In an apparent effort to make using a touchscreen possible sans eyesight, Nokia has filed a patent application describing "slider inputs lids." Essentially, these lids would be placed onto a touchscreen to enable users to input certain commands without actually having to look at what's going on. For instance, a circular lid could give you easy access to volume, while a horizontal version could easily slide through music tracks or voicemail messages. The documentation points out that lids could contain a switch that would allow users to access a second set of user interface inputs "based on the position of the lid in relation to the touch sensitive area." Granted, this does seem like a stretch, but there's a hint of promise in there somewhere, we suppose.

[Via UnwiredView]

Another day, another Sony Ericsson patent application. This go 'round, the filing describes a "housing arrangement for a portable device with a display," and details a reverse slider with a pop-up touchscreen. Once opened, the previously hidden display would boast "touch sensitive input," but little else is known about it beyond that. Overall, we're not exactly elated with how it looks in sketches, but it could definitely be worse.

[Via UnwiredView]

It's no secret that Apple loves its touchscreens, and a freshly published patent application provides a little reinforcement to that belief. The documentation explores a method for tossing in pressure-sensitivity to touchpads in order to add functionality, or as Cupertino puts it, "a new element of control." Furthermore, it's noted that "force information may be used as another input dimension for purposes of providing command and control signals to an associated electronic device," and it goes on to explain how spring membranes could be placed under the surface to detect force. Notably, the verbiage tends to "describe a touchpad like those used for the company's MacBook lines," but it does leave open the possibility for the newfangled pads to be used in mobile / portable devices such as the outfit's own iPhone.

In a patent application that outlines an invention sure to be the death of spare cradles, Samsung has conjured up the idea of a "self-cradling portable communication terminal." Essentially, this here device could enclose your battery in a hinged compartment that swivels around, which would enable cellphone users to place their handsets in a "docked position" without needing an actual cradle. Brilliant, we say.

[Via UnwiredView]

Just days after hearing that Steve Jobs was indeed looking into the possibility of letting third party applications play nice with his precious iPhone, along comes a suitable patent application that further proves his hesitance to let it happen. Jobs didn't shy away from suggesting that non-native apps aren't usually cellphone-friendly, and a new filing from Cupertino's lair details an "accessory detector" that would "detect whether an external accessory coupled to the connector may interfere with wireless communication with the handheld device." Of course, no direct mention of the iPhone is given, but it sounds like this here invention would alert the user via on-screen messages and flurries of frightening noises if the inserted / installed accessory did not match up with an internally stored "list" of okayed devices. Additionally, the handset would be able to adjust itself on the fly if the add-on did indeed "interfere" with operations, and while no verbiage mentioned any kinds of shut downs or undercover dial-ups to Apple HQ for unauthorized use, there's always the possibility that this type of scrutiny could lead to an easier implementation of a "Made for iPhone" type royalty program.

[Via UnwiredView]

Sure, it's fair game to cram extra features into PDAs, but stuffing a "removable cellphone" into a personal digital assistant's hidden compartment isn't likely to go over well in this millennium. Nevertheless, a hopeful patent filing spills the deets concerning a comical device that apparently disregards the handsets we so often refer to as smartphones, as it describes a diminutive dedicated cellphone that clips into a PDA when not needed. Additionally, the mystical concept allows each device to sync information with one another, and claims to be a "do-it-all" machine that curiously requires two separate devices to pull it all off. Of course, the only obvious perks here are the ability the downsize and carry along just the mobile while your nagging relative enjoys a few of your MP3s on the PDA side, but considering the blossoming market of true all-in-one conglomerates, we don't see this one moving one inch past the paperwork. [Warning: PDF read link]

[Via Textually]

Joining Sony Ericsson in the growing list of cellphone-related patents unearthed today, it appears that Apple is doing a good bit of work behind the scenes to ensure that future iPhone users will be able to access and purchase tunes (and video?) from the iTunes Store. Apple's recently filed "Configuration of a computing device in a secure manner" patent lays out in a good bit of detail how users of a mobile device (wireless iPod?) could access the iTMS and perform "transactions." It goes on to speak of "digital signatures" that would presumably have to be validated before any unexpected downloads took place, and it also pictures a handset (props to Nokia candybars of days past) communicating with an actual PC, which then contacts the "content and commerce" servers on the other side of the wire. In other details, there's photo evidence that some sort of downloadable upgrades / expansions could be available, probably referring to future firmware updates that could be initiated through the iTunes application. Granted, the whole mess of legal jargon is a bit hard for the layman to truly grasp, and it seems that Apple was simply throwing out as many vague words and possibilities to encompass anything that actually gets decided, but be sure to hit the read link anyway for more textual confusion and pictorial delight.

Laptop docking stations are so early-2000s, as Sony Ericsson has already patented what is essentially a docking station for your cellphone, dubbing it a Mobile Phone Multimedia Cradle. As predicted, the envisioned device would function much like standard lappie docking stations do today, as it would dock one's cellphone for charging / syncing, feature a numeric keypad and QWERTY keyboard for dialing and typing, a built-in LCD screen for video out capabilities, and a variety of ports for peripheral connections. The device would allow users to surf the web, manage contacts / photos, transfer files, and basically do anything a highly-spec'd smartphone can do, but in your lap (and in place of a laptop). Of course, managing to play nice with every single powerful handset in the world would be a monumental challenge, and we're still a ways off from having a true laptop-replacing cellphone, but we'd wager that this here invention is certainly not a bad one to have on the drawing board. Click on through for a side-angle conception.

Regardless of what Mr. Jobs got up on stage and enunciated to us all, it seems Apple has quite the uphill battle to fight before this summer's big launch, and while it just might find a loophole to use the "iPhone" moniker here in the US (or not?), it looks the Canucks might have just shut Cupertino out. According to a trademark request in the Canadian Trademark Database, Apple's request to trademark the term "iPhone" has been "opposed" as of last week. Of course, the filing spills out a barrage of legal hub bub describing how Apple planned on using the term, a sequential list of events leading up the eventual denial, and lists Ontario's Comwave Telecom Inc. as an "Opponent," for whatever it's worth. Essentially, we're not particularly sure whether this opposition leaves the iPhone in Canada, but we're sure Apple isn't likely to take "no" for an answer.

[Thanks, Gord]