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Ironically, leaving a silenced phone set to vibrate on a hard surface like a table can actually create more of a disturbance when it rings and bounces around. So Apple has patented a system that uses the iPhone’s mic and accelerometer to listen for vibrations and scale back its intensity when it gets too loud.
The system is particularly clever because it uses hardware already built into the iPhone. And in a situation where reducing the vibrator still produces too much ambient noise, it can be switched off completely with alternate alerts triggered such as quieter audible alarms or visual cues like flashing the display. Alternately, you can just turn your phone off like everyone suggested in the first place. [US Patent & Trademark Office via Apple Insider]
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Good idea but surely this could be achieved by the apps?
I’m sure it could. And when you create a 3rd party one, Apple will be on your a$$ for the patent infringement… and thus the app is made for them, for free.
The great patent monopoly.
And yet Apple doesn’t even feature in the Patent Top 10 in the USA.
Well, when you patent a thing like a shape, you don’t need many patents to sue the shit out of everyone…..
The USPO are a bunch of arses.
Indeed!
Surely because there are not as many iDevices as others like HP, Microsoft and IBM? None of them goes on a warpath with patent like Apple does.
“complete with *alternative* alerts…”
“*Alternatively*, you can…”
my pest peeve americanism right there.
Pest peeve ….
Id leave the language trolling to someone else
Surprised Apple hasn’t patented the process of patenting.
I remember something similar I had learnt in the Systems & Control class at university about system feedback. Is this patent not akin to system feedback?
I really hope that Apple put in the ability of turning off this feature. I leave my phone on silent most of the time so the buzzing helps me know when I get a message.
Do we not have some sort of rule or code of conduct that allows us to tar and feather assholes who post affiliate links? Especially cloaked ones