Patently Cool
Apple has been awarded a patent for a novel way to protect iPhones from drop damage:
The idea is that an internal sensor would detect when a phone is in freefall before determining its distance from the ground and how quickly it’s falling.
Then the system reorients the phone in the air as it falls, positioning it in such a way to minimize damage. The patent describes how this could be accomplished by moving around a counterweight inside of the phone, actuated by a can of gas.
But will they ever build in this feature? I wouldn’t get too excited about it. With the premium placed on battery life, thinness, and weight, I doubt Apple will ever find the room for a counterweight and a gas canister.
Which reminds me: Patents ought to be rescinded for products never put into production by the patent-holder. Give them, say, three years. Use it or lose it.
Don't drop it.
#mindblown
Don't drop it.
#mindblown
"Give them, say, three years. Use it or lose it."
That's a horrible idea.
Really radical ideas, the ones that really give us the payoff for the patent system, take quite a long time to develop. Especially now that we have a first-to-file system, which means you've got to file basically as soon as you get the idea. It can easily take ten years for an independent inventor to get to market.
"Give them, say, three years. Use it or lose it."
That's a horrible idea.
Really radical ideas, the ones that really give us the payoff for the patent system, take quite a long time to develop. Especially now that we have a first-to-file system, which means you've got to file basically as soon as you get the idea. It can easily take ten years for an independent inventor to get to market.
Cites, please.
Cites, please.
You're joking, right?
How long did it take to get a commercial use for lasers? Benz's automobile? I've certainly worked on research projects that required five years to get to commercialization. What about somebody working nights and weekends in their garage? With the new first-to-file standard (as of this month) you have to file well before commercialization, or else somebody else will get wind of what you're doing and file a patent to steal your invention. The fact that they didn't invent it makes no difference to the USPTO anymore.
You're joking, right?
How long did it take to get a commercial use for lasers? Benz's automobile? I've certainly worked on research projects that required five years to get to commercialization. What about somebody working nights and weekends in their garage? With the new first-to-file standard (as of this month) you have to file well before commercialization, or else somebody else will get wind of what you're doing and file a patent to steal your invention. The fact that they didn't invent it makes no difference to the USPTO anymore.
A great big gift from government to corporations and the patent attorney bar.
A great big gift from government to corporations and the patent attorney bar.
Not sayin they would do that, but ipods did have notoriously short lived batteries that couldn’t easily be replaced….
(And for the record, I’m a long time Apple user and shareholder, and I work for a supplier.)
Not sayin they would do that, but ipods did have notoriously short lived batteries that couldn’t easily be replaced….
(And for the record, I’m a long time Apple user and shareholder, and I work for a supplier.)
(Also, er... I owned several iPods. They all had great battery longevity, and were "easily enough" replaced with a spudger.
Yeah, not as easily replaced as a hatch and some AAs, but not enough to make them trash after a couple of years.)
More seriously, Apple cares a lot more about customer satisfaction and loyalty than they do about "wrecking your iPhone so you'll buy another one a little sooner", since so many people just re-buy at the end of their contract anyway...
(Also, er... I owned several iPods. They all had great battery longevity, and were "easily enough" replaced with a spudger.
Yeah, not as easily replaced as a hatch and some AAs, but not enough to make them trash after a couple of years.)
More seriously, Apple cares a lot more about customer satisfaction and loyalty than they do about "wrecking your iPhone so you'll buy another one a little sooner", since so many people just re-buy at the end of their contract anyway...
Damn you, mouse! *shakes fist*
Damn you, mouse! *shakes fist*
?
Very little stuff, I find, is entirely out of "print", especially these days with digital music and text publication.
Speaking of mice, it's not like Mickey's <i>ever</i>
been out of print, right?
(I'm all for a radical shortening of copyright terms, but "use it or lose it" doesn't solve anything to speak of - especially compared to just shortening terms.)
?
Very little stuff, I find, is entirely out of "print", especially these days with digital music and text publication.
Speaking of mice, it's not like Mickey's <i>ever</i>
been out of print, right?
(I'm all for a radical shortening of copyright terms, but "use it or lose it" doesn't solve anything to speak of - especially compared to just shortening terms.)
It is not, but should be, a defense in patent law (there is a non-obvious requirement in patents but in the hands of the USPTO, independent creation is somehow not a factor to consider).
It is not, but should be, a defense in patent law (there is a non-obvious requirement in patents but in the hands of the USPTO, independent creation is somehow not a factor to consider).