A Couple of (Sorta) New Apple Patents from USPTO.
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-P...S=AC/cupertino
Described as "The ornamental design for a user interface for computer display, as shown and described."
Also http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-P...S=AC/cupertino described as "Magnetic securing system for a detachable input device "
Take a look. Any thoughts? Evidently these patents were filed in January 2003 and awarded January 11, 2005.
In the event that these turn out to be something *important*, let the record show (and Apple Legal know) that I found these quite by accident.
Edit (after looking over the associated drawings): Whatever the first patent is, I have a strange feeling that I desperately want one. I don't know why....
Aries 1B
Described as "The ornamental design for a user interface for computer display, as shown and described."
Also http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-P...S=AC/cupertino described as "Magnetic securing system for a detachable input device "
Take a look. Any thoughts? Evidently these patents were filed in January 2003 and awarded January 11, 2005.
In the event that these turn out to be something *important*, let the record show (and Apple Legal know) that I found these quite by accident.
Edit (after looking over the associated drawings): Whatever the first patent is, I have a strange feeling that I desperately want one. I don't know why....
Aries 1B
Comments
Originally posted by MarcUK
well, i'd have thought a magnetic input device was a magnetic pen for a 'tablet' thingy.
There is no tablet, there will not be a tablet. However, gee-whillikers, take a look at the graphics for the first patent.
V/R,
Aries 1B
Originally posted by Amorph
Trackpads and the iPod scroll wheel (which is basically just a trackpad) are also magnetic input devices.
Yep. That covers the second patent. Any thoughts on " target="_blank">The First Patent ?
(Click on "Images" when you get there).
V,V/R
Aries 1B
The dotted rounded rectangle represents the screen (of whatever arbitrary display the UI is being viewed on).
The "thing" is not a physical device, it's a UI.
Note the Mac OS 9-style close(?) and windowshade widgets.
Now, the non-aquaness of the widgets is unimportant, patents typically have non-specific elements in them (so that the implementation is not set in stone). But they do show that it is a software UI, not a physical device.
Originally posted by johnq
That's just the brushed metal theme, possibly a general patent for the UI that iTunes/iPhoto/iMovie/whatever else use.
The dotted rounded rectangle represents the screen (of whatever arbitrary display the UI is being viewed on).
The "thing" is not a physical device, it's a UI.
Note the Mac OS 9-style close(?) and windowshade widgets.
Now, the non-aquaness of the widgets is unimportant, patents typically have non-specific elements in them (so that the implementation is not set in stone). But they do show that it is a software UI, not a physical device.
I'm going to sound like a rabid Star Trek fan, but in figure one, between the round features on the right and the square features on the left, there is a dotted-line outline of the Apple logo. Looked Newton-esque to me.
You are probably right, though, it's probably the 'conference call' sub-app for iChat AV.
Never mind.
E. Locatella
iTunes of course has the Apple logo in the center of the "LCD".
I think it's just a generic, non-specific layout.
Basically, any application that is also going to be on Windows, will have Apple branding be prominent.
The invention generally pertains to a computing device. More particularly, the invention pertains to an improved keyboard arrangement for use in the computing device. One aspect of the invention pertains to a movable keyboard that can be opened or removed to gain easy access to internal components of the computing device. Another aspect of the invention pertains to a magnetic keyboard securing system suitable for holding the movable keyboard relative to the computing device. The invention is particularly useful in computing devices such as portable computers.
It's the PowerBook removable keyboard, and utilizing a magnetic latch instead of a plastic locktab.
That's all.
Originally posted by Kickaha
Jeez, didn't anyone actually read the second patent?
The invention generally pertains to a computing device. More particularly, the invention pertains to an improved keyboard arrangement for use in the computing device. One aspect of the invention pertains to a movable keyboard that can be opened or removed to gain easy access to internal components of the computing device. Another aspect of the invention pertains to a magnetic keyboard securing system suitable for holding the movable keyboard relative to the computing device. The invention is particularly useful in computing devices such as portable computers.
It's the PowerBook removable keyboard, and utilizing a magnetic latch instead of a plastic locktab.
That's all.
The idea of magnets any where near a computers' hard drive
doesn't sound like a very good idea.
Originally posted by Kickaha
The PowerBook lid latch is already a magnet.
Understood, but that magnet is quite small right?
The description in the patent seems to indicate a much larger magnetic surface.
That's mostly what caught my attention.
Other than a PB with a removable keyboard! :-)
Originally posted by Kickaha
The PowerBook lid latch is already a magnet.
iBooks too, for a while now.
Originally posted by FallenFromTheTree
Understood, but that magnet is quite small right?
The description in the patent seems to indicate a much larger magnetic surface.
Why do you think that? IT'd just be the keyboard latch, just like the lid latch.
That's mostly what caught my attention.
Other than a PB with a removable keyboard! :-)
All the PowerBooks keyboards, except for the backlit ones, are removable.
Originally posted by Kickaha
Why do you think that? IT'd just be the keyboard latch, just like the lid latch.
All the PowerBooks keyboards, except for the backlit ones, are removable.
I think he means usable as separate, presumably wireless, keyboard?
If so, not much utility in that since the screen is dependent on a wide flat base so it doesn't tip over, and that base (the lower half of the PB) would still have the same footprint it has now. Who has that much desk space when in a cafe or train or plane...
keyboard.
I see quite a few people at work using external keyboards and mice
and used that as my perspective. My bad