News
Apple patent filing reveals ‘zirconia’ device
Apple has filed yet another patent application referring to a device that appears to combine an iPod and a mobile phone. Apple’s application describes a “tube-like” device made using zirconia and alumina and that would be “cost effective, smaller, lighter, stronger and aesthetically more pleasing than current” designs. Using those materials would result in a “highly scratch-resistant surface,” according to the filing. Bloomberg News notes that zirconia could be used to create cases in a variety of colors, including white, black, navy blue, ivory, brown, dark blue, light blue, platinum and gold.
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1
All these patents….
and no product yet.
We’ve been seeing quite a few patents being filed over the last few months… are they just filing with no intent on building??? I’m tired of waiting.
Posted by 3rdEye on December 1, 2006 at 8:49 AM (PDT)
2
it sure sounds nice and cute on paper but manufacturing is not that easy…it could be that they are waiting on a machine/tool that makes that material and then mold it and im sure the mold will not be perfect from first trial and so on. Design is easy but implementation is not.
Posted by lateralus on December 1, 2006 at 8:57 AM (PDT)
3
I wonder what that “use of podcasts on media devices” patent could possibly be.
Posted by Laer on December 1, 2006 at 9:07 AM (PDT)
4
I think that for the most part this may never see the light of day. I think apple is tired of being on the wrong end of patent disputes so their patenting everything their prodigious design team can dream up. I would suspect that 75% of these patents will never be used or seen in prodects. Apple figures patents are cheap (and they are cheap), insurance.
Posted by patentpolice on December 1, 2006 at 7:00 PM (PDT)
5
I have to agree with patentpolice. That’s EXACTLY what I think Apple is doing, making sure to cover their ##### for fear of being bitten again,
Who know, if the market changes, then MAYBE we’ll see one of these products….
Posted by ahMEmon on December 2, 2006 at 11:41 AM (PDT)
6
Apple/Steve Jobs are big on secrets…
I really dont think that a secret of theirs that they have kept for almost 7 years, and then file a patent for it, having everyone know whats happening is really leading to an iphone. They have a trick up their sleeve about this that they dont want people to know
Posted by PDSPS on December 2, 2006 at 3:40 PM (PDT)