Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: Apple, Touch, Patent, iphone, palm | Themes: Smartphones, 3GSM
Everyone like a little "multi-touch," and apparently Apple does too, as the company scored the patent to rotate, swipe and...pinch? Ouch!
As of January 20, Apple is now the proud owner of a bouncy, patent number 7,479,949 covering multi-touch functionality such as swipe, rotate and even pinch. Specifically, the patent wears the proud title of "touch screen device, method, and graphical user interface for determining commands by applying heuristics." Apple originally filed the 358-page document on September 5, 2007 signed by 21 Apple employees including Steve Jobs and Scott Forestall. Intended for the Apple iPhone, the patent covers every function a happy finger could think of, and then more.
The patent begins with the following paragraph: "A computer-implemented method for use in conjunction with a computing device with a touch screen display comprises: detecting one or more finger contacts with the touch screen display, applying one or more heuristics to the one or more finger contacts to determine a command for the device, and processing the command. The one or more heuristics comprise: a heuristic for determining that the one or more finger contacts correspond to a one-dimensional vertical screen scrolling command, a heuristic for determining that the one or more finger contacts correspond to a two-dimensional screen translation command, and a heuristic for determining that the one or more finger contacts correspond to a command to transition from displaying a respective item in a set of items to displaying a next item in the set of items."
So what about all that pinching? Apple's has that covered too: "In some embodiments, a multi-finger de-pinching gesture magnifies the image 1606 by a variable amount in accordance with the position of the multi-finger de-pinching gesture and the amount of finger movement in the multi-finger de-pinching gesture. In some embodiments, a multi-finger pinching gesture de-magnifies the image 1606 by a variable amount in accordance with the position of the multi-finger pinching gesture and the amount of finger movement in the multi-finger pinching gesture."
Apple's new patent may cause quite a stir with Palm's new Palm Web OS and its Palm Pre handset utilizing the "pinch" touchscreen feature. Tech Trader Daily reports that Palm shares dropped in fear of a patent infringement suit with Apple. Last week Apple COO Tim Cook said that the company would not stand for having its "IP ripped off" during the company's post-earnings conference call. Indeed, if Palm has crossed into patent infringement territory, it would seem likely that Apply would pursue prompt litigation. In North America, patents are enforced through the Federal court, typically ending with injunctions prohibiting further violations and monetary compensation.
“If faced with legal action, we are confident that we have the tools necessary to defend ourselves,” a Palm spokesperson said last week.
Ooooh. Them sound like fightin' words
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who said microsoft sucks? I think Apple is much worst. and those morons at the patent office obvious just eat donuts and sleep everyday. How the fuxk they can let such patent to pass ? shitz.
World is all fuxked up.
Hm. Since Palm and RIM have been in the phone business a -bit- longer than Apple, I wonder how many patents they hold as counterweight against this touch one?
Couple Typos:
"Apple's has that covered too"
"Apply would pursue prompt"
This could be almost monopolizing the new technology. This could spell trouble for Palm for sure. Definitely gives Apple the corner on a particular market, thereby allowing them to continue charging ridiculous amounts for their products.
Now if only they'd break their deal with AT&T to keep the iPhone away from the masses. Frankly I've never had good service with AT&T, nor have I met anyone who has. Especially in my market area, AT&T is known for having particularly bad reception. Verizon on the other hand, is the cell provider of choice up here. Yet, all they have is the Blackberry Storm.
I'm a little bit slow on this one. Has Apple patented the technology for detecting multi touch input, the idea to used multi touch to control a computing system or just certain gestures to do so. While I'd find patenting the first as a reasonable thing to do, 2 and 3 would be preposterous as they'd restrict use of something far too generic. Apple's looking a lot more like the Antichrist lately, seeing how I'm sure Christ would not approve with this
How do you patent something other companies came up with and used before you did? Man this patent system is broken.
I don't understand how Apple's multi-touch is different from Jeff Han's technology, but I am not an expert.
See his company's web-site, which has demo videos from prior to Apple's '07 filing date.
http://www.perceptivepixel.com/
fuck apple
Me thinks this will be challenged.
“If faced with legal action, we are confident that we have the tools necessary to defend ourselves,” a Palm spokesperson said last week.
Ooooh. Them sound like fightin' words
another BS patent war.
When did Toms Hardware Guide become Toms CellPhone Guide?
How in love of god do you patent human gestures on a touch screen? This has got to be the rottenist, most steaming pile of anti-competitive horse dung to venture forth in my recent memory.
This invigorates and energizes my utter and complete contempt for Apple's business practices.
Yes, charge me double for that hardware plx! It feels so good when you shove it in and break it off.
This is really in the interest of consumers?
well if i were apple i would add this to the war chest for when there bubble bursts they can use it as lawsuit bait just like SCO did to IBM (well, sort of)
Did not HTC come out with their Touch Phone Before the Iphone so they have been using a touch screen gestures long before Apple came along. Also HTC had the Name "Touch" copyrighted long before Apple came along.
This is a real load of crap. Apple always comes up with nifty gimmicks that I can resist easily by looking at the price tag. But, multi-touch has been something I've been waiting to see on a PC laptop for a long time now.
BUT, I guess Apple just screwed that for everyone. They're turning out to be a bunch of App"holes" if you will...
Well this puts the recent comments from the interim Apple CEO about going after other companies infringing on their IP.
Patent system sucks.
By the way I'm along with many of you, Apple: I never have, I never will... you can tell Apple like this " you without me is like Hell an Heaven without them blue notes... YOU'RE NEVER GOING PLATINUM!"
complete BS
where are all the "apple is so great and benevolent" retards now?
this is as stupid as the guy in russia who tried to patent a smiley
patent system is ARCHAIC and needs to be overhauled or removed completely
here in asia everything is being copied by mighty china, i wonder if apple can run after tech manufacturers of cellphone with touch control, personally i want apple someday to beg for forgiveness for all the tech greediness of their business practices that they created just to gain upperhand
Couple Typos:"Apple's has that covered too""Apply would pursue prompt"This could be almost monopolizing the new technology. This could spell trouble for Palm for sure. Definitely gives Apple the corner on a particular market, thereby allowing them to continue charging ridiculous amounts for their products.Now if only they'd break their deal with AT&T to keep the iPhone away from the masses. Frankly I've never had good service with AT&T, nor have I met anyone who has. Especially in my market area, AT&T is known for having particularly bad reception. Verizon on the other hand, is the cell provider of choice up here. Yet, all they have is the Blackberry Storm.
and i thank verizon everyday for dodging that iphone bullet and sticking with a real phone. Cant say i would replace my storm for the crapphone even if i was paid to use it.
How in love of god do you patent human gestures on a touch screen? This has got to be the rottenist, most steaming pile of anti-competitive horse dung to venture forth in my recent memory.This invigorates and energizes my utter and complete contempt for Apple's business practices. Yes, charge me double for that hardware plx! It feels so good when you shove it in and break it off. This is really in the interest of consumers?
Its apple your surprised? they have been doing that crap for years.
This isn't the first gesture Apple has patented. They got a patent for flipping off the consumer long ago. And for some reason people just love it........
I don't give a damn....I just want palm to release the Pre so i could buy it......money is ready to GO!
Wow, Apple is now acting just like Microsoft and IBM. Good for them. I don't know if their multitouch patent will hold up in court for long though, considering that Jeff Han has been building such systems for almost 10 years now. I'm curious to see how this applies to military technology too since they're avid users of it. Let's not forget CNN too!
Something needs to be said for the innovation we've seen over the last 100 years due to the protection of intellectual property rights in the U.S. Once again, it's not simply Apple acting like assholes, although that's how you perceive it, it's called business. Business is about making a profit. These companies dump millions of dollars into research and push technology ahead with the understanding that if they get a patent they'll be rewarded for it. Whatever company you like (Waste Management Inc.) they've done it. Did you grow up in Communist Russia or China? Did your parents force you to eat large amounts of apple sauce when you were a kid?
Wow, maybe I won't buy an Apple Iphone. I was really considering getting one. I think I could not live with myself if I purchased anything from such a snobbish POS company such as Apple. I guess I'll pass.
Its not that Apple shouldn't be able to patent ideas and products that they make. Its that they have taken from others ideas(Jeff Han's, Microsoft Surface, HP touch devices) and patented the idea as if it took they research and development to make the idea. The idea and technology has been out there for a long time, therefore should not be allowed to be patented at this point since it is in public realm now
Wow, Apple is now acting just like Microsoft and IBM.
Now?? have you been living under a rock?
I seriously hope that all these Apple fanboys wake up and finally smell the leaky septic tank that is Apple. Apple is a company like any other who is here to make money. The only difference is that Apple says "But we're cool, look at how relaxed and hip we are!", and that the fanboys actually believe them!
I'm just wondering here, but who owns the patent for touchscreen technology and why are they not suing the cargo pants off Apple just because?