Apple patents Shuffle-like remote control
updated 01:00 pm EST, Tue January 22, 2008
Shuffle-like Apple remote
Apple today won six new patents published by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, one of which depicts a remote control that closely resembles its current-generation iPod shuffle portable music player. The remote control features a belt clip built into the backing, and clearly defines a circular feature which could be a click-wheel on the front side. Apple does not describe the function of the remote, but offers a picture with the device attached via a cable to another device.
Apple four other patents relate to the design for a lanyard, two variant iPod shuffles, and technology for producing smooth motion compensated frames by combining multiple interpolation results.
The company also filed a trademark application for the MacBook Air with the European Trademark Office, while the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office lists Apple's filing for its new Time Capsule external storage device.
Uhh... iPod radio remote?
01/22, 01:45pm reply
You guys DO remember that Apple already sells a remote exactly like this, right?
http://www.apple.com/ipod/accessories/
hybrid
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2004
Strike that, reverse it
01/22, 01:45pm reply
Actually, the Shuffle resembles the iPod remote and FM receiver accessory, which precedes it.
dotcom
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2003
really guys?
01/23, 08:46am reply
Sometimes...most times it's hard to take ipodnn's reporting seriously. How could you miss something like this? You are an iPod new site, right?
GORDYmac
Grizzled Veteran
Joined: Dec 1999
patience now
01/23, 11:18am reply
The major improvement that the iPod Touch/iPhone line truly "needs" is more space. We'll have to wait for solid-state memory costs to go down and GBs/volume to go down before we see a decent amount of storage space in either. Yes, you can manage your music/videos, but those who have been adding to a library for a few years are often well past the 8GB and 16GB capacities (not to mention some of that space goes toward OS resource support.) Add the desire to take a few videos, tv shows, or movies or photos with you, and there's no way you can work with the little amount of space available, even though these are the best models for watching video and viewing photos.
How's that for a high-&-mighty advisement firm's tone of voice. Seriously, I don't know about you, but that tone of "this is the way it is and this is what you should do" drives me up a wall with its pomposity. It's speculation people!
danviento
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Dec 2005