Well, Apple Goes and Does Again

[broadbandaddict]

I heard about this yesterday and had a nice discussion with my friend about it. We managed to dig up a few things, not sure about the authenticity though.

Quote from Apple patent for unified search:
"It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to only the embodiments set forth within this disclosure. Rather, the particular heuristic algorithms described herein are meant to be exemplary of many different heuristics that can be employed, for the purpose of retrieving information through a simplified user interface."

Also found this, it's apparently what Apple sued for:
1. A means of detecting and marking up data like a phone number or an e-mail address, and then initiating a phone call or an e-mail when the linked data is clicked
2. A means of searching multiple databases and sources for data.
3. A slide to unlock feature.
4. An autocorrect-type function that completes the word as a user types and allows the user to accept or reject the word.

So... yeah. If you are planning on getting a Galaxy Nexus I'd recommend doing that ASAP. They are nice phones. It shouldn't be a problem with the Nexus 7 getting banned because Google is assembling them here in the States which should make it a lot harder to sue for.

 

[Cobalt180]

I'd say this entire scenario is the product of over-general patents that invite any half-baked interpretation as an infringement. Apple suing over sliding locks, I've seen several posts here that question sliding locks on doors, and that, is a good question, so will Motel 6 not be allowed to lock their doors, or do we now pay a premium to Apple if we want to be secure in our homes?

 

[Frostbite3789]

And yet people will continue to buy Apple products by the millions. I don't understand guys. I just. Don't. Understand.

Because having a piece of tech with a partially eaten apple on it is COOL. And totally worth paying extra for.

 

[teebeeohh]

i don't actually hate apple products, i think most of them are really good, they are just overpriced and most people who own them are morons(because they don't care about the tech, just about the status associated with it). And i can't dumb my hate of this patent bullshit on apple alone since everybody does this

 

[TwiZtah]

Well, like many things in America, this is a broken system too. Where I live, the courts would just laugh at them and tell them to get the fuck out if they even tried suing eachother for "slide to unlock".

I get that sounded pretentious, my country is not the best in everything either, but holy damn some systems in US is broken to oblivion.

 

[White-Death]

I heard about this yesterday and had a nice discussion with my friend about it. We managed to dig up a few things, not sure about the authenticity though.

Quote from Apple patent for unified search:
"It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to only the embodiments set forth within this disclosure. Rather, the particular heuristic algorithms described herein are meant to be exemplary of many different heuristics that can be employed, for the purpose of retrieving information through a simplified user interface."

Also found this, it's apparently what Apple sued for:
1. A means of detecting and marking up data like a phone number or an e-mail address, and then initiating a phone call or an e-mail when the linked data is clicked
2. A means of searching multiple databases and sources for data.
3. A slide to unlock feature.
4. An autocorrect-type function that completes the word as a user types and allows the user to accept or reject the word.

So... yeah. If you are planning on getting a Galaxy Nexus I'd recommend doing that ASAP. They are nice phones. It shouldn't be a problem with the Nexus 7 getting banned because Google is assembling them here in the States which should make it a lot harder to sue for.

Whoa,Whoa, Whoa! stop the press! is something good being assembled in the States!?
Well, I guess I can use that 3 year old golden upgrade from 02 to get me a Nexus.

I never liked Apple, and their ultra-expensive Chinese shit.Who knew that If you put some mediocre electronics into a flimsy glass case,cover it with a resistive glass touchscreen that only works well if your finger is drier than the Sahara desert, cover it with a fancy logo and vaccume encase it, you can turn billions of people into sheep/customers and make billions.I don't think Apple needs any more money, didn't they say they didn't know what to do with 20 Billions dollers they had?
My distate of Apple products grew from experience using my Dad's i-pad, who sold it and got a Galaxy tablet instead after the first week.

I can't believe an all out law suit is being carried out on some tiny little niggling things that are featured on almost every smartphone ever.

Well, that's one way to get ride of the competition,and sadly it works very well.

 

[Xanthious]

Dear Apple just because you use something doesn't mean you own the rights to it. That would be like if Nintendo banned the Xbox 360 and PS3 because they have a D-pad on their controller.

Funny you should say that because Nintendo actually does have the + shaped D-Pad patented. If you notice Sony's looks like four separate buttons and Microsoft uses a circle. You can bet if Sony or Microsoft threw an honest to god + shaped D-Pad on one of their controllers Nintendo's lawyers would be on that like white on rice.

 

[ohnoitsabear]

This is one of the many reasons that the US patent system needs a complete overhaul. In regards to software patents, I think they should be illegal altogether, because there is no reason for them to exist other than stifling competition and/or making huge amounts of money.

 

[Darren716]

Dear Apple just because you use something doesn't mean you own the rights to it. That would be like if Nintendo banned the Xbox 360 and PS3 because they have a D-pad on their controller.

Funny you should say that because Nintendo actually does have the + shaped D-Pad patented. If you notice Sony's looks like four separate buttons and Microsoft uses a circle. You can bet if Sony or Microsoft threw an honest to god + shaped D-Pad on one of their controllers Nintendo's lawyers would be on that like white on rice.

I didn't think of that I should of used the analog stick as an example instead since there is no difference between the three controllers' analog sticks.

 

[NightHawk21]

I wonder if I patented a knob if I could sue everyone whos ever used a door.

Probably not but you can get all knobbed doors banned lol

 

[Mau95]

So yeah, basically this:
http://9gag.com/gag/2989392

I don't really have anything useful to add.

 

[Griffolion]

Basically, if you're in the US, get this phone while you can from Google's Play Store, because it ain't gonna be around for much longer. Seems that if you can't beat 'em, sue 'em. Eh, Apple? Keep it classy, you senseless idiots.

EDIT: A little funny I found on the interwebs:

Spoiler

[/spoiler][/QUOTE]

I hate Apple, I hate current copyright and patent laws, and I hate all this damn suing. BUT you're giving Apple to much stick for this. These big phone manufacturers are suing each other constantly. It's not just Apple vs. the world. It's Apple vs Samsung, SAmsung vs Motorola, Motorola vs Blackberry etc.

I just hate the whole lot. Not just Apple doing it, but the fact they all do it. CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG!!!

Although, that little web comic was pretty damn funny.[/quote]

You could say that, but here's why I have a unique spot of hatred for Apple:

They always claim to be unique, apart from the rest. They act as if they're better. They can't hack the competition.

That's why they get so much stick from me. Samsung, Motorola, RIM will all go into litigation with each other over technical patents, IE Samsung's recent win in Germany over Apple regarding a specific 3G communications patent. That's a real thing, an actual implementation of a piece of technology that Samsung has protected, that Apple infringed upon. Apple claim to be "unique", and yet they go around patent trolling everyone who "infringes" upon what are, at best, broad stroke ideas that could have many types of specific implementations.

Looking at the slide to unlock feature. Look at Apple's implementation, then look at the Galaxy Nexus' implementation. The iPhone/iPad is a literal bar that you swipe horizontally. The Galaxy Nexus, and other ICS devices that haven't featured a custom skin, is a pair of concentric circles where you move the inner one in any direction outwards to the outer one. Same idea, [b]massively different implementation[/b].

Then, the issue of unified search (the other topic of contention). I'm sorry, did I just hear that right? Apple is going at a "Google" piece of software about [b]search[/b]? I have no words.

I'm not having a go, though it looks like it, this stuff just gets me so angry. A combination of Apple's arrogance & fear of competition mixed with a broken patent system not designed to cope with software/intellectual property in general has created this system where companies can suppress innovation just to protect their bottom lines. Apple have nothing to worry about, they have more money [b]spare[/b] in the bank than the US Federal Reserve, they have millions upon millions of blind followers that will buy anything they put out. Samsung is really having to fight for their dominance in this sector, and have done through great competing products on all price points. If Apple is, as they seem to think of themselves, so much higher than the rest, surely they'd just let the competition allegedly "copy" what they want, and then subsequently destroy them in sales and popularity with an angle of "they can't touch us, even when they copy our ideas". But they don't, they litigate, because they know they're genuinely in trouble but too proud to show it, and so they suppress competition because of this fear under the guise of "protecting intellectual property".

If Samsung ever truly establish smartphone dominance over Apple, and turn into Apple doing the same things to everyone else, then I'll turn my hate to Samsung. But for now, Apple are the bad guys in this story.

Here's an interesting picture I came across:
[spoiler][img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s-q59Ddhask/T-7gqITVmTI/AAAAAAAACRQ/v1EjsKgB-bY/s1024/the_apple_cycle.jpg"][/spoiler]

Sent from my Asus Transformer Prime, one innovation Apple never thought of, and now case makers are scrambling to copy like gulls to a piece of bread.

 

[launchpadmcqwak]

Apple...has turned to the dark side...there was recorded footage of him...KILLING ALL OTHER SMARTPHONES!

 

[Zipa]

Same judge? I feel sorry for you Americans, you're basically being controlled by domestic corporations. I for one would rather get a device made by Koreans than by Americans. Nothing personal, but I find that products from Asia based companies to be of a higher quality, functionality and longevity.

Pretty sure Apples products are actually all made in China anyway.

OT: Apple are a bunch of pretentious wankers and I will be glad when I can ditch my iPhone in August (work phone so didn't get a choice at the time)

 

[General Twinkletoes]

Won't be long until apple tries to copyright talking to people through electronic devices. Any communication will be sued.

 

[Waaghpowa]

Pretty sure Apples products are actually all made in China anyway.

I know that, but they're still an American Corporation