Ummm… maybe I’m wrong, but in this article at least there is nothing that says to me that Apple IS considering suing Palm, just speculation by the blog poster that they MIGHT, or perhaps COULD… I’m not sure that a bloggers opinion of what may happen should be a reflection on Apple.

The soft keyboard would never hold up, even if they had been awarded it, since touch keyboards have been around since the first touchscreen devices.

I’m not the first to point out that Palm, after 20 years in the market, should have a good numbers of patents related with, hummm, palm-size devices and their interacion methods.

If Apple finally starts the war, maybe it would be a grosser miscalculation even compared with that (in)famous initiative of divide Palm between palm source and palm one. I am not an specialist in interface patents, but maybe suddenly Apple finds itself surrounded by counterattacks from patents that cover more devices than iphone.

Anyways, just mentioning the possibility of using a patent against a dying company of glorious past makes me reject Apple products forever. No more ipods for me, and I will not be a macbook owner, what I almost became.

Shame on Apple

http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/apple-vs-palm-the-in-depth-analysis/

Neither the application abstract nor the other 300 pages are covered by the patent. No keyboards or touch or pinch or whatever.

The CLAIMS section is the ONLY thing you should read and comment on. And it’s extremely tiny and specific to a certain way of determining scrolling etc.

The real impact is on the smaller, innovative companies attempting to bring something new and creative to the market. These sorts of patents on heuristics (defn: common sense rules) and processes serve to stifle innovation, and hence competition, because although they may be overturned later in court, the little guys just don’t have the resources to fight lengthy court battle.

And even if they win on one patent, the massive patent portfolios of the major players can be used to destroy the competition by attrition.

Probably the best line I’ve heard on the topic today. I tend to agree. ;)

I’m surprised everyone is devoting so many words to this issue. I’ve dismissed it in a few comments and tweets.

I’m not sure if this post was meant to be flamebait, generate hits, etc., but come on guys. I know you can do better than this.
I’ve been reading JkOnTheRun for some time now and lately the articles just don’t seem as informed as they used to be.

I’m not sure if it’s lack of time, interest, or what have you, but the suppositions offered to lots of the news out there just don’t seem to be well though out.

You state as fact a few times in the article that Apple WILL take this action and that, but you have no source to back up these statements. Then a few paragraphs later, you say it’s all speculation..?? COME ON!

I pretty sure you guys have posting quotas now that you are owned by Gig Om, but please take one minute to read over and think about what your posting.

I’m only writing this because I care, so please don’t take it as an attack.

Moot? It’s not moot at all; it could end up being part of the foundation to challenge the awarding of this patent. I’m really trying to not read anything into this, but it sounds almost as if you’re already convinced that that multi-touch is Apple’s baby, through and through.

Sure, Apple is the first company to sell a capacitive multitouch device targeted at the general public. But lest you forget, Fingerworks sold a line of multitouch peripherals for industrial and commerical use until 2005 – when it was bought by Apple.