Apple Applies For Color-Change Patent

Secret300 writes "Apple is applying for a patent to release "devices capable of dynamically changing their ornamental or decorative appearance." If this is a success, it would considerably boost Apple's presence in the technology world." So, perhaps we can not only theme our desktop on the machine - but our *literal* desktop.

Comments

This covers...

[Anonymous Coward]

...when they changed from a rainbow to various monochrome logos back in 1998.

new imacs

[alta]

I can see the new imacs now... they change color like a biolum. jellyfish. Cool.

Re:new imacs

[sheean.nl]

Aren't they ruining their own market with this? In the past you had to buy an entire new mac if you wanted to change its colour...

Look it can chang its own colours, just run to the nearby computer store, buy a new mac in different colour, install the software, and look at all the colours...absolutely amazing!

Re:new imacs

[KingAdrock]

Maybe they just realized that no schmuck on Earth would buy a new computer just to get a new color.

Re:new imacs

[Anonymous Coward]

Just keep telling yourself that nobody would. Especially looking at the normal Apple (l)user.

Re:new imacs

[Tseran]

With all the discussion about prior art and how its not right to patent this and that Apple is all wrong and nuts for doing this, here's a few points to consider. Firstly, there is no prior art. We can't point at chameleons, since they respond to only a few stimulus to change their colors. You can't press a horn on one and get it to turn purple. If you have a chameleon with that much control, I think Ripley's would pay you big bucks to see that. Flashing LED's and monitor screens are nothing near what Apple is talking about in the patent (download the thing if you don't believe me) This is a lot more interesting. If you have seen the TiBooks you have seen how the Apple logo glows. Imagine if you could change the color of it. That is a lot more then a flashing LED. Now, why is Apple putting a patent on this? To protect their ass(ets) of course! Last time they had a truly original idea like this, the iMac itself, there were copies and knockoffs that made Apple look bad, especially when they tried to get them legally for it, the copiers cried that there was no patent and no trademark. Its about time Apple made a pre-emptive strike against the followers trying to ride the success of Apple's innovation.

Re:new imacs

[KingAdrock]

I know a lot of Apples users. Not one of them would buy a Mac for any other reason than its ability to do what they want it to do. Not one of them wants it to be a decoration.

Re:new imacs

[FuegoFuerte]

I dunno... I admit I haven't read the whole patent app and all, but I know my Kenwood car stereo can change the color of the buttons from red to green... doesn't do it automagically though, I have to tell it to. Still sounds pretty similar.

Re:new imacs

[Nazmun]

and all mac users are like the people you know...

Re:new imacs

[Tseran]

Nah, a button that changes between two colors is simple. All you need is a dual color LED. You can get these pretty easily at most electronic stores and all that they do is change their color from one to the other depending on which way that the current is going. There is a little more to this then two colors. Who knows, maybe we can similate flower power on a snow iMac without the use of paints. The big question remains however....WHY?!

"devices capable of changing their color"

[torpor]

... sounds an awful lot like an LCD screen to me, which'd be prior art.

What's special about their patent? Are the surfaces non-planar or some such thing?

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[WPIDalamar]

Sounds more like a patent to change how the mac looks, not just the display. Maybe my mac's case is blue in the morning, and yellow at night? If this is the case, there MUST be things that do similar things.

Hell, wouldn't certain animals qualify as prior art?

And what about novelity (is that a word?)? Screw the prior art searches, we need examiners that can say "This is not novel, so it's not patentable, even tho no one else has done it."

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[MrAndrews]

Quite aside from the patent-worthiness debate, I'd say that, after reading about this everywhere I could, this is a VERY novel patent. Much more so than any patent I can remember in the past few years. The ability to change the skin of objects (like an iPod, or a cell phone or what have you) really would make a big impact on many industries. That is a far better patent than, for instance, tabbed window interfaces.

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[sydb]

And what about novelity (is that a word?)? Screw the prior art searches, we need examiners that can say "This is not novel, so it's not patentable, even tho no one else has done it."

"Novelty" is "newness". "Novel" means "new". If no-one else has done something then by definition it is novel.

You might argue that "novelty" suggests something which is actually imaginative. But I think that here the word "novel" is used to define what is imaginative.

So don't throw away your prior art database out of a desire for novelty; you'll be throwing away your primary objective indicator of novelty.

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[ZorinLynx]

Not to mention the hordes of toys made over the last decades that change color with temperature... Who is Apple trying to fool?

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[BradleyUffner]

Those little fiber optic Christmass Trees that fade from color to color using an internal light.

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[motardo]

what about the oh-so-cool t-shirts from the late eighties, early nineties that changed color?

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[WPIDalamar]

My bad... I guess I confused it with the "Non Obvious" clause.

http://www.bitlaw.com/patent/requirements.html

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[Anonymous Coward]

And what about novelity (is that a word?)?

You have seriously never heard of the word "novelty"? I'm sorry, I don't think I can take the rest of what you said very seriously now.

However, I wanted to mention, with that stupid animals as prior art... do you think that when the airplane was invented, that birds were prior art and therefore the inventor would not have deserved a patent?

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[AyeRoxor!]

You're dumb.

If I pick my nose, and patent that, then hey, it's a new patent. So by your description, it's novel?

Wow.

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[Anonymous Coward]

Your patent would be valid if no one ever picked their nose before.

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[james_underscore]

Sounds a bit similar to the car in the latest James Bond that could change it's appearance, to make it seem invisible. If somethings already been invented in fiction does that count as prior art?

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[Anonymous Coward]

If no-one else has done something then by definition it is novel.
Don't know in brain fucked US IP system, but in France, at least a few year ago, literal description by artist of imaginary things where enough to render the things unpatentable, when somebody finally was able to make them. The one who could have patented them was the artist. (there is no need to prove actual realisation to obtain the patent).

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[damiam]

No, you couldn't patent it, because it's been done and there's prior art. If you were the first person ever to pick your nose, then it might be considered novel.

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[Anonymous Coward]

I think want they want is for the colors will automatically change to match the GUI theme you have on the computer.

Plenty of people have had this idea before, Apple is prolly the first to file it with the USPTO.

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[happylight]

But of course I was the first person to pick my nose.

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[martyn s]

Just to point out, no patent was awarded for the airplane.

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[Jaysyn]

Generra "Hypercolor" clothes that you couldn't wash in warm/hot water or they would lose their ability.

Jaysyn

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[ceejayoz]

Wow, and you're calling the US system "brain fucked"?

At least here people can only patent stuff that's known to be possible...

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[NortWind]

Hell, wouldn't certain animals qualify as prior art?

I think the "horse of a different color" as seen in the "Wizard of Oz" movie is a good example.

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[Jucius Maximus]

Haven't the people at apple ever seen a mood ring?

Or a lava lamp?

Or those little artificial christmas trees with fiber optic stands built into them that dynamically emit changing colours?

I think that this has been done before.

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[Anonymous Coward]

The idea of an LCD screen being prior art could be completely irrelevant. It wouldn't take much of a technology change to allow a completely original patent. The existence of LCD screens does not prevent plasma and OLED display technologies from being patented, you know.

I think this Apple thing sounds more like the old mood rings of the 70's and mood shirts of the 90's that change color variably across their non-planar surfaces depending on the immediate temperature. Somewhere, a hippie could sue...

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[75th Trombone]

Well, he said "Novelity," with an I, in an attempt to make an adjective out of the noun "Novelty." Try reading what he says next time. That being said, it is kinda dumb, because "Novelty" is both a noun and an adjective---the one he was looking for, too.

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[mniskin]

Haha. That's classic! Gotta love those soooo superior French. As usual...

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[jgilbert]

"Novelty" is "newness". "Novel" means "new". If no-one else has done something then by definition it is novel.

You might want to review the definition for novel.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=novel

Particularly:

Strikingly new, unusual, or different.

Or farther down:

Usage: Novel, New . Everything at its first occurrence is new; that is novel which is so much out of the ordinary course as to strike us with surprise.

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[Yokaze]

The point is, the idea is not new.

IRC, in Neal Stephensons "Diamond Age" John Hackworth implemented this for chop sticks. Little animations on them.

In Total Recall, the film, the secretary of Total Recall, the company, changed the colour of her finger nail electronically.

In William Gibsons "Virtual Light" a car was changing its painting (otherwise called animation).

Another point is, it is too generic and they are (surely) missing a working prototype.

It's seldom the "what", more often it is the "how".

Otherwise, I'll go and patent "an apparatus or method for creating products by the means of moluclar modifications".

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[ichimunki]

You've never seen one of those little toys that changes color when warm? Or seen a chameleon in action? Or how about those fiber optic toys at novelty shops? Or things that have special inks or paints so that they look different colors depending on angle you look at them (one example is US currency)?

I don't know how novel the idea of a device that changes its color really is. However, the patent shouldn't be on the vague idea, but rather on a novel instantiation of the idea-- that is the specific device or mechanism or chemical/electrical process to do this. Or maybe I'm still misunderstanding patents, I always thought they protected specifics, not generalities-- not that you have to have a working demo available, but that you had to have a very exacting description of the invention.

To wit, here is a quote from trademark law itself (p. 21 of Consolidated Patent Laws): The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[obdulio]

So in France to build a submarine you need to pay royalties to the heirs of JULES vERNE?

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[Izmunuti]

"If I pick my nose, and patent that, then hey, it's a new patent."

Only if you've come up with a novel method for picking your nose. So "Method for Nasal Debris Removal Using Microscopic Black Holes and Trained Chipmunks" would be patentable but the well known finger-method would not be. Understand?

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[User 956]

Hell, wouldn't certain animals qualify as prior art?

If you read the patent, it covers, essentially, a "transparent" area of the case (case windows, great new idea!), with an "arrangement of lights". In which case, wouldn't everything being done with case modding be prior art? Wouldn't putting an LCD in the side of your case qualify, under this patent? How long till they start up the lawsuits on people that have been doing this shit for the last four years or so?

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[Jugalator]

"That is a far better patent than, for instance, tabbed window interfaces."

I'll remember that quote when we manage to manipulate DNA enough to create the first mozilla's to walk on our earth. I'll tell a mozilla to "Get Mr Andrews" and *then* ask you if tabbed windows interfaces aren't useful. Mwahahaha!

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[FredFnord]

> I always thought they protected specifics, not
> generalities

And so it does. If you actually bother to look at the patent, it describes in exacting detail the way this device works. It's a piece of translucent or transparent plastic with a specific sort of light source behind it which projects images onto the plastic.

This is not a patent that protects the idea of 'devices that change color'. That would be like a patent that protects the idea of 'devices that move people around'. This is a patent that protects one very specific way of changing the appearance and color of a device. Which is like a patent that protects, for example, the Segway.

God, people. Kneejerk reactions are a slashdot tradition, but ostensibly intelligent people who don't even bother to read the entire SUMMARY before posting about it...?

Sheesh.

--Fred

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[Oculus Habent]

But they don't change color by sampling an area and adjusting the color output of the tree to match?

Granted, a chameleon Christmas tree wouldn't be so exciting.

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[Oculus Habent]

Any computer they put out with that capability probably won't fair well in warm or hot water, either. ;)

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[Jaysyn]

Apple's next patent, washable computers.

Jaysyn

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[Anonymous Coward]

Umm... Hasn't this been done before? http://www.bantamusa.com/pages/ba800.php "It also features exclusive CooLights® technology, enabling you to customize the color of the player with a push of the button. "

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[thenarftwit]

I think that this comes under the ideas people have been talking about for years now in the field of nanotechnology where you can get surfaces or materials to programmably change to whatever color you want them to be...

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[ichimunki]

Huh? Not only is there no mention of the mechanism in the summary, but the linked article comes up blank for me. And you'll notice I was not asserting anything about this patent in particular, except to respond to the idea of changing colors is harldy novel and not really patentable and that in this case there must be a specific method or device that does something. In fact, the details you've provided back up my point: it's not the idea of a device that changes color that's novel here, it's a newly invented mechanism.

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[rolfwind]

Whats novel about this? I had these small cars (micromachines? came from that commercial with that really fast talking guy) that changed color when you dipped them in water. Hot water got you one color, cold water, it changed to another color.

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[ChuyMatt]

an idea may not be novel, but the implication can be. Flight was not a novel thing for people or birds, the wright bros. did a novel thing when they figured it out correctly!

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[ichimunki]

Right, which is why you could patent a specific flying machine, but not flight itself.

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[sydb]

You know, I did read the dictionary definition before making my post.

The primary definition of "novel" is "new". It is a synonym.

Noting that there are suggestions of special newness about the word "novelty" I included a sentence about how the word suggests some creative act on the part of the novelty-generating individual.

Does that make sense to you?

I didn't deserve to be moderated to +5, by pointing out simple facts, but my post was factually accurate. Conversely, you seem keen to make cheap and ill-aimed shots, sporting the inappropriate garb of arrogance.

May the coming new year bring you much joy and happiness, may your dreams, however wicked, be realised!

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[twiztidlojik]

...Which is why the French don't have a massive submarine fleet. Can you imagine the government paying some schmuck 7.5 million (5% royalty) for a 150 million sub?

Re:"devices capable of changing their color"

[twiztidlojik]

They wouldn't do that because it would bring up the invalidity of their patent. I think case modding would go on with a nod and a wink from Apple.

Great

[Anonymous Coward]

Their next machine should be a color changing box.

BTW, why the fuck can't we post in the last story?

Re:Great

[moc.tfosorcimgllib]

> BTW, why the fuck can't we post in the last story?

I'm guessing because it's a story about the decline of quality education in america that uses the word "plase".

Hemos

[Iamthefallen]

Wanna activate comments in the "Computers Not Working In Education" article?

Re:Hemos

[robbyjo]

You know, after looking at his face, I lost my animo to type comments... Oh wait...

Re:Hemos

[night_flyer]

wow, an offtopic mod for pointing out a blatent error on Hemos part...

how much ya wanna bet one of thos mods was from Hemos himself?

Re:Hemos

[Anonymous Coward]

Maybe "pointing out a blatent error on Hemos's part" about an article that's not even vaguely related to this Apple story is actually off-topic?

You know, Iamthefallen could have sent Hemos an email.

Just a thought...

Re:Hemos

[Anonymous Coward]

Hey, if people wanna waste their modpoints modding down stuff like that, they're welcome (since it is off topic), it means they'll have fewer modpoints to spend modding down something that they simply don't agree with.

Iatf

cost

[SnAzBaZ]

This sounds expensive, who would fork out extra for something trivial like this.

Re:cost

[Anonymous Coward]

imacs seem to be popular. and you can bet your ass its not for the functionality software or hardware of the device.

theres a whole lotta art majors out there

Re:cost

[Anonymous Coward]

remeber who their customers have traditionally been.

People who want to interface with a GUI day-in and day-out that WASN'T designed by a confused pack of ignorant howler monkeys?

Wtf? You're on a site that's pretty much front-ended by PowerBooks nowadays and you mouth off with that shit? Get a clue, mouth-breather...

Re:cost

[The Phantom Buffalo]

That's a good one. You're talking about a customer base that pays too much for underpowered hardware, just because of the eye candy.

Uh oh

[X-BOX LIVE DEV TEAM]

Apple is applying for a patent to release "devices capable of dynamically changing their ornamental or decorative appearance.

So Christians will start hanging Apple computers around their douglas firs come December?

hmmmm....

[Anonymous Coward]

"devices capable of dynamically changing their ornamental or decorative appearance."

Translation, Apple computer to buy Mr. Potato Head factory.

MOD PARENT UP !!!

[ContemporaryInsanity]

They did it on purpose, didn't they ? Posted an article (Computers Not Working in Education) about numeracy & literacy, with speeling mistakes, and removed the ability to comment... BASTARDS!!!

Computers don't make the man

[Anonymous Coward]

I was going through middle/high school during the "lets buy all the computers we can so us teachers dont have to do our jobs" phase.

Now dont get me wrong, I love computers. Im a verified geek. I have been ever since my parents sat me in front of the old Apple IIe at the age of six. (And gave be a BASIC book at the age of 7)

Computers arent the savior of education that everybody was hoping they would be. Computers are a tool and nothing more. You will always have the children who choose not to use the tools available to them, as well as the children who have no tools available to them.

I remember one time in elementary school we were in the computer lab of Apple IIe s and I decided to have a little bit of fun with the people in there - so I wrote a little program to show just how l33t I was:

10 PRINT "THIS SCHOOL SUCKS"
20 GOTO 10

You wouldnt believe how much trouble I almost got in for that little stunt. I distinctly remember sitting in the hallway for the remainder of the class - with a large smile on my face. (This only got worse when I started going into Radio Shack Stores - Some of the messsages I came up with there probably affected sales quite a bit :-)

Anyway - I remember in highschool (around 1995) when they built the computer lab full of older IBM 486 Lan Manager machines. We spent a large amount of time there (to my great surprise) - but it was only to waste time on substandard "education" games and work on composing some research presentation using some Powerpoint wannabe called "Linkway" or something.

The point is: Most of those kids learned absolutely nothing. Most of them just goofed off in the computer lab. The teacher didnt even really know what the heck she was doing in there.

The morale of the story kiddies: Computers are like an encyclopedia - they are only useful if you are willing to open the cover and explore. Until then - they are useless.

Re:Computers don't make the man

[AlgUSF]

I remember a friend of mine hacked the server on our high school computer lab LAN. If you could call it hacking, he just guessed really good at the teacher's password, and deleted a bunch of stuff and screwed with all of the settings. There was a consultant there for a week trying to fix everything, and I bet that cost some real $$$$$$.

Re:Computers don't make the man

[Anonymous Coward]

I remember a friend of mine hacked the server on our high school computer lab LAN. If you could call it hacking, he just guessed really good at the teacher's password, and deleted a bunch of stuff and screwed with all of the settings. There was a consultant there for a week trying to fix everything, and I bet that cost some real $$$$$$.

sorry..... but just guessing a lame password and trashing the contents of a system does not constitutes 'hacking', it only constitutes vandalism.

Re:Computers don't make the man

[ComaVN]

You forgot:
15 BEEP

Boost what?

[cloudmaster]

If this is a success, it would considerably boost Apple's presence in the technology world.

I'm not sure how pretty colors will bost them in the technology world, let alone the ability to change amongst various pretty colors. Remember those sneakers with the clear logo and replacable colored inserts? That didn't boost the shoes in the technology world, why would a similar tech boost Apple? Have their shiny colored computers boosted them "considerably" so far, or was it their generally good hardware architecture and cleanly-integrated OS? Sigh.

Re:Boost what?

[micromoog]

Have their shiny colored computers boosted them "considerably" so far, or was it their generally good hardware architecture and cleanly-integrated OS? Sigh.

Their shiny-colored computers have boosted them more than anything else. Remember the first iMacs? That's when the great unwashed began to take notice of Apple again.

Re:Boost what?

[luisdom]

do you know how many mobile phone covers are going to be sold this christmas? It's not the same, but...

Re:Boost what?

[ReVMD]

The majority of people are looks, not features driven. Otherwise we'd all be happy with plain beige boxes, and while they are practical and do a job, they're not much fun to look at and impress everyone at LAN parties.

Re:Boost what?

[qoncept]

I realize that was a rhetorical question, but you can't seriously expect that there are people who think its just as obvious that the only thing Apple has is pretty cases? Pretty packaging worked for Gateway.

Re:Boost what?

[cloudmaster]

No, the majority of people that you *notice* are looks-driven. You (the general you, not "ReVMD") tend to notice the flash stuff and not notice the plain beige wrappers because the flashy stuff neccisarily stands out. The problem with being "different" is it's only different until everyone else starts doing the same thing. The macs aren't generally good looking, they're just different looking, and that's inherently self-destructive IMHO.

I maintain that the majority of people who buy a mac make the final decision because of mac v/s pc, not flashy color v/s beige. I'll grant that ever-changing flashy colors do probably draw in a bigger crowd than would otherwise be present, however, the elitist in me won't count that crowd as being part of the "technology world"... :)

Re:Boost what?

[A Life in Hell]

"I maintain that the majority of people who buy a mac make the final decision because of mac v/s pc, not flashy color v/s beige"
wow, you really don't know many people, huh? especially many women... not to be blunt, but most people don't give a fuck about mac vs pc, tehy do give a fuck about how things look. this is realated to the "most people aren't geeks" thing. ;)

Re:Boost what?

[zman99]

Have their shiny colored computers boosted them "considerably" so far, or was it their generally good hardware architecture and cleanly-integrated OS? Sigh.

Actually, yes their shiny colored computers HAVE boosted their sales considerably. Do you remember the first iMac? Do you think that it would've sold as well if it was beige? No, because the shiny colors made them distinctive and people are drawn to something that stands out.

Secondly, this is a much more interesting technology than some stupid inserts to change the color of your shoes. This is an extremely good way to provide feedback to the user from a distance. Suppose I'm in bed and I see my phone ring red so I know it's my girlfriend? Suppose I walk into my room and know that I don't have any new mail because my monitor isn't green? Maybe there is a problem with something that I'm rendering and I didn't see it because the screen saver kicked in? My monitor could flash red. The display on electronic devices is very good for giving a lot of information, but it also requires a lot of attention. This technology can notify you of important things quickly and without having to squint at a tiny little screen. I think this is going to be very big.

-Z

Re:Boost what?

[Anonymous Coward]

FWIW: He probably doesn't even have a g/f IMHO. HTH. Sigh.

official COMPUTERS NOT WORKING IN EDUCATION thread

[Anonymous Coward]

That's the thing: Teachers do not know ... if computers can actually be used to solve the most pressing problems of literacy and numeracy - the sorts of things that get kids through exams."

Computers cannot, on their own, solve any problems - they can perform complex calculations, sure, but you have to feed them the exact steps to follow. If kids do not understand the principles behind something as simple as multiplication or division, say, how do you expect a glorified calculator to help them? Sure they could use it to divide 22 by 7, but do they understand why they are doing that? Sure they can use spell check on grammar check, but is that any substitute for actually understanding sentence structure or knowing how words are properly spelled? That is how you solve literacy and mathematic deficiencies. You have to work at it - technology isn't the magical panacea everyone appears to think it is.

You don't see architectecture schools talking about how power actuated fasteners are changing how they teach, do you? Of course not, they are just tools that save on labor. Computers are the exact same thing, and the quicker people realize that a computer is just another form of tool, the quicker everyone will realize that there is nothing mystical about them and their operators. Realizing this will help to devalue the artificially high prices of computer "engineers", cut down on overhead drastically, and provide just the shot in the arm our stock market needs to rebound.

I don't mean to bash on our dedicated teachers - they are doing the best they can, given their abilities and environment, but hyping up computers as a replacement to study isn't a good idea. There's a reason we weren't allowed to use calculators until Calculus class when we were in school, and that is why we hand to hand write exams without a dictionary available. It is nice to have technology available, but it should always be as an assistant to aid the individual in his work- it should not direct his work

Re:The Art of Cunniligus

[TerryAtWork]

Doesn't this belong on Everything2 ?

RICE BABY YEAH!!!!

[AssFace]

This would allow me to fufill my quest to fully rice out my desktop computer. I have swollen fenders on it, a pumping neon glow that throbs to the beat of ABBA, and of course the ubiquitous spoiler that keeps my computer from flipping over when I'm crusing.

If my computer could change colors as you walk around it like some of those wonderful paint jobs that I've seen on many a Honda Civic... well, then I would probably shit my pants with joy.
Come to think of it, and judging my that smell, I guess it doesn't have to be with joy.

I hope that having color changing exteriors won't cause them to give up hope of the slowest JVM, fire causing power supplys, and expensive underclocked RAM.

Re:RICE BABY YEAH!!!!

[AssFace]

How about "whitied-out"? or "honkey-paint"??
(also, I'd LOVE to see what "kiked-up" would refer to in terms of a car)

If you are referring to it being derogatory towards Asians, I have friends that are Asian and heard the term from them, and they have no issues with me seeing a Riced car and pointing at it and laughing and yelling and throwing things at the car.

I should also note that there are many riced cars in countries that have little to no Asian population - in Bermuda there is an amazing display of Riced out cars, which you will find in a nearly entirely black population.

Thanks for caring though - without uptight people such as yourself, others might enjoy life too much and religion and goverment have told us that is a bad thing.

Re:RICE BABY YEAH!!!!

[DebianDog]

Cry me a river! It does not say "Japped-up", "Gooked-up", or "Chinked-up". PC America, everybody is a victim.

The term "ricer" started from the motorcycle days of old when all the "rice-burners" came to the US. It referred to the origin not the people. Now the term "ricer" just suggests a younger driver, with and under-powered car, ground effects, a big wing, and a fart can in the back. These cars can be or American, German, or Asian build but they still are referred to as "riced out"

Feel free to take the test to see if you are a "ricer" http://www.goingfaster.com/spo/you_might_be_a_rice r_if.html

Re:RICE BABY YEAH!!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

Around here, 'riced up' came from calling japanese cars 'Rice Burners' This was meant more as an insult to the cars, then people who lived in the country that made the cars...

Re:RICE BABY YEAH!!!!

[micromoog]

The term "ricer" started from the motorcycle days of old when all the "rice-burners" came to the US.

Exactly. Back when racism against Asians was commonplace, 1) because of WWII, then 2) because American industry workers feared the loss of their jobs because of lower-priced Asian imports.

The cars are indeed laughable. The term, however, is racist.

Re:RICE BABY YEAH!!!!

[micromoog]

...I have friends that are Asian and heard the term from them...

Just because you know some Asians that don't mind the term, that doesn't make it non-racist. It is offensive to some people. If you don't care, that's your bag . . . just be aware that it's racist.

Re:RICE BABY YEAH!!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

It is offensive to some people.

Which people? Nobody has posted a comment saying "I am Japanese, and offended by it," so far, when there are surely lots of Japanese geeks who read /.

I only personally know a few folks of asian descent, all of whom are American citizens or residents, but from that small sample, I don't know of a single one who would have a problem with the term "riced".

The "N" word is offensive because it was a term that applied to slaves. There are various Korean War era (and Viet Nam War era) terms applied to asians that are also not to be used in polite society. However, that does not mean that every single reference to ethnicity is a racist expression.

When I go to a party, and comment that the music being played is "way too white for my tastes," am I a bigot, or just somebody who would rather hear Wilson Picket than Garth Brooks?

Re:RICE BABY YEAH!!!!

[DebianDog]

Get over yourself... really. Everyone is a racist in on form or another. I have seen it all over the world in many forms. This is a very, very weak example.

You probably get offended by the word 'Nigger' but blacks use it like the word 'and', promote it in songs, and as a term of endearment like, 'that is my nigger'

The Blacks nor Asians do not need another champion... really.

Re:RICE BABY YEAH!!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

Um, no. "Ricer-burner" motorcycles did not begin to make their presence felt in the US market until the mid-70's, when rising fuel costs made small imports popular.

A little Honda or Yamaha could run on very little fuel, compared to a big Harley-Davidson (which, until recently, was the only remaining US bike maker), so the term "rice burner" implied that those little japanese bikes didn't need a lot of gas, because they could just run on rice.

That's no more racist than if you were to say that the Italian-made Fiat could run on olive oil. It's merely a slightly humorous reference to the enthic cuisine of the contry that made the vehicle. To cry "racism" over the use of such a term is just silly.

By the way, you are not even using the word racism correctly. Racism is defined as institutionalized unfair treatment. In otherwords, when government, businesses, or society in genreal favors some races over others. (For example, when a black man can't get a taxi cab to stop and pick him up, when that same cab would have stopped on that same corner at the same time if a white man had been hailing it.) What you are talking about is racial defamation, which can be an expression of bigotry, and even a symptom of a racist culture, but is not, in itself, rasism.

Re:RICE BABY YEAH!!!!

[finkployd]

I think the phrase comes not from the race of the people doing it (since they are mostly anglo/saxon Americans it seems) but the fact that they pretty much only do it Japanese cars (Civics and the like).

Finkployd

Re:RICE BABY YEAH!!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

You probably get offended by the word 'Nigger' but blacks use it like the word 'and', promote it in songs, and as a term of endearment like, 'that is my nigger'

Yup and sometimes I call my friends assholes but that doesn't mean I go down the street calling random people assholes.

Re:RICE BABY YEAH!!!!

[micromoog]

Everyone is a racist in on form or another. I have seen it all over the world in many forms.

That's a sad way to rationalize away a problem. "I'm just one man, what can I do?" That doesn't make it any less of a problem here and now.

You probably get offended by the word 'Nigger' but blacks use it...

Far from the first time I've seen this logical fallacy . . . the same word can have different connotations in different circumstances. I don't get offended by the kind of usage you give as an example.

The Blacks nor Asians do not need another champion... really.

Who are you to decide that?

"Rice"-related Asian references are offensive to some people. Whether you choose to continue using them is up to you . . . just know that you may be offending some people by doing so.

Re:RICE BABY YEAH!!!!

[Jah-Wren Ryel]

I am a sony vaio and I am offended by it.

Re:RICE BABY YEAH!!!!

[Xerithane]

Exactly. Back when racism against Asians was commonplace, 1) because of WWII, then 2) because American industry workers feared the loss of their jobs because of lower-priced Asian imports.

Saying that a car is a rice-rocket, or he is a Rice boy is not racist. If you ask anybody in the world what area produces and consumes the most rice, they would say Asia.

Granted, not Japan, but Asia. If you think saying Rice Rocket, or Rice Boy is racist, you seriously need to lighten up. None of them mean anything derogatory towards Asians or Japanese, specifically. In order for something to be racist, it has to mean something other than a slang label.

It's a lot easier to say someone is a Rice boy than "He's a guy who drives a honda civic that has chrome rims, a 12" spoiler, and neon lights pulsing with NOS stickers all over"

Ironically, in Japan, the kanji for the US is gohan. Which is rice...

Re:RICE BABY YEAH!!!!

[micromoog]

In order for something to be racist, it has to mean something other than a slang label.

Wrong. Most racist slang has innocent roots. If it's offensive to the target group, and you know it, and you use it anyway, you are a bigot for using it. A marginal amount of googling for "rice racist" will reveal that the term does indeed offend. Be aware of this if you choose to continue using it.

Re:RICE BABY YEAH!!!!

[Xerithane]

Wrong. Most racist slang has innocent roots. If it's offensive to the target group, and you know it, and you use it anyway, you are a bigot for using it.

It's not racist slang. Looking at other slangs, lets say, nigger, rooted from negro, meaning black isn't even offensive. The problem is the hateful white-people-yelling-it-to-black-people-while-hang ing-them is still a fresh memory.

I don't think to date, anyone has lynched someone driving a rice-car while screaming "Rice Boy!" because, being called a Rice Boy means little more than the fact they are driving a Japanese car. A country that has a primary food staple of... you guessed it, rice.

There are also Kraut-Rockets, for german cars, but do you go up in arms against that? Do germans find any offense to that? None that I know. I think the reason why there are no names for American cars like that is because "Big Mac and Fries Rocket" doesn't sound like something that belongs outside a toilet.

Your google reference is completely lacking, because only one page on the initial list supports it as a Racist term. The other relevent searches say it isn't. So you are missing out on that one a bit.

Be aware of this if you choose to continue using it.
Who am I going to offend, exactly? Are you asian? Do you own a rice-rocket? Will it make you feel better if I tell you I'll be calling Japan in a few hours, after driving home from work in a Toyota?

Besides, Rice Boy is someone who drives a Rice Rocket. You can't be racist against a car that comes from Japan. Racism only works against people not cars.

Re:RICE BABY YEAH!!!!

[macshit]

If you think saying Rice Rocket, or Rice Boy is racist, you seriously need to lighten up. None of them mean anything derogatory towards Asians or Japanese, specifically.

Maybe you don't intend to be racist, but man does it sound racist, at least to the average ear. It sounds like the sort of thing an embittered auto-worker might mutter while revving his muscle-car.

So however you mean it, you should understand that to many people, it's going to make you look like a bigot.

Ironically, in Japan, the kanji for the US is gohan. Which is rice...

[Actually the `rice' kanji used in the various Japanese names for America (kome) is not the same as that used in `gohan' (meshi).]

Re:RICE BABY YEAH!!!!

[Xerithane]

Maybe you don't intend to be racist, but man does it sound racist, at least to the average ear. It sounds like the sort of thing an embittered auto-worker might mutter while revving his muscle-car.
Considering it's extremely common slang amongst any racers, whether it be drag, autocrossing, or any other form of car racing, I think it's like hackers amongst the media being a "bad thing" where as amongst /.ers it's not.

So however you mean it, you should understand that to many people, it's going to make you look like a bigot.

I've yet to meet someone who doesn't understand that a Rice Rocket means a souped up Japanese car. If you know of someone, please, educate them otherwise.

[Actually the `rice' kanji used in the various Japanese names for America (kome) is not the same as that used in `gohan' (meshi).]
Well, no, but kome is read a few different ways too. But it still is Rice. :)

Re:RICE BABY YEAH!!!!

[micromoog]

*sigh*

nigger...isn't even offensive

This point isn't even worth arguing.

I don't think to date, anyone has lynched someone driving a rice-car while screaming "Rice Boy!"

Murderous violence is not a prerequisite for racism. It's generally the other way around.

primary food staple of... you guessed it, rice. There are also Kraut-Rockets, for german cars, but do you go up in arms against that? Do germans find any offense to that? None that I know.

"Kraut" is actually quite a negative term, comparable to "nigger".

Your google reference is completely lacking, because only one page on the initial list supports it as a Racist term.

Precisely how many people need to be offended before you begin to care? Give me a number. How many people's feelings equate to your need to use a mildly humorous term?

Will it make you feel better if I tell you I'll be calling Japan in a few hours, after driving home from work in a Toyota?

Not slightly. Would it make you feel better?

Racism only works against people not cars.

Of course. The term "riced-up" refers to a car decorated in a style pioneered by a subculture of young Asian men in Southern California. The term "rice-burner" refers to a car built by Asian people. The point is, using "rice" in any way as a reference to Asians or Asian culture is a generalization that many find offensive. It doesn't matter if it's based in truth (i.e. most Asians like rice); generalizations do exist for a reason. However, it is offensive, and if you use it, you demonstrate that you don't care if you offend. That's your choice.

Even if you're using the term to refer to a white boy in a Mustang, the term still has its roots in racism. It may be watered down, but it's still poison.

Re:RICE BABY YEAH!!!!

[Xerithane]

This point isn't even worth arguing.
Wow, hello Mr. Illiterate-Troll. I was agreeing with you that most racial slurs do not have any negative origin as far as the actual word goes. Only the human-use of them.

Precisely how many people need to be offended before you begin to care? Give me a number. How many people's feelings equate to your need to use a mildly humorous term?

Simple, I'm not racist. Especially against Asians, double so for Japanese. If you think I'm racist, than that is your problem. Maybe you just need to lighten up, maybe someone who gets offended by the term "Rice Rocket" or "Rice Boy" needs to lighten up.

The term "rice-burner" refers to a car built by Asian people.
Wrong, rice-burner is actually the old term used by Harley riders to label Japanese Motorcycles. Some people do use it to refer to a car, but very rarely (and some would argue incorrectly).

The point is, using "rice" in any way as a reference to Asians or Asian culture is a generalization that many find offensive.

Let me guess, you are white? Besides, rice in this way doesn't reference Asians, it references Japanese. So unless you are Japanese, why are you arguing this?

However, it is offensive, and if you use it, you demonstrate that you don't care if you offend. That's your choice.
I don't care if I offend, because if I offend someone with the term "Rice Boy" than they are a fucking nimrod. End of story.

Even if you're using the term to refer to a white boy in a Mustang, the term still has its roots in racism. It may be watered down, but it's still poison.
Riiight, it's poison to the dozens of people I say it to. Sure thing, why don't you ask them, I can get you in touch with them because they are my friends.

anatoha aho.

Re:RICE BABY YEAH!!!!

[micromoog]

Many other people agree with me.

I don't give a fuck what your or my national origin is; that's immaterial to the argument. The term is offensive to some people, and has offensive roots. The fact that you know a few people that are not offended by the term does not scale to everyone.

As for your argument that you only use the term in the company of people that you know aren't offended by it . . . do you carefully check with each person within range before saying it? Including the vast hordes of Slashdot readers that may or may not have been reading our little discussion?

Re:RICE BABY YEAH!!!!

[Xerithane]

I don't give a fuck what your or my national origin is; that's immaterial to the argument. The term is offensive to some people, and has offensive roots. The fact that you know a few people that are not offended by the term does not scale to everyone.

Just as I don't give a fuck about what you find offensive. If you find it offensive, it's your problem, not mine.

As for your argument that you only use the term in the company of people that you know aren't offended by it . . . do you carefully check with each person within range before saying it? Including the vast hordes of Slashdot readers that may or may not have been reading our little discussion?

As many people who do read what I write know, I don't give a damn about offending people. Not in real life, not on the internet. If I offend you, it means you don't know me. If words can be offensive, than you need to open your damn eyes. If words can make you feel hated, or feel oppressed, you need to grow a spine.

To reiterate, I don't believe there is anything wrong with me calling someone a Rice Boy, or calling a car a Rice Rocket. If you find it offensive, I don't give a fuck.

Glad you have an opinion, keep it up. But don't expect me to listen to and respect your opinion if you don't respect mine. That's the beauty of being human, of having a unique mind that is the same as everyone else.

I never said I only use the term in company of people I know aren't offended by it. I said that everyone I have verbally said it to has not taken offense. It's not your fight to determine what is racist and what isn't.

Besides, it seems only white people find racial jokes "wrong" these days. Go ask every Asian-American male you run into if they find the term Rice Boy offensive. Most of them will tell you it has absolutely nothing to do with race. It's another case of the uneducated throwing a little fit over what is an innocent term that unrelated people believe has racist roots.

So, go fuck yourself.

Re:RICE BABY YEAH!!!!

[Xerithane]

Oh, did you actually read the greenspun list? Most of the people were agreeing with me on there. You are outnumbered on this one. Rice boy isn't offensive except to a select group of mostly white people who don't understand it. Neither does the "goingfaster.com" link say anything. And oh wait, off-road.com is filled with, you guessed it, white guys saying it's bad! Then metafilter says it's not racially derogatory. You just provided evidence for my case. Apparently you didn't actually read anything that google spit out at you. You have 2 negative things about the term, both posted by non-Asians, and one board discussion where most people say it's a-ok and not a racial term.

Now go crawl in your closed-minded, everything-is-racist hole, and pry your head out of your ass.

Re:RICE BABY YEAH!!!!

[micromoog]

All I need to prove my point ("rice" is offensive) is to find one person that it offends. Each of those links had at least one person that was offended, generally accompanied by debate from both sides. The fact that there is a public debate about the issue proves that it is offensive to some. If nobody found it offensive, there would be no links or discussion about it. Being "outnumbered" does not apply.

Besides, you've clearly stated that you don't care who you offend. Which is it now, it's not offensive, or you don't care?

Re:RICE BABY YEAH!!!!

[Xerithane]

All I need to prove my point ("rice" is offensive) is to find one person that it offends. Each of those links had at least one person that was offended, generally accompanied by debate from both sides. The fact that there is a public debate about the issue proves that it is offensive to some. If nobody found it offensive, there would be no links or discussion about it. Being "outnumbered" does not apply.

Your point is that a small collection of white people who have no idea what the term means finds it offensive. Big fucking deal.

Besides, you've clearly stated that you don't care who you offend. Which is it now, it's not offensive, or you don't care?
They aren't mutually exclusive, dumbass. It's not offensive, and if you take offense I don't care. Outside of the rural US, pretty much only white Americans are worried about being racist these days, so deal with it.

Re:RICE BABY YEAH!!!!

[micromoog]

They are mutually exclusive. You are bypassing simple logic, blinded by your conviction that your pet term for "drivers of falsely enhanced cars" is worth fighting for.

As far as racism being a non-issue in the US today, that is complete nonsense. Consider that a major political leader was just ousted from his position because of his comments.

Your attempts at personal and racial attacks against me go along with the rest of your demonstrated ethic. It's offensive, you know it, and yet you will continue to use it. Happy New Year.

Re:RICE BABY YEAH!!!!

[Xerithane]

They are mutually exclusive. You are bypassing simple logic, blinded by your conviction that your pet term for "drivers of falsely enhanced cars" is worth fighting for.
No, they aren't. It's not my conviction, nor my pet term, it's my opinion. In my opinion rice boy isn't racist, because it does not deal with race in anyway. You are entitled to your opinion, I'm entitled to mine. If you don't understand this, you are a fucking moron. End of story.

Your attempts at personal and racial attacks against me go along with the rest of your demonstrated ethic. It's offensive, you know it, and yet you will continue to use it.
I'm not attacking you, I'm labeling you as I perceive you. And what racial attacks against you have I made? Now you are just making stuff up. I said you are a moron, and a dumbass. I stand by that because you are also illiterate apparently, as you completely ignore what it is that I am saying.

Happy New Year.
How can it be happy when people like you, who attempt to oppose your belief and opinions on others, live and breath? Do me a favor, either open your fucking little mind, or die.

My mind is open, I know people get offended, but I don't care. I do not find it offensive, if you do, so what. Your mind is closed. You don't understand that many people don't find it offensive. You are in the minority, so again, fuck off.

Consider that a major political leader was just ousted from his position because of his comments.
Uhm, yeah, a white American surrounded by other white Americans.. Gee, you sure proved me wrong. And there is a huge difference between supporting segregation and calling someone a Rice Boy or a car a Rice Rocket. See.. one is about people, the other is about a car. Go back to elementary school and try to finish the reading courses.

Re:RICE BABY YEAH!!!!

[micromoog]

You are in the minority, so again, fuck off.

The true irony of this is that you don't even see the irony.

Re:RICE BABY YEAH!!!!

[Xerithane]

The true irony of this is that you don't even see the irony.

Riiiiight, I love when I don't have an argument, or anything further to say so I prove my own stupidity, don't you?

This sounds to me like...

[The Wooden Badger]

A lava lamp case.

Re:The Art of Cunniligus

[Anonymous Coward]

Why would you waste your time copying this crap over...this kinda thing won't help Slashdot guys...you gotta get a woman naked first. Think for once, won't you?

Is this how the patent system works now?

[Junior J. Junior III]

"devices capable of dynamically changing their ornamental or decorative appearance."

I thought that a patent had to be on a particular method or device, not on a general class of devices that has a capability to do something.

If Inventor A patents Mousetrap A that works using a mechanical spring baited with cheese, and Inventor B invents Mousetrap B that works using poison, if Inventor A holds a patent on Mousetrap A, it shouldn't affect B's ability to build or patent Mousetrap B. It's not the capability of the device (the capability to trap mice in this case), it's the *method* or the *design* used to achieve that capability.

Or has the patent system gotten completely screwed up?

Re:Is this how the patent system works now?

[WPIDalamar]

read the patent.

It's on a method of doing it using light to shine through the case.

Re:Is this how the patent system works now?

[duffbeer703]

We're talking about apple here.

Fans of a company that has been pimping technology for 2.5x what it is worth since 1984 would probaly pay $500 for a computer case with a red light in it.

Remember that you must check common sense and logic at the door when talking about Apple. Here at Slashdot, where we criticize everything and anything for being non-opensource as evil, OS X (a closed-source BSD variant) is cool.

Re:Is this how the patent system works now?

[SeanTobin]

Ok, but how many clicks does it take to change it?

Re:Is this how the patent system works now?

[Anonymous Coward]

They are going to patent case modding?

*runs to patent overclocking*

Re:Is this how the patent system works now?

[Bob Hellbringer]

Certainly some Case-modder somewhere has already done something similar by now. Just a guess that this will be another case of the corporation shoving the little guy out of the way.

Re:Is this how the patent system works now?

[MoneyT]

would probaly pay $500 for a computer case with a red light in it.

As oposed to the people that are paying how much for case mods of neon lights? clear sides? Round cables? Lets face it geeks pay for looks regardless of wether they use PCs or Macs

Re:Is this how the patent system works now?

[Phroggy]

OS X (a closed-source BSD variant)

Um, the BSD part is open-source. The GUI on top is no less open-source than it's ever been. What are you complaining about?

resolving patentdead issues @around 40

[Anonymous Coward]

i think we have the writes to colors. if anybody gets to "own" colors, it will be stevIE&bill, not yOUR steve. weed love to comment on "computers not working" storIE, but unfortunately cannot. don't ask US why.

"In the case of software sales, which often involve multiyear deals, a major gray area exists in determining whether to book the revenue when the deal is signed, or when some or all of the software is delivered and installed. The problem worsened during the boom, when both software and Internet companies were signing many multiyear deals ultimately ?worth? tens of millions of dollars."

L0L(tm)

"People who are compensated in options had an incentive to inflate prices," he said.

"There is a pattern here," he said, referring to company behavior. "There will be more indictments."

maybe the kingdumb will call IT, FUDux.0h0h

doesN'T l00k LIEk they're goon to be abull to call IT Lindows(TMp). that sure would have been handy. would have made a nice name used to priNT up some more phony billonly stock markup payper, to "spin" off onto trusting old J. et AL.

likely, that bullshipping(tm) co. won't go for the FUDox lowgo. has anyone heard how elmer fudd's name dilution/defamation litigation is going? he was the won whois hurt the MoSt, we think.

Whats your favorite color HAL?

[Ogrez]

Blue... no! GREEN!!... aahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

WOW!

[CashCarSTAR]

Apple invented the light bulb!!

Seriously 'tho..after reading the patent I don't think this is anything that special. It seems like Apple is going to start putting RGB LED lights inside a specially designed case so you can change the color of it to match your surroundings.

Is it just me or is this the hardware version of feature creep? Is Apple going to fit all its devices full of cute doodads just to raise the price more? My opinion is that Apple should be investigating an open architechture for its hardware..but that's just me.

Re:WOW!

[Anonymous Coward]

"Open architecture," eh?

Well, let's see... they're using the (standard) OpenFirmware, integrate (standard) PCI, AGP, USB, and IEEE 1394, use (standard) PC133 or DDR RAM, and (standard) PowerPC processors.

Yep, looks awfully proprietary and closed to me!

Re:WOW!

[CashCarSTAR]

I'm actually more talking about getting rid of their mini-case format, or at least having a tower size option. Mini-cases are ugly and just don't feel right, even excluding the lack of upgrades. Just my personal taste 'tho..

Re:WOW!

[Anonymous Coward]

They do make a tower. They've had at least one style of tower available for years and years.

Re:WOW!

[Anonymous Coward]

I saw a peice of plastic with some special polymers in it that acted as leds. It could literally chance colors with an electrical current, and it looked like it was a new color. The plastic was about 50$ for the size of a case (manufactured in rediciously small quantities). To be quite honest I would love to have a themable computer case.

Re:WOW!

[Anonymous Coward]

Um, PPC is an open arch, about all that apple makes is the MB (And Cases). The rest is pretty much off the shelf components.

It's just that apple like to support apple motherboards and approved hardware in the OS... but it is a *nix no reason you cant make you're own PPC machine and hack OSX to support it.

MB
CPU [Motorola] [IBM] (cant be bothered with links.. not hard to figure out :) )

Anyway, the point is that the hardware arch is open. The reason is, there's not so much that a CPU really does, and if you can code ASM for it, you can reverse engr it.. There aint much point having a closed arch, cause it's too easy to reverse...

Which brings us to a question about DRM etc. Why prop up those industries that cant support themselves without locking thier IPR up in draconinan laws when we can just point them to the other exising industries and say, 'look they have no protections, but they profit.. nicely. Looks like you'd better just start making a product that's worth buying.' but I digress.

Some prior art:

[Asprin]

The receptionist's fingernails.

Marty's clothes, IIRC

Re:Some prior art:

[Anonymous Coward]

dude you have to learn the difference between a fucking movie and real life.

does this mean someone can't patent the warp drive when it's invented (if ever)? you're a moron. go suck on shit and die.

-ac

Naturally

[hhg]

This means they will effectively have patented the Cameleon. Funny, rather, wonder if God-made creatures counts as prior art..

Re:Naturally

[Anonymous Coward]

1 word "velcro"

velcro was developed by some guy (too lazy to look up his name, google it if you really want to know for some reason) looking at how the feathers of a bird locked together, he saw the hooks and loops and patented the design for a fastener and made a mint. So no, chameleons do not count.

Mood rings, however may count depending on how broad their patent description is.

Visuals

[Daleks]

iTunes visuals on your computer skin or even your iPod case would be awesome. It would make every case-modder out there green with envy.

Re:Visuals

[Stuart Gibson]

In that case, they should get the patent in on the ability to change the decorative or ornamental appearance of case modders too.

Goblin

Re:Visuals

[overunderunderdone]

It would make every case-modder out there green with envy.

Only if they already have some form of this technology.

Re:Visuals

[Anonymous Coward]

... or blue with envy, or red, or yellow, or purple, or ....

From the applicatrion.

[oliverthered]

'
1. A computer system, said computer system comprising: a microprocessor configured to control operation of said computer system, said microprocessor producing or receiving monitored events while controlling operation of said computer system; a data storage device; a light system configured to provide a dynamic light effect based on the monitored events; and a housing containing said microprocessor, said data storage device, and said light system, wherein said light system provides said housing with a dynamic ornamental appearance. '

So, if the anyones done a mod using the LED lights (that show the status of HDD's, power &co) and some plastic that will carry the light and 'glow' to the appropriate colour then Apples buggered.

Re:From the applicatrion.

[Anonymous Coward]

The fine folks over at www.digium.com had a 1u plexiglass case with LEDs stuck in the ends to change the color of the computer case depending on the condition of the T1 entering the box. They used it as the demonstration case when on the road. I'm sure I can dig up 2 year old photos some where.

So other than the embedding a computer in this patent, what differs this from the olf fiberoptic flowers/trees with spinning color wheel in the base of the 70s and 80s?

Re:From the applicatrion.

[oliverthered]

Well they would have to change depending on 'condition' so the sound to light ones are ok.
The computer does count.

So what else is new?

[X-BOX LIVE DEV TEAM]

In ancient Rome, Christians were persecuted physically and politically. Today they are persecuted scientifically. But, as always, The Truth does not bend.

It's all about conservation of energy. The sun puts out 386 billion billion megawatts. Expressed in scientific notation, that 3.86e26 watts, which is 3.86e26 joules per second. According to Einstein's famous equations, that's also 1.29e20 kg/s. But the Earth is so small, we only intercept one one-billionth of that, which is 1.29e11 kg/s. The mass of the Earth is 5.89e24 kg. Divide the one into the other and you have a mere 1.5 million years, much much shorter than evolutionary "scientists" say it would take to spontaneously create simple DNA, let alone the profusion of God's creation that we see around us. And that's being generous and assuming there was no rock here to begin with (which we know is false from Genesis). My gut feeling is that the calculated figure of 40,000 years is probably right on target.

Re:Oh Really?

[Anonymous Coward]

Guess what retard?

If we have to explain the "Mhz is but one factor in a CPU's overall performance" to you short-busser's one more time we're gonna have to get the belt out next time you open your dumb mouths......

Chamelion Computers???

[Big_Monkey_Bird]

I can't wait until I can make my PC look like a POLICE BOX with ONE CLICK. Then I'll have APPLE, the BBC, and Amazon breathing down my neck.

That should help productivity.

[Anonymous Coward]

Maybe the Mac people should put down the bong and figure out a way to get at least one decent game on the platform within 2 years of it coming out on the PC.

COSMETIC

[_PimpDaddy7_]

This is purely cosmetic, I dont see what the big deal is...I thought Apple was about simplicity, although is is somewhat definitely thinking differently...

Re:COSMETIC

[stilwebm]

On one hand, it's hard to underestimate the draw Apple users have to cosmetics. On the other hand there is a cost benefit analysis you can't ignore. Apple users already paying a premium for their hardware. When you increase the premium for cosmetic reasons, the begin to decrease the pool of willing buyers. Take the G4 Cube for example. Apple users raved about them, most "wanted" one, but almost no one was willing to pay the steep premium for one. The trick here is that Apple must make this feature as inexpensive as possible if it is to be a success.

Slashdot hypocrisy pseudocode

[duffbeer703]

if ( $org within ("Microsoft"|"Amazon"|"Intel")
&& $topic == "patent" )
{
post.story("Patents are evil, Linux r0x0rZ!");
}
elsif ($org within ("Apple"|"Transmeta"|"VA")
&& $topic == "patent" )
{
post.story("Feature xxx is cool! $org r0x0rZ!");
}
else {
ignore.story();
}

Re:Slashdot hypocrisy pseudocode

[Anonymous Coward]

If (socialLife.score() = 0)
post.setStyle("PseudoCode")
Else
post.setStyle("English")

Re:Slashdot hypocrisy pseudocode

[NineNine]

That's exactly what I was gonna say... just not in so much code...

But, that's nice that they're doing such a wide reaching patent. I think that we can safely say, "Bye bye case mods", since any cases sold already modded would violate the patent. So if anybody does LAN parties, you're gonna have to get an Apple if you want a cool case. Swell.

Re:Slashdot hypocrisy pseudocode

[duffbeer703]

I traded readability for efficency with that code :D

The most pathetic thing is, if Dell did something like this, there would be a front-page rant with 1500 replies to it in 10 minutes.

But Apple is held sacrosanct, because they compete (poorly) with Wintel.

Re:Slashdot hypocrisy pseudocode

[Anonymous Coward]

if (posting.style() = code
&& posting.nick() == "Anonymous Coward")

poster.intelligence() = NULL;
poster.senseOfHumor() = NULL;

Re:Slashdot hypocrisy pseudocode

[Anonymous Coward]

I guess it's really trendy to accuse Slashdot of being hypocritical these days.

Amazingly enough, it's been found that some patents are good and some patents are bad!

Not everything these companies do are sweet. How many people defend Apple when they try to stop being from using their themes?

How the hell you got modded up as Insightful is beyond me. What Insight have you shown? Nothing.

We are a select crowd. We know that we are going to talk shit about Microsoft. We know that Amazon will never come up with a useful patent. We know that we will worship Linux forever and have our jollies about GNU until the end of time.

You should be modded down as troll because you've said absolutely nothing. You don't even create an interesting argument.

Re:Slashdot hypocrisy pseudocode

[pohl]

What an idiot you are. That's like

• going into a restaurant,
• hearing one person exclaiming how eating veal is immoral,
• witnessing somone else ordering veal, and
• accusing the entire clientele of hypocrisy.

Re:Slashdot hypocrisy pseudocode

[Anonymous Coward]

Thank you for using C++ and the standard template library. Saved you a strcmp.

Re:Slashdot hypocrisy pseudocode

[mcgroarty]

The patent being applied for isn't in common use, and isn't so obstructionist as the patents normally covered.

I believe you are mistaking a selective stance against the abuse of the patent office for an unrealistically broad stance against all patents.

Re:Slashdot hypocrisy pseudocode

[duffbeer703]

The general tone on Slashdot has been that patents & copyright are bad things -- As long as the patent/copyright holders are from "bad" corporations

If you google for "case mods", you'll find plent of prior art for using LEDs to alter the appearance of a computer.

Re:Slashdot hypocrisy pseudocode

[glwtta]

I don't get it. Why are people not allowed to like or dislike companies? I'm very much within my rights to dislike a company, even for no reason at all. There is just no reason for me to be strictly obejctive about this.

btw, what sort of bastard language is that? Perl style variables, with what looks like java style objects (but all with the method story() and the action in the name of the object - seems a bit backwards), and some god-awful 'within' syntax. - Yikes! Wouldn't want to code that for a living :)

Re:Slashdot hypocrisy pseudocode

[duffbeer703]

While I may be an idiot, I also happen to be literate. Maybe you should ask your mom to come down to the basement and read to you.

I wasn't referring to Slashbots like yourself, but to the editorial staff. In case you haven't noticed yet, (which is frightening considering your UID) users don't post stories.

Slashdot employs editors who actually post stories submitted by users. Editors tend to post stories in a manner consistent with the algorithim that I noted earlier.

Re:Slashdot hypocrisy pseudocode

[duffbeer703]

You are allowed to like or dislike companies... but if you judge Amazon by it's one-click patent, then you should judge Apple and it's LED-on-a-box patent at the same level. Both are inane.

That bastard language is what happens when a java/c programmer becomes a dba, then gets dropped into a large Perl project! My code in real-life isn't nearly as disgusting looking though!

Re:Slashdot hypocrisy pseudocode

[Anonymous Coward]

dude, your OO sucks. should be "story.post" and "story.ignore"

Re:Slashdot hypocrisy pseudocode

[glwtta]

That bastard language is what happens when a java/c programmer becomes a dba, then gets dropped into a large Perl project!

I just got scared for a bit :)

re: ignore.story(); - there's a "in soviet union, method invokes you" joke in there somewhere

Re:Slashdot hypocrisy pseudocode

[pohl]

Wow, you are an idiot. The same principle applies to the editors (note the plural). Your post only makes sense if you imagine there to be only one editor.

Re:Slashdot hypocrisy pseudocode

[elemental23]

Please note that the editor who posted the story didn't give an opinion one way or another on the subject. Did he post this because he thinks Apple patents are a good thing? Did he post it because he thinks Apple patents are a bad thing? I don't know and neither do you. Most likely, he posted the story because patents interest a good number of Slashdot posters. Simple, no?

Re:Slashdot hypocrisy pseudocode

[JHromadka]

I thought the big beef was with software patents, not hardware ones.

Re:Slashdot hypocrisy pseudocode

[Anonymous Coward]

First thought I had after reading this, "I think I could optimize that code. With obfustication, I could probably get it down to 3 lines."

Re:Slashdot hypocrisy pseudocode

[Anonymous Coward]

you.are() = GAY;

They may be too late

[Anonymous Coward]

From the Globe and Mail today:

"Canadian and German military researchers are developing a chameleon-like armoured vehicle capable of altering its appearance on the battlefield to conceal itself from the enemy," writes Roger Highfield in The Sunday Telegraph.

That's just great.

[teamhasnoi]

devices capable of dynamically changing their ornamental or decorative appearance.

Sounds like Apple is patenting women. Women are closed source enough as it is, now they're patented?

Keyboards...

[The Black Dragon]

I wonder if there's a patent on keyboards... I wonder if I should apply for one. Ok, so that's a bit extreme, but so are a lot of the patents I've heard of lately. I personally think that the patents allowed on technology are frivolous and hinder technological advance. $0.02 well spent.

Re:Computers Not Working In Education

[Anonymous Coward]

Its been my experience (as a web development instructor with a private post-secondary school) that teens these days, despite the stereotypes, actually posess LESS computer literacy than geeks of my generation.

I learned DOS and UNIX on the command line. Windows and Mac will stunt your understanding of how a computer works, and make you think only of pushing around cute little icons. WIMP interfaces make people WIMPISH. They can't understand how the computer works, so they end up relying on 'geeks' to fix their problems.

Teach programming to everyone and teach kids a command line in school. Make them understand the technology that they'll use every day of their lives. Let our kids develop some computer savy and BRAINS.

Definately prior art ...

[mustangdavis]

Apple is applying for a patent to release "devices capable of dynamically changing their ornamental or decorative appearance.

As mentioned before, this sounds like an LCD, but there are other things that this would infringe upon ...

Paint for automobiles that you can hook up to an E.Q. that will change colors based on the electric current that passes through the paint already exists ...

... so I guess Apple is getting into pimping out cars as well ....

Re:The Art of Cunniligus

[Anonymous Coward]

much funnier when you realise that this was written by mr. eric s. raymond.

Transformers....

[Querty]

"robots in the sky"

Prior art?

Re:Transformers....

[Anonymous Coward]

Isn't it "Robots in disguise..."?

Re:Transformers....

[Querty]

True of course, duh....

Thing is, I saw those cartoons when I was about 12. Since I'm not a native english speaker, I never listened to the lyrics properly. "Robots in the sky" and "Robots in disguise" are fairly close phonetically. I guess that must have been the reason it stuck in my mind like this.

Re:Computers Not Working In Education

[Anonymous Coward]

While working on a grant at SDSU, I heard of an instructor in Maryland who found that her students who used a DOS-based PC to write english papers received better grades then did the Apple Mac counterparts. A 2 year study found that she was correct in that the DOS-based PC users used larger words, had a higher wordcount per sentance, and used more complete sentence structures. The students were enrolled in an English class because they didn't fail the entrance exam but also weren't good enough to bypass the English requirements altogether. The English department at the university didn't determine exactly what was going on but figured it was because at a DOS-prompt, you have to think about what you need to do next. In a GUI, you are prompted.

The DOS-based users has the DOS prompt staring at them and _they_ had to figure out what the next step was. When they got to the wordprocessor they were already in a higer thinking mode then when _icons_ lead you thru the task.

Once you're well versed and trained in the skills the computer is _helping_ you with, you don't need to have such a bare-bones interface to get to what you want to do. Teach kids how to think and they will take off from there.

This has already been done...

[Anonymous Custard]

This has already been done... You manually rearrange oversize translucent colored pixels to create designs which appear when you turn on the lightbulb inside. It's called LiteBrite. (and u can play with a virtual LiteBrite here!.

Re:"froots capable of changing their color"

[TheMidget]

Hell, wouldn't certain animals qualify as prior art?

Heck, certain apples qualify as prior art. The Golden Delicious is green when unripe, then turns a nice yellow, and finally a rotten disgusting brown... Looks like Apple (the computer maker...) not only infringes on the name, but also on the color changing ability of this tasty fruit (while yellow...)

These new macs...

[hermescom]

Will work like the children's toys such as easy-bake oven:

Dip it into icy water, and it will turn hot pink. Wipe it down with a warm wet cloth and it's blue. Bake it in the microwave, and it will light up in all colors of the rainbow.

Ain't technology grand?

Re:These new macs...

[zander]

Any you can still use it to show your vacation pictures afterwards!

Cool stuff; unfortunately a patent does not mean these things will be in the shops soon; I hope Apple will not use this to bother others more then they will use it to make better stuff itself. Seems common enough practice :(

Mobile phones?

[evilmonkey_666]

Nokia have been pushing mobile phones with changable covers for the last few years. Surely this is prior art.

Re:Mobile phones?

[lexarius]

Ah, but is a mobile phone capable of changing its own appearance? Push a button and get a groovy tiger print cover? Urgent call comes in and the phone turns blood red? Because that is the sort of thing the patent sounds like. Not that I read the article. It doesn't seem to display anything in my browser.

My vote, new iMac.

[kindstickysoft]

Remember when they came out with the funky iMac cases with weird designs and colors. Well, they have expressed the belief that the old iMac was very successful, so maybe they are just going to follow the lead of their previous success. If giving the old iMac model color and design helped to generate or sustain robust sales, maybe they are adding the ability to change the outside design and color of the new iMacs through the software. I hope that this is not one of the big announcements at MacWorld, but it sounds pretty cool to me.

What about these?

[Anonymous Coward]

What about things like this?

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/lights/59b8/

or

http://www.gadgets.co.uk/aduki.html

or

http://www.gadgets.co.uk/faze3.html

Mood Mac

[Anonymous Coward]

"I was like... Bummed... And my Mac turned, like, black and stuff..."

What would Ellen do?

Re:Mood Mac

[Anonymous Coward]

> What would Ellen do?

light up?

Mood ring / mood laptop

[z_gringo]

Anyone remember "mood rings"? They changed color based on something, probably body heat, and each color supposedly meant what mood you were in.. Yeah, they were really cool in the 5th grade, but anyway, The inventor of those, might be able to claim prior art.. I would like to see some of the technical details.

So, they're patenting the mood ring?

[Thag]

Or those t-shirts that change color, or those coffee mugs....

Serisouly, even if they are changing color dynamically, isn't that basically just wrapping an object in "electronic ink" paper?

Jon Acheson

Re:So, they're patenting the mood ring?

[Doppler00]

Those t-shirts were a terrible idea. They just ended up changing color around your arm pits when you got warm. Not a very good look. I would really like to see electronically controlled color changing car paint though.

It wasn't off topic...

[ContemporaryInsanity]

...it was a quality trole!

prior art

[slothdog]

two words: mood rings.

Re:Prior Art

[jacoplane]

This seems to be the only prior art posted in this story which seems to be relevant, since it also appears to be using the method of shining light through the case that this patent is patenting.

Re:prior art

[Taos]

Hmm, I see your mac is purple. That means (flips through user's manual)... It's horny!

Re:prior art

[Alsee]

Sure, if you want to call mood rings "art".

-

Re:Prior Art

[blair1q]

Good thing they make it change colors dynamically, because it starts out fugly.

Re:Prior Art

[blair1q]

Waitasec.

What makes any of this different from '70s color-organ technology?

What next? Cases in Avocado and Autumn Gold?

Re:Prior art

[Anonymous Coward]

WRONG!

These are normal cell phone faceplates which have the added feature of containing certain software deliverables (ring tones, interface look and feel, etc.) which the phone will use when they are attached.

Basically nothing like Apple's patent.

Prior Art

[Zapdos]

See it here

I changed... color, that it.

[jeepliberty]

Move over, GEICO gecko, here comes the Apple Chameleon.

this can be done at home

[tommten]

take an old tv..remove the frame and build a new one in plexi overlapping the display an inch.. plug in your c-64 and type
POKE 53280,10
press enter and be amazed..

These guys are doing this already -- SERIOUSLY!

[Geraden]

http://www.colorkinetics.com/

I thought I'd read a press release lately about how some teen/geek toy was doing the color change case thing already. Will submit when I find it.

Scott

Does "Device" bridge to software ON the "device"?

[nurb432]

If so, wont that cover 'themes', and most anything else that involves graphic content?

If it only covers hardware and cant be extrapolated ( I don't know the legalese enough to really say either way ) then I guess we are safe..

Sigh...

[boatboy]

Alas, what's a pimp to do? Next thing ya know, they'll patent hydraulics.

bling bling

I'm going to patent ....

[mustangdavis]

1) The sky (esp. sunsets) ...

2) Disco floors ...

3) Those cool fish tanks with rotating lights

4) Cop sirens (no more tickets for me)

.... gimme a break here!!!

Re:I'm going to patent ....

[Kevinv]

why should this be an unpatenable idea? I don't have a problem with the concepts of patents, i just think the current implementation of the patent system has a) too long a duration for computer technolog, b) allows software/algorythm/business patents, c) too easy to patent obvious or already implemented ideas.

I don't see this as being any of those (except the too long a duration) assuming it's very different from mood ring technology. The applications range far outside the computer domain -- i'd love to have a car i could change color at will.

Why?

[Nevermore-Spoon]

"If this is a success, it would considerably boost Apple's presence in the technology world"

Why would this considerably boost Apple's Presence? So your computer changes color, OMG the technology I've been waiting for to "Switch"

I can see the commercial now. 'I've been waiting forever for a computer that can change colors and look cool on my desktop, It's finally arrived, Now I have a reason to leave Microsoft forever.'

Re:Why?

[zander]

So you did not buy a mac for coolness factor? You must be a loner there!!

But how fast can it change its colors?

[oneiros27]

I mean, if they build this into an iPod, and I apply a hack to change the color along with the music [Think 'visualization', on some MP3 software], do I run the risk of causing epiletic seizures if people look at it?

Judging from most of the responses ...

[thedbp]

most of you have forgotten that Apple is not just about Form, they are highly concentrated on FUNCTION. So many "oh, blinking lights, real nice" comments ... i don't think you necessarily grasp that while the underlying idea may seem simplistic, it is always Apple's implementation of said ideas that makes them stand out and in effect be more than what they are.

perhaps it is just LEDs. and if this were the case, trust me, Apple's found some ingenius way to use them that no one has done before to communicate information via color - something that is more 'human' than a dialog box, let's say. and if it IS just LEDs, then it won't really incur much more cost, now would it?

Lets not forget the derision that was apparent when Apple released the new style towers in 99 w/ the B&W G3. Sure, the colors mighta been weird, but for all the nastiness written about its "girly" appearnace, how it didn't have enough drive bays, yadda yadda, they ignore the fact that you can upgrade this thing by just pulling a latch and swinging the entire side panel down, reveaeling the motherboard and all other internal components, all within reach and plain view and without obstruction, in a fraction of a second.

so please, enough of this 'shiny useless trinkets' crap. what's wrong with adding a little style to round out seriously amazing capabilities?

Re:Judging from most of the responses ...

[NineNine]

seriously amazing capabilities?

Well, uh, A Mac is a computer. A slow, expensive one at that. What's so amazing about 'em? Do they do things that I don't know about, like make me coffee?

Re:Judging from most of the responses ...

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah they do this amazing thing that no one else seems to understand expect the very brilliant, they get out of the way while you do real work. Like making music or graphic design. No need to tweak all kinds of crap or read manuals about how to use your apps unless you want to really get into your system. Try that with a Winshit box. It won't work. The fucking OS gets in the way at every turn. I don't want to be a fucking computer geek, just an artists for god's sake! GAWD, I'd even take Linux over any version of Windows. At least it doesn't crash as much as Windows.

Apple Trying to out-do Microsoft

[MrCam]

Microsoft has niffty blue screen to tell you something is wrong with the computer. Now Apple is out-doing them by making the computer change color when things go wrong.

User: Hello.
Apple: This is Apple support, how may I help you?
User: My computer is flashing, and it is all black.
Apple: What is the pattern?
User: Three short flashes followed by three long flashes.
Apple: If I were you I would drop the phone and run away!

Re:Apple Trying to out-do Microsoft

[asb]

Let's see if I got this straight: the computer is trying to tell that user's SO is approaching and it's too late to hide the pr0n s/he was surfing?

I guess that means all Apple users have tech support number on speed dial then...

Re:Apple Trying to out-do Microsoft

[jclendenan]

At least it's a mac. If Microsoft were to try using the case to show problems we'd all get bright blue cases... no more BSOD's more like BCOD instead. colour changing cases would be cool. server status at a glance?

Re:Apple Trying to out-do Microsoft

[tconnors]

colour changing cases would be cool. server status at a glance?

Yeah - come a slashdotting, your computer first brightens in the infrared, then glows a dull red, then works its way up to orange, white, a pale but very bright blue, and then, well, becomes a naked singularity.

Re:Apple Trying to out-do Microsoft

[Trolling4Dollars]

Come on people! Mod this up! It was funny!!!

Apple == Amazon???

[swordgeek]

I'll start with a disclaimer: I can't get to the site right now, so I can't read the details. If this really IS just patenting hardware aesthetics that change colour, then this is (a) frivolous, and (b) affected by prior art. In other words, it's an Amazon patent.

I've liked Apple all along, even if I haven't always (ever?) liked their computers that much. They have been innovators, designers, and inventors. Now they're turning into litigators. Sigh.

Actually computers help education

[liberteus]

how many geeks learnt about sex using their computer ?

Computers are good tools for sex-ed ;)

potential patent flaw

[Chris Canfield]

If the patent calls for a change in the "ornamental or decroative appearance of a device," but then goes back to claim this could provide feedback to the user about the internal state of the device, doesn't that preclude the display from being decorative? Isn't it then, simply, an additional display device inside of a case?

I know, there are millions of examples of prior art that all are microprocessor controlled utilizing storage (write once only, but it is storage) and decorative lights projected through a surface. But at what point do we draw the line between decorative and functional?

-C

Re:potential patent flaw

[miffo.swe]

Theese examples doesnt cover cases, not any of them. The patent is covering cases and not the function of changing colours in itself. Prior art would be a computer that did what this describes. Find one and get back to us.

Mathmos?

[obi]

Sounds like Mathmos (www.mathmos.com) would have a bone to pick with this patent.

They've got a whole series of "devices dynamically changing their ornamental or decorative appearance", pretty much in the same way Apple describes in this patent. Just check out the "tumbler" or "faze"...

All sorts of possible USEFUL uses

[goombah99]

There are all sorts of possible useful uses. For example, a signal strength/direction finder for wireless connection displayed on the back of the ibook could help you orient it. Imagine that spagetti of cables in the back of your rack; now imiagine if the computer could selectively light up the sheeth of its ethernet cable to show you where it went. Also the patent says it could be in input device too. perhaps, an ipod could display a keyboard on its back surface. Or maybe a iTablet computer lacking a real keyboard could form a rudimentary keyboard on its back side.

I have often wanted just a small built in light for my keyboard on my notebook computer so I could see the keyboard with the roomlights off and not be blinded by the screens light.

How about a trackpad button that could segment itself into a three button mouse depending on where you pressed it.

how about just a load sensor, or something that showed you the state of the computer (like VM swap, talking to the firewire disk) or maybe if it told you if some other user was remotely logged in.

What if the computer turned oranged striped if it detected (somehow) that it had been stolen, or an un authorized log in was attempted.

finally, is there anyone who does not think the visualls that go on with iTunes are not stunning? maybe they can do something equally impressive here.

my last comment is this. it is only a short trip down the road before skinable color changing polymers allow video screens to be painted on all most anything in any shape, even flexible ones. That's when this idea will really take off. So this is just a precursor.

Re:All sorts of possible USEFUL uses

[mbourgon]

Yup, and I actually think this idea might be patent-worthy: it's obvious once you hear about it, and frickin' useful to boot. Even if it's just one color at a time (as opposed to a iLavaLamp), that's still a whole lot of uses. Someone on Ars suggested having it flash when people are in Rendezvous range, but I like your suggestion for signal strength, or how the CPU is doing (works its way from blue to red or white)

Re:All sorts of possible USEFUL uses

[sg3000]

> There are all sorts of possible useful uses.

All your suggestions are interesting. However, let's not forget that this is the company that came up with the Flower Power iMac.

So this means you *can't* rule out this patent allowing a future product to sin against nature.

Re:All sorts of possible USEFUL uses

[radish]

FYI - IBM thinkpads already have little lights built into the lid which illuminate the keyboard (although I find the screen usually does just as good a job).

Re:All sorts of possible USEFUL uses

[Zhe Mappel]

Nice ideas. As for this one...

I have often wanted just a small built in light for my keyboard on my notebook computer so I could see the keyboard with the roomlights off and not be blinded by the screens light.

...try a USB snake light from Kensington. Works very well.

Re:All sorts of possible USEFUL uses

[twiztidlojik]

Hmm. Sounds like a mouse. You know, it's obvious once you hear about it, and it's frickin useful to boot. /apple history reference

Re:All sorts of possible USEFUL uses

[Alan Partridge]

yep

Gorgeous, wasn't it? Although I always rather preferred the "Blue Dalmation" look, they were both outstanding examples of creative graphic/industrial design. Well done Me Company!

Re:All sorts of possible USEFUL uses

[KH]

I have often wanted just a small built in light for my keyboard on my notebook computer so I could see the keyboard with the roomlights off and not be blinded by the screens light.

I doubt anybody would read this post, but it turned out one of your idea was right on--the keyboard of the new Powerbook that illuminates according to the ambient light. That was apparently what this patent was all about.

Oh. My. God.

[Anonymous Coward]

This one is twee, even by Apple's standards.

I wonder how much longer Apple can keep trying harder and harder to sell to the same niche group, while their market share continues to dwindle. At the rate they're going, in two or three years they'll have only 1,000 customers, all of them willing to give their lives for Apple.

And then...

[Anonymous Coward]

like, the PC remained like beige all day... which is a bummer

To busy being used as goal posts

[Anonymous Coward]

Sorry, but we NEED our goal posts. Can't give up those Macs yet...

Does "prior art" for US patent have to be from US?

[rickmccl]

http://shinza.com/product_info.php?products_id=4&o sCsid=4ffe3865fde656aa3ea9c8cba84ba502 I actually tried to submit this, once. I located it on a websurf initiated by a slashdot link to animenewsnetwork, back in October. I rediscovered the link in animenewsnetwork's archive, they link to the anime-artist desgined mice sold at Shinza.com but something else had caught my eye. The Elecom Grast24 "Optical 24-color USB mouse". Translucent mouse uses internal LED's to change color of the mouse. Software controlled -- user selectable color. "Illumination mode cycles through all 24 colors when mouse is idle." Shinza.com. This is the same thing Apple is talking about, no?

Progression/Thermoptic Cammo

[limekiller4]

As the price of LCDs/video display hardware comes down in price and weight (rollup plastic, I suppose, being the holy grail), you're going to find these displays plastered on everything from teeshirts to bookbags to menus, but the first place we'll see them would be on laptops because they're high-ticket items, get a lot of gee-wiz word-of-mouth hype and cars are too big.

Now all we need is for thermoptic camoflage technology to catch up... =)

I found it.....

[KAMiKAZOW]

It's here

Re:I found it.....

[Geraden]

Ummm....how does that relate??

Our term for 'em is:

[NineNine]

In my neck of the woods, we tend to say, "Wigged out", as in "wiggers" as in "white niggers".
I do hope this doesn't offend. Although I did use the word "nigger", I did refrain from using "porch monkey", "coon", "spear chucker", "jungle bunny", "spook", or other offensive terms. And, I didn't ever refer to "spics", "wops", "gooks", "chinks", "kikes", or "wetbacks"!

Seriously, get over yourself, asshole.

Re:Our term for 'em is:

[micromoog]

I see. So if it doesn't offend you, as a white man, it doesn't matter.

Re:Our term for 'em is:

[NineNine]

A. You have no way of knowing what my race or sex is, so don't make assumptions, because when you make an assumption, you only make an ass out of you and umption.

B. No, they're words. They don't matter. Words by themselves can't be offensive.

C. I really don't care who I offend. I'm not living in 19th century victorian England, so fuck off.

Re:Our term for 'em is:

[micromoog]

No, they're words. They don't matter. Words by themselves can't be offensive.

Offense is in the eye of the beholder. Please don't assume your own sensitivity level is universal.

I really don't care who I offend.

That's what I want to hear. You know you use racist, offensive language and admit it freely. That is indeed your choice. Just don't pretend otherwise.

Re:Our term for 'em is:

[NineNine]

Please don't assume your own sensitivity level is universal.

I don't. I know there are lots of pussies out there. I just think that they should get over themselves.

You know you use racist, offensive language and admit it freely. That is indeed your choice.

Absolutely. I can say "nigger" 'til the cows come home. That's at least one good thing the US still has going for it. Nigger.

Re:Our term for 'em is:

[EatHam]

B. No, they're words. They don't matter. Words by themselves can't be offensive.

Oh no? Try talking to a woman some time like you would talk to a man. See if she gets offended.

Re:Our term for 'em is:

[Anonymous Coward]

B. No, they're words. They don't matter. Words by themselves can't be offensive.

The next time you see a police offer, I suggest you say to him/her:

"Hey... fuck you. Have a nice day."

Re:Our term for 'em is:

[Anonymous Coward]

THAT'S IT NINENINE!!!!! WHERE DO YOU LIVE!!!? I WANT TO MEET YOU PERSONALLY AND BEAT THE LIVING TAR OUT OF YOU!!! POST YOUR ADDRESS HERE!!!! You're too much of a fucking pussy to put your address in your WHOIS info. Stupid fucknut. You are complete scum. Probably a fucking spammer on top of being a pornographer. I despise you till my dying day which will be long after yours since you are a fucking meat eater as well. Stupid fucking cunt. If you were a man with balls, you'd post your address right here so that I could come over and play baseball with your nuts. Shut the hell up mancunt!

Re:Our term for 'em is:

[Anonymous Coward]

NineNine doesn't ever get the chance to talk to women. That's why he runs his porn site. He hasn't been with a woman in decades. The closest thing to gash he's felt in a few years is his right palm. Stupid fucknut. Put us out of your misery NineNine and go kill yourself. No one likes you.

Re:Our term for 'em is:

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm a member of one of the groups "offended", and I found it funny.

You see, I got his point.

Even if he had no point, I find Don Rickles, Eddie Murphy, and other comedians who use ethnic humor funny too.

Re:Our term for 'em is:

[NineNine]

All this coming from an AC? What a pussy. But again, I'm really glad to have this following of AC's who get their panties in such a bunch over trivial, meaningless stuff. Really, I'm flattered. Negro. :)

Re:Our term for 'em is:

[Anonymous Coward]

All this coming from an AC? What a pussy. But again, I'm really glad to have this following of AC's who get their panties in such a bunch over trivial, meaningless stuff. Really, I'm flattered. Negro. :)

You yourself are anonymous as well. Anybody can sign up and Cowardessly hide behind a username just like you are. Whats the point?

Re:Our term for 'em is:

[Trolling4Dollars]

Yes. Who are you NineNine? What kind of spineless person is behind that stupid moniker? I suppose it's not as important as the poster above seems to think since you are, in my opinion, completely wortheless. Lot's of fun to insult though. You always respond. Personally, I think you are insane. A complete and total whackjob.

Re:Our term for 'em is:

[Anonymous Coward]

You yourself are anonymous as well. Anybody can sign up and Cowardessly hide behind a username just like you are. Whats the point?

Yup, even the whois on his domain is all faked.

Domain Name: NINENINE.COM

Created on..............: Wed, Oct 01, 1997
Expires on..............: Tue, Sep 30, 2003
Record last updated on..: Sun, Dec 15, 2002

Administrative Contact:
None
John Smith
10 Main St.
Las Vegas, NV 65042
US
Phone: (555) 555-1212
Fax..: (555) 555-1212
Email: ninenine_99@yahoo.com

Nice to see an Anonymous Coward pretending not to be one! LOL!

Re:Our term for 'em is:

[Anonymous Coward]

Aparently he a Microsoft supporter.

The site ninenine.com is running Microsoft-IIS/5.0 on Windows 2000

Shown here

Re:Our term for 'em is:

[Anonymous Coward]

OK, so maybe you are not making racist remarks in the technical sense of the word (well, you probably are a racist, but just saying what you said isn't necessarily racism). What you are though is offensive, ignorant, immoral, insulting, insensitive, derogatory, annoying, distasteful, obnoxious, abhorrent, disgusting and rude just to name a few of those things called 'words' that you seem to think have no real meaning. Oh, but you don't care what people 'say' about you. I mean, they're only words, right? They don't really mean anything. It's all fine with you, right? You just don't care that people think you're a jerk. And, yes, you have every legal right to be a jerk.

It's not the words themselves, it's how you use them that counts. At least to everyone but you and your kind.

Prior art

[thinkliberty]

They already have cellphones that do this. http://wildseed.com/

Next stop...

[Vexler]

Computer monitors that dynamically change colors and patterns. Wowza!

"APPLYING for a patent "

[Picass0]

...they do not yet HAVE the patent.

This means there is a public comment period approaching. You case mod gurus may want to make your views known on prior art for illuminating computer cases.

The Shining Apple Logo on iBooks?

[klang]

Maybe, just maybe this has to do with the backlighted Apple logo on the back of the iBook screen. (the cover, lid, whatever)

By applying for a patent on this idea, Apple secures that no other laptop producer removes the light isolation on the back of an LCD screen to allow light to shine through a logoshaped part of the lid of the computer. The only part of the computer you can see in a dark conference room, I might add. ...or?

Patents are evil!!

[kakos]

Patents are evil. How can Apple do this? How can the patent system let them do this? ...

OH, wait. We're talking about Apple, not Microsoft.

This is great. This will be great for Apple. Hooray for Apple!

Pretty nice idea.

[miffo.swe]

Okey, case modding has done almost similar things like putting a neon light into a case but i doubth that they have made the colours interchangable. I have never ever anywhere on the net seen a case that was made of semitransparent plastic and that changed colour, that idea is to me all new. I have seen some toys that does this but never ever a case for a computer.

We have to hand it to them, it would make some awsome cases. Imagine a plugin to XMMS that flashed not only the screen but the whole damn computer with the music!

Salesman: "What colour do you want your Imac in?"
Customer: "Blue"
salesman clicks on a button.
Salesman: "There you go"

Shit

[Anonymous Coward]

Man, my shit just looked like an Antennoid from Gradius. When I got to the spherical part in the middle, I thought my ass was going to explode. Maybe it did.

But the G4 really is faster than x86

[Anonymous Coward]

It is!

Re:But the G4 really is faster than x86

[The Phantom Buffalo]

An 8086?

Re:But the G4 really is faster than x86

[Anonymous Coward]

An 8086?

And costs 300% more.

Holy Mother of God. Literally.

[kfg]

I can find prior art for this as near as my neighbor's back yard. He's got one of those Madonna in a bathtub thingies. The Madonna and bathtub are both white. He has different colored spotlights he can shine on it to change its color depending on his mood.

He's been doing this for 40 years * that I know of.* I don't know how long before I moved in next door he'd been doing it.

You'll find the same technique used in any theatrical performance, rock show, movie or other such staged performance.

This technique is so old it isn't even medieval. It predates that period by a considerable margin.

And since when is chrome "tech?"

"Yeah, I advance the technology of my house by putting up some new wallpaper and adding a few colored lights."

Right Bob, bite me.

KFG

Re:Holy Mother of God. Literally.

[morzel]

He's been doing this for 40 years * that I know of.*

Sheesh... You're far too old for slashdot :-)

Watches?

[cswan]

I was shopping for watches the other day, and saw the 'Kaleido' line of watches from Fossil. They have a colored face that changes from one color to another every couple of seconds. The colors were pretty vibrant, and I couldn't place exactly what material they were using to accomplish the effect. Anyone know how they're doing this? And if this is basically what Apple's shooting for?

Eh, Fossil's link is here:

http://www.fossil.com/Categories/Category.asp?Ti er 1=Mens&Tier2=MW&Dept%5FID=MW&Cat%5FID=MW28&DeptGro up%5FID=4&SalesChannel=Retail

as always, very broad wording....

[lfourrier]

The invention pertains to electronic devices capable of dynamically changing their ornamental or decorative appearance, i.e., the outer appearance as seen by a user. The electronic devices generally include an illuminable housing. The illuminable housing, which includes at least one wall configured for the passage of light, is configured to enclose, cover and protect a light arrangement as well as functional components of the electronic device. The light arrangement, which generally includes one or more light sources, is configured to produce light for transmission through the light passing wall(s) of the illuminable housing. The transmitted light illuminates the wall(s) thus giving the wall a new appearance. That is, the transmitted light effectively alters the ornamental or decorative appearance of the electronic device. In most cases, the light is controlled so as to produce a light effect having specific characteristics or attributes. As such, the electronic device may be configured to provide additional feedback to the user of the electronic device and to give users the ability to personalize or change the look of their electronic device on an on-going basis. That is, a housing of the electronic device is active rather than passive, i.e., the housing has the ability to adapt and change. For example, the light may be used to exhibit a housing behavior that reflects the desires or moods of the user, that reflects inputs or outputs for the electronic device, or that reacts to tasks or events associated with operation of the electronic device

any hard drive in a transparent housing, with a led indicating seek or read, is covered by this patent

Re:as always, very broad wording....

[JohnG]

"any hard drive in a transparent housing, with a led indicating seek or read, is covered by this patent"

It's not so much what is covered by the patent, as what Apple intends to enforce with it. Until I see what Apple has built that they are describing and whether or not they go after anything that can change color I don't see this as malicious a patent as say Amazon's 1-Click.
If, however, they have just built a case made out of a very large mood ring and start sueing mood ring manufacturers, then I'll have a problem with it.

Re:as always, very broad wording....

[xigxag]

Okay, now, reading the above, tell me how a television set is not prior art?

Re:as always, very broad wording....

[Bartmoss]

Wouldn't Blinkenlights be prior art?

Re:as always, very broad wording....

[joetee]

"...with a led indicating seek or read,"
Too Bad: I've allready designed prior art and have produced even more. Its called 'The MoJoMeter' and its (shamelessly) here: http://www.retrosystem.com/hdmeter.shtml :-]

Thanx for playing!

This is rather nifty:

[Randolpho]

20. A method for illuminating a housing of a computing device, the computing device having a screen display, said method comprising: sampling a plurality of regions on the screen display to acquire color indicators for the plurality of regions; and illuminating a plurality of regions of the housing of the computing device based on the color indicators.

So they want to make the housing look a little in tune with whatever is on the screen at the time. I wonder how fast that will be... can you imagine playing Quake and watching a frag flash your monitor housing a different color suddenly? That'd be cool. :)

Re:This is rather nifty:

[jafiwam]

Yeah, Quake. That I won't be able to hide porn from my wife anymore simply because my computer screen faces the wall...

"Honey, what is all that blonde and pink stuff on your computer case?"

Re:This is rather nifty:

[Anonymous Coward]

can you imagine playing Quake and watching a frag flash your monitor housing a different color suddenly? That'd be cool. :)

I didn't know Quake was available on Macs. Is it?

Re:This is rather nifty:

[Audacious]

Sounds a lot like an idea I had a few months back. (Not that it is the same - just that it sounds a lot like it.)

Basically, I thought that it would be a simple thing to put LEDs into a frosted case and then have the computer control the light emitted so the case would change color. Here's hoping they do it. It would be nice to be able to change the color of your case to fit your mood.

Re:This is rather nifty:

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes it is. As is Jedi Knight II that I recently had a 15 minuite argument about it's avaliablity.

Dear god, the misinformation about macs is disturbing

my powerbook already has this

[mpest]

As someone may have already pointed out, My TiBook already has TWO (2) implementations of this. 1) There's a white light on the cover that pulses (beathes kindof) when the computer is sleeping. 2) The powercharger glows green when charged and orange when charging. Both of these fit the description of "dynamic ornamental appearance" as apple describes them I believe. This patent is from february and could just be covering existing products. But I still think a glowing imac would be cool and could be likely.

fiber optic lighting

[ironfroggy]

those plastic snowmen with the fiber optics lighting would meet the requirements for this patent. sorry apple. additionally, its not even a new idea. sci-fi electronic camoflage suits do this as well. including, how about this, hotwheels color-changing toys.

Re:The Art of Cunniligus

[Anonymous Coward]

isn't this a dupe?

Michael Jackson?

[tommck]

Does this mean Michael Jackson's going to have to cut a check to Apple?

;-)

Apple's new coat of colors

[vudufixit]

I've gauged a bit of cynicism regarding Apple's success with the I-Mac - some folks think it's in large part to the first generation unit's translucent blue color and funky integrated shape.
Does Apple's attempt to patent a color-changing desktop simply lend this further credence?

Case modding ?

[Anonymous Coward]

Topic says it all.

exemplary of the patent system

[g4dget]

Patents used to be about specific technology: a way of accomplishing a desirable goal. These days, anybody who has a "wouldn't it be nifty if we could do X" patents it, no matter whether they have a clue of how to do "X" or not.

In fact, arguably a large chunk of furniture and clothes design is about "dynamically adapting" to the tastes and moods of the user. It's just that the most cost effective means so far have been manually operated.

It'll probably be functional

[cryptochrome]

When I close the lid on my iBook and it goes to sleep there is a pulsing white light on the front of the machine where an LED is shining through the case. When that LED is off you wouldn't even know it's there.

It'd be nice if there were similar indicators for new mail, or alarms from iCal, connection state, short messages, etc.

THAT is how I think this technology will be used. As indicators of state independent of the display, that effectively use sparse cover space, that can change in multiple ways, and so forth. And uniquely, they don't mar up the computer's appearance when they're not needed. Possibly this will even be like having a second display capable of showing generalized information, at least in part. Changing the overall appearance of the computer is just a bonus.

Re:It'll probably be functional

[Beatbyte]

Think more of the Apple servers - Drive states, connection status, cpu usage (fade from green to red), etc.

A souped up version of the Dell emblem on the Power Edge line of servers (flashes orange/red when problem with anything).

I'd imagine this will be used more for a cool factor though. Just seems to be Apple's style.

Re:It'll probably be functional

[alchemist68]

It will probably flash "You've got mail" or something else in Morse code using that glow in the dark blue LED.

this is not novel!

[simpl3x]

i have seen product designs which change color for the purpoe of displaying information or mood. sure, on a computer--cool. but, still not patentable imho.

The possibilities...

[Anonymous Coward]

There are some extremely interesting applications here. For example, imagine a localizable keyboard. You set the computer's language, and then the labels on the keys of the keyboard change to match.

What about Fossil Kaleido watches?

[kylef]

Ah, but people already HAVE done it!

I was just in Macy's before Christmas doing some shopping, and I happened by these Fossil Kaleido watches, whose faces change colors either on command or in an oscillating fashion. Surely this is a good example? (I know, don't call you Surely...)

not to nitpick...

[interactive_civilian]

But shouldn't that be:

Blue! no, yelLOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWAAAAAAAHHHH!!!

ok...so I watch too much Monty Python...

Re:not to nitpick...

[Ogrez]

I stand, er... sit corrected.. Its been a while..I will go rent tonight and watch again so that I might better remember the sript...

Brilliant!

[LotusFlower]

This is the sort of innovation I would have expected to see firstly from an interior design firm.

I don't know about you guys, but whenever it's time to put up new wallpaper, I run like hell... I hate it, I'm not good at it, and whenever I pay for someone else to come in and redecorate, it costs me an arm and a leg!

What I'd like to see this used for is adaptive wallpaper - change the colour scheme of my whole room whenever I feel like it.

Even better if this allows for fast changes - imagine every room in your house being decorated with video walls; press a button and all of a sudden you're in space! Or you're in a forest! Or you're on Mars!

Take it further, and allow your car to be adaptive in colour. Let the Wifely Person drive, and it can be her favourite shade of pastel blue. When you want to drive it, it can be your favourite red-with-flames-and-go-faster-stripes - or even better, a virtual Knight Rider/KITT chaser light on the front!

Clothing! Wearable colour changing fibres - you could wear a leather jacket one minute, and then the next minute, it could be a light blue shirt-and-tie...

Seriously, if this is as good as I hope it is, Apple could branch into so many markets and make a colossal amount from cool stuff like that.

Re:Does "prior art" for US patent have to be from

[terraformer]

IANAL but I do not believe prior art is limited to things from the US. The basics of prior art is that the product (prior art) has to be released publically (ie; not a trade secret) and the date of that release has to be verifiable. It is pretty straight forward really.

From Bounty Quest->
Excluded information:
Unpublished or secret information, e.g., trade secrets or internal company memos (even if they describe the invention and are before the relevant date).

Information published after the "Prior Date" listed above.

Alenware already has this...

[Anonymous Coward]

on its Area51 laptop. I think it is called the "Chameleon" color option for the laptop case.

http://www.alienware.com/main/system_pages/area5 1- m.asp

There is a link in that page for the color change demo.

not too innovative

[steeef]

at first i (like many slashdotters, from the looks of some of the comments) thought apple had come up with some new technology for changing the color of the computer itself.

however, after seeing this picture posted on ars technica, it looks like what they're really doing is patenting a method of lighting. the picture suggests a light inside the monitor and the computer that illuminates the device. sounds like mod kiddes putting cold cathode lights and windows in their cases, doesn't it?

The ORB already does this...

[evil_pb]

And depending on Apple's ideas for this thing's usage, they could be in for some lawsuits...

I don't have a link, but I think I saw it on here. It's a new sort of thing, like a globe, that dynamically changes color based on information it receives - i.e. you could use it to monitor your stocks, the weather, or whatever. If things are good, it's yellow or more green for better. It turns red if things go bad. By "dynamically changing color" I assume Apple means to have their case respond in reaction to some event or data. Their concept is not new, there is prior art, and they could be sued.

Of course this means nothing since our patent system is a complete and utter joke, and whoever has the most money gets whatever they want. It's not a legal battle anymore but a financial one. If amazon can patent clicking your mouse on pictures, and that BS company in Cali can patent the mere act of serving a shopping cart or multimedia on the web (sue me fockers, I double dare ya), this doesn't seem so far fetched anymore.

ACK!

[Hyped01]

THIS IS STUPID! This is once again old technology (ie: already in use by others) that some company is trying to capitalize off of by being granted a patent. They were far from first.

Rob

All your posting.styles are code

[Anonymous Coward]

10 Print "ACs often mix programming languages and they don't understand that they just crashed Slashdot by setting all posting.style = code."
20 Print "Thank God for QA^G"
30 GOTO 10

And that's not how it should be...

[sonamchauhan]

It's not so much what is covered by the patent, as what Apple intends to enforce with it. Until I see what Apple has built...

But that's not how it should be. The patent is granted or denied on the basis of _this_ application - not on demos Apple conjures up or devices it plans to build in future.

All, in all, this is a wholly unreasonable patent application since it's so broad in scope. I think the Case Modding community have good examples of prior art: Neon tubes in a transparent case -- their glow tells me that the computer is running; LEDs mounted on fan blades -- the circle of light shows me the case fans are working.

If these sound frivolous compared to Apple's (yet undisclosed) implementations, consider that under the terms of this (overly broad) patent, Apply _can_ successfully BAN the abovementioned mods.

Why depend on their goodwill, especially when they don't deserve this patent?

Re:And that's not how it should be...

[JohnG]

I agree that broad patents shouldn't get passed, but they do. That said, Apple CAN'T ban case mods. They would be VERY stupid to challenge such an obvious case of prior art in the court system as it would surely result in their patent being revoked.

no way.

[frovingslosh]

devices capable of changing their color

So what ever happened to the law that you can't patent a concept like this, only an expression of concept? Apple certainly might be able to build something that changes color and patent the technology that does that, but they can't patent the concept of things that change color. Not only isn't it an expression of a concept, but there is way too much prior art (anyone remember mood rings?).

Bad Apple, bad patent laws

[axxackall]

So, perhaps we can not only theme our desktop on the machine - but our *literal* desktop.

Read it as: "So, perhaps we are not only restricted to theme our desktop on the machine - but our *literal* desktop as well."

The patent reminds me hyperlink and similar patents. Those clerks in patent offices are nuts. The patent has many prior art cases and it's too general to be called a method.

Psion Wavefinder

[OvertlyPedantic]

I can't reach the site at the moment, but when was the patent applied for? The Wavefinder USB DAB radio (http://www.psion.com) has been around since 2000 and that has three coloured LEDs under a translucent cover which pulse and fade different colours like a 70's disco light.

Maybe not so new?

[djupedal]

Car makers have been producing 'color changer' vehicles for years. Black in the morning...blue in the afternoon...silver in the evening, etc. The car can look red from one angle and orange from another. If this is what this patent is about, it may be DOA.

Knowing Apple and what we put in the water in No. California, I'd expect this has more to do with projection, than surface modulation.

Or

[Anonymous Coward]

It could be preemptive a patent on a LED technology for example or a style of coloring etc so that IF it were to come into fruition they could act on it. If not they can at least say they had the idea first and heres theproof. But you lamers don't get it.

From what I see...

[kwilliams]

Apple is making the dough with more cool techonological gadgets and sleeke designs rather than the inside meat.

Apple should take heed...

[waltc]

...the chameleon got there first.

Peace, Love and Apple Hardware, Man...

[Mulletproof]

Sounds like Apple is bringing back the mood ring..er, computer.

Question for IANNALs

[glwtta]

(those being I Am NOT Not a Lawyer)

Can someone point me in the direction of (or briefly explain) the actual (legal) requirements for something to be considered "prior art"?

Whenever a patent story comes up, dozens of people start posting the prior art links, but I get this feeling that in reality the process of finding prior art might be a little more precise that googling for "case with flashing lights".

External event indicators

[sonamchauhan]

It'd be nice if there were similar indicators for new mail, or alarms from iCal, connection state, short messages, etc.

The Fujitsu Lifebook has these. Look for the "The LifeBook Application Panel" on this page. This page has Driver information for Linux.

Re:Mathmos? - or color kinetics

[rg3rbick]

http://www.colorkinetics.com/

Actually...

[FuzzyDaddy]

I bet your parents picked it for you when you were a baby.

But you get less power per dollar

[Anonymous Coward]

You do!

the prior art everyone was looking for

[joshwa]

Ambient Devices

Well said.. er.. coded!!

[Sanity]

I have been trying to point out this double standard for a while now, however inevitably Slashdot's wonderful moderation system ensures that Slashdot's readers aren't exposed to my disturbing non-groupthink.

People don't seem to realize that one of the reasons that Microsoft succeeded where Apple failed is that Microsoft was actually more open than Apple! Where Apple tried to force users to use their pretty but overpriced hardware, Microsoft left users free to pick and choose the components that went into the hardware that ran their Operating System.

Now, I am not saying that Microsoft are perfect, but if Apple had won the desktop war rather than Microsoft, not only would there be an Operating System monopoly, but it would be a hardware monopoly too!

I am not suggesting that everyone goes out and installs Windows, rather I am saying that all of the reasons that we should be encouraging use of Linux over Windows apply equally to using Linux over OSX, yet Slashdot's editors seem to have no problem with migration away from Linux to OSX.

Car Stereos already do this

[Anonymous Coward]

My Hasslehof-wannabe 1982 TransAm [dust magnet] has a Pioneer stereo which switches from Green to Orange when you press the 'DISP' button. Prior art inside older art.

Think again Apple

[gabbarsingh]

Ambient Devices' Orb. Ambient Devices is an MIT Media Lab company and it has this Orb that changes color according to the stock portfolio. Check out the link, scroll down a bit.

Maybe broad patents are vulnerable...

[sonamchauhan]

Thanks for replying John!

> That said, Apple CAN'T ban case mods. They would be VERY stupid
> to challenge such an obvious case of prior art in the court system
> as it would surely result in their patent being revoked.

I hope the patent office considers case mods prior art and refuses to even grant the patent. After all, thats their job -- due diligence on patents. :-)

In any case, the broad wording of the patent will get it shot down sooner or later. Imagine this: some case modder does a mod that uses principles from Apple's patent (but does not end up looking like an Apple computer). Apple takes the modder to court - not for trademark or copyright infrigement (because there is no visual resemblance), but on the basis of this patent. Modder argues the patent is invalid since it covers pre-existing case mods. Judge strikes down patent down.

I don't know what Apple are thinking. They should really go for a more restrictive language if they have the technology ready. Maybe they don't - maybe this is a wildcard patent - looking forward to a day when OLEDs are cheap, and can be used as a transparent "skin" on a device.

Re:Maybe broad patents are vulnerable...

[JohnG]

I would certainly agree that if this were some type of patent-squatting attempt on Apple's part then they would be wrong for sure.
I also agree about the broad wording. I don't know why companies would so obviously phrase things to violate prior art and risk have legitimate infranctions of their patent thrown out of court because of it.

Santa provides prior work evidence.

[Quixadhal]

In recent news, Santa Claus has brought a string of chaser Christmas lights in to disprove Apple's patent on color-changing hardware devices. When properly installed on a Christmas tree, these lights cause the tree to change colors, and have done so since 1980.

"That Steve Jobs is going to be on my Naughty list this year", says a miffed Santa. "It's one thing to compete in the same toy market as I do, but it's another to try and muscle ME out!"

MOD PARENT UP!

[Anonymous Coward]

I was only going to mention Total Recall myself. :)

You obviously do not understand Patents...

[Archeopteryx]

Just because a Sciffy writer has used an idea in a story does not make it prior art! None of those guys knew how to make that magic happen, that is the charm of Sciffy; it lets you try on the future for size without the mess of inventing it.

What is patentable is the means to DO the magic. A patent must disclose that means in a manner that those skilled in the art could reproduce the results.

Re:You obviously do not understand Patents...

[_avs_007]

what about those hypercolor shirts they used to have 10 years ago? Remember those? They changed color....

In fact lots of things these days are temp sensitive...

Mercedes and a few other car makes, have an option for electronic tint in the rear window, so when the car is off and the alarm is armed, the windows turn opaque.

I have an electochromatic rear view mirror that automatically darkens, etc.... Surely these things can be considered prior art.

Or what about the "mystic" paint, that Ford Mustangs used to offer back in the mid 90's... That changed color as well....

Heck, I even remember some phones at LA cellular about 10 years ago that was just an LCD panel, so that the UI for the phone changed dynamically. No keys or anything.. Just one rectangular touch screen. That could be considered dynamically changing, since the phone was just an LCD screen with a microphone and speaker.

Re:You obviously do not understand Patents...

[Yokaze]

>You obviously do not understand Patents

I think there are some misunderstandings on your side.

Firstly, on my post,
I said:
>> Another point is, it is too generic and they are (surely) missing a working prototype.
>>
>> It's seldom the "what", more often it is the "how".
So, I am well aware that the writer has no idea how to do it.

Secondly on the patent:
They not patenting a chemical, physical, biological or nanotechnological mean (due to slashdotting, I have to refer you to this post this post).
Remember, this is Apple, not Bayer or Fuji Photo.
To quote: "The invention pertains to electronic devices capable of dynamically changing their ornamental or decorative appearance,..."

They are patenting all these possible future methods including current ones. The current possible lightning is just an example.

Lastly, on patents (at least U.S. patents, it seams): One can patent almost everything, the question is, will they able to enforce it?
What should be patentable is the means to do the magic.

When they develop a coating, which makes it possible to realise this, I find the coating patent-worthy. But not the idea in itself, which is covered by named prior art from Sciffy writers.

Re:You obviously do not understand Patents...

[Yokaze]

s/lightning/illumination

I dearly hope, there will be no lightning in my electronic devices :)

Is the French patent system really like this??

[droopus]

Don't know in brain fucked US IP system, but in France, at least a few year ago, literal description by artist of imaginary things where enough to render the things unpatentable, when somebody finally was able to make them. The one who could have patented them was the artist. (there is no need to prove actual realisation to obtain the patent).

So, if I'm reading this right, I could describe, and therefore prevent the patenting (and therefore, any incentive to actully build the invention due to probable lack of ROI) of, say:

Interstellar Propulsion

Biological Computers (and inevitable Beowulf Clusters of same)

Teleportation

Brain Transplantation

Additional Digit Transplantation (high seven dude!)

Jetson's-type cars that levitate and fold into a neat, easily liftable briefcase

Organic Windows that kill off dirty cells and replace them with clear, clean ones

Body-implantable global communication devices

Frozen pizza that tastes like Ray's, not cardboard and sewage.

etc, etc...

Is it really possible that this is how the French view the protection of Intellectual Property? If you can think it up, no matter if it defies the currently understood laws of physics, you can claim ownership of it?

All kidding aside, if this is the real system, wouldn't it serve as an anchor on development? After all, why invent Teleportation if some unemployed briebrain smoking a Galoises can prevent you from profiting from your invention?

I find it hard to believe that this is the actual French law.

Been done before.. Prior art...

[Viewsonic]

Movie Cinemas and Lights in my area constantly change hues and colors by season and by mood of movies etc .. This has been done. It doesn't matter if it's been done on a cpu, case, etc because it's been done: peroid. Nothing new here folks, move along.

Think of the possibilities.

[3vi1]

OMG...

Must not...
write virus....
to turn...
everyone else's systems...
*pink* at the LAN party.

Oh, who am I kidding - gotta start coding now.

How long

[obdulio]

until we see it in a James Bond movie?

Re:How long

[Alsee]

How long until we see it in a James Bond movie?

Oh, I'd say about 30 years ago or so.

-

Where's the article?

[Anonymous Coward]

I think the internet is broken again....

Prior art

[Angst Badger]

devices capable of dynamically changing their ornamental or decorative appearance.

Isn't the reversible jacket already prior art?

Power consumption

[anarchima]

Isn't this going to drain a lot of energy? I mean, think of 10,000 of these computers on for 5 hours every day (a conservative estimate). Do the math and you'll see that we're using up a lot of nature's resources just on silly LEDs. Is it really worth it? Perhaps someone can explain to me whether these LEDs actually use a lot of power (an assumption that I made), especialy if there are say 2-300 of them on at a time.

Re:Power consumption

[twiztidlojik]

Meh. Go wash some clothing and tell me if you've wasted more of nature's resources on LED's than water.

this is bad

[buswolley]

so basicly.. this. they get this patent and no one else can ever change the color of their hardware on its own internal program?? Patents should not be so broad. It stifles innovation.

shirts...

[josepha48]

What about those shirts that changed colors a few years ago based on your sweat or 'body'?

What about mood rings that change based on temp?

Wouldn't these both be possible candidates for prior art? I'd really love to see what they are claiming is actually 'new'? My computer changes color based on the temperature in the room?

Sell the idea to Microsoft

[kitzilla]

I like the idea of a device changing color with its state: my iMac is green, so I know it's on. It's blue, so I know it has mail waiting on me. It's red, so I know it has crashed.

Oh, wait: it's an iMac. That's not likely. Maybe they could license the idea to Microsoft.

Troll, troll, troll. I know. ;-)

Ahh, the irony ;-)

[Dhrakar]

I find it especially ironic how so many slashdotters are talking about how silly it is for Apple to put lights and things in the case when I see all of these case mod posts and topics. If LEDs and lamps aren't cool than why are there rows of illuminated cases, fans, power supplies, cables, etc at Fry's, thinkgeek, etc?
In any case (no pun intended ;-), I think that this has more to do with an adaptive tablet than with a system case. For example, picture a Wacom tablet that uses inkwell and that has an interface that changes based on the application you are using. Since it would not be an LCD panel, it would be much more rugged.

Frickin' clueless

[Anonymous Coward]

So, maybe you should bother actually reading the patent before you start talking about prior art.

This patent has a very specific means by which the appearance of a device is changed. It isn't a patent on 'all color-changing things', nor a patent on 'everything that can change its appearance'. Get even 1/10 of a clue before you start complaining about this stuff.

Sheesh.

--Fred

Re:Frickin' clueless

[_avs_007]

I don't know about this particular patent, because I really didn't care, I was responding to someone else...

Anyways, in the patents that I filed, usually the specific means is listed as an example of ONE WAY that the means can be achieved. Our patent lawyer drew them up in such a way, that it will still be covered if somebody else comes up with a different way to achieve the same.

But then again the stuff I write patents on deals more with applications of ideas rather then implementations of the same.

Who in the world modded *this* up?

[FredFnord]

This is a patent on a means by which someone can change the appearance of hardware, by means of a clear plastic that different patterns of light are shone through using some pretty specific means. Not a patent on 'everything that changes color ever'.

My god, it's like once people on Slashdot hear the word 'patent' their brains shut off and they start typing 'badbadbadbad' without even bothering to examine the facts. Read the summary, *AT LEAST*, before you start making the stupid comments.

--Fred

Re:Who in the world modded *this* up?

[buswolley]

If slashdotters hate the word patent, then they have good reason to. There is a whole lot of hurt that has been caused by patents. Take Africa and its AIDS epidemic. Drug comapnies refusing to let the African governments make their own copy of the drugs for their people because of patent issues. Yeah we might have become quick to demonfy a patent even before we know what it is about, but we do know on the whole that there are many evil patents out there. The system is failing

Re:Who in the world modded *this* up?

[ChuyMatt]

"...there are many evil patents out there."
Yah... but all of them are not bad. Some are very good. Africa and that problem has scarred much of the patenting possible for drug companies, a little, but not enough. This reactionary thing that most Americans do now, hell, most western europeans are doing is leading so SO many foolish problems while the real demons (hehe.. daemons) are running around in the background. Choose your battles, the ones that matter, the ones that ACTUALLY have some overreaching implications.
Danke

Re:Who in the world modded *this* up?

[Anonymous Coward]

..wait, you're saying Slashdotters have brains *TO* turn off?!?!?!

What This Brilliant Idea Lacks

[Zhe Mappel]

To put it bluntly: shag carpeting that grows from the top of your case, making your computer look like Gene Shalit.

Apple's aesthetic, in other words, is light years ahead of American taste. (Or maybe behind; depends on your view of shag, doesn't it.) If it were any company but Apple, I think the color-skin computer case would be a huge hit and turn out to be one of the bridge designs that transform how the post-beige box PC looks.

But Apple just doesn't know how to wallow. Aesthetically, the PC of tomorrow is likely to embody the mass tastes of today - Pottery Barn, JC Penny's, Martha Stewart, mini-vans. Whoever finds the way to cram all those crap design references into a new form for the computer will singlehandedly revive the PC industry.

So here's my modest proposal. Along with making its own trippy cases, Apple's best bet is to make a fortune licensing its tech to the Gateways and Dells of this world. Who, of course, will know what must be done - they'll promptly deploy it in cowskin patterns, Old Glory (c) waving flags, NFL team logos, photo-realistic editions featuring famous Playmates or several splendid views of the chiseled jawline of Donald Rumsfeld. The mass market can buy this stuff until it comes out of their ears, and the licensing fees can keep Apple alive. ;-)

Feynman

[LudditeMind]

I remember reading about how Feynman got a patent on nuclear-submarines (and others) in his book "Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman". Of course a ton of new technologies was being developed at Los Alamos and the patent officers would call up the different scientists working there and ask them what used the new tech could have. Well one item they developed was the nuclear reactor, and when Feynman was aked what could be done with it, he proposed a number of ideas including the fact that it could be used to power a submarine (he was just thinking of stuff off the top of his head). From that point on he got either a letter (or a letter with royalties, can't quite remember) that stated he was the owner of the 'nuclear submarine' patent. Sounds pretty much like what you described up there doesn't it?

Re:Feynman

[droopus]

Well one item they developed was the nuclear reactor, and when Feynman was aked what could be done with it, he proposed a number of ideas including the fact that it could be used to power a submarine (he was just thinking of stuff off the top of his head). From that point on he got either a letter (or a letter with royalties, can't quite remember) that stated he was the owner of the 'nuclear submarine' patent. Sounds pretty much like what you described up there doesn't it?

Not really, though it's an interesting example. Feynman had already developed the tech, designed and built the reactor (or at least a POC/prototype) and was simply tossing out possible applications.

However, in the French model, one can come up with something that modern technology simply will not support, but is likely to do so in the future, such as stem cell based limb regeneration or interstellar propulsion.

Shouldn't the "artist" /royalty recipient be at least able to understand and describe the necessary technology of the invention for which he is being rewarded?

Re:Feynman

[tassii]

Well one item they developed was the nuclear reactor, and when Feynman was aked what could be done with it, he proposed a number of ideas including the fact that it could be used to power a submarine (he was just thinking of stuff off the top of his head). From that point on he got either a letter (or a letter with royalties, can't quite remember) that stated he was the owner of the 'nuclear submarine' patent. Sounds pretty much like what you described up there doesn't it?

Not really. If this was true, then the patent would have gone to Jules Verne for the book 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea where he describes a submarine that was propelled by electricity generated by a nuclear reactor. That book was written in the late 1800's.

More candy for the morons.

[Anonymous Coward]

Apple has realised that can't deliver enough computing power for work, so need more housewife and retarded fragger into to customer base... Pathetic. What's next? Computer that smells?

I wonder about prior works

[azav]

I have a Griffin Powermate on my desktop right now that is pulsing its blue light and therefore changing its appearance. I wonder if this constitutes prior work?

http://www.griffintechnology.com/

(And no, I don't work for Griffin)

MEANINGLESS.

[Anonymous Coward]

1. Patent Apps. are published at 18 months from filing. This one, 18 months from the first parent "provisional" application back in June, 2001.

2. This is not a patent, its a publication of a patent application.

3. Trademarks, such as the word "iPod", are much faster than patents, which are for technical "inventions".

There is no relationship between this and any current events, such as forthcoming MacWorld SF, except coincidental. There is **never** any relationship between a patent grant or publication and **any** current events, except coincidental.Remember, 18 months for patent publication, several years until patent grant - you usually get to read about it in a patent quite a while after it was "new" to the company filing it.

Okay illiterate ./ readers

[Anonymous Coward]

How many people still think this is talking about LCDs? If you read carefully...or read it at all you will find that it is talking about the enclosure (as in the casing, not display!). And why does everyone think its a lava lamp? A Lava Lamp you really have no control over, and it doesn't even change the encasing, just the interior. The closest thing I've heard someone say is it is like "patening case mods"...while I think so, only in a very specific way (by refracting light into a changable appearance). No prior art that I can think of.

Keep grinding...

[gaudior]

You've still got a little of that axe left.

Re:Keep grinding...

[micromoog]

I've got lots of 'em.

Re:This is rather nifty: NOT

[mark_space2001]

Oh this is easy. I hade this idea a long time ago. In fact, it's normally something us hardware engineers try to avoid.

It's called bleed over. It happens when light leaking out from the edges of your screen get caught in some physical device (plastic, glass) and then start leaking out the sides / cracks / whatever of your display.

Now, I guess that if you did it carefully, you could get some interesting effects. It seems like it would be difficult to align whatever you are using to conduct the light (light pipes?) from the edge of the screen to where ever you want it to go, but if you could do it accurately enough, you could get some nice looking abstract patters.

My idea was to basically have a border ("window frame") around the edge of the screen, and also some light conductive plastic. (Light conductive plastics are called light pipes and they are a readily available item.) Then you would just twidle the colors of the pixels of the screen border, and let the light pipes pick it up and do things with it. Mostly I wanted to do it w/ existing LCD / Flat Panel type screens, because CRTs I think would be to bulky once you got all that paltic covering a portion of the edge of the scree. If you were clever and had market pull, you might even be able to have screens specially made that leaked light out of their edges.

This idea is not new, and I'm sure there's prior art for this. There's no way I would have thought to patent this, for sure. I seem to remember some wall clocks that would tell time by splashing light on the wall behind them to make it look like "big hands" and "little hands". Plus anyone one from the 60's who ever used a colored light to light their white walls, or even a lava lamp. Heck, how about discos and dance halls, did they ever color stuff with lights? Hmm, I think so...

What about Freezy Freakies?

[ruiner13]

Remember those gloves from the 80's? (I wore them in my young years) They would look plain when at room temperature, but make em cold and they change their decorative and/or ornamental appearance. Look out Apple, I have prior art in my storage bin in my folk's attic. Same goes for Hypercolor shirts (yeah, those were cool... wink wink).

Re:Who in the world modded *this* up? (and again)

[Anonymous Coward]

are you using a 2nd account to mod yourself up? this is just a rant.

What about photochromic clothing and toys?

[Anonymous Coward]

This stuff has been around for years. I hope Apple doesn't get this one.

glowing blobs and casemod

[kobotronic]

Why stop with RF-oozing cabinet craters and run-off-the-mill totally original cold cathode lights. ("look, you can see this PC has PC components inside!")

Let's just go stupid and cover every square inch of surface on our machines with programmable matrix displays utilizing any substance and technology capable of emitting modulated streams of photons. Laptops could have two screens - both sides of the lid, obviously, to lure actul females from across Starbucks with your carefully tuned mood biased visualizations of Eminem mp3s. PC cases would similarly resemble the bastard offspring from disco floors and slot machines.

Take it a step further! Why make a distinction between a monitor and a case? PCs could be made with tiny hard cores surrounded by a shapeless shell of soft glowing polymer, the surface shape of which is determined by a mesh of artificial muscle fibers contracting and expanding with modulated current. The active desktop layout and mapping would be determined by the topology of the user-customizable shape of the PC "thing". You would download new case shapes over the internet to really express your true nerd self, and a virus could turn your PC into T1000.

Is there a mirror or cache available

[Anonymous Coward]

I really would like to read the original article, but (sigh) I didn't get to it soon enough before the ./ effect took out there server....

call to apple support:

[mrpuffypants]

Apple: Hello, how can I help you?
User: Well, I was playing around with my Powerbook G5 and I have a problem.
Apple: What's wrong with it?
User: The case is stuck in disco mode, iTunes keeps blaring Donna Summer music, and I haave a board meeting in 10 minutes.

Hmmmm

[ninewands]

IIRC, devices capable of "dynamically changing their ornamental or decorative appearance" have been around since the seventies ... I think they were called "mood rings" ... ;-)

Re:Who in the world modded *this* up? (and again)

[Anonymous Coward]

non-newbie slashdotters with sufficient prior posts, who've behaved reasonably responsibly, and possess decent karma have their posts automatically modded at '2' to begin with. it's no biggie and moderators are not trying to say that a new slashdotter who gets an automatic mod of "1" is making a lesser comment than someone (with a responsible track record) that gets an inital mod of "2". there's info on this in the 'faqs' and other sections. also remem, although one might post anonymously for whatever reason, our esteemed meta-moderators know who you are (unless you make a little effort to evade detection ... such as jump machines, trash your cookies, etc). something to keep in mind ... :)

Another Apple Ploy

[SeXy_Red]

Sounds to me like this is just another ploy by apple to get the sales up from what is almost non-existant now(relitivly speaking of coarse) Maybe what apple should do is stop trying to redesign the case, and start redesigning the way there computers operate. I dont know...I just work here, oh wait....no I dont...

MacOSX has a command shell....

[poo203]

...in fact bash if you would like :-)

a load sensor: red hot computer case

[EccentricAnomaly]

how about just a load sensor

A load sensor would be really cool. Imagine the computer's case glowing red hot, then white hot, then blue hot as its load increases.... now imagine a server farm or a Beowulf cluster of these :)

Re:Oh Really?

[Anonymous Coward]

Yea, really. Funny, thats what all MacHeads say when faced with the question of speed. No matter, the latest Dell eats the fastest Mac for lunch, pure and simple.

Encumbered by idiots, we pressed on

[Sean Clifford]

His post made perfect sense. You assume that no group of like-minded people would exhibit the same or similar behaviours, which is ludicrous on its face. He simply pointed out - amusingly, I might add - that editors (and many readers) share biases.

If you want to argue, try finding something worth arguing about.

Encumbered by idiots, we pressed on...

Transformers anyone?

[Qender]

"Transformers! Robots in disguise."

Re:Transformers anyone?

[Anonymous Coward]

"devices capable of dynamically changing their ornamental or decorative appearance"

A user has given a Offtopic (-1) moderation to your comment, Transformers anyone?, attached to Apple Applies For Color-Change Patent. Your comment is currently scored (0).

Ok, this would appear to be offtopic, you know, if you didn't think about it.

Careful...

[MacAndrew]

Apple might crib some of your ideas!

Re:Careful...

[Alan Partridge]

well, if you don't want anyone to nick your ideas you should PATENT THEM

Prior Art, the Patent, and Causing trouble...

[CrocOS]

I feel there is some valid examples of prior art for this:

Watch this video but if that's not enough for you, there is an even better example that does EXACTLY what Apple's patent describes - both of these have been posted earlier, or an example from Shuttle - they've got a face-place for the recent-shape X-PCs that is lit by an electroluminescent lamp-plate.

I reckon they're all pretty good examples of Prior Art. Those trolling with the "Mood Ring" comments haven't read the patent, as it DOES say electronic device. My take on the patent is that it can be ANY internally-lit electronic device as long as one-or-more of the external surface areas of the device are lit from an internal light-source. EG: A frosted diffuser panel being back-lit by LEDs.

I've been stiring a little bit of sh*t and have sent sales@dynamism.com the following message:

Hi there,

Just so you know, Apple Computers Inc has applied for a patent that covers your mouse: Unless you want to be paying Apple a fair few bucks, I suggest that you send information on your device to the Patent Examiners office for Prior Art

Apple's pending patent: DN/20020190975
I put a link to the patent here

The particular product that I would use as prior art if I were you:
http://www.dynamism.com/grast/index.shtml

Cheers!
Travis Smith

If nothing else, it would be interesting to see if this gets a response =)

Don't get the wrong idea: I actually LIKE Apple and it's products, but this patent is 'patently' ridiculous.
-Trav

Steve Jobs and His Thralls

[Anonymous Coward]

Memetic clothes for computers. Gawd, Macintosh users will jump in and defend just about anything that this Woz-cheating, Slashdot-buying low life does or says, won't they?

hmm

[Anonymous Coward]

Seems like a waste of technology to me on something so trivial, color changing materials reserach would be much better used in adaptive camouflage.

color only?

[KurdtX]

Uh how is "devices capable of dynamically changing their ornamental or decorative appearance." limited to color?

I know this is really hard for the slashdot crowd, but you really need to think of Apple machines here, not your windowed & CCT'd PC. What I'm guessing (article is /.'d) is this patent is intended to cover such things as a smiley face-like item, or antanae, or eyes - a non-light-based feedback device.

And to burn Karma: This is one of those "outside of the box" things that is so cliche, yet the reason the expression is cliche (because everyone wants people to come up with ideas like these). One of the things I've noticed about Slashdot is people are great problem solvers, but poor artists (Btw, I code for a living). The mouse was this kind of creation. No one really had a problem using the arrow keys, and navigating on a screen was considered a solved problem. However, once the mouse was invented, it ushered in the whole windowed application environment. And I'm betting if there was /. back then people would be ridiculing it, with lots of comments like "wow, this does exactly what my arrow keys already do", "my desk is already cluttered", "uh, this is already being done... by the *keyboard*!". So I guess what I'm saying is: don't just judge this by applying it to what you already know, but what new things you might do with it.

For a case modder....

[Rellik66]

this could possibly be done by wiring up some colored neon tubes/LEDs, and coming up with a RS-232 or USB interface to control it via software and plug-ins.

but it has yet to be seen what Apple is trying to accomplish, but it will probably be pretty cool, but not incredibly useful like the candy colored plastic on the older iMacs, frankly I would care more about whats in the case than whats, and that's what separates me from average consumers.

Pop Question:

[Crosis]

My case is pink, what am I looking at?

What about...

[Shirloki]

I take it that I'm no longer allowed to run a screen saver? What about those cell phones with the multi-colored blinky buttons? What about those desktop fiber optic Christmas tree things? What about the blinky Christmas lights that do all that fading and stuff?

I think that should be enough prior art... how to I challenge a patent?

Apple Themes

[WatertonMan]

Lets see, so Apple will let you theme your case but not let you theme your desktop. . . Is it just me or is something wrong here? (And yes I know there are hacks to theme OSX, but Apple dislikes them and they tend not to work that well)

I'm pretty sure I've seen this before..

[EdMcMan]

What about those billboards that change ads? Or even a TV? This patent is a bit too open ended.. Decorative value can mean a lot of things.

My Sony mini-tower PC has this feature

[Anonymous Coward]

the front bezel changes blue/red indicating HDD activity......

I'm at my ropes end here.

[SmackyTheFrog]

Hi, sorry for the off topic post but I simply cannot believe this. I have searched, I have posted on message boards, but nothing. So I ask slashdot is there an aplication for OS X that will allow me to make certain programs stay 'always on top' such as the dvd player? I figure if anyone will know it will be you guys, so please can you help me?

Their version of the fiber-o-rama motherboard?

[Anonymous Coward]

The fiber-o-rama motherbaord uses fiber optics to route multicolored illumination to a motherboard for the effect of electron movement. This could easily be done to the case using fiberoptics. Fiber-o-rama

Sorry but NanoTechnology Materials Co.'s had their

[fedrive]

concepts for programmable camaflouge coatings
many eons ago working with the military for one.

sounds like Apple just learning about the
technology and trying to put their name on it ?

I hope it aint so.

Life Immitating Art

[nick_davison]

Wow. Apple now watch Bond movies for patent inspiration. Western civilization really is in decline.

For those of you who haven't seen the new Bond movie, Bond's Aston Martin uses a technology the military have been messing about with for a while: Active camoflage. The idea being that you record the image on one side of a vehical and display it on the other making it appear [from a distance at least] largely transparent - or invisible.

I'd love to see the prior art submission "It was in a Bond movie." Would it (will anything) be enough for the US patent office to realise it's become a joke?

Um... this could be quite trivial...

[Anonymous Coward]

Like the glowing LED on/off switch they use on the iMacs and iBooks maybe?

Lets see now....... dynamic change of dec. or app.

[Allnighterking]

Ummmmmm sounds like a mood ring to me...
or maybe..... a teenager?
perhaps, YES a christmas tree with a light wheel.
Neon signs.......

Does this mean anything ... no. Since prior art does exist. Granting of the patent will inhibit not only future product development, but put a number of companies with existing products under the gun... there can be only one conclusion... Give the B*%$%*s thier patent.... Otherwise the Shrub in DC's friends won't make enough money!

Prior Art

[zero_offset]

I can think of at least two things which might qualify as prior art.

First of all, in the late 80's there was that awful color-changing clothing. Mostly it was a body-heat thing, so it wasn't truly controllable, but I only mention it as a point of reference -- around the same time I very clearly remember articles in magazines like PopSci telling us how we'd all soon have clothing which would allow us to change the colors at a whim. Right after we hopped out of our flying cars, I presume. In any case, even if it never came to be, I distinctly remember the concept, and I'm having trouble seeing how it differs materially (no pun intended) from this idea.

Second, auto manufacturers have demonstrated color-changing panels for various applications. I have actually seen these in operation. These are probably even closer to the description.

I think I've figured it out

[b1t r0t]

Apple is going to put one of those tri-color LED night lights from Sharper Image into the soft-white case of a typical iBook/iMac/eMac. They may need three or four sets for sufficient coverage, but this would allow it to glow in almost any color of light.

Re:The Art of Cunniligus

[bmaranta]

Yah, I can just see some Slashdot Geek copying this over to his PDA, and trying to refer to it whilst engaged in the activity...

Prior Art

[ikekrull]

Those tinted windows that can be dialed from transparent to black depending on light level or user preference.

Cellphones that can dynamically change the colour of their LCD screens depending on user preference or caller identity.

I'm sure there are an assload of art installations e.g. lighted fountains that dynamically change colour in response to external stimuli.

There have been t-shirts and toys available for years that change colour when heated/cooled.

Stick-on LCD fishtank thermometers dynamically change colour depending on the temperature of the water.

'Electronic Ink' where small bicoloured spheres embedded in a matrix are rotated by application of a charge to dynamically change the appearance of a surface.

OELD (Organic Electroluminescent Displays) where light-emitting organic compounds in a matrix are used to dynamically change colour on a surface.

I remember reading an article about auto-manufacturers using 'smart paint' that would enable you to dynamically change the colour of your car at will.

In short, there are many different methods for dynamically changing the colour of a surface, used for years in many different industries, and as such, this patent is rubbish.

From the chameleon's lawyer...

[Anonymous Coward]

Dear Mr Jobs:

It has come to our attention that you have announced a product that changes color to suit the environment. This infringes on patent #0000069,"Dynamically Adaptive Color", issued in the year 1,000,000 BCE to my client, Mr. Cam Elion.

Please contact our office to arrange for past due royalty payments.

Yours,

Lucifer Faustus, esq.