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Microsoft Patents Timed Button Presses

Posted by timothy on from the lieutenant-obvious dept.

ScooterB writes "According to TechDirt, Microsoft has patented having the action of a button determined by how long the button was pressed. From the patent listing, it seems to be targeted towards PDA's and other handhelds." Whether patents like this are the chicken or the egg, this relates to an MSNBC article submitted by prostoalex which says "United States Patent and Trademark Office is overwhelmed with incoming requests," and that "Unless the budgeting increases, the review process for a patent could double to 5 years."

5 of 552 comments (clear)

  1. As an aside... by Mr.+Darl+McBride · · Score: 5, Funny
    Could the slash editors post these stories in a larger font on the lynx & mobile devices page format? I'm reading these on a ten year old Palm Pilot, and it's hard to read the tiny fonts when it's dark. I had to hold down the power button for three seconds to turn on the backlight so I could read this.

    Oh, wait...

    1. Re:As an aside... by Feanturi · · Score: 5, Funny

      Well done! With one single post, I believe this whole conversation is finished. Everyone else just be quiet, this article is done. :)

    2. Re:As an aside... by gantrep · · Score: 5, Funny

      I don't think that's how pianos work.

  2. Where by thpdg · · Score: 5, Funny

    Wow, that's actually a cool idea. Does anyone have any prior art they could show me? I'm not sure I've seen it before.

    --

    -Patrick

    "They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."

  3. Re:uh? by hak1du · · Score: 5, Funny

    This patent is on long button presses on "limited power computing devices". Are you saying your Mac qualifies? :-)