Apple improved metadata using OCR and voice recognition

Apple has decided to get all Startrek on us with this patent application.

The problem with metdata is that it’s a bit boring- here is an excerpt from a digital photograph (mdls is a useful commandline tool that lists all a files metdata):

Another article in the series on Apple’s plans for Spotlight: Hierarchical Nested “Smart Folders” and (more) Human Readable Queries

Apple, Chardonnay, Leopard and Spotlight
Apple’s Patent applications offer new insight into Spotlight and perhaps OS X 10.5

Apple applies for MORE patents for a touch screen user interface- this time it’s how the virtual keyboard would appear on screen. Will this flow of patent applications never cease? Does a million patent applications make a product or are they merely trying to get some licensing returns from end-of-line projects?

Apple has had the idea of iPod dock for a long time- but hasn’t been able to implement it. Here are some patent application ideas that probably won’t see the light of day. Though maybe a bluetooth touchsensitive iPod would make the perfect trackpad?. Mmmh, i like the idea. An iPod as a Mouse killer- perfect when you look at Portal Players recent wireless improvements. The iPod becomes the rumored remote control (and mouse)…

Is the touch sensitive iPod going to be a reality? you be the judge after seeing these images from Apple’s latest patent application

Phone designer for Sony Ericsson head of interface design at Apple?

Peter Kennedy leaves a very small footprint on the internet- probably because the people he works for value his silence and reticence. There are a number of Patent applications floating out in the ether with his name on them. Prior to working for Apple it seems Kennedy worked on projects for both IBM and SONY ERICSSON. What could Apple want with someone with an interest in User interfaces for phones? cough iPhone…

European Filing of new Apple Hardware Patent for a Multipoint Touchscreen- Apple has designed the hardware which would allow touch screens that can recognise up to 15 simulantous touches of the screen- this would eanble the ‘guestures’ user interface described in resent patents.

Apple has come up with some interesting ways to over come the big hands/small widgets problem

The invention generally pertains to gestures and methods of implementing gestures with touch sensitive devices. Examples of touch sensitive devices include touch screens and touch pads. One aspect of the invention relates to recognizing at least two simultaneously occurring gestures. Another aspect of the invention relates to displaying a graphical image and linking different touches that occur to the graphical image. Another aspect of the invention relates to immediately recognizing gestures so that actions associated with the gestures can be implemented at the same time. Another aspect of the invention relates to changing a displayed image based on and in unison with a gestural input, i.e., the displayed image continuously changes with changes in the gestural input such that the displayed image continuously follows the gestural input. Another aspect of the invention relates to implementing an input mode based on the number of fingers (or other object) in contact with the input device. Another aspect of the invention relates to providing region sensitivity where gestures mean different things when implemented over different areas of the input device. Another aspect of the invention relates to changing an input while making continuous contact with the touch sensitive surface of the touch sensitive device.