Submitted by Frank Macey on
Apple has announced a temporary halt in sales for its flagship smartwatches, the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the US. This decision is a response to an International Trade Commission (ITC) ruling in a long-running patent dispute with medical technology firm Masimo. The dispute is specifically regarding the blood oxygen sensor technology in these watch models.
Submitted by Frank Macey on
Rumors of Nintendo porting their most famous titles to iOS have been floating around since the first iPhone was launched in 2007. As it turns out, the App Store is not the place to find Super Mario Brothers or Zelda. Nintendo watchers are at it again after the publication of a patent filed by Nintendo titled "Hand-held Video Game Platform Emulation".
The focus of the patent is on emulating Nintendo game platforms such as the Game Boy Advance on various modern devices. iPhones and iPads could be included in the broad definition, as well as built-in screens in airplane and train seats. The patent explains that software emulation would model "a native platform liquid crystal display controller using a sequential state machine" and provide high quality graphics and sound.
Submitted by Bob Bhatnagar on
A fresh Apple patent has been discovered that promises to make all iPhones and computers just like Tony Stark's talking, holographic assistant in Iron Man. Well, it's a start at least and Apple's ideas include an affordable, compact 3D imaging and display system that can be used for input and more. The diagram below from Patently Apple shows one aspect of the 3D system in operation.
Apple's plan is to give the user feedback with audio and visual signals as they provide 3D input in a defined space. This space would be scanned continually and the results of user action displayed in real time. Not only this, but a projection beam could be used to create holographic images within the space.
Submitted by Bob Bhatnagar on
Two patents submitted by Apple point to major feature enhancements under development that would dramatically change the iOS Maps app on iPhones and other mobile devices. Both patents were discovered in the past two weeks by AppleInsider. The patent diagram below shows Apple's take on augmented reality.
Several apps have tried to implement augmented reality by overlaying graphics on top of live video from the iPhone camera. In one example, Yelp included a feature that showed nearby businesses directly on live video of the area. The app made waves two years ago as the first iOS augmented reality application, combining data from the camera, GPS and compass.
Submitted by Marshall Walker on
A newly discovered Apple patent filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office outlines a new method for iPhone users to determine carrier rankings.
The filing, submitted in April of last year, and discovered by Apple Insider this week, would allow iPhone owners to search for competing carriers and service plans directly on their phones. In 2010, Apple was rumored to be working on an embedded SIM iPhone service that would allow users to shop for a plan on their device, instead of dealing directly with the carriers. This angered European carriers who threatened to cut subsidies if Apple went ahead with their plan.
