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A patent originally filed by Apple back in 2008 has just been granted by the US Patent Office, with the tech giant somehow managing to convince the authorities it should own a patent for a method of displaying maps on a touchscreen device.
It’s not the hugely apocalyptic attack on Google Maps you might expect, as the patent mostly focuses on Apple’s own iOS Maps touch-based interface that used to sit atop Google’s mapping data, although the concept of Apple being allowed to patent anything to do with such a basic feature as showing a map to a person on a touch display seems rather shocking.
Back in 2008, however, mobile maps weren’t quite so critical. Many phones couldn’t even handle mapping, and those that did offered crappy custom interfaces often controlled by things knows as “buttons”. As well as covering Apple’s own touch control system, this patent also mentions more complex technical issues and some we tend to associate with Google, like the concept of pins marking locations.
If Apple was to manage to force Google to dumb down its mapping tools in any way as a result of this, it would be an enormous victory for the company. And a big loss for non-Apple users around the world, too. [USPTO via Apple Insider]
Shitttt.
Nah. This will never in any possible way be upheld if Apple try to do anything with it. Apple will know that, and won’t waste their money trying.
You remember the Apple v Samsung case? Similar bullshit, big payout (in theory) for Apple.
Prior art?
http://www.dreamstime.com/pins-in-a-map-of-europe-thumb6613611.jpg
Clearly either an apple prototype or shopped.
So does this relate to the UI or the features such as Layers, Satellite View, directions, etc?
Speaks volumes about the state of the US patent system. The world will shrug and move on……
This is why that California Apple vs Samsung case cannot be allowed to stand, it validates this sort of patent BS everything already done but now done with a touchscreen instead of a mouse, its not new, not non-obvious and no one should be paying Apple to license this crap.
The US Patent system is a joke I don’t know why they don’t go the whole hog and patent buttons, breathing and looking at things, EVERYONE knows the US patent system is there to aid US monopolies in the most blatant, easiest, least intelligent way possible, so why don’t they just fess up !
Apple…. killing mobile map innovation since 2008.
And this is why more and more people seem to be turning away from Apple.
Bonkers
i know the Yanks didn’t like Nokia but they had maps on their phones well before 98. doesn’t that count as prior art?
The Us Patent Office never ceases to amaze…
Joke is on them, they won a patent to show Google maps, but they no longer use it.
iPhone was launched (with maps) in 2007.
Secondly, I had a (superb) Nokia N95 8GB Black and used it’s superb built in GPS/SatNav voice guidance based on Nokia’s outstanding maps.
I do now live off iOS and Android devices, but interested to know what this patent covers if it was filed in 2008, after the two aforementioned devices hit the market.
I didn’t think Apple were capable of displaying maps anyway? This will only be a problem once that manage to crack that sticky wicket of putting stations on train lines.
I thought there was some funky law that stops companies patenting important features used in every day life by all? Navigation software on phones now is pretty much a given, whatever operating system you choose. I use it several times a week and i’m certain millions use it daily. I can’t see any attempts to sue google or anyone else over this standing up in court.
If anything, i’d have thought standalone navigation and mapping devices would have bigger beef than apple over mobile devices using mapping technology
*standalone navigation and mapping device companies…. plonker
So have Google not patented all their own Maps stuff?
When are these dinosaurs going to stop wasting consumers money on suing each other on ridiculously obvious and childish patent filings. The planet would be better off without any patents the way these morons are using them. As Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz would say “Deaths too good for them”
Okay this is getting ridiculous….
So “X, but on a touchscreen” is the new “X, but on the Internet”. Got it.
This patent should have never gone through. I remember Google Maps on Windows Mobile 2003..
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/172/382836594_ae973f2bf1.jpg