An Apple patent (number 200100216526) for an audio jack with included microphone has appeared at the US Patent & Trademark Office. Embodiments of the invention relate to the field of electrical connectors; and more specifically, to electrical connectors that include a microphone.
Read More
An Apple patent (number 200100214448) that involves video acquisition with processing based on ancillary data has appeared at the US Patent & Trademark Office. The company seems to be investigating ways to improve the features of its video editing titles.
Read MoreOne of my favorite columnists (and a friend) is Gene “The Tech Night Owl” Steinberg. Usually, I agree with the Owl, but in a recent column (http://macosg.me/2/rz) he predicted that, by 2015, most of us will rely on an iPad or its successor for most computing-related tasks. However, I just can’t see it.
Read More
By Greg Mills
In recent articles I attributed the embarrassingly flubbed Ken smartphone Microsoft launched as being a product of Mattel, when actually Sharp produced it. I was frankly deceived by the toy like quality of the Kin/Ken, thus never attributing the toy phone to a serious manufacturer like Sharp.
Read MoreThe reports this week of an Apple patent for “transitioning between modes of input” underscores my conviction that we’ll see touchscreen iMacs in the near future. I think Apple is preparing us for this with the release of its Magic TrackPad for Macs.
Some feel there’s little demand for a touch screen computer. However, the growing popularity of iPhones, iPod touches, iPads and similar devices from Apple and other companies are making touch technology second nature to many people, especially young folks. It’s just a matter of time before they want said technology on their computers.
Read More