Apple applies for "Mobile Me" trademark

[AppleInsider]

Apple Computer last week asked the United States Patent and Trademark Office to grant it a trademark on the term "Mobile Me," AppleInsider has discovered.

On January 5th, the company made four separate filings on the term, covering a broad range of technologies and services.

The first filing describes Mobile Me as a computing device that could include:

"Computer services; computer data recovery; data analysis being computer services; computer programming; updating of computer software; maintenance of computer software, computer and communications networks, and computer systems; research and development of computer hardware and software; website design, creation, hosting services;"

A second filing covers the digital audio space, describing Mobile Me as:

"providing digital music from local or global communications networks, including the internet, intranets, extranets, television, mobile communication, cellular and satellite networks; operating chat rooms; publication of electronic books and journals from local or global communications networks, including the internet, intranets, extranets, television, mobile communication, cellular and satellite networks; providing on-line electronic publications; electronic games services provided from local or global communications networks, including the internet, intranets, extranets, television, mobile communication, cellular and satellite networks; information relating to music entertainment, education, interactive entertainment and education, provided on-line from local or global communications networks, including the internet, intranets, extranets, television, mobile communication, cellular and satellite networks; music library services; organizing and conducting seminars and training courses relating to science, engineering, computer systems and business"

The third filing relates Mobile Me to a consumer electronics portable device. The filing covers:

"Portable digital electronic devices and software related thereto; handheld digital electronic devices and software related thereto; digital audio players, including digital music players, and software related thereto; digital video players and software related thereto; MP3 players and software related thereto; handheld computers, personal digital assistants, pagers, electronic organizers, electronic notepads; telephones, mobile phones, videophones; computer gaming machines; microprocessors, memory boards; monitors, displays, keyboards, cables, modems, printers, disk drives; cameras, digital cameras; prerecorded computer programs for personal information management; database management software; character recognition software; telephony management software; electronic mail and messaging software, paging software; database synchronization software; computer programs for accessing, browsing and searching online databases;"

Finally, Apple also filed for a trademark on Mobile Me as service that could include:

"Telecommunication services; electronic transmission and retrieval of data, images, audio, video and documents, including text, cards, letters, messages, mail, animations, and electronic mail, over local or global communications networks, including the internet, intranets, extranets, television, mobile communication, cellular and satellite networks; electronic transmission of computer software over local or global communications networks, including the internet, intranets, extranets, television, mobile communication, cellular, and satellite networks; electronic mail services; facsimile transmission; web site portal services; providing access to databases and local or global communications networks, including the internet, intranets, extranets, television, mobile communication, cellular, and satellite networks; internet service provider services; message transmission services, namely, electronic transmission of messages; telecommunication services for the dissemination of information by mobile telephone, namely the transmission of data to mobile telephones; mobile telephone communication services."

We welcome your informed speculation in the AppleInsider Forums.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[ThinkExpensive]

Is this refering to a new Mac Mini like product, or is this more specifically for a totally new service/hardware/music store/movie store?

[SpamSandwich]

OMG. This is absolutely huge. "...computer and communications networks...", etc., etc., etc. Very big news.

Apple's systems design is all folding into place... Hardware and software perfectly integrated across wireless, web, cellular... I could imagine Apple hitting $200/share by next year!... Yow!

[wilco]

Originally posted by ThinkExpensive
Is this refering to a new Mac Mini like product, or is this more specifically for a totally new service/hardware/music store/movie store?

Did you not notice the word "mobile"?

[hmurchison]

I like Apple doing just about anything involving "mobile"

Sounds great..hope whatever it is comes to fruition.

[NOFEER]

what about iphone and a tivo like service that integrates with a phone, smartphone etc. what if apple has it's own branded mobile service (s) apple mobile/ wireless

[rok]

Originally posted by SpamSandwich
OMG. This is absolutely huge. "...computer and communications networks...", etc., etc., etc. Very big news.

Apple's systems design is all folding into place... Hardware and software perfectly integrated across wireless, web, cellular... I could imagine Apple hitting $200/share by next year!... Yow!

anyone notice this is almost a verbatim description of their filing for the trademark "gigawire" a few years ago? 'cause i did.

[DeaPeaJay]

Originally posted by NOFEER
what about iphone and a tivo like service that integrates with a phone, smartphone etc. what if apple has it's own branded mobile service (s) apple mobile/ wireless

that sounds brilliant to me.

Mobile definitely implies some sort of phone.

[DeaPeaJay]

Will Mobile Me play Vingles?

Apple files for 'Vingle' trademark

[dan.blanchard]

Originally posted by DeaPeaJay
Will Mobile Me play Vingles?

Apple files for 'Vingle' trademark

That's entirely possible, seeing as Vingles are "Video Singles" and the term is actively being used in the iTunes Music Store right now. On the front page there was something about an exclusive Pussycat Dolls Vingle when I checked yesterday.

[Chris Cuilla]

Perhaps this relates back to "Home on iPod"...where you could take everything (all of your data...music, pictures, videos, calendars, documents, address book, email, etc.) with you.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally posted by DeaPeaJay
Will Mobile Me play Vingles?

Apple files for 'Vingle' trademark

I cannot imagine a world where people will want to ask for, send, receive, trade, seek out, or desire something called a "vingle". Bleecchhhh! The name is absolutely horrendous. I could come up with ten more sensible names without even blinking... but then, Apple's marketing team wouldn't be doing THEIR job.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally posted by dan.blanchard
That's entirely possible, seeing as Vingles are "Video Singles" and the term is actively being used in the iTunes Music Store right now. On the front page there was something about an exclusive Pussycat Dolls Vingle when I checked yesterday.

Your're right. How terrible. This one musta slipped past the Steve. Remember, the term podcasting was not created by Apple. They should be looking to the users to create it's name. Noone I know is into vingles. Ptooey!

Oh, and just found this...it was coined by the English.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vingle

Doesn't this constitute prior art? It should be in the public domain, or the property of the DJ's/VJ's that coined it.

[DeaPeaJay]

Originally posted by dan.blanchard
That's entirely possible, seeing as Vingles are "Video Singles" and the term is actively being used in the iTunes Music Store right now. On the front page there was something about an exclusive Pussycat Dolls Vingle when I checked yesterday.

Oh cool! Is that what a Vingle is? I see it on the music store right now.

Thanks for the enlightenment!

[TednDi]

Originally posted by DeaPeaJay
Oh cool! Is that what a Vingle is? I see it on the music store right now.

Thanks for the enlightenment!

This is totally the 8 lb 10" screen Ipod!!!!!!

[SpamSandwich]

Originally posted by DeaPeaJay
Oh cool! Is that what a Vingle is? I see it on the music store right now.

Thanks for the enlightenment!

"Vingle" is no different than a "music video". Perhaps it's Apple's attempt to create some perceived consumer value before MTV/Microsquish uses it. I stand by my previous comments... I don't care who coined it. It's just as awkward as MacBook. Both very mouth-unfriendly trade names.

[melgross]

Originally posted by SpamSandwich
Your're right. How terrible. This one musta slipped past the Steve. Remember, the term podcasting was not created by Apple. They should be looking to the users to create it's name. Noone I know is into vingles. Ptooey!

Oh, and just found this...it was coined by the English.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vingle

Doesn't this constitute prior art? It should be in the public domain, or the property of the DJ's/VJ's that coined it.

If you use the word for a description of a product or service that is far removed from the original meaning, then no.

Since a trademark can't have prior "art", as it isn't defind that way, it isn't a problem.

I'm not fond of it myself, but, then, I'm not fond of "so fun" either, but it seems to have become part of the language.

[Gene Clean]

Is there anything this thing does not cover?

[SpamSandwich]

Originally posted by Gene Clean
Is there anything this thing does not cover?

...But is it Crazy Delicious?
http://www.crazydelish.com

[khkoo]

I guess it's service for iPhone (just like hand-held computer phone with iTunes Music and Video player with probably iCal ,Address Book, Safari for Mobile and iChat with small camera??//Wi-Fi or WiBro and GSM ?? )

[bansal98]

We'd be able to load Mac OS X on our iPod and take all our songs/files/docs/settings with us. Just plug the iPod into any other computer and voila, you have your own desktop.

[CosmoNut]

Originally posted by bansal98
We'd be able to load Mac OS X on our iPod and take all our songs/files/docs/settings with us. Just plug the iPod into any other computer and voila, you have your own desktop.

I was thinking that, too. I originally though of a flash drive, but iPods certainly make more sense.

[melgross]

Just when you think life is getting interesting (Intel iMacs), it gets interesting (Mobile Me).

[NordicMan]

Big plans here.

music players, video players, pdas, gaming machines, (i)phones, and electronic notepads....(hmm)

and the software pertaining thereto these and more.

And this Mobile Me will include computer systems and networks, and programming too. My there are big ideas.


vingles and vongo, what will be next?

[MacGregor]

I really hope that this whole intel thing isn't ushering in an era at Apple of faster performance, but plateauing design and ugly nomenclature.

[ZO]

well... it would be awesome if they would allow my Nokia to use the nice little iSync Symbian app they (Apple) made to sync wirelessly with .Mac and therefore backup and sync all my data.. and acces my bookmarks, etc...

New Nokias are coming out with builtin browsers based on Apple's WebKit... and I'm getting the new N80 WiFi Nokia as soon as it comes out...

[murk]

Originally posted by rok
anyone notice this is almost a verbatim description of their filing for the trademark "gigawire" a few years ago? 'cause i did.

Exactly! Mobile Me=Gigawire 2.0

[ricksbrain]

Maybe the current stuff explains it, but any refreshers on Gigawire?

[CosmoNut]

Originally posted by ricksbrain
Maybe the current stuff explains it, but any refreshers on Gigawire?

It's vaporware.

[melgross]

Originally posted by CosmoNut
It's vaporware.

I don't remember much beyond the name. could it have simply been Apple's spin on Gigabit Ethernet, the way Superdrive simply meant DVD recorder?

Companies often copyright or trademank items they don't always intend to use; "Just in case."

[CosmoNut]

Originally posted by melgross
could it have simply been Apple's spin on Gigabit Ethernet,...?

That's very possible.

I'm really wondering more and more, though:

Why have all these different interfaces? Why not just develop one blazingly fast interface with a simple plug that all peripherals, drives, networking devices, etc. can use? Why have ethernet, USB, Firewire, DVI, etc. etc.?

One cable that can do anything. That's what we need.

[melgross]

Originally posted by CosmoNut
That's very possible.

I'm really wondering more and more, though:

Why have all these different interfaces? Why not just develop one blazingly fast interface with a simple plug that all peripherals, drives, networking devices, etc. can use? Why have ethernet, USB, Firewire, DVI, etc. etc.?

One cable that can do anything. That's what we need.

You're hitting the wall, there.

I can tell you, from the inside, that something like that is almost impossible to achieve.

Right now, Apple, and others, are trying to do that with the new display connector/interface standard that some here have been carping about.

Apple was hoping that Firewire might also do some of that (video signals, after all can move over it), but failed, for various reasons.

But one standard for everything? Whoa!

To get every body, in every indusrty together on that would be like a Force 6 hurricane!!!

Owning a standard is like having diamonds in the bank. Everyone wants to own it. It means patents, copyrights, trademarks, license fees, royalties, control over direction, etc.

The government would have to force the issue. They do this for many military and security issues, even for software standards. But this would be so all-encompassing, that I truely think it to be impossible.

[CosmoNut]

Think about it though. One plug for everything. If you plug in a display, the computer reads a signature from the display and sends the appropriate signal. If you plug in a mouse, it configures the cursor to work with it. If you plug in a hard drive, it mounts the drive automatically. Plugging into a network switch would start a high-speed connection. Connecting a DVD player to the TV would consist of one cable that carries digital video and digital audio.

Everything could be strung together in series. You'd only need to own one type of cable, and maybe a few adapters. Each computer would have 2 or 3 of these universal ports and maybe a separate power connector. That's it.

Apple needs to start this, and slowly transition it into their machines. The rest of the industry will take note when people begin complaining about all these different cables that have to be plugged in versus the one universal cable.

Apple led the way with integrating USB. They should lead the way with the next generation of computing: universal interface.

[melgross]

Originally posted by CosmoNut
Think about it though. One plug for everything. If you plug in a display, the computer reads a signature from the display and sends the appropriate signal. If you plug in a mouse, it configures the cursor to work with it. If you plug in a hard drive, it mounts the drive automatically. Plugging into a network switch would start a high-speed connection. Connecting a DVD player to the TV would consist of one cable that carries digital video and digital audio.

Everything could be strung together in series. You'd only need to own one type of cable, and maybe a few adapters. Each computer would have 2 or 3 of these universal ports and maybe a separate power connector. That's it.

Apple needs to start this, and slowly transition it into their machines. The rest of the industry will take note when people begin complaining about all these different cables that have to be plugged in versus the one universal cable.

Apple led the way with integrating USB. They should lead the way with the next generation of computing: universal interface.

The same way that Apple led with their other propriatory interfaces?

[MacCrazy]

Originally posted by TednDi
This is totally the 8 lb 10" screen Ipod!!!!!!

You're amazing!

[SoopaDrive]

Agreed.

I think this is Apple's response at competitors attempting to come up with a standard of their own for interfaces connecting to their MP3 players in homes, automobiles, etc. led by Microsoft and Creative IIRC. I believe the concept was displayed at CES, but the progress is very slow if evident at all.

[melgross]

Originally posted by SoopaDrive
Agreed.

I think this is Apple's response at competitors attempting to come up with a standard of their own for interfaces connecting to their MP3 players in homes, automobiles, etc. led by Microsoft and Creative IIRC. I believe the concept was displayed at CES, but the progress is very slow if evident at all.

The standards for the video interface have been pretty much agreed upon, and being supported by the HDMI Group. So, this might come to pass.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally posted by NordicMan
vingles and vongo, what will be next?

Vaporware.

[aplnub]

It took long enough but it happened...