Apple Acquires 18 'Axis-Based User Interface' Patents from Maya-Systems

[MacRumors]

Canadian firm Maya-Systems today announced that it has sold a group of 18 user interface patents to Apple. The patents appear to be related to Maya-Systems' work with axis-based interfaces in which documents and other files can be automatically grouped into timelines based on tags or other attributes and made accessible via the cloud.

Maya-Systems' technology offers an intuitive way to display any virtual content in a superior manner. This transaction attests that Maya-Systems axis-based user interface is ahead of the growing demand for axis-based user interfaces.

"We dealt with a significant number of sophisticated buyers," noted Mathieu Audet, founder of Maya-Systems and patent agent. "We are pleased to have secured the transaction with Apple." "Our patents have been analyzed thoroughly by many potential buyers. We are confident that they are strong assets."

Maya-Systems' key product is I am Organized, a platform for organizing, viewing, and sharing files.

IamOrganized's uniquely distinctive, patented feature is its axes-based interface. Intuitive and elegant, axes herald a new era in content management. They show and manage content more meaningfully than ever.

Unlike folder trees based on file location, axes group files by subject (any attribute, really) and display them along a timeline.
Scroll an axis to view more files. Zoom in. Zoom out. Navigate swiftly between projects by displaying several axes on your screen.

Attribute-based, orderly and relational, axes give users a meaningful and integrated view of their files.

It is not entirely clear exactly what aspect of Maya-Systems' patent portfolio Apple was interested in controlling, but Apple has been making a significant push into cloud-based document and file storage and sharing, including such features Documents in the Cloud and Photo Stream.

Article Link: Apple Acquires 18 'Axis-Based User Interface' Patents from Maya-Systems

[Baklava]

10.9, here we go.

[Peace]

A potential new coverflow view for the finder ?

[needfx]

dropbox still rules the cloud

[phoenixsan]

I can see some of this technology truly changing the Finder, natively from the OS....Sounds promising.....looking forward to see if come to light ever....

[MacRumorUser]

So Adobe Bridge and Apple's coverflow have gotten into the sack and had some hot dirty GUI action.... [cue 70's porn music]

[FSMBP]

Originally Posted by needfx

dropbox still rules the cloud

And always will. iCloud is awful and Apple apparently thinks users are too stupid to understand "files" and "folders" even though the metaphor was fine 30 years ago. However, in iOS, users are forced to remember which apps holds they document they're looking for... Ex. did I save that PDF into iBook or into DropBox?

[jclardy]

I think the most likely implementation of this is for iCloud. Apps will still "own" the main version of a file - but using a new "Finder-like" app they will be able to tag and organize these files - sharing them with other people and referencing them in other applications.

[Xero910]

Originally Posted by phoenixsan

I can see some of this technology truly changing the Finder, natively from the OS....Sounds promising.....looking forward to see if come to light ever....

That's the first thing that I thought of after watching their video. A better way to organize files without using the classic Finder view(s).

[MacAztec]

Originally Posted by needfx

dropbox still rules the cloud

This comment makes me cringe. People use the word "Cloud" as if it refers only to offsite data storage. DropBox offers a sliver of the cloud (data storage).

They by NO MEANS rule the cloud. A "cloud" is defined as on-demand, self service, shared resource, resilient, multi tenant, quickly scaling up or down. I could offer fantastic offsite data storage and be not much different than DropBox.

The real rulers of the cloud are Amazon, Rackspace, Azure, etc...

[Peace]

Originally Posted by jclardy

I think the most likely implementation of this is for iCloud. Apps will still "own" the main version of a file - but using a new "Finder-like" app they will be able to tag and organize these files - sharing them with other people and referencing them in other applications.

Both.

I think it was last year some time. I installed a beta version of ML and for some reason iCloud was listed in my finder. I even filed a bug report with screen grabs etc.
I even asked about it on the Dev forums.

Every time I clicked on the iCloud in my finder window a message popped up saying a connection couldn't be made.
This is why my initial thought was iCloud in the finder window.

[shurcooL]

This is eerily close to what I've been preaching for the last year, but no one is listening.

The best way to store your stuff is all in one synchronized (and backed up, version controlled) place, say Dropbox. But organizing files inside by JUST folders is bad.

Instead, there should be labels or tags, similar to Gmail's labels. You can apply them to files/folders, and get different views into your stuff:

-Files related to project A
-Photos
-Shared with person X
-Created within last 30 days
-Custom search queries?
-etc., etc.

Folders are very limiting cuz each file can only be in one folder. What if it's both a picture, and a part of project A? Do I put it in /Pictures or /ProjectA? Apply both labels, problem solved.

iCloud currently sucks for contents storage cuz you can't see all your files no matter what app they're in, so it's easy to forget what you have and where.

I really hope something good comes out of this.

[ArtOfWarfare]

I had thought the company was Maya, the CGI modeling company, and Apple was looking into making a 3D UI. I'm feeling a little let down now, but I guess this looks cool, too. (So long as this doesn't end up making it as difficult to find files as Google Drive does. Google's decision to throw out the folder hierarchy and replace it with a web of tags was atrocious.)

[nuckinfutz]

Originally Posted by needfx

dropbox still rules the cloud

Amazon Web Services would like to speak to you.

[Small White Car]

A lot of this reminds me of what Apple has done in Final Cut X. Yes, FCX is a hot mess for editing video, but as a content manager it's truely remarkable. It's clearly a prototype for where Apple is going with file management. It's much better than the Mac's (and Dropbox's) folder system, iOS's 'no system', or iCloud's 'app-based system.'

All 3 methods have serious drawbacks and FCX seems to be taking the lead in finding a solution. These patents feel like the next step on that journey.

It can't come soon enough.

Originally Posted by shurcooL

Instead, there should be labels or tags, similar to Gmail's labels. You can apply them to files/folders, and get different views into your stuff:

Ah, good analogy. That's exactly what Final Cut does. It's not getting a lot of attention, but it's Final Cut's one big improvement over the old one. Someone in Apple gets it, hopefully it spreads.

[Goldmansachs]

How many friggin times does the narrator say 'documents'?

[needfx]

Originally Posted by MacAztec

This comment makes me cringe. People use the word "Cloud" as if it refers only to offsite data storage. DropBox offers a sliver of the cloud (data storage).

They by NO MEANS rule the cloud. A "cloud" is defined as on-demand, self service, shared resource, resilient, multi tenant, quickly scaling up or down. I could offer fantastic offsite data storage and be not much different than DropBox.

The real rulers of the cloud are Amazon, Rackspace, Azure, etc...

ok, web based file storage facilities

----------

Originally Posted by nuckinfutz

Amazon Web Services would like to speak to you.

let them bring it!

----------

Originally Posted by FSMBP

And always will. iCloud is awful and Apple apparently thinks users are too stupid to understand "files" and "folders" even though the metaphor was fine 30 years ago. However, in iOS, users are forced to remember which apps holds they document they're looking for... Ex. did I save that PDF into iBook or into DropBox?

in dropbox we trust

[applefanDrew]

Originally Posted by Baklava

10.9, here we go.

More like 10.10 or 11.0. Depending on how they name stuff after this year.

[MacRumorUser]

Originally Posted by applefanDrew

More like 10.10 or 11.0. Depending on how they name stuff after this year.

Or maybe not at all. Remember the ZFS project.

[Thunderhawks]

Originally Posted by MacAztec

This comment makes me cringe. People use the word "Cloud" as if it refers only to offsite data storage. DropBox offers a sliver of the cloud (data storage).

They by NO MEANS rule the cloud. A "cloud" is defined as on-demand, self service, shared resource, resilient, multi tenant, quickly scaling up or down. I could offer fantastic offsite data storage and be not much different than DropBox.

The real rulers of the cloud are Amazon, Rackspace, Azure, etc...

Since people use "Cloud" as if it refers to only offsite storage that is what it is to them. The rest of your definition is unimportant to them.

They are just interested in using it.

Dropbox is easy to use and provides files on ones desktop, i.e. there is a comfort level in not having to trust (yet) that the "cloud" vanishes with all "my" information.

[jrswizzle]

Originally Posted by FSMBP

And always will. iCloud is awful and Apple apparently thinks users are too stupid to understand "files" and "folders" even though the metaphor was fine 30 years ago. However, in iOS, users are forced to remember which apps holds they document they're looking for... Ex. did I save that PDF into iBook or into DropBox?

I run across the same thing at work all the time on my Dell laptop.....

"Did I save that spreadsheet in 'folder X' or 'folder y'".

iCloud has always worked well for me for what I need it do - automatically save my pictures, settings and a 'snapshot' if you will of my phone (apps, arrangement, etc....), stream my music from, share photos through.....

PDF's are one thing, given I have a number of PDF apps, though all it requires is some forward thinking - i.e. save them all in one place (for me its iBooks, unless I want to annotate in an app like NoteTaker HD - but most documents, spreadsheets and powerpoints are saved in pages, numbers and keynote.....not hard to remember.

[needfx]

Originally Posted by Thunderhawks

Since people use "Cloud" as if it refers to only offsite storage that is what it is to them. The rest of your definition is unimportant to them.

They are just interested in using it.

Dropbox is easy to use and provides files on ones desktop, i.e. there is a comfort level in not having to trust (yet) that the "cloud" vanishes with all "my" information.

or having to upload/download files like box.com's service.

Horrible

[FSMBP]

Originally Posted by shurcooL

This is eerily close to what I've been preaching for the last 2 years, but no one is listening.

The best way to store your stuff is all in one synchronized (and backed up, version controlled) place, say Dropbox. But organizing files inside by JUST folders is bad.

Instead, there should be labels or tags, similar to Gmail's labels. You can apply them to files/folders, and get different views into your stuff:

-Files related to project A
-Photos
-Shared with person X
-Created within last 30 days
-Custom search queries?
-etc., etc.

Folders are very limiting cuz each file can only be in one folder. What if it's both a picture, and a part of project A? Do I put it in /Pictures or /ProjectA? Apply both labels, problem solved.

iCloud currently sucks for contents storage cuz you can't see all your files no matter what app they're in, so it's easy to forget what you have and where.

I really hope something good comes out of this.

Apple already solved this by having Smart Folders and Aliases. For example, if I have Garageband file saved in my "Music" Folder, it would show up in my smart "Projects" Folder (which I have show all the Garageband and iMovie files).

Or, if I have a frequently used MP3 in my "Music" folder that I use in my movies, I would create an alias for it in my iMovie folder.

[inkswamp]

Good god, what a truly terrible marketing video. I tuned out within about 20 seconds. It has all the typical annoying marketing video standbys (upbeat jazz, slick animation, buzzwords galore, etc.) but never once shows the freakin product in use. "IAmOrganized connects with the world and allows for easy storage, meaningful display and instant network creation." GAG! That means nothing--NOTHING--just empty marketing blather.

[Icaras]

Originally Posted by FSMBP

And always will. iCloud is awful and Apple apparently thinks users are too stupid to understand "files" and "folders" even though the metaphor was fine 30 years ago. However, in iOS, users are forced to remember which apps holds they document they're looking for... Ex. did I save that PDF into iBook or into DropBox?

30 years, yet some people still cannot grasp the concept of it or use it effectively. Ever see a person with a desktop full of icons? Great user-run file management there. I see this ALL the time at my office. Eventually for these people, it's going to be hell to find that file they were looking for. That's what I'm talking about.

Steve Jobs explained in either a keynote or one of the All Things Digital conferences: the learning curve for the average user goes way up once they hit the file system. And that's why Apple never implemented a user-run, traditional desktop file management system in iOS, and it's the right direction for iCloud still.

And I disagree that app driven file systems are more cumbersome. It's not in my opinion. A general user is going to remember more than he/she typed up that Pages document in Pages. The user is going to remember that he/she created that Garageband track in Garageband, etc. No need to drill down hierarchies of folders to find what you need.

But it isn't like Drop box is going away for power users that love to hang around forums and talk about this stuff. The choice is still there. But I strongly believe Apple was smart to simplify cloud services for the mass market. I doubt it would have reached this number of penetration if iCloud was just another Drop Box.