Apple had applied for a patent on a rather nifty idea: a Lightning connector with a tip that expands to form a liquid-tight seal. Patently Apple, which first spotted the patent application, has all the details, but the short version is that the male Lightning tip would be able to expand once plugged in, with the result being a liquid-tight seal. That has practical uses as protections from seals, but it could also be a key feature for underwater filming and other uses. This is an application, not yet a granted patent, but it’s the kind of invention I could see making it into the wild as a shipping product,
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An Apple Patent Hints at an Apple TV Gaming System
It’s not clear if it’s a separate console (probably not though) or just video game accessories or a platform.
An Apple Pencil Patent Shows How it Could Work on Metal Surfaces
“In some examples, an acoustic touch sensing system can be configured to be insensitive to contact on the device surface by water…”
Shhh...Apple is Patenting a Way for Siri to Whisper
Siri may be a little more private in the future thanks to an Apple patent filing that describes how the artificial intelligence voice assistant could whisper.
Apple Files Countersuit Against Qualcomm For Patent Violation
The patents let iPhones use only the minimum power needed to work, and causes parts of the processor to turn off when they aren’t being used.
New Face ID Mask Hack, Apple's Gesture Patent - TMO Daily Observations 2017-11-28
Bryan Chaffin and Andrew Orr join Jeff Gamet to share their thoughts on the latest Face ID mask hack, plus they take a look at Apple’s gesture-based interface patent that could come to the Mac.
New Patent Could Give Macs a Minority Report Interface
A just granted Apple patent could hint at a gesture-based interface for future Macs, much like the system Tom Cruise used in Minority Report.
Apple's Aqua Connect Patent Fight, Firefox Quantum - TMO Daily Observations 2017-11-15
John Martellaro and Andrew Orr join Jeff Gamet to look at the latest patent infringement fight for Apple, plus they chat about Web browsers and Mozilla’s new Firefox Quantum.
Apple Facing ITC Patent Infringement Investigation Over Aqua Connect Complaint
The U.S. International Trade Commission is investigating Apple over patent infringement allegations stemming from a complaint submitted by Aqua Connect and subsidiary Strategic Technology Partners.
Apple Patent Shows an iPhone Disco Light Syncing to Music
This is a continuation of patents that date back to 2004, as suggested by an illustration of an iPod Classic in the patent filing.
Apple's TV Show Strategy, AR Wireless Patents - TMO Daily Observations 2017-08-28
John Martellaro and Dave Hamilton join Jeff Gamet to look at Apple’s place in the original TV show market, plus they talk about patents that may reveal the company’s augmented reality glasses plans.
Apple's Patent Struggles and The Untold History of Multitouch
In 1983 a group of musically-inclined computer scientists at Carnegie Mellon University invented multitouch… and changed the computing world forever.
Patent Threatening Podcasts Invalidated (Again)
A patent that was an existential threat to podcasting was affirmed as invalid by a court in a case brought by the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Key claims of the patent had already been invalidated by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and the EFF’s case was brought to hasten the appeals process. The group announced this week that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled unanimously to uphold that decision. The patent holder—Personal Audio—can still appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. This case hasn’t received a ton of headlines, but whether or not they know it, the millions of people who enjoy podcasts should rejoice.
Could 'iPhone Passport' Be a New App? Apple Patent Gives Details
In the future you could wave your Apple Watch or iPhone near a passport reader in the future, instead of pulling out the paper document.
Apple Paid Nokia $2B to Settle Patent Dispute
The recent settlement in Apple and Nokia’s patent licensing fight cost the iPhone maker US$2 billion.
Apple Hit with Patent Lawsuit Over Apple TV 'What did he say' Feature
Apple TV’s “What did he say” feature just earned Apple a new patent infringement lawsuit. CustomPlay filed the suit claiming Apple copied the feature, but isn’t paying licensing fees.
Apple Ordered to Pay $506M in University of Wisconsin-Madison Patent Infringement Case
Apple has been ordered to pay the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, or WARF, US$506 million for infringing on one of the organization’s patents with the iPhone’s A-series processor design.
Apple Gets Another Ally in its Qualcomm Patent Royalty Fight
The Computer & Communications Industry Association—which includes companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Facebook—has thrown in with Apple in mobile device patent royalty fight with Qualcomm.
Apple Patent Details Controlling Your Smart Home from a Single Device
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published a new Apple patent application on Thursday describing a system for controlling your smart home from a single device that can learn new functions. The patent sounds a lot like an iPhone with HomeKit, which is no coincidence at all.
Apple and Nokia Reach Agreement in Patent Licensing Dispute
Apple and Nokia settled their patent licensing dispute on Monday and are besties again.
Supreme Court Just Killed Marshall Texas Patent Troll Business
A patent battle over flavored water may turn into a win for iPhone and Mac maker Apple, and a big loss for patent trolls. Thanks to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Monday, patent infringement cases must be filed in the jurisdiction where the offending company is incorporated, which will greatly limit the court choices open to patent trolls.
RSA Sues Apple Claiming Apple Pay Patent Infringement
RSA filed a lawsuit against Apple and Visa over the weekend claiming the iPhone maker’s Apple Pay feature infringes on patents it owns. The company says it holds 13 patents covering Apple Pay technology, and hasn’t been able to get Apple or Visa to pay for licensing.
Apple Settles Unwired Planet's Patent Infringement Case Hours Before Trial
Unwired Planet’s patent infringement lawsuit against Apple is finally over because the two companies reached an undisclosed settlement just a day before they were scheduled to go to trial. The agreement most likely includes Apple writing a big check, and the patent holding company agreeing to leave the iPhone and Mac maker alone.
Blackberry Scores $814M Win for Qualcomm Overcharging Patent Royalties
Qualcomm has agreed to pay Blackberry US$814.9 million for overcharging patent royalties. Blackberry entered into arbitration with Qualcomm over claims it was being forced to pay too much to use the company’s patent protected technologies in its smartphones, which sounds exactly like Apple’s current lawsuit against Qualcomm.