Hi I really don't think Apple would be crazy enough to actually do something like this. Most large companies file a lot of patent applications, some are simply concepts that never get used or are concepts patented to prevent other companies from using them. Leaving aside what I think about patents, it's good strategy. Apple, despite sometimes being flaky on certain aspects of their business (app store approval process, ahem) they're not stupid and they know exactly what the public's reaction to this would be. I think this is more likely a strategic patent, something they got wind of another company doing and wanted to put a stop to.
On Nov 17, 3:04 pm, Karen Lewellen <klewel...@shellworld.net> wrote: > I got this on another list. They cannot be serious? Can you imagine what > this would sound like, not to mention the gross intrusion on computing? > The list of possible places for these ads, is frightening. > > Original > URL:http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11/16/intrusive_apple_ad_patent/ > Apple seeks OS-jacking advert patent > > It's an ad ad ad ad world > > By Rik Myslewski in San Francisco > > Posted in Operating Systems, 16th November 2009 20:27 GMT > > Hitachi IT Operations Analyzer: 30-day free trial. > > Apple has filed a patent application for an intrusive ad-presentation system > that requires users to acknowledge adverts before getting on with their work. > > The recent patent filing > (http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=P...) > carries the unusually straightforward title "Advertisement in Operating > System." The described system would be buried deep in a device's OS - so deep > that, in the words of the filing, "the advertisement presentation can in > effect > 'take over the system' in relevant aspects for a limited time." > > The filing specifically describes the system as "disabling" normal operation > of > a device while the ad is being presented. The ad - either "visual or audible" > - > could be presented in a window on top of all other open windows, in a > background window, or even in an application window or "inserted in content > from an application program." > > If we're deciphering Apple's patentese correctly, this mean that you could be > working in, say, Photoshop, and a new canvas could pop up containing a > mouth-watering illo of some tasty treat from Frito-Lay - and you couldn't get > back to work until you somehow acknowledged the ad by, for example, clicking > as > directed. > > Or, for that matter, since an ad could be "inserted in content from an > application program," you could be merrily coding along in BBEdit when a > couple > of lines appeared in your code suggesting that you investigate Travelocity's > latest package deal - and you'd not be able to complete your job until you, as > suggested in the filing, performed one of many possible actions. > > These actions might result in the system "causing presentation of a page from > an advertiser associated with the advertisement; recording a user rating of > the > advertisement; again presenting the advertisement; sharing the advertisement > with another user; initiating a transaction for user purchase of a product > that > eliminates the presentation of advertisements on the device," among other > possibilities. > > As is usually the case in such filings, the range of possible devices is a > long > one, "including without limitation, portable and desktop computers, servers, > electronics, media players, game devices, mobile phones, wireless devices, > email devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), embedded devices, > televisions, set top boxes, etc." > > The appearance of servers on that list is particularly troubling, seeing as > how > their inclusion might imply a network-based version of ad delivery and > enforced > response. > > If you really want to get your conspiratorial juices flowing, remember that > Apple has filed a series of patents relating to location-based content. Using > its OS ad system in tandem with another resent filing > (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/03/10/itunes_on_location/), Apple could > interrupt your use of Poop the World > (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/poop-the-world/id310125724?mt=8) as you passed > your local purveyor of fine toiletries to let you know that you could pop in > and save big on three-ply tissue. > > Although it boggles the mind that Apple would take such a draconian approach > to > ad delivery, the authors of this particular patent filing are listed as "Jobs; > Steven; et al." Clearly, the man has ads on the brain. > > Note also that Apple is said to be taking a deeper interest in ad-serving > technologies. For example, Bloomberg reported > (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=afcIzFP3iNrY) on > Saturday that the ever-talkative "people familiar with the matter" told it > that > Apple had been in acquisition talks with AdMob, the mobile-advertising > supplier > that Google bought > (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11/09/google_to_buy_admob/) last week for > $750m. > > Apple is not the only operating system vendor displaying an interest in > acquiring a piece of ad-revenue pie. Microsoft is also providing ad > opportunities (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11/13/windows_7_advertisers/) > that are now available as downloadable desktop themes, but that may soon > extend > to Windows 7 borders and sounds, gadgets, and IE 8 add-ons that would send > users to an advertiser's website. ® > > http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/01/14/apple_location_aware_patents/ -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. 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