Masimo Corp. claims that Apple stolen its blood-oxygen monitoring technology used in the Apple Watch Series 6.
Search: patent
Apple Extending Legal Proceedings Against Firm With Green Pear Logo
Apple has escalated its claim objecting to the green pear logo of the Prepear app, filing new opposition with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. Patently Apple has the latest on a case it thinks it is not doing much for Apple’s reputation.
The logo in question is owned by a company called Super Health Kids, Inc. The company created a meal planner and grocery list app called “Prepear” that helps people discover recipes and more. Unless Apple is planning to offer a similar app expanding their reach into health related apps and features, it’s difficult at this point in time to believe that Apple is trying so hard to stop a logo that has no resemblance to an Apple. It’s clearly a pear. No one will ever say, except for the Apple lawyer filing this nonsense: oh look, Apple has a new logo. It’s not going to happen. It’s not a logo found on a desktop, a notebook, a smartwatch, a tablet or smartphone.
Epic v. Apple Case Reassigned to Different Judge
The legal case known as Epic v. Apple has been reassigned to Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers who is already presiding over two Apple cases.
Chinese AI Company Shanghai Zhizhen Sues Apple for $1.4 Billion
Shanghai Zhizhen Network Technology Co. said today it’s suing Apple for US$1.43 billion, claiming Apple violated its patent with Siri.
Apple Sued Over iTunes Gift Card Scams
Seven Apple customers filed an 11-count class action lawsuit against the company, alleging that Apple “knowingly or recklessly enabled an iTunes gift card scam.”
Albaro Air Posture Corrector: $99.95
We have a deal on the Albaro Air Posture Corrector, a device designed to help you improve your posture. It uses a patented ergonomically-designed air pressure cell to fit your unique body, it adjusts the air pressure and creates the most comfortable back support while effectively realigning your balance. The Albaro Air is $99.95 through our deal.
Backtick is Zoomalicious (in Preview) – Mac Geek Gab 817
Who knew one key could do THAT? Plus, you can take iPhone pics right from your Mac desktop. Lots of quick tips.
And then a quick discussion about tech support in the time of social distancing. We’ve heard from a few consultants who help John and Dave suss that out.
Wi-Fi is always popular, and this week marks a return to some in-depth discussions about various configurations, including expanding your Wi-Fi… and that of your friends and family members. Plus we’ve got Cool Stuff Found and more. Press play and enjoy learning at least five new things with your two favorite geeks!
Apple Could Let You Edit iMessages in the Future
A patent filed in December reveals a method to let Apple customers edit iMessages as a method of correction. The edit history would also be available so everyone can see what the sender originally wrote.
The patent filing has an example to demonstrate Apple’s system for editing previously-sent texts. Two people are discussing a trip, and one of them accidentally writes and sends “Can I get a ridiculous up with you?”
They then press and hold on that text to bring up a windows with “Edit” as an option. They make the change so the text reads “Can I get a ride up with you?”
This is a great feature and I hope Apple adds it to iOS. Memojis and Animojis are fun, but Messages needs features like this that are actually useful to people.
Apple Pays $18 Million to Settle FaceTime Lawsuit
Apple is paying US$18 million to settle a lawsuit with VirnetX. The latter accused Apple of purposely breaking FaceTime on iOS 6.
Apple-Backed Coronavirus Contact-Tracing Tech Set to Arrive Ahead of Schedule
Apple’s coronavirus contact-tracing API will reportedly be available from April 28, days ahead of the original schedule.
Apple Could Expand Sleep Tracking Capabilities into Blankets And Mattress
Users already monitor their time in bed using Apple products, but the options available could be expanding. AppleInsider reported on a patent that involves the company creating a blanket and mattress with the ability to track sleep and health.
“Traditionally, monitoring a person’s sleep or vital signs has required expensive and bulky equipment,” begins “Vital Signs Monitoring System,” US Patent No 20200107785. It then points out that wearing such equipment makes the person uncomfortable, and so affects the very sleep patterns that it’s trying to monitor. This is specifically a criticism about the kind of sleep tracking that requires a stay in a medical facility, but it also makes points that could equally apply to an Apple Watch. Specifically, it says that currently any kind of worn device tends to be “configured to determine the vital signs based on one type of measurement or mode of operation.”
iPhone Accessory Maker Gamevice Wants to Ban Nintendo Switch From US
Gamevice makes game controllers for iPhones, and believes that the Nintendo Switch infringes on its design.
This is a new complaint, separate from another against Nintendo that Gamevice is now appealing after the Patent Trial and Appeal Board ruled in Nintendo’s favor. In that case, Nintendo was accused of infringing 19 Gamevice patents.
Nintendo will be hoping that the ITC dismisses Gamevice’s latest suit before it ends up in another lengthy legal battle. But if Gamevice had its way, Nintendo would not be allowed to import and sell the Switch in the U.S.
I always wonder what goes through company minds in cases like these. Does Gamevice think that people will magically flock to its products if the Switch gets banned? Because that definitely won’t happen.
Face ID Could be Coming to Macs
A new patent outlines the ways that Apple could bring Face ID to future models of both the MacBook and the iMac.
Use Text Expansion to Save Time While You Type
Text expansion is kind of an overlooked feature of iOS and macOS but it can save you a lot of time if you type repetitive things a lot.
Apple Working Towards High-Quality AR Images
A new patent takes it clear that Apple wants its AR devices to be attractive, as well as producing high-quality images.
Apple Dominated Wearables Market in Q4 2019
Apple dominated the wearables market in the fourth quarter of 2019, with Xiamoi trailing behind in second place.
Apple Encourages Employees to Work From Home
Apple is encouraging employees at its Apple Park headquarters to work from home due to the coronavirus cases in Santa Clara Valley.
The Apple Smart Ring Might Cover an Entire Finger
Apple’s much-rumored smart ring could be extended to cover an entire finger. That’s according to a new patent, granted on Tuesday and reported on by AppleInsider.
A smart ring has the potential to provide users with functionality similar to an Apple Watch, but in a smaller package that doesn’t take up space on a user’s wrist. While part of the challenge of designing a smart ring involves cramming components into a small space, there is also the issue of its size offering little in the way of opportunity for embedded sensors to be used due to a lack of surface area, as well as for users to accurately control it. In a patent granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday titled “Expandable Ring Device,” Apple suggests the size of a smart ring may not necessarily be static. While the name of the patent hints at a one-size-fits-all design, the filing actually refers to ways the ring could be expanded into a longer tube that covers more of the finger, including some knuckles.
Apple Sees iPhone Market Share Fall in Latin America in 2019
Apple’s market share in the increasingly important Latin American (LATAM) market dropped in 2019, according to new analysis.
Airbnb’s Secret Algorithms Plunder Your Social Media
Airbnb uses a secret algorithm to figure out how trustworthy you are, and it mines your social media for sex work, porn, drugs, and more.
Supreme Court Rejects Apple’s Appeal in VirnetX Case
The U.S. Supreme Court today has refused to hear Apple’s appeal to avoid paying US$440 million in damages in VirnetX patent case.
Exciting New Rumors: iMac and MacBook Pro for 2020
John has found some fascinating rumors regarding the 2020 iMacs and 13-inch MacBook Pro. Buckle up.
Apple Pencil May Include a Grip-Monitoring Haptic System in The Future
Future versions of the Apple Pencil may include a haptic system that will monitor the user’s grip. That’s according to AppleInsider, who noticed a recently granted patent.
In a patent granted by the USPTO to Apple on Tuesday titled “Touch-based input device with haptic feedback,” the filing details how a system could be used to perform two jobs: providing haptic feedback to the user, while also being able to read force measurements from the user’s grip. Apple’s proposal involves the use of a piezoelectric device attached to the inside of the housing, one that would be connected to the user grip region of the housing. The grip section would be deformable, both inwards and outwards, allowing it to be used for providing information to the user as well as taking in grip data. The piezoelectric device would theoretically push out the housing in the grip region when it needs to alert the user via haptic feedback.
'Carkey' API May Control Homekit Smart Lock
A ‘Carkey’ API appeared in the first beta version of iOS 13.4. However, a new patent application, reported on by AppleInsider, indicated the technology could have other uses, like a Homekit connected smart lock.
The first beta of iOS 13.4 revealed traces of a “CarKey” API, one which would effectively turn the iPhone into an electronic key for a vehicle, similar to current keyless unlocking and starting systems employed today. By bringing the iPhone close to an NFC point, it could feasibly allow a car to start and to be driven, while also offering the option of sharing a version of the key to others with certain permissions disabled, such as enabling a car to be unlocked but not driven. In a patent application titled “System access using a mobile device” published by the US Patent and Trademark Office on Thursday, Apple seems to be planning a much wider use of the concept than in just vehicles. The abstract for the filing mentions it would be used to authenticate a mobile device for access to system functionality, including “physical access to a system, starting an engine.”