Apple That

It appears as if Apple has recently won a couple of patent applications that the company has created over the past few years. These patents include such things as the second generation iPod Shuffle, as well as the ability to switch between applications during a call on the iPhone. Unfortunately, these patents do not foreshadow anything that will be released in the future necessarily nor were they meant to be kept secret for long.

However, even though these patents may not lead to new technologies, each is interesting to look at in order to know the process. One thing that sticks out immediately is that Steve Jobs’ name is still very much attached to the core of these transactions.

The first application displays details about a button that will allow the user to switch between apps while talking to someone on their iPhone. You would, essentially, be able to tap the application switch icon that is on the same screen as the phone dialer and switch back to the call with another button located above the display at your leisure.

Functionality like this was replaced by the multitasking abilities of iOS 5 since the application was created. The original patent was filed back in Q1 of 2008 and credits Senior Vice President of iPhone Software Scott Forstall, as well as his team members Stephen Lemay, Imran Chaudhri, Greg Christie and Marcel Van Os.

The other patent was for the second generation iPad Shuffle which also credits Steve Jobs as a designer. There are dotted lines in the picture of the patent that, interestingly enough, are not claimed in the patent. Then there is a microperforated and backlit display having alternate display capabilities which relates to an earlier patent won by Apple. That patent win deals with components on Apple computers that are invisible until light is shown behind them.

Full details can be found at Patently Apple, who have recently found themselves in possession of these newly won patent applications. Head on over there if you want to learn all about it.

Source: Slash Gear – Apple Patents won for iPhone application switching, iPod Shuffle

A Tech Travel Agent can get a laptop rental to you within 24 business hours in over 1000 cities worldwide. Call Me Toll Free 800-736-8772