Apple Patents "Enforceable" Ad Viewing On Devices

Rexdude writes "Apple has filed a patent that forces users to interact with an ad. FTFA: 'Its distinctive feature is a design that doesn't simply invite a user to pay attention to an ad — it also compels attention. The technology can freeze the device until the user clicks a button or answers a test question to demonstrate that he or she has dutifully noticed the commercial message. Because this technology would be embedded in the innermost core of the device, the ads could appear on the screen at any time, no matter what one is doing.'" We've been following this story for awhile now but it seems to have broken into the mainstream.

Comments

Let us keep working on GNOME and KDE....

[GPLDAN]

I've seen too many UNIX people move to MAC-OS for my liking. I was one of them, and now I am realizing my mistake and turning around. We need to keep plugging at GNOME and KDE (I don't have a dog in that fight, although I use KDE). Because pretty soon, I think we're going to want to run it on laptop hardware. I'm already unhappy with some features in Snow Leopard, and am making the move to building my Linux laptop. Adware built into a pre-compiled kernel without access to source?

Fuck you Jobs.

There's a very simple workaround to this problem.

[petes_PoV]

... don't buy stuff from Apple.

Really, there are many more and often better alternatives to pretty much everything that Apple sells. I can see no reason why I would feel the need to be abused by stuff I've paid for and have it tell me what to do.

Re:What a really good reason to buy

[Sandbags]

OK, dumbass, CALM DOWN. This is NOT a patent apple intends to release in a product. this patent is OLD, but just finally "approved". If Apple intended to use this, it would already be in the iPhone.

Apple has a LONG history of patenting "anti-consumer" technologies with the express idea to NEVER release it. It's their way of ensuring noone else does as in many cases, with something like this, if some moneygrubbing company (Nokia, Motorolla, etc) produced such a device, advertising revenue would dry up an any device that did not support it, and then even devs writing apps for apple would be forced to use it.

This patent ensures this technology will not be used. Think about it. Just a couple of hours, and there's 300+ posts here of people biching about this. The technology is simply so wrong, not a single poster is suppoting is (unless they work for an ad firm, or a company that makes ad sponsored products). With 7% market share, it would be SUICIDE for apple to use this technology.

This is NOT the first time Apple has done this. As I said, they have a long tradition and history of patenting user tracking systems, automated reporting systems, tracking devices, ad generation systems, and more.

Again, this is an OLD patent, and it;s been in the news a while. The only reason its back is the PTO finally got around to oficially approving it. Had apple intended to use thisd, it would ALREADY be in use... clearly they're on YOUR SIDE, protecting you from the REST of the assholes on the net, but you;re so biggoted you don;t even realize it.

I bet you also still believe Apple is 2x the price of the competition? If that's the case, go on, try to make a 27" iMac equivalent out of comodoty parts on NewEgg for less than a 27" iMac (with GPU, LED backlit 27" non-TFT display of the same or better resolution, similar performance or better parts, in ANY form factor. Don;t even bother with the speakers, webcam, wireless keyboard, software, even leave out the OS etc, just the core machine specs. You can't even BUILD one cheaper...

Compare the MacBook Air to the new Adamo XPS.. Dell is $700 more expensive for a SLOWER machine. Compare the MacBook pro 15" to any Dell, you can't get one for less under 17" and those have worse GPUs, or cost a slew more. Try to buy a 13" notebook with a dedicated GPU for less than $900, and you can't find one other than Apple's white macbook... No, they don;t have a $400 notebook, or a $600 desktop, but if I had one, it would suck ass compared to my 2 year old stuff... A machine of THAT low performance is practically useless, and anything apple offers doesn't matter to those people, so apple simply choooses to ignore the lowest end (and least profitable) market segment. Good for them, as it means when i buy Apple kit it runs better and lasts longer than any PC's I have.