Is Palm in a pickle?
After some veiled threats made by Apple’s acting chief executive at the company’s earnings call last week in regard to vigorously defending patents, everyone and their mother has been wondering if the words were aimed at Palm. The company’s new Palm Pre handset, unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show, features some very iPhone-like features. Of most concern is Palm’s use of multitouch technology in the device’s touchscreen.
A 2007 patent filing by Apple covered all kinds of multitouch features, from the underlying hardware and software, to the methods of detecting certain gestures such as pinches and zooms. The patent also covered non-visual touchscreen extensions that can detect gestures as inputs for applications–something else the Pre sports.
The multitouch patent, all Grapes Of Wrath-like 358 pages, has been granted by the United States patent office. Granted last Tuesday, U.S. Patent No. 7479949 will likely be Apple’s ammunition should they go after Palm, which makes us wonder again:
Is Palm in a pickle?
via world of apple