Future Windows Phones to have swappable accessories, Microsoft patent suggests
35 replies, posted
[img]http://www-bgr-com.vimg.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/MIcrosoft-multi-sllider-all110922162604.jpg[/img]
[quote]
A patent filing by Microsoft titled “Mobile Communication Device Having Multiple, Interchangeable Second Devices” was published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Thursday. The patent was originally filed on March 17th of last year and it describes a device that consists of a display and “multiple second devices” that can serve as accessories to the primary screen. We have seen this design executed before: Verizon Wireless launched the LG Versa in 2009 that could be equipped with a game pad accessory, but Microsoft has bigger plans. The patent describes the additional accessories as “more game controllers, batteries, physical keyboards or mobile phone handsets with a display.” Users can detach the devices too, and use wireless communications to interact with the primary display. It is a compelling concept although we aren’t so sure consumers will want to carry multiple accessories at once.[/quote]
[url]http://www.bgr.com/2011/09/23/future-windows-phones-to-have-swappable-accessories-microsoft-patent-suggests/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheBoyGeniusReport+%28BGR+|+Boy+Genius+Report%29[/url]
Smart of Microsoft to get hold of such a patent.
This patent is retarded. It's been done a million times before.
Hell, my TI calculator has swappable keypads.
[QUOTE=PvtCupcakes;32441750]This patent is retarded. It's been done a million times before.
Hell, my TI calculator has swappable keypads.[/QUOTE]
In the competitive business nowadays it's more of a smart idea to protect your business products.
[QUOTE=PvtCupcakes;32441750]This patent is retarded. It's been done a million times before.
Hell, my TI calculator has swappable keypads.[/QUOTE]
"This patent is retarded because my calculator can swap keyboards." -PvtCupcakes, September 23, 2011
AKA you're missing the point. A calculator is not a phone.
Why haven't any of the other smartphone manufacturers though of something like this before?
[QUOTE=PvtCupcakes;32441750]This patent is retarded. It's been done a million times before.
Hell, my TI calculator has swappable keypads.[/QUOTE]
Well then go ahead and place a call with your calculator.
[QUOTE=Soldier32;32441774]In the competitive business nowadays it's more of a smart idea to protect your business.[/QUOTE]
Severely puts limits on creativity though. It's understandable if the patent is very specific. However I think patents become absurd when they are putting limits on very simple, very broad things.
In this case (I've not read into it too much, don't shoot me down) it's phone accessories? As first reply says, its been done before and it's being done now. I think it would severely limit the brilliance spawned if something so broad were to be locked down by a patent.
It's a standardized "accessory port" that you can use to put a keyboard, extended battery, or gamepad in. I think it's a welcome change to make a phone more versatile.
[QUOTE=Protocol7;32441829]It's a standardized "accessory port" that you can use to put a keyboard, extended battery, or gamepad in. I think it's a welcome change to make a phone more versatile.[/QUOTE]
a welcome change which microsoft owns the patent for
how is this good
[QUOTE=MisterMooth;32441850]a welcome change which microsoft owns the patent for
how is this good[/QUOTE]
Would you rather Apple hold the patent?
[QUOTE=Protocol7;32441853]Would you rather Apple hold the patent?[/QUOTE]
I'd rather this patent not even exist.
[QUOTE=MisterMooth;32441892]I'd rather this patent not even exist.[/QUOTE]
So a company gets an idea for something smart and you don't want anyone to protect their intellectual property?
[QUOTE=Protocol7;32441899]So a company gets an idea for something smart and you don't want anyone to protect their intellectual property?[/QUOTE]
It's nothing more than a vague concept which has been done before in a similar fashion (as pointed out in the article, even).
How can you call this a welcome change when Microsoft (or anyone, for that matter) holds the patent to it? This isn't helping the mobile phone market.
[QUOTE=MisterMooth;32441975]It's nothing more than a vague concept which has been done before in a similar fashion (as pointed out in the article, even).
How can you call this a welcome change when Microsoft (or anyone, for that matter) holds the patent to it? This isn't helping the mobile phone market.[/QUOTE]
The patent is specific to Windows phones which helps to set the platform apart from other smartphones. I don't see an issue with that. iPhones have an ease of use advantage, Android is overall the most powerful, and Windows phones are versatile.
I don't see how it's not "helping the mobile phone market"; Microsoft will win over more people with this feature. If all phone patents had to apply to all phones, that would be terrible. This is something unique enough that I can't see all smartphones using it in the future.
[QUOTE=Protocol7;32441853]Would you rather Apple hold the patent?[/QUOTE]
Well they couldn't really do anything with it.
[QUOTE=minilandstan;32442074]Well they couldn't really do anything with it.[/QUOTE]
I know, I was just saying, what's the harm in MS holding the patent.
[QUOTE=Protocol7;32442005]The patent is specific to Windows phones which helps to set the platform apart from other smartphones. I don't see an issue with that. iPhones have an ease of use advantage, Android is overall the most powerful, and Windows phones are versatile.
I don't see how it's not "helping the mobile phone market"; Microsoft will win over more people with this feature. If all phone patents had to apply to all phones, that would be terrible. This is something unique enough that I can't see all smartphones using it in the future.[/QUOTE]
So you wouldn't like it if Apple held the patent, but you're OK with Microsoft holding it?
[QUOTE=MisterMooth;32442118]So you wouldn't like it if Apple held the patent, but you're OK with Microsoft holding it?[/QUOTE]
Well, like Minilandstan said, they couldn't use it. Android phones are already so varied, maybe they can use it, but it's not like one person controls the manufacturing requirements of their phones so it's not really useful. But Windows phone needs something new to make the platform more unique, so why can't Microsoft have it? Or is this a case of "If I can't have it, you can't either?"
[QUOTE=Protocol7;32442145]Well, like Minilandstan said, they couldn't use it. Android phones are already so varied, maybe they can use it, but it's not like one person controls the manufacturing requirements of their phones so it's not really useful. But Windows phone needs something new to make the platform more unique, so why can't Microsoft have it? Or is this a case of "If I can't have it, you can't either?"[/QUOTE]
Why does the patent's owner matter?
My argument is that a patent like this shouldn't even be allowed. It's too broad a concept.
[QUOTE=Protocol7;32441775]"This patent is retarded because my calculator can swap keyboards." -PvtCupcakes, September 23, 2011
AKA you're missing the point. A calculator is not a phone.[/QUOTE]
Oh wow, they took a concept that's been used a million times but made it for ~mobile phones~. Because that makes it so much different.
[QUOTE=MisterMooth;32442230]Why does the patent's owner matter?
My argument is that a patent like this shouldn't even be allowed. It's too broad a concept.[/QUOTE]
If the patents owner doesn't matter then why did you bother asking me "So you wouldn't like it if Apple held the patent, but you're OK with Microsoft holding it?"
And conceptually it is broad - but the actual patent itself seems too awkward to catch on. Most smartphones are candybar style anyway.
[QUOTE=PvtCupcakes;32442348]Oh wow, they took a concept that's been used a million times but made it for ~mobile phones~. Because that makes it so much different.[/QUOTE]
Your point being...?
[QUOTE=Protocol7;32442353]If the patents owner doesn't matter then why did you bother asking me "So you wouldn't like it if Apple held the patent, but you're OK with Microsoft holding it?"
And conceptually it is broad - but the actual patent itself seems too awkward to catch on. Most smartphones are candybar style anyway.[/QUOTE]
Because you appear to be sympathising with them just because they're Microsoft. I'd imagine you're like most other people here and get outraged whenever Apple sues someone else because it violates their patents, and I'm sure you wouldn't be happy if Apple were the ones who patented this. But why is it better if Microsoft does the same thing?
In the end, it's simply the patents office we can blame for all this. Patents like these shouldn't be accepted.
[QUOTE=MisterMooth;32442421]Because you appear to be sympathising with them just because they're Microsoft. I'd imagine you're like most other people here and get outraged whenever Apple sues someone else because it violates their patents, and I'm sure you wouldn't be happy if Apple were the ones who patented this. But why is it better if Microsoft does the same thing?
In the end, it's simply the patents office we can blame for all this. Patents like these shouldn't be accepted.[/QUOTE]
I'm saying it's a breath of fresh air that Windows phone needs, and we all know Apple will never put hardware keyboards on their mobile phones anyway. But yeah, it would be better off unpatented because Android phones could make better use of these things, what with better apps and all.
Am I the only one who doesnt have a clue about what the film reel looking one will do?
[QUOTE=hoot37;32442500]Am I the only one who doesnt have a clue about what the film reel looking one will do?[/QUOTE]
Probably secondary screen to view pictures, or maybe even develop film (where the fuck the film goes I have no idea.)
[QUOTE=Protocol7;32441899]So a company gets an idea for something smart and you don't want anyone to protect their intellectual property?[/QUOTE]
They got ahold of somethin somebody else came with, only nobody didn't ever utilized it in a cellphone yet.
That's like if Bell at some point back in history said "Well, no helicopter had wheeled landing chassis, so we will patent helicopters having wheels, now."
Somebody could have also patented cellphone with a camera in it. That would be also the completely same thing.
Slapping two generally known and used things together shouldn't be regarded as a revolutionary idea to be usurped by one company.
It doesn't matter a lot, this won't sell. All trends today head for simplification and software versatility of cellphones, this is going in the exactly opposite direction. It will be failure, like nearly everything Microsoft has ever done on the cellphone market (profit-wise).
[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;32442719]They got ahold of somethin somebody else came with, only nobody didn't ever utilized it in a cellphone yet.
That's like if Bell at some point back in history said "Well, no helicopter yet had wheels, so we will patent helicopters having wheels, now."
Somebody could have also patented cellphone with a camera in it. That would be also the completely same thing.
Slapping two generally known and used things together shouldn't be regarded as a revolutionary idea to be usurped by one company.
It doesn't matter a lot, this won't sell. All trends today head for simplification and software versatility of cellphones, this is going in the exactly opposite direction. It will be failure, like nearly everything Microsoft has ever done on the cellphone market (profit-wise).[/QUOTE]
That's what innovation is. You look at other shit, and go, "Oh, that's cool, how can we make that useful for our product?"
But yeah, it seems pretty hit and miss. As it is with all detachable things it will probably feel really cheap and unstable.
Was anyone else reminded of this?
[URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/577/514pxffccna.jpg/][IMG]http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/4498/514pxffccna.th.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
wow i cant imagine carrying like 4 different switch things in my pocket, this is a pretty backwards patent as far as mobiles go
[QUOTE=Bobie;32442891]wow i cant imagine carrying like 4 different switch things in my pocket, this is a pretty backwards patent as far as mobiles go[/QUOTE]
QWERTY keyboard + Gamepad, if you don't play games, carry the extended battery instead, simple.
[QUOTE=Protocol7;32442739]That's what innovation is. You look at other shit, and go, "Oh, that's cool, how can we make that useful for our product?"
But yeah, it seems pretty hit and miss. As it is with all detachable things it will probably feel really cheap and unstable.[/QUOTE]
(Patented) innovation should in my opinion be limited to something like completely new kind of product, a new manufacturing process, a new chemical, and so on. Something like a random generator combining the word "cellphone" and two random words from dictionary, ending up with "replaceable keyboard cellphone" shouldn't be allowed to be patented, because it's too generic and too vague.
What if microsoft implemented this idea (which really takes litelarly no effort to come with), and they just failed to deliver a version in the cellphone class you want? For instance, what if it only got implemented into some of their top-price range models? No other manufacturer would be able to make a cheap cellphone which would use the same thing.
Patents should protect ideas which had significant effort and resources behind them. When they are used to block a generic vague indea from being used by other competitors, it hurts the customers.
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