You don't know what you are talking about. It's exactly the reverse of what you are saying here, and no I'm not going to explain that, you should go look it up. In fact you should have done that before you commented.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple Asked Google Not to Use Multi-Touch in Android?
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Look at the G1. It is slow and buggy. Therefore, anything that would be a subset of the G1 (like multitouch) would also inherently be slow and buggy.
I know you love to pound on this point but it's just not very accurate
There is no patent on "multi-touch" true, but there never really could be as it's probably far too general a thing to patent and there is way too much prior art at this point. Your argument is a bit of a straw man argument in that this would never really be the case to begin with.
Patents are issued on implementations, so yeah it's also true that Apple only has a patent on one implementation.
But the problem with the way you are phrasing this and presenting it to people is that there are only (so far) a limited amount of ways multi-touch can be implemented on device in general and even more limited amount of ways that multi-touch can be implemented on a portable, handheld device.
It would be less mis-leading, and far more accurate, to say that Apple has a patent on pretty much the only few good ways there is to use multi-touch on a portable device. It would also be fair to say that Apple holds the patents on pretty much any desktop implementations as well. Apple currently owns the patents on almost all implementations of multi-touch for the desktop and the portable.
For example, Microsoft has the "Big Ass Table" which is multi-touch, but they don't have the patent on capacitive multi-touch for desktop screens or mobile handhelds and the method used there (tracking cameras), is not useful for any other situation where you don't have the big ass table.
By conflating "multi-touch" and Apple's iPhone patent you are just confusing the issue even as you claim to be mentally separating the two.
I'd rather the two stay separate. They have very different cultures and provide services differently. I like this distinction even if I do like it when the cooperate.
What patent are you talking about?
The one we're discussing is the recent and very limited one about scrolling vs choosing, which the popular press incorrectly presented as being all about multi-touch.
Either name one, or stop making stuff up. Apple has no such patents.
In the meantime, HP is making multi-touch tablets .
Neither does Apple. Heck, I was programming with capacitive screens over 15 years ago.
And you know this how? Back up your statements with some information that you apparently have.
Mergers don't = universally good. Yes, they can be an effective tool but that doesn't mean your fantasy version is incredibly likely.
I don't know about this statement.. I know most of my friends are there 4th iphone and some are on there 3rd macbook or macbook pro. I know when it comes to electronics anything can be a factor.. If apple hasn't already there are starting to get money hungry.. They will turn into every other company, all they want to do is turn a profit.
Just sitting here thinking while I type this, we all love our iphone's and out mac pro's and what not.. I think that Mac's laptop's are way over priced to begin with.. You are probably paying for ease more than anything else.. These computer's have the same thing inside them as dell one's do.. The only thing that is really different is the operating system..
James
Um... the video is from 2006.
Apples Implementation of Multi-Touch developed out of the Fingerworks research that Apple acquired after they worked together on the scrollwheel for the iPod. Fingerworks started in 1999 with shipping product not long after. I guess if we had a look at their Patent Apps the research by the main guys there may even have started by 1996. The tech showed up not to long after that as the multitouch trackpad on the powerbook. Either way
But in Patent terms we have 2 different implimentations of MultiTouch here.
Jef Han uses a camera looking at the rear of a screen the interface is projected on. Which is very cool but not at all useful on a very thin phone.
I haven't read the comments so appologies if this has been said already but apple are taking the bloody pi$$ and so are Google this kind of scam is exactly whats wrong with the economic system at the moment.
So competition is only good until there is one dominant market player?
I for one can't wait for my iphone contract to expire so i can get a mobile phone that i can make calls on again...
My next PC is one I build myself
So competition is only good until there is one dominant market player?
I for one can't wait for my iphone contract to expire so i can get a mobile phone that i can make calls on again...
My next PC is one I build myself
The iPhone patent dummy.
Name almost any product for the computer desktop that uses multi-touch or multi-touch gestures that has been produced patented and sold in the last few years and it will be a product made by Fingerworks or Apple. To which Apple now holds the patents.
Fingerworks produced keypads, trackpads, and keyboard replacement products using multi-touch and gestures for years. All patented, all now owned by Apple. These are all implementations of multi-touch, they comprise as a whole, almost the entire body of work using multi-touch in a desktop computing environment and all are owned by Apple.
It's not a slam-dunk of course, but by and large Apple does really actually have these patents and they comprise the bulk of the work in the area that Apple is claiming it owns the patents to. I don't know how you think you can argue otherwise.
Sorry almost forgot ...
dummy.
Yeah, I don't think these stories are 100% accurate but since there is some degree of agreement from two different sources there is probably some truth. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple and Google talked quite a bit, for instance. I'm not sure Google would actually come to Apple with the G1 though.
Yeah Apple...way to stifle any competition screwing the consumers. Keep it up Multi-touch technology = non removable battery and 16gb HD limits.
Oh, yes, the poor competition. They just can't make it without directly copying someone else's work. Why should they have to innovate? That's ridiculous!
Not to mention those consumers, I mean, without the choice of five phones that are all the same to choose from instead of a bunch of phones with different features, I don't know what they'd do!
I don't look at multi-touch technology that way. Thats like saying the windows (typical) GUI for computers is sole property of the company who invented it. Everyone else needs to find a different way to interface with computers or anti-lock brakes and delayed wipers should only belong on cars of the company who invented it. That sucks for everyone who wants variety. I say let everyone incorporate multi-touch technology on their phones. Its better for the consumer. Get off your knees and take a breather- Apple can only handle so much of you on their jock.
Other companies can already make their own implementation of it and patent that. Why haven't they? You'd have to ask them.
Get off your knees and take a breather- Apple can only handle so much of you on their jock.
Kind of uncalled for, and pretty presumptuous. Yes, I like Apple products, but this was more of a defense of proper use of patents.
The Apple/Google agreement aside, if Google wanted to make their own multi-touch implementation, there wouldn't be anything stopping them, even Apple raising a stink wouldn't win that one. If Google (or anyone) directly copied Apple's implementation, I'd expect Apple to sue and win. Apple hateboys would have a fun day with that one, though.
I'm leaning towards believing this too but considering U.S. patents are public domain, one of the draw backs of filing a patent, I would be curious to see Apple's actual owned, approved or applied for patents regarding multi-touch or gestures.
If you mean this one, popularly called the iPhone patent, then no it's not a broad patent for multitouch. Not even close.
Why don't you tell us what you think it covers?
Since you've obviously never read or understood it, this time be sure to note all the referenced documents and patents at the beginning... from other companies. Those are the prior art and patents that Apple is building on.