Apple gets the patent on multitouch technology
 

Huge win for apple. IMO, multi-touch technology will be extremely prevalent in future technology.

Also, it's a blow to Palm.

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/34848

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damn it, so does that mean that Nokia or Samsung will never ever be able to use it on their phones?

I think Apple will license it to them.

sometimes i even hate apples

that will generate some added revenue for Apple for sure.

Seems pretty lame to me...

All I had to do was create a multi-touch device and sell a few, get a patent (2 years ago) and I could tell everyone they owe me $10 for every device they use it on?

No wonder so many systems are released with sub-par performance. No one wants to license something from everyone and their mother.

Ouch...so if the Microsoft Surface ever gets big, M$ will be taking it up the ass from Apple. Apple's lame too. :Oh crap

Apple rules.

I think that multitouch is such an important technology one of two things will happen:

1) Apple stock will go through the roof collecting reasonable license fees for this tech

2) In true Apple tradition, they will either refuse to license it altogether, or charge ridiculous fees, Seriously hindering the growth of the technology and curtailing the growth of "touch" as an input device (sucks for us, typical for apple)

Apple has always held their proprietary technology close to the vest and unfortunately they have some really good shit. If Gates didn't steal the graphical user interface, we would all be either using Apple Computers or looking at this board in ASCII.

Without IBM's business distribution network, would the GUI technology have funded it's continued development (to the level it is at today)? You have to ask yourself, is apple helping or hurting new technologies?

Either way, I cannot see them allowing Samsung or any other personal device manufacturer to directly compete with the iphone.

fuck apple!

now... how to apply this to porn hmmm

how can you patent an "action"???

i just don't understand how "touch screen" can be a patent, as it's not really specific?

There has to be some touch screen out there that used multi touch before the silly iphone was made.

Patents are a joke now a days.

that sucks ass :(

Oh please, I hate when I read that. Apple did not invent it either and is just as guilty of the theft. Only lesson to be learned in that one was that licensing beats proprietary.

I'm not sold on this touchscreen stuff.

You can't use iPod touch/phone with even just thin gloves on. It needs bare skin.

Then there is that HP Touchsmart PC set up at Best Buy. Interesting, but I have never once felt the desire to reach across the desk and use my finger to control what is on the screen.

i dont understand how anyone can put up with the greasy screens

xerox.....

Apple so far so good for touchscreen stuff.

Apple will dominate de world!

Yep, Apple stole it from Xerox.

I love it when people propagate myths like this.

What actually happened was:

In the mid 1980s, Apple considered buying Xerox; however, a deal was never reached. Apple instead bought rights to the Alto GUI and adapted it into to a more affordable personal computer, aimed towards the business and education markets. The Apple Macintosh was released in 1984, and was the first personal computer to popularize the GUI and mouse amongst the public.

Word!:thumbsup