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Apple Applies For Color-Change Patent

Posted by Hemos on from the theming-your-machine dept.

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.

5 of 402 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Is this how the patent system works now? by WPIDalamar · · Score: 5, Informative

    read the patent.

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

  2. Re:"devices capable of changing their color" by sydb · · Score: 5, Informative

    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.

    --
    Yours Sincerely, Michael.
  3. potential patent flaw by Chris+Canfield · · Score: 5, Informative
    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

    --
    This Sig is a mnemonic device designed to allow you to recognize this author in the future.
  4. Mathmos? by obi · · Score: 5, Informative

    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"...

  5. my powerbook already has this by mpest · · Score: 2, Informative

    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.