Steve Jobs Patents "The Dock"

theodp writes "If you're a PC, you may be unfamiliar with The Dock, the bar of icons that sits at the bottom or side of a Mac and provides easy access to Apple applications. But don't count on it becoming a standard on the PC. On Tuesday, the USPTO awarded Apple — and inventor Steve Jobs — a patent for their User Interface for Providing Consolidation and Access, aka 'The Dock,' after a rather lengthy nine-year wait."

Comments

It's just a ripoff of OS/2 Warp...

[tjstork]

As much as Apple fans extol the "dock", if you leave the 3d graphics out of the equation, its just a baked over version of the "taskbar" like thing that came with OS/2 Warp, and honestly, its not as good.

Re:CDE?

[RulerOf]

Internet Explorer 4.0's Quick Launch Toolbar

Finally something explains the idiotic location of the quick launch folder.

Need to edit your start menu? Just go to "Start Menu" under your profile directory! Need to edit your desktop? Same place! Documents? You betcha!

Want to edit the icons in your quick launch? Muahahahaha...

Your quest begins in the folder options dialog, where you'll need to expose a double hidden/system folder, buried in the depths of your Application Data.

After solving the Great Vendor Folder riddle, you must offer supplication to the mighty Internet Explorer, Guardian of the Quick Launch treasures. Icons may be created in the god's domain, and likewise they may be destroyed... but should you attempt to relocate his possessions to another folder of more logical choosing, the Compatibility gods will smite thee down.