The new iPhone really is the most advanced phone in the world. And when you own the single most important piece of smartphone technology, you better patent its technologies pronto. Today, we go hands on with some of Apple’s newest iPhone related patents pertaining to the gyroscope and video calling.
While patents for Apple’s antenna system still haven’t made an appearance, we can dig the 3-Axis Gyroscope in the meantime. If you think this just benefits games, think again. Your 3-Axis Gyroscope and accelerometer can pave the way towards a better augmented reality, collaboration tools, and all sorts of neat stuff. Patently Apple writes:
“Apple will begin implementing the 3-axis gyroscope and accelerometer on the iPhone to provide even cooler controls for gaming. Yet the patents behind this technology actually rolled out in context with other future devices like a 3D Wand that could be used for Apple TV or used to interact with Graphic and CAD applications. Over time, these technologies when working in conjunction with NFC, will allow the iPhone to work with images on other displays – be they your TV, iMac, MacBook or even larger cooperative displays so that you could work you’re your colleagues.”
Apple has been patenting video conferencing capabilities for a while, and a year ago, we had a glimpse into FaceTime’s interface.
“In some embodiments, the user may choose to transmit consecutively or simultaneously more than one media item of one or more media types. For example, the user may transmit a video to a recipient during a communications operation and may thereafter or simultaneously transmit a song during the same communications operation…”
Based on a 2010 patent, Apple took an interest in location and security, and again we got a glimpse at FaceTime’s eventual interface design. But it seems that at a point, Apple wanted to share more than just video: Apple was considering implementing the ability to share music and images over the air as well.
But with a few more patents in the logbook, we’re gonna have to wait for some of Apple’s other goodies. Again, I’d love to see what the antenna patent holds, if anything striking.
