Tag: patent
Apple patent suggests working on multitouch gesturing for OS X
It's not hard to imagine Apple continuing to update its "multitouch" gesturing ability across a range of its hardware, and given that all of its recent hardware runs using a version of OS X, a patent for a control panel…
Sony Ericsson files patent for modular mobile phone
The trouble with mobile phones is, well, you can detach the screen from the keypad. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been out somewhere, and have ended up cursing that my phone’s display remains stubbornly attached to the keypad.
Apple has developed a touch-sensitive keyboard, TouchStream, according to patent applications
Last week a patent application for a touch-screen keyboard by Apple was leaked to the rumour mill (internet forums) which has subsequently caused a bit of a storm, as you’d expect.
Already in possession of a name, the TouchStream keyboard uses the same technology behind the iPhone, which they acquired when they bought the company Fingerworks in 2005. The design shows…
Patent reveals Microsoft's amazing plans for Zune playlist sharing
Despite shifting more than a million units of its first-generation Zune player, Microsoft is constantly fending off accusations that the device has been a flop. However, with Zune 2.0 on the horizon, some genuinely groundbreaking new features might help it turn the corner.
Check this patent out. It was filed by Microsoft last year, and describes two features that could make Zune a contender. First: a system to analyse your music listening habits, and push new stuff down to your Zune (with permission, obviously).
Now playlists are the subject of a big-money patent lawsuit
What is it with digital music and patent disputes? Following the hoo-ha around MP3 patents earlier this year, it seems playlists are the latest feature that could land tech firms in hot water.
At least, that’s what a company called Premier International Associates hopes.
Samsung patent for ladeez mobile phone which informs when to get up the duff
Samsung are churning out the mobile phone patents faster than you can say “but I’m really quite content with my Motorola, actually”, and Engadget have just got wind of one designed specifically for the ladeez.
The unnamed phone contains an application which is capable of tracking a woman’s fertile periods, so the user can be updated on when the best time to conceive is, and when you really should be using the rubber…
Has anyone got a wrist-mounted, sliding, Spider-Man-style mobile phone yet?
Only the patent for one was registered back in 2004, so they really ought to be on the shelves of Carphone Warehouse by now.
The invention is officially known as a “Device for the Quick and Easy Use of a Small Size Cellular Telephone,” and involves hiding a phone up your sleeve, with a little extendable sliding tray flipping it out into your hand. This would save valuable seconds in answering those weird wrong numbers.
Judge overturns $1.53bn MP3 patent ruling against Microsoft
A US federal judge has overturned a jury decision that Microsoft had to pay $1.53 billion to Alcatel-Lucent for infringing two of the latter firm’s MP3 patents. The original ruling, which was made in March, sent shockwaves through the digital music world.
Alcatel-Lucent claim massive payout from Microsoft over 'co-development' of MP3 codec
Alcatel-Lucent has successfully claimed in court that Microsoft owes it a massive payout of $1.52bn due to patent infringement of the MP3 audio codec format. A-L insist that they co-developed the technology with German research organisation Fraunhofer Institute, giving them…
Apple files patent for wireless handheld device
The EETimes has picked up upon Apple's latest patent filing, published today but rumoured since August, of a handheld computing device with wireless communications capability. It's summarised as: "The portable computing device includes an enclosure that surrounds and protects the…
