A recently revealed patent from Apple shows the company is looking at producing a wireless headset that offers standalone media playing abilities, rather than relying on a Bluetooth streaming connection to get music piped into the ear.

Apple's latest vision is for times when "the external device with which it is wirelessly coupled is not being used" as during such downtime the headset could be used to play music.

Alternatively, the patent suggests, "if the external device is a telephone, the availability of a recording function could make it possible for the user to record all or part of a conversation. Similarly, voicemail messages received on the user's telephone could be uploaded into the headset for later off-line playback".

On one hand the patent could be seen as a wearable, voice-controlled iPod shuffle with wireless capabilities, and on the other the next-gen of Apple's iPhone headset - more of an iPhone companion device - offering advanced media playing functionality.

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Tags: Audio Apple Patents iPod iPod shuffle Headsets

Apple patent reveals headset-style iPod shuffle originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:32:40 +0000

Nokia appears to be looking into 3D multitouch systems, if a patent filing is representative of its current research interests. The Finnish phone giant has applied for a patent for a 3D multitouch interface that would record pressure as well as two dimensions of location info.

The system is built with a combination of a capacitive touchscreen and a few force sensors that measure the strength of your pushes. The direction of that force is also able to be recorded, so strokes can be accurately represented on such a screen.

It's not clear when the technology might make its way into commercially available gadgets - it's likely to be some time. However, when combined with some of the haptic touchscreen prototypes that the company also has in its labs, we could end up with a phone screen that you can push, but can push you back!

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Tags: Phones Mobile phones Nokia Patents

Nokia patents 3D multitouch originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:59:07 +0000

Nokia has announced that it has filed a complaint against Apple with the Federal District Court in Delaware, alleging that Apple's iPhone infringes Nokia patents for GSM, UMTS and wireless LAN standards.
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Nokia is naming ten patents in the suit that relate to technologies "fundamental to making devices which are compatible with one or more of the GSM, UMTS (3G WCDMA) and wireless LAN standards".

The patents cover wireless data, speech coding, security and encryption and have apparently all been infringed by all Apple iPhone models shipped since the iPhone was introduced in 2007.

Nokia says it has spent over 40 billion euros over the last 20 years on various patents, some of which have made it to being the industry standard. While almost all the major mobile manufacturers pay Nokia for licence agreements to use the tech covered by the patents, it appears Apple has refused to do so.

"The basic principle in the mobile industry is that those companies who contribute in technology development to establish standards create intellectual property, which others then need to compensate for", said Ilkka Rahnasto, vice president, legal & intellectual property at Nokia.

"Apple is also expected to follow this principle. By refusing to agree appropriate terms for Nokia's intellectual property, Apple is attempting to get a free ride on the back of Nokia's innovation".

Tags: Phones Nokia Apple Lawsuits iPhone Patents Biz

Nokia sues Apple over alleged iPhone patent infringements originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:43:18 +0100

Apple's much-rumoured iTablet, or iPad as the most recent rumours have dubbed it, could get a highly advanced touchscreen.

A new patent application revealed by AppleInsider describes plans for a multi-touch surface that could work with two full hands and distinguish between palms and individual fingers for typing and gestures, with activities done with more than one finger referred to as "chords".

Filed in June this year, Apple says the tech in the patent would make for "unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device".

Adding to the iPad hype, with the ability to detect all ten digits, the device that uses such a screen would have to be large enough to support two hands, so arguably of tablet, rather than phone, dimensions.

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Related links:

• News - Fresh Apple tablet rumours claim the iPad is due on 19 January

Tags: Hardware Apple Tablet PCs iTablet iPad Rumours Patents Concepts

Apple patents advanced multi-touch display originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:52:34 +0100