Comments on: Patent application shows iPod capable of live wireless video conferencing

By: paul

paul — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 10:18:41 +0000

I am sure that this will eventually come out, but America does not have 3G technology for cell phones yet. I mean, they do, but it’s a fake one (i.e. it doesn’t allow you to transfer video conference data) so until this comes out in the States, I am not sure that APPLE would actually care about coming out with a little goody like that. Shame on you America, you’re so late on your cell phone technology, it’s sick!

By: Nick

Nick — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 17:16:46 +0000

This could simply be a third party inventor/patent holding company. They often patent “improvements” on other company’s ideas. They may then sit on the patent until, in this case for example, a company like Apple comes out with a wireless video conferencing iPod. The holding company can then sue Apple for percentage of its gross revenue.
Just a thought.

By: Blunt

Blunt — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 15:02:27 +0000

Hey, Swordmaker. I play ukulele; can I have one of those too, pleez?

(It's got to be real, right? I mean, it's printed on the ... oooh, Internet.)

By: Swordmaker

Swordmaker — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 22:42:44 +0000

I do not believe this is patentable. You cannot take someone else’s product and just claim to be able to add extra functionality to it and patent it with out actually adding the extra functionality. Since there is no indication that this is a patent by Apple for a future product, it is just a series of drawings of various components strung together. I could just as easily add these components to a ukelele and file for a interactive video ukelele patent.

By: scottm4321

scottm4321 — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 21:42:39 +0000

Can you say “iPod Video Phone”? Leapfrog over the pitiful “Star Trek Communicator” cell phones we have now and go right for a live video phone call to anyone on the service, anywhere in the world. Leonard Nimoy or Shatner MUST do the voice over on this commercial. Not your father’s cellphone.

By: JadisOne

JadisOne — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 20:53:54 +0000

Uber cool. So Star-Trek like. Video-conference on the fly.

By: John Gee

John Gee — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 20:38:11 +0000

I hope this is Origami!!!!

YES!

not.

By: critic

critic — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 19:58:44 +0000

"Secondly, if a new iPod supports video conferencing, then it will need an iSight camera built in, unless the screen is the camera. Wasn't there a rumor about this?"

This was not a rumor, ther is a patent on this technology from Apple.

http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/peripherals/apple-patents-screen-with-camera-inside-display-169886.php

By: Peter

Peter — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 19:35:12 +0000

What it might be is some sort of add-on from the third-party developer for the iPod.

By: andy

andy — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 19:25:38 +0000

hhmm, if thats not an apple phone in the patent and they intend on software integration on 3rd party phone manufactures, that sounds quite cool, and a more logical step, like a phone extention….whatever phone manufacturer gets the ‘deal’ to integrate direct with an ipod like this is really in the money cause just about every ipod owner would get it!!!

By: Object-X

Object-X — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 19:21:26 +0000

Well, this means several things.

First, according to Jobs there will be a new revision of the iPod every year. So, expect one this holiday season.

Secondly, if a new iPod supports video conferencing, then it will need an iSight camera built in, unless the screen is the camera. Wasn't there a rumor about this?

Third, in order to support a four-way conference like iChat does now it will require a wide screen! Can we say movie downloads?

Forth, in order to keep the same size and accomdate a wide screen, there is no room for the scroll wheel, so a touch screen interface will be needed.

Fifth, it will undoubtably support the new 802.11n protocol to handle the wireless video stream.

And finally, since it will have sound input for talking, it will most likely support VOIP, ie. iPhone!!!

Sweet. I want one!

By: The Realist

The Realist — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 19:00:01 +0000

the drawing is of a first generation iPod....

curious.

By: Dr. Spock

Dr. Spock — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 18:55:56 +0000

beam me up scotty

By: Reiscup

Reiscup — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 18:53:02 +0000

More good news. Time to buy some more stock.