Windows piss on apples fire?

[b3nje]

Might be old news to some of you as i couldn't post the other day as i was banned but...

Could Apple's iPhone be at the mercy of a patent just granted to Microsoft? Could be, judging by U.S. Patent 7,225,409, "Graphical User Interface For A Screen Telephone," which was awarded to Microsoft on Tuesday. More potential worries for Apple: The patent isn't just for a phone, but for the underlying software, and the patent document even includes a helpful flowchart.

According to its abstract, the Microsoft patent is GUI-centric. "A graphical user interface for a Web telephone and other telephony devices provides a unique combination of display elements that provide information and enable the user to access functionality of the device," it reads. "The display elements include customizable screen areas called panes, an application program selection area, and call state area for displaying telephone line status information."

As for the underlying software, it's described as follows: "A software platform of the user interface provides a set of default user interface features and exposes an application programming interface. System implementers may customize the default display elements or create entirely new custom panes that fit within a uniform user interface framework using the application programming interface."

If it ever comes to a court contest between Microsoft and Apple, Apple could point out that, although Microsoft's patent was awarded on May 29, it was actually first filed on Aug. 25, 1999. That makes it sound old. On the other hand, Microsoft could conceivably claim that it thought of the concepts behind the iPhone almost eight years ago.

 

[Daz]

Uh oh.. it's going to get interesting.. bearing in mind everyone thinks the iPhone is being announced on the 11th at the WWDC keynote.. so.. heh.

 

[b3nje]

idd. i laughed out loud when i read it

 

[Munson]

Surely all phones use a 'GUI' ?

I can imagine teams of lawyers tearing that to shreds.

 

[b3nje]

That is like patenting the basic design of a car and expecting it to stick. It has four wheels, a chassis, a steering mechanism, seats for passengers. Not much different from a wagon except the source of the drive train. The iPhone may be cool, but it is not beyond the normal evolution of a phone mixed together with other existing techonology. Unless Apple actually used the patent design to design the phone and it can be shown that it copied the ideas from the patent, then the patent judge is either in bed with MS, or it is an irrelevant patent.



http://update.informationweek.com/cgi-bin4/DM/y/n8H10ITnD60G4n0FH3T0ER

 

[G_F]

I am still getting one, i will make my own if needs be

 

[KDF]

M$ would patent oxygen if they thought it would go through..

 

[b3nje]

what do you mean...they have?

 

[Lagerlout]

What's so great about this iPhone?

Or is it just another must-have accessory that's not actually that good ala iPods?

 

[b3nje]

how can you say ipods aren't good lol?

 

[G_F]

What's so great about this iPhone?

Or is it just another must-have accessory that's not actually that good ala iPods?

Shame on you *spits*

 

[Lagerlout]

I fail to see what iPods do better over other players... Sound better? Nope. Better software? Hell No.

Fashion accessory? There you go!!

I have a nano and a Creative Zen and prefer the latter.

Anyway. nobody has answered my question. What makes this iPhone so great?

 

[b3nje]

very strange perception!

 

[Lagerlout]

Care to say why?

 

[wozzaa]

how can you say ipods aren't good lol?

Poorer sound quality compared to the competition.

Crap software, Itunes is awful, and the player software is a copy of Creatives UI.

Batteries like to die within a year or so. My creative player is still going after 3 years. And doesnt even have a scratch on it even though its been dropped etc. Cant do that with an ipod you can scratch them with your finger nail.

And overpriced for what they are. But because they look alright people buy them. I nearly bought one but glad I tried other players out first and in the end choose a creative player.

 

[Lagerlout]

:approve:

I've said all along (in a thread not so long ago) that iPods are not bad by any stretch of the imagination. I just seriously fail to see what, apart from their stylish looks, sets them apart from other players.

 

[G_F]

how can you say ipods aren't good lol?

Crap software, Itunes is awful, and the player software is a copy of Creatives UI.

Not correct, the ipods software is an industry secret, and imo the most logical to use

I dont use Itunes either, it is crap, i use Winamp. I am not an audophile, i can not tell the difference between players and it is the best looking, all in all, it ticks all the right boxes for me.