You're oversimplifying the issue. Have a look at Engadget's analysis and you'll see that it's not quite as clear cut. There's not quite a specific 'multitouch patent'; nor do Apple hold all of the cards over Palm.
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.
The Palm Pre's UI is peerless in its class.
- Thread starter Palm Pimp
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
You're oversimplifying the issue. Have a look at Engadget's analysis and you'll see that it's not quite as clear cut. There's not quite a specific 'multitouch patent'; nor do Apple hold all of the cards over Palm.
Tip of the cap sir, that is an impressive array of screenshots. No feature left undocumented. I can't say it has convinced me to buy one, but impressive nonetheless. It looks like Palm is the first true iPhone competitor. I think that Palm is the first company other than Apple that truly gets it when it comes to this whole touchscreen/multitouch concept. Everyone else (RIM...) seems to be trying to shoehorn their current OS onto a touchscreen with very unexciting results at best and near unusability at worst. Palm saw a need to start from the ground up and design with the primary input in mind. Hats of to them. If I weren't a Mac man I would most certainly have this high on my wish list, but the iPhone just works too well with the Mac.
<2 more weeks until WWDC (and my new iPhone!)
fr0
<2 more weeks until WWDC (and my new iPhone!)
fr0
What's so great about Android anyway? It doesn't compare to either Web OS or the iPhone OS. I have a G1 and it's pretty useless. There's nothing it has that I can't get on a Nokia of the same price.
I just think people like the idea of Android more than the actual execution.
I just think people like the idea of Android more than the actual execution.
Does anyone know if/how the Pre will sync with iTunes?
Can I plug it in before I get in the shower and have it automatically update my iTunes playcounts for the music/videos I listened to the day before, and copy over my new podcasts?
Without that, for me (and I'm guessing others), this is just a sexier version of the G1. Great for people that just need a smartphone, but not helpful for people who need a smartphone + an iPod.
Can I plug it in before I get in the shower and have it automatically update my iTunes playcounts for the music/videos I listened to the day before, and copy over my new podcasts?
Without that, for me (and I'm guessing others), this is just a sexier version of the G1. Great for people that just need a smartphone, but not helpful for people who need a smartphone + an iPod.
I am glad that there are some viable alternatives emerging. The Pre is the first device in two years that I would even consider for purchase. I love my iPhone, but I am getting more and more frustrated with the totalitarian way we customers are being treated.
Having to wait for two month for approval of the Slingplayer just to hear, sorry you can not use it on 3G leaves a sour taste in my mouth. That and the lack of multitasking is slowly chipping away on my love.
Im sure Im not alone .
Having to wait for two month for approval of the Slingplayer just to hear, sorry you can not use it on 3G leaves a sour taste in my mouth. That and the lack of multitasking is slowly chipping away on my love.
Im sure Im not alone .
Sure. BlackBerry's have been doing it for a while now.
http://na.blackberry.com/eng/services/media/mediasync.jsp
Well, you're making uninformed comments. A person can't just read headlines from sites that make money from reader traffic, or especially Steve Jobs' sales pitches, and actually know what's going on. You need to participate in intelligent discussions.
Apple does not have a patent on multi-touch. They got a patent on using the angle of first attack to lock the user into a vertical or horizontal scrolling motion. That's it.
If you have questions about your other misconceptions (and they are pretty common, so don't feel picked on), please ask away. We'll all help.
this says something different about YOUR theory
http://www.neowin.net/news/main/09/01/27/apple-awarded-multi-touch-patent
Did you click on the link and read the actual patent? It looks very much like what he said.
I was almost considering the pre until I saw these screen shots. Those HUGELY rounded edges will get boring FAST.
It looks to me like a fake play phone I'd give to my nephew. All the cost of the iPhone with NONE of the class.
Whats the sync deal with the contacts too? If someone leaves facebook, does that mean I lose their details? Meh.
Palm will get many a frustrated users with this device. It's flashy for all of 10 minutes.
If you're getting one, I hope you enjoy it and that I'm wrong.
It looks to me like a fake play phone I'd give to my nephew. All the cost of the iPhone with NONE of the class.
Whats the sync deal with the contacts too? If someone leaves facebook, does that mean I lose their details? Meh.
Palm will get many a frustrated users with this device. It's flashy for all of 10 minutes.
If you're getting one, I hope you enjoy it and that I'm wrong.
After watching all of the videos, I can see that there are things that the Palm Pre does better than the iPhone. But, I also see things that the iPhone does better than the Pre.
I will still be getting an iPhone this summer (when the new one is released), but I can see that the Pre will be, by far, the closest competitor to the iPhone.
I'm excited to see how Apple will respond to the Pre in the next OS revision. Will they come up with a better/enhanced notification system? Will they enable multi-tasking?
I will still be getting an iPhone this summer (when the new one is released), but I can see that the Pre will be, by far, the closest competitor to the iPhone.
I'm excited to see how Apple will respond to the Pre in the next OS revision. Will they come up with a better/enhanced notification system? Will they enable multi-tasking?
Not theory. Hard fact.
If you hang around here, you'll know that I've been an embedded systems engineer for over thirty years, with over fifteen years' touchscreen experience. I don't have to make up history; I was there and made some of it myself.
The first day the so-called multi-touch patent came out, I read and explained what it was really about. A few days later, all the news sites began to calm down and do the same.
Do deeper research. Hint: don't cite news items written the first day. Look for followup articles, like the one Darkwater gave you above or others.
While you're at it, read this short history of multi-touch, and watch the videos of a 16 year old concept demo that included pinch zooms.
Apple's main touch patents are ones they obtained by buying Fingerworks in 2005, but those are for opaque surfaces like keyboards, and date from the relatively late 1990s.
As for suing, Apple's already gotten hit with an infringement claim over smooth zooming and scrolling. (Note: Apple in their large patent claim admits using prior art with respect to zooming into a web page section by double-tapping.)
Pre exceeds iPhone in almost every aspects, except as a game machine. Calling it "closest to iPhone as a competitor" is a vast underestimate of what Pre really is.
Doing one thing at a time when desktop-level multitasking mobile device is out there, giving up the opportunity to enrich life by 10-15x, is the price people pay for being loyalists of apple, on top of other stuff.
iPhone is a glorified launcher, whose idea was at least 7 years old. Only fascinating feature, was, is, and will always been, a desktop level browser. But that alone is fading.
apps can be obtained here and there, fat and bloated OS on the iPhone won't be solved by apple in a year or two, if ever. I guess apple is glad they have fan base huge enough to support it through the time when it has no superior products. Which is no surprise, like 1990s.
Im glad I am about to use something really exciting that is close to a desktop replacement for most day to day tasks.
two words of caution:
1. dont judge a product based shape ofit, AND based on a photo.
2. last time I made a poll two years back, guess what about a mac attract people here at MR? Majority, large majority said they are attracted to the OSX. That tells you how important the OS is, putting too much of attack on shapes (especially based on a photo), is just weak.
Doing one thing at a time when desktop-level multitasking mobile device is out there, giving up the opportunity to enrich life by 10-15x, is the price people pay for being loyalists of apple, on top of other stuff.
iPhone is a glorified launcher, whose idea was at least 7 years old. Only fascinating feature, was, is, and will always been, a desktop level browser. But that alone is fading.
apps can be obtained here and there, fat and bloated OS on the iPhone won't be solved by apple in a year or two, if ever. I guess apple is glad they have fan base huge enough to support it through the time when it has no superior products. Which is no surprise, like 1990s.
Im glad I am about to use something really exciting that is close to a desktop replacement for most day to day tasks.
two words of caution:
1. dont judge a product based shape ofit, AND based on a photo.
2. last time I made a poll two years back, guess what about a mac attract people here at MR? Majority, large majority said they are attracted to the OSX. That tells you how important the OS is, putting too much of attack on shapes (especially based on a photo), is just weak.
I like the Pre's UI, definitely better than the other iPhone competitors. But some things are a bit too "bubbly".
Close to a desktop replacement? you're kidding right? It's a small device with a shiny screen a, no matter which way we cut it, a limited OS. You'll be very disappointed going into it with that attitude.
A phone should compliment my desktop, not replace it. Nothing ever will. It's a whole different user experience and way of working. Everything should work together whilst affording you control of all aspects. With what I've read about the Palm Pre's method of contacts, although it's a nice idea it doesn't afford the user a lot of control. It just uses buzzwords 'sync with facebook', 'gmail'...etc.
Your life could be enhanced 10-15% with by a shiny phone?! You should probably not buy the phone and instead figure out why a piece of technology can enhance your existence. No tech is THAT important. Again, tech can compliment what you do...but definitely won't enhance it.
You're right, UI is very important and from what I've seen, I will not be buying the Pre based on the UI. I dislike it very much. Looks like a toy phone. Not to mention the WebOS...they're glorified WebApps. meh.
also...I don't use my iPhone as a 'games machine'. I have a console for that. And I STILL prefer the iPhone in the way it works, looks and functions.
Each to his own with tech, and I hope you enjoy your Pre, but do figure out why you want it as it will NOT improve your life 10-15%.
Or a portable media player.
Simpy mounting as a drive and expecting the user to have to manually drag 'n drop media vs. being able to do a proper, automated sync is going to be a deal breaker for a lot of folks, IMO.
Exactly. iTunes works and how everything syncs so seamlessly is one of the reasons it will be very hard for me to ever give up the iPhone.
Me too.
Your response to Clevin's well thought out argument is nothing more than a personal attack.