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Apple Patents 'Chameleon' Computer Case

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the strange-ideas dept.

Dave B writes "The Register has been fishing at the patent office again and found that Apple has a new patent for "a computing device [which] includes a housing having an illuminable portion. The computing device also includes a light device disposed inside the housing. The light device is configured to illuminate the illuminable portion". While this gives us the exciting prospect of an iMac that is all five fruit flavors at once surely the original iMac with its glowing power button, or indeed a-thousand-and-one other electronic gizmos represent prior art?" Update a couple of users noticed this Slashdot Story from 2002 which looks familiar.

3 of 323 comments (clear)

  1. Prior Art? by Morgahastu · · Score: 5, Informative

    What the poster failed to mention was that the patent also included that it was customizable via a software program. You could open the "case prefs" and sets your case to have stripes, polka dots, etc. I am sure it could probably be animated too.

    I don't I've ever seen that.

  2. Not new by loginx · · Score: 5, Informative

    The register should probably read slashdot more often then...
    This story was posted on slashdot two years ago

  3. No, Apple does not have a patent by the+eric+conspiracy · · Score: 5, Informative

    Apple has a new patent for "a computing device...

    LOL. Slashdot and obviously the Register don't seem to be able to determine what a patent is. THIS IS AN APPLICATION, not an actual patent.

    It was filed in Feb 2004 and PUBLISHED, not GRANTED on Aug 12. 20040156192 is the application number, not the patent number. Patent numbers are serial and are in the 6 million range.

    Talk about egg on face.