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The stylus would also make this a more relevant device for the school market. A stylus option is not technologically backwards; it adds possibilities, and lets the device replace more functions that now require paper.

For example, there are some good handwriting iPhone apps for kids, but they are very limited by the fact that you have to write with your fingers. Kids shouldn't learn to write without also maintaining proper pencil grip.

Apps for a larger screen will be even more likely to have functions where a stylus will be useful.
 
Patenting strategy

Patenting something does not always mean that you are going to commercialise it. A company could be patenting technology to prevent others using that technology.
 
Further googling tells me that the HTC HD2 ST C400 Capacitive Stylus is arriving in stock tomorrow. With the state of some aspects of Winmo it's an attractive tool for the HD2.
 
Patents are of value to a company. Even if Apple never, ever will create any device using a stylus, this patent could be valuable for Apple if for example Nokia infringes on it.

Given that at least one sector (medics) of the target market for tablets will habitually be wearing gloves, optional input via a stylus would probably be a quite sensible and worthwhile idea.

After touching either a tablet or a stylus which are likely full of nasty bacteria, that medic has to take the gloves off anyway or they would risk infecting whoever is supposed to be protected by their gloves.


Doesn't look like prior art to me.
 
When will we see finally an announcement for the media event? WILL there be a media event this month? I think everyone is getting crazy here :)
 
Wouldn't this mostly have to do with the new iPod Touch systems in the Apple Stores? Don't they use a special stylus to allow the customer to sign the credit card transaction?

I'm sure Apple is just protecting themselves like any other company would do.

-Kevin
 
When will we see finally an announcement for the media event? WILL there be a media event this month? I think everyone is getting crazy here :)
 
Wouldn't this mostly have to do with the new iPod Touch systems in the Apple Stores? Don't they use a special stylus to allow the customer to sign the credit card transaction?

I'm sure Apple is just protecting themselves like any other company would do.

-Kevin

They use the Pogo Stylus by tenonedesign.com on those devices.

i'm all for the it works better in some areas that others. I don't use my Pogo all the time at all, but it's nice to have!
 
I'm not sure, but aren't these capacitive pens adaptive to any capacitive surface (like a resistive pen)?

In other words, I'm not sure how they could even patent something like this as it's not a new or original device.

Just perfunctory perhaps
 
Details on Apple Tablet

The tablet WILL have a stylus.

You can choose to believe me or not, but my friend has SEEN a prototype tablet. She works at a dialysis center and treats an Apple executive. "That's the biggest iPhone I've ever seen," she told him. He replied, "Oh, this isn't an iPhone. It's a new product that's going to come out in a few months."

She doesn't remember much other than that it's multi-touch, has a "cool" on screen keyboard, uses a stylus, and she says that it "slides out." I asked her what she meant by that. She said, I really can't describe it exactly. She added that it reminded her of the movie Minority Report. By what she told me, I'm going to say that it's a 10 inch screen.

How do I know that she's telling the truth?

The same executive was being treated just before the iPhone came out...and he had a prototype iPhone as well.


Wouldn't this mostly have to do with the new iPod Touch systems in the Apple Stores? Don't they use a special stylus to allow the customer to sign the credit card transaction?

I'm sure Apple is just protecting themselves like any other company would do.

-Kevin
 
A tablet with professional digital imaging functions such as a Wacom Cintiq would make the iSlate a killer-device!
The Cintiq is a touch-sensitive display with no further multimedia functions for 999 Euros.
If I can use the Apple tablet to make a digital animation and send it directly to my client with the same device i can save a lot of time.
 
Steve Jobs dismissed the idea of using styluses on smartphones since they are meant to be held in one hand and a thumb as input (or two if you hold the phone with two hands for fast texting). I owned a windows smartphone and the stylus was necessary to press a the 10x10 pixel buttons than using your fingers.

Now having a 10" device, it's more natural to hold the tablet in one hand and pen input in the other (unlike Microsoft Courier swivel problem resulting to be placed flat on the table for input)

I see this device used in the medical/engineering/business field.
 
I'd just be worried about scratching a device with a stylus. I'd rather smudge than scratch.
 
After touching either a tablet or a stylus which are likely full of nasty bacteria, that medic has to take the gloves off anyway or they would risk infecting whoever is supposed to be protected by their gloves.

I think we may be confusing medics protecting themselves as opposed to gloves worn for surgery. For example paramedics will always wear gloves when attending - and I've often seen them pick up clipboards and write something down, or even make a phone call, whilst still wearing gloves.

Anyway you look at it providing a stylus input (as well as touch) makes a huge amount of sense for a tablet - for example note-taking &etc would be so much easier/quicker and half-decent image manipulation could be done.
 
Stylus

I wanted to buy a stylus for my iPhone to use SketchBook app, and I've tried them all, from Pogo stylus (http://tenonedesign.com/stylus.php) to cheap Chinese copies, they all suck! Why? because they require pressure, a lot of pressure than anyone would liked, they are only good for pressing down buttons (eg. in cold days wearing glove or a female with long nails), not for drawing, and definitely not Wacom like at all.

You can even make your own poor-man's "Stylus" for the iPhone by wrapping a small sponge and a bit of alu-foil which are in contact with your hand (for conductivity), and you may have to keep a glass of water near by as it also needs moisture to work, not the most elegant solution for sure (here's an example from Instructable.com: http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Touchpad-Stylus/ or search on Youtube).

Let's hope Apple can solve the problem...
 
wearing gloves

If a medical practitioner is wearing gloves, they should not be on a tablet or any sort of computer in the first place.

Surgeons in the operating room use many equipment including operating microscope with gloves and sheaths for microscope. To avoid contamination, they may use gloves when examining a patient, All they need is a sheath for the stylus and the mac-tablet(?).

Surgeon
 
They can sell the stylus for $30 or $50 like they do headphones. People will lose them and have to buy one from apple to have the logo on the right place :D
 
I really hope this is true. It's just too damn obvious. I agree that a stylus shouldn't be used as a navigation tool. don't want it as a navigation tool. Fingers work better for that. What I (and everyone else) want is a writing and drawing tool. I mean, we have this flat, loose leaf sized display with a touch screen trying t mimic paper in so many ways, and we're not supposed to write on it?

Also, I don't think that there is any patent possible for a capacitive stylus. At least I hope not, cause it's too damn easy. My engineering friend built one for himself in about an hour. Yeah it weighed a lot and looked like crap, but it worked fine on his iphone. Its just a stick with some current at the tip. That's it.
 
I miss my stylus

I have large, wide fingers. I hate virtual keyboards - I can hit 4 keys at once with a finger tip.

I loved my old Palm systems - I got to be very, very good with the stylus and the shorthand writing system.

If someone made a way to use the Palm stylus input on an iPhone, I'd pay big bucks.

I could write on the Palm much, much faster than I can type on the iPhone.

Why can't we marry the technologies (maybe have Apple buy Palm as well).
 
Given that at least one sector (medics) of the target market for tablets will habitually be wearing gloves, optional input via a stylus would probably be a quite sensible and worthwhile idea.

As an aside, yesterday it was so cold where I currently am that I bought and wore a pair of gloves for the first time in 20 years. Tehn I tried to use my iPhone. Doh!:rolleyes:

Carry a AA or AAA battery with you and you can use the positive terminal as a stylus.
 
I have large, wide fingers. I hate virtual keyboards - I can hit 4 keys at once with a finger tip.

I loved my old Palm systems - I got to be very, very good with the stylus and the shorthand writing system.

If someone made a way to use the Palm stylus input on an iPhone, I'd pay big bucks.

I could write on the Palm much, much faster than I can type on the iPhone.

Why can't we marry the technologies (maybe have Apple buy Palm as well).

http://tenonedesign.com/stylus.php

The iPhone clip one is for without a case, if you have a case get the multipack that has the biggest one.

It's not graphitti obviously, but it might help you out some! (i use mine with FastFinga).
 
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