Daring Fireball: Apple, Google, and Palm.

http://daringfireball.net/2009/02/apple_google_palm

by e1ven • 17 years ago

38 24 17 years ago

It seems ridiculous that using two fingers on a screen can be patented. I would think that the general public would agree.

I've thought that a great strategy for Palm would be to get sued by Apple. Shouldn't that tarnish Apple's great image?

LurkingGrue• 17 years ago

It hasn't before so why would it tarnish them now?

tptacek2• 17 years ago

I don't understand why you think multi-touch is obvious or unpatentable. Prior to the iPhone, were multi-touch consumer touchscreen devices well-known?

To answer your second question: No, among Apple's customers and prospects, a patent lawsuit will tarnish Palm, not Apple.

jonknee• 17 years ago

> Prior to the iPhone, were multi-touch consumer touchscreen devices well-known?

It doesn't matter if anything was well known, multi-touch simply isn't new technology:

http://www.billbuxton.com/multitouchOverview.html

GHFigs3• 17 years ago

What criteria are you using to determine what can and cannot be patented?

sharksandwich2• 17 years ago

On patents in general, Wikipedia says: 'Typically ... a patent application must include one or more claims defining the invention which must be new, inventive, and useful or industrially applicable'

andreyf3• 17 years ago

Out of the two examples he gives, you found that one to be more objectionable? How about...

According to my source, in addition to multi-touch, the other feature that Apple objected to was using a standard headphone jack. Apple apparently owns a patent on controlling software using buttons connected by a standard 3.5mm headphone jack (at least for music and video playback controls), and would not grant Google a license to the patent. Hence the G1’s use of a proprietary ExtUSB port rather than a standard 3.5mm headphone jack.

Oh, really?

gamble• 17 years ago

That seems extremely unlikely at best, verging on a conspiracy theory.

elidourado• 17 years ago

A Google Patent search does not turn this up. Can anyone show us the patent?

http://www.google.com/patents?q=3.5+mm+inassignee%3AApple

jmtulloss• 17 years ago

I highly doubt Apple tried to move Google off of the 3.5 mm jack. There are plenty of phones and other devices even now that have a 3.5 mm jack and controls in the headphone wire.

jfarmer• 17 years ago

My understanding is that "multi-touch" can't be patented, but a specific implementation of multi-touch can. Am I wrong? If not, what's so bad about that?

andreyf3• 17 years ago

Apple apparently owns a patent controlling software using buttons connected by a standard 3.5mm headphone jack.

Really, now? Really?

cosmo7• 17 years ago

Apple is the new Microsoft, Google is the new IBM, Palm is the new Apple.

Daring Fireball: Apple, Google, and Palm.

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