Kramer, who dropped out of school at the age of 15, is the original inventor of the iPod.

Roughly 30 years ago, Kane Kramer came up with the technology that is used [...]

The Future of User Input Revealed in Recent Apple Patent Filing

According to a recent 30 page US patent filing, Apple has been tinkering with a multi-touch system that will integrate visual and voice data into the control systems for its devices.

Filed by Wayne Westerman and John Elias, co-founders of Fingerworks, a firm that had been acquired by Apple prior to the launch of the first [...]