Evan, your title says “Apple [issued] Patents Suggest…” and the article continues “The new [issued] patents suggest…” and “Part of the [issued] patent…”

You are completely in the wrong here (but dont worry, very few tech writers know one iota about patents). Patents are issued, not awarded. Patent APPLICATIONS are neither of the above. I could file a patent APPLICATION on water (H2O) or gravity (neither are unpatentable under 35 USC 101). That doesn’t mean said “water” or “gravity” applications will be allowed or will issue as a U.S. Patent.

When you say “patent” (as in your title and article text) it means an allowed application that has issued as a patent.

For example, the idea of the virtual keyboard is not Apple’s, isn’t new, and there are examples, including one recently shown at CES 2011. If the patent officers do their job, this patent will not be granted.

Having a screen on the mouse is stupid anyway. I hope Apple patents that so that no other company tries to implement it.

I wonder if there’s a built-in scanner in this mouse. That’s what it looks like by showing the piece of paper under the mouse. Why else show that? I think there’s more to this idea and that would be helpful for quick graphic and business card scans. Just my 2 cents.