A new HTC patent application could indicate the company’s next direction in smartphone UI, following on from TouchFLO 3D and HTC Sense. Described as “Electronic device and user interface display method thereof”, the application outlines a “virtual book” in which different pages are different applications, and can be rifled through with a fingertip.
Apple patent applications either meet with resounding “I want that, give that to me now!” or “meh, why?” and it seems the reception to these iPod Bluetooth Headset illustrations is leaning toward the latter. The patent application shows a device similar in shape to the existing Apple Bluetooth headset, but that would have a detachable second earbud, an integrated display and onboard storage.
That storage would turn the headset into a full-blown iPod, similar to the shuffle. You would also be able to record voice notes, since it would have an integrated microphone, and of course it could be used for hands-free calling in the regular way. Apple’s application also describe a form of basic automatic volume adjustment that would change earpiece volume depending on the ambient noise picked up by the microphone.
Apple’s multitouch patent trail continues, with the latest application to come to light describing a full multitouch-sensitive surface that could track not only finger but palm contact, work as a keyboard and also recognize complex gestures and manipulations. Filed in June 2009, the patent describes a touchscreen capable of permitting “unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device”.
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The United States District Court in the Eastern Division of Texas is becoming a very common place for major corporations to file patent infringement suits against other companies. The glut of suits filed here is due to the judge's previous pro-patent holder rulings.
Nintendo’s inflatable horse controller not good enough for you? The company’s latest controller patent application has come to light, and as you might expect it’s another bizarre, exceptionally-niche device. Basically a squishy football with slots for your Wiimote and nunchuck, the controller would allow the Wii to estimate trajectory and distance from the force and angle with which you pretend to throw it.
Proving that RIM’s hybrid capacitive/resistive touchscreen idea isn’t the only way to address smartphone display usability, one of HTC’s latest patent applications suggests using a new type of stylus to bring resistive-style accuracy to the increasingly popular capacitive panels. Their stylus has a magnetic head which can be registered by a standard capacitive display, meaning you can use your finger for general control and switch to the stylus for more precise or text input. Meanwhile, a second – slightly more far-fetched, it has to be said – patent describes a new type of dynamically adjusting screen that attempts to prevent people sneaking glances at your smartphone.
If there’s one thing Nintendo – no, scratch that, the world - needs more of, it’s gimmicky Wii controllers. Thankfully the trusty patent system has given us a heads-up of what might be the next obscure gaming gadget to monopolize the holiday season, in the shape of an inflatable horse-riding controller.
RIM have applied for a patent which details a hybrid touchscreen, combining both resistive and capacitive elements to improve accuracy as well as support multitouch, gestures and other functionality. The patent app, titled “electronic device and touch screen display”, describes a regular twin-layer resistive panel which recognizes position by the physical contact point between the two layers, and a capacitive sensor attached to the outermost resistive layer.
Apple, Microsoft, Bang & Olufsen and iriver are among the defendants named by Tsera LLC, a company claiming to own a touchpad patent which has been vigorously infringed. The lawsuit concerns Tsera’s patent “Methods and apparatus for controlling a portable electronic device using a touchpad”, and basically describes recognizing different touchpad swipes without requiring visual feedback.
Apple have applied for a patent whereby your headphones would act as a settings transfer system to bridge your new and old devices. Named “Data store and enhanced features for headset of portable media device”, the application describes a set of headphones that would include an amount of flash memory; that would be used to backup speed-dials, equalizer settings, playlists, network connections and other preferences from your existing PMP or cellphone.
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