“Just days prior to Apple’s iPhone unveiling this past January, Microsoft filed a new patent titled Transforming Media Device which describes a communications device which could be transformed into at least three different shapes with each representing a different feature set by physically modifying the device. The three possible shapes, the document reveals, include that of a phone, media player and a camera. This report briefly reviews this new patent along with two other related patents which clearly demonstrate just how off guard Microsoft really was – the day that Apple unveiled their revolutionary iPhone,” neo reports for MacNN.
“The bottom line is that prior to and shortly after Steve Jobs’ unveiling of Apple’s stunning iPhone, Microsoft had shown their cellphone hand through a series of current patents covering a tri-forming mechanically driven media device, a Data Buddy system/device and a thin smartphone. Microsoft’s detailed patents clearly go to demonstrate just how off-guard Microsoft was the day that Apple unveiled their iPhone’s many innovations and just how off-target Microsoft really was in respect to understanding what device innovation even means,” neo reports.
neo reports, “All that you have to do is compare Apple’s easy to use morphing capabilities of the iPhone which quickly allows the user to transition the iPhone UI into that of an iPod/music player, media web browser, calculator, camera and so on with a simple touch of a virtual button to that of Microsoft’s cumbersome Transforming Media Device which forces the user to physically transform the device manually. In contrast to the iPhone, Microsoft’s Transforming Media Device is mere Buffoonery.”
Full article here.
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Transforming phone? Sounds like something you might get free in a packet of cereal!
MS has is right. They are going to make a TRANSFORMER phone to coincide with the release of the movie TRANSFORMERS now in production.
Maybe it was a prop for the upcoming Transformer’s movie, but we all kno Optimus Prime would use an iPhone to call home to cybertron….
Nick Holla:
Great minds….
Patents??…
Mere Buffoonery! There is our new tagline for Microsoft.
“…more than meets the eye”
Buffoonery? That’s the secret word!
*duck drops down from ceiling*
Neo just won $25!
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What would they call it—The Mighty Morphin Zune Ranger?
Oh, that’s an easy one: contrary to what some believe, MS can’t do software. That’s it.
A widescreen iPod with touch controls, a revolutionary mobile phone, a breakthrough internet communications device, are you getting it?
That has to be the funniest thing I’ve seen. Microsoft really has no clue do they?
No wonder Gates unleashed the hounds of irrationality and lied through his teeth when touting on all those TV shows the Vista version of Mac OS 5.
What a bunch of complete fsking losers. It would be pathetic if it wasn’t so funny!
Transformers! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Typical Micrsoft. The illustrations depicting this device — and the basic idea — remind me of the Rubik’s cube.
The only difference is that today, even the Rubik’s Cube has gone digital — a modern version was just introduced at some toy conference…
Cool. I wanna transform the MS phone into StarScream!!!!!
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This idea almost sounds too stupid even for MS. Almost.
Can you imagine them coming out with such a device now? Man, that would be too funny.
The drawings are… beyond words.
The phrase, “too many moving parts” comes to mind.
Does this thing morph into a remote controled car or something?
Yes, something in a ceral box is a great description.
“The three possible shapes, the document reveals, include that of a phone, media player and a camera.”
They missed one out! It should have been four shapes!!!
The fourth form-factor it was due to transform into was a flying chair…
…of course, you needed to throw it…
The buffoonery starts now !
AUTOBOTS!!!! TRANSFORM!!!!
Wow!s
Well of COURSE MS was caught off guard. I mean, who, oh WHO saw ahead of time, or even thought that Apple would develop and release a phone in the months and years leading up to His Steveness’ announcement. I mean, I was TOTALLY caught off guard.
(deadpan stare)
No surprise here – not at microsoft either. Everyone knows Microsoft is not an innovator rather they are a collector of ideas first tested by others to ram into their monopolies.
. . . the Acme Flying Machine Co. withdrew its air-show entry when it discovered that Boeing’s has a closed cockpit, a single wing on each side, jet engines and electric start.
iPod Transformer Flash movie on YouTube:
iPod (iFormer Robot2)