Apple News

Apple files for ‘Magic Trackpad’ trademark

February 27th, 2010 at 03:00am Under Hot Apple News

Filed under: Accessories, Hardware, Peripherals, MacBook, iPad

Apple sure likes that word ‘magic’ lately. We already have the Magic Mouse, and soon we may have a ‘Magic Trackpad’. That’s the word from the Patently Apple website that keeps an eye on these sometimes mysterious Apple filings. Apple wants to have the rights to ‘Magic Trackpad’, and wants to make sure no one else can can get their sweaty little hands on it.

No one knows exactly what this thing is for, or where it might be used. It could be for the new iPad, or something for the upcoming laptop refresh. It could well be an extension of the work Apple has done on multitouch, or something completely different. Apple has filed under International Classification 009 which includes touchscreen and trackpad tech, so it’s possible that they’re just covering their bases on their current products, and nailing down a marketing name in advance.

Frankly, we’re not quite sure what else Apple’s trackpads can do to be any more magic — you’ve already got the gestures, the multitouch, and vast application support. What’s next — a genie that appears when you swipe it just right?

TUAWApple files for ‘Magic Trackpad’ trademark originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple – Multi-touch – MacBook – Patently Apple – Unofficial Apple Weblog

By Mel Martin Continue Reading Apple files for ‘Magic Trackpad’ trademarkAdd comment

Apple granted patent for touch-sensitive bezel

February 4th, 2010 at 12:30am Under Hot Apple News

Filed under: Hardware, Multimedia, Software

The Patently Apple website is reporting that Apple has been granted patents dealing with tablets and advanced touch technology. The first patent concerns an ‘intelligent bezel’ where a user could control volume, brightness, zoom or even controls for games by sliding a finger along the edge of the device.

A second patent was also granted for tracking multiple finger and palm recognition as hands approach, touch and slide across a multi-touch surface. Taken together, the patents hint that Apple is working on some very futuristic hardware and software platforms that go beyond the simple touch screens Apple offers now.

When you look at the current iPad, you see a very wide bezel that has no touch functions now, but it is easy to imagine how a future tablet could incorporate the new features. Now, if they can just get a camera in there…

[Via MacRumors]

TUAWApple granted patent for touch-sensitive bezel originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple – Patent – Touchscreen – Patently Apple – Unofficial Apple Weblog

By Mel Martin Continue Reading Apple granted patent for touch-sensitive bezelAdd comment

Touch-Enabled iMac: Do We Need One?

January 19th, 2010 at 06:05pm Under Hot Apple News

Everyone is going nuts for touch. My television has touch controls on the side of the bezel, virtually every new smartphone that comes out these days has to boast a touch-sensitive screen, and a lot of them are now showing off touch-enabled back cases. The Magic Mouse, Apple’s latest take on an interface device, also [...]

By Darrell Etherington Continue Reading Touch-Enabled iMac: Do We Need One?Add comment

Violent strike racks Apple’s touchscreen supplier

January 18th, 2010 at 09:30pm Under Hot Apple News+ Iphone

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Hardware, iPhone

Workers at a Wintek Corp factory in China have gone on strike this week, some of them destroying equipment, according to China Daily. Workers are reportedly protesting poor work conditions and alleged deaths from overexposure to toxic chemicals. The chemical in question, hexane, is used for cleaning touch panels. Wintek is the world’s largest supplier of touch screens for mobile phones, including Apple’s iPhone.

This isn’t the first time labor disputes have arisen within Wintek. Last year, protesters gathered at Apple’s offices in Taiwan to force Apple into pressuring Wintek to clean up alleged workplace labor and safety violations. Back then, protesters appeared to be using the popularity of Apple’s brand name to get attention to their cause.This time things have unfortunately escalated to violence.

There’s no immediate word on how the strike will affect Apple’s supply of iPhone screens. We’re hoping it ends in a manner that’s beneficial to everyone.

[Via AppleInsider]

TUAWViolent strike racks Apple’s touchscreen supplier originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone – Apple – Unofficial Apple Weblog – Touchscreen – China Daily

By Dave Caolo Continue Reading Violent strike racks Apple’s touchscreen supplierAdd comment

Konami website now iPhone-accessible

January 18th, 2010 at 08:45pm Under Hot Apple News

Filed under: iPhone

The Konami code refers to a cheat code sequence for Nintendo devices invented by Kazuhisa Hashimoto in the mid 1980s. The code was intended to help during testing, allowing debugging of advanced game play without having to spend the time or effort actually getting to those levels. Normally, a player has to earn abilities over time. The cheat code Easter egg lets you jump from n00b-skillz directly into mad hax0r3d power. Over time, the Konami code gained traction and has been used and re-used in many games and websites since.

If you’re a fan of Konami-code accessible websites and an iPhone user, you’ll be pleased to learn that the Konami Code Sites homepage, which provides a list of enabled sites, is now iPhone compatible. Konami is “standard” for accessing built-in Easter Eggs in video games and web sites. You can now enter your コナミコマンド cheat code via gestures.

Make this happen by mirroring the standard Konami sequence (up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right) using swipes instead of touching command keys. When you get to the BA sequence, a controller will appear on-screen to let you tap the B-button and then the A-button.

As for the Konami-compatible websites listed, they are not as forgiving, I’m afraid. The iPhone compatibility does not extend to any of the listed pages that I tested. Given that we have fully entered the age of iPhone OS (and soon, the tablet), I think you can expect touchKonami to start expanding to ever new sites and applications. For example, Polish Demon’s Emojinabler app (currently in App Store review) uses the sequence to unlock Emoji text access on non-Japanese iPhones.

Know of a touchKonami-enabled website or App Store app? Let us know in the comments.

TUAWKonami website now iPhone-accessible originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone – AppStore – Apple – Handhelds – Smartphones

By Erica Sadun Continue Reading Konami website now iPhone-accessibleAdd comment

Rumor: 22″ touch computer coming from Apple

January 18th, 2010 at 05:30pm Under Hot Apple News

Filed under: Hardware, Rumors

It’s Monday, January 18th and we’ve got more tablet rumors than Tony Romo’s got bruises. This time, a report comes from the Chinese publication Commercial Times (via DigiTimes), stating that Apple will launch a 22″, touch-enabled all-in-one computer before the year’s end.

This rumor amounts to little more than that sentence, but we assume that something that large won’t be meant for carrying around. Instead, think of an iMac with a Troll Touch display (above), or something like the HP Touchsmart line. On one hand, it makes sense. If the tablet proves as popular as the iPod touch and iPhone, why wouldn’t Apple extend the touch screen to the rest of its lineup?

On the other hand, no one wants to hold their arm in mid-air all day long like this guy. We’ll have to keep an eye on this one.

Oh, Apple. Just release the darn thing and make the rumors stop!

[Via The Business Insider]

TUAWRumor: 22″ touch computer coming from Apple originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone – Apple – IMac – Tony Romo – Touchscreen

By Dave Caolo Continue Reading Rumor: 22″ touch computer coming from AppleAdd comment

Droid doesn’t. Have touchscreen accuracy, that is…

January 11th, 2010 at 08:00pm Under Hot Apple News+ Iphone

Filed under: Hardware, iPhone

Now there’s a nicely-documented fact that you can throw back in the face of that annoying friend of yours who got a Verizon Droid and who keeps saying “It’s just like an iPhone!”

According to a report cited on AppleInsider this morning, the touchscreen accuracy of the iPhone is much better than that of three Android phones: the Motorola Droid pushed by Verizon, the HTC Droid Eris, and the new Google Nexus One. Why is that important? Well, when you’re trying to tap a link on a website, for example, chances are very good that you’re going to be successful on the iPhone and not on the Android phones.

The tests, performed by MOTO Development Group (no relation to Motorola), measured touchscreen accuracy with a simple test. On each device, a drawing app was launched and a tester drew straight diagonal lines in both directions across the screens with a finger. iPhones showed straight lines in situations with both light and medium finger pressure, while the Android phones showed zig-zag wavy lines across the screen. MOTO stated:

“On inferior touchscreens, it’s basically impossible to draw straight lines. Instead, the lines look jagged or zig-zag, no matter how slowly you go, because the sensor size is too big, the touch-sampling rate is too low, and/or the algorithms that convert gestures into images are too non-linear to faithfully represent user inputs. This is important because quick keyboard use and light flicks on the screen really push the limits of the touch panel’s ability to sense.”

Several user comments on the MOTO site validate the findings. Have any TUAW readers been able to compare touchscreen accuracy on an iPhone and an Android device? Leave a comment below.

[via AppleInsider]

TUAWDroid doesn’t. Have touchscreen accuracy, that is… originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone – Motorola – Apple – Google – Android

By Steven Sande Continue Reading Droid doesn’t. Have touchscreen accuracy, that is…Add comment

Rumor Has It: New Parts and Supplier Details Emerge for Apple Tablet

January 11th, 2010 at 05:19pm Under Hot Apple News

Everything’s beginning to come together for the launch of Apple’s tablet — quite literally, in fact, as Apple’s suppliers for the device begin to ship component parts or are ramping up for production in the near future. That’s according to a report issued by news service Reuter’s Friday afternoon.
Two Taiwanese companies are cited in the [...]

By Darrell Etherington Continue Reading Rumor Has It: New Parts and Supplier Details Emerge for Apple TabletAdd comment

Rumor: Tablet set for Q2 launch, manufacturers ramp up

January 9th, 2010 at 05:05pm Under Hot Apple News

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Rumors

More from the rumor mill: It appears that suppliers for Apple have already begun shipping touchscreen panels and will begin shipping aluminum casings for the much-anticipated-but-unannounced Apple “tablet” next month. This, according to Reuters, implies a Q2 product launch, right in line with what other predictions have been.

Supplying the cases is AVY Precision Technology, and both TPK Solutions and Wintek Corp are supplying the touch screen panels. All companies are based out of Taiwan.

TPK, through its German counterpart, Balda, was the initial supplier for the iPhone touch screen module. It’s unknown whether Balda is currently involved or whether Apple went directly to TPK.

The flow of information through Apple’s suppliers has always been sparse, due to Apple’s stranglehold on its own product message. Competition in the Taiwanese electronic component industry is fierce, keeping individual manufacturers toeing the line with Apple. But now that components are actually shipping, it’s harder to hide how things are shaping up for the as-yet-unannounced product.

TUAWRumor: Tablet set for Q2 launch, manufacturers ramp up originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone – Apple – Unofficial Apple Weblog – TUAW – Touchscreen

By Lauren Hirsch Continue Reading Rumor: Tablet set for Q2 launch, manufacturers ramp upAdd comment

New Apple touch display patent

January 8th, 2010 at 05:15am Under Hot Apple News+ Iphone

Filed under: Hardware, Odds and ends, Apple

Patently Apple has the news that Apple has filed for another touchscreen display patent, but here’s the catch: this one’s probably not for a tablet! Or at least, not for the tablet we’re expecting. The patent, which covers the idea of a thinner and brighter touchscreen display by combining the touch and pixel display elements (basically including the capacitive and pixel elements in the same hardware), could actually be used in any of Apple’s devices, from the iPhone and iPod touch, to future versions of their laptops. And yes, it could be used in a potential tablet, but really, this is more of a way to create touchscreens anywhere rather than specifically a tablet-only function.

Note that this is also different from the dynamic tactile display Apple patented a little while ago. Personally, I’d rather see the much more inventive tactile display used in the hopefully soon-to-be-unveiled tablet — I’d love to finally get some touchable feedback from touchscreens. But of course Apple will use what they think is best. Having a quicker and brighter display to go along with a multitouch screen wouldn’t be a bad thing, either.

Thanks, Mitch Wagner!

TUAWNew Apple touch display patent originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone – Apple – Unofficial Apple Weblog – Touchscreen – multitouch

By Mike Schramm Continue Reading New Apple touch display patentAdd comment