5 ms·

Google's Nexus 7 discovered to have Smart Cover-like magnetic sensor

52 points by prayag 14y ago

bryogenic 14y ago
Missing from the specs because of Apple's patent? http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-adv.htm&r=16&p=1&f=G&l=50&d=PTXT&S1=%2820120320.PD.%20AND%20Apple.ASNM.%29&OS=ISD/20120320%20AND%20AN/Apple&RS=%28ISD/20120320%20AND%20AN/Apple%29 http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sec...
- georgemcbay 14y ago
  I doubt it, at least not as it relates to the patent you linked. That patent is extremely specific to the exact form factor of the Smart Cover and it would be pretty easy to design other covers that are similar but not violations. Magnetic sensors in Android devices for the purposes of changing functionality are nothing new, my old Motorola Droid (which predates the Apple patent filing by years) had one that it used to determine car docking state.
  - Zenst 14y ago
    Spot on and Apples patent pertains to connecting things with magnets (how that got thru I realy don't know beyond patent officers need better drug testing IMHO). This is a magnetic sensor so Apple can do nothing. Maybe functionality is not enabled and this is why it is not mentioned. There were a few NFC phones that initialy in the earlier days did not mention they had NFC built in as the software was not ready to utilise it. Indeed there are probably many features in phones chipsets that don't get used, but are mearly a software update away. All technology has to some extent undocumented features - undocumented CPU instructions being a classic one of its time. maybe a better example is how some USB TV tuners can act as hardware for software radio's.
    - rch 14y ago
      That's my guess too - the power management software may need some refinement yet. Or maybe it's perfect, and being pushed upstream... that might keep it from being 'final' as well.
- prayag 14y ago
  This was my guess but I wonder if they will let 3rd party accessory developers to provide the missing piece. They can't be sued for that and it makes their offering much closer to the iPad.
Zenst 14y ago
RIM mobile phones have for years and years (least as long as I remember) had a magnetic sensor. With a official case that has a magnet in, it will turn the screen off and lock the device once it aligns with the magnet in the case - so pop phone into case on your belt and bingo - screen shuts off and phone locks. So I'm not sure what patent is being violated at all and indeed who's.
- nchlswu 14y ago
  It's amazing how much marketing can make a difference. When the Smart Cover released, it was like no one had ever heard of a BlackBerry.
  - mrkurt 14y ago
    To be fair, belt clip covers are not awesome.
donniezazen 14y ago
Android accessories are often pretty cheap in price and quality. Apple Smart Cover is a well made product.
- Synaesthesia 14y ago
  It's alright. I still think its overpriced.

52 points by prayag 14y ago

Missing from the specs because of Apple's patent? http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-adv.htm&r=16&p=1&f=G&l=50&d=PTXT&S1=%2820120320.PD.%20AND%20Apple.ASNM.%29&OS=ISD/20120320%20AND%20AN/Apple&RS=%28ISD/20120320%20AND%20AN/Apple%29 http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sec...

georgemcbay 14y ago
I doubt it, at least not as it relates to the patent you linked. That patent is extremely specific to the exact form factor of the Smart Cover and it would be pretty easy to design other covers that are similar but not violations. Magnetic sensors in Android devices for the purposes of changing functionality are nothing new, my old Motorola Droid (which predates the Apple patent filing by years) had one that it used to determine car docking state.
- Zenst 14y ago
  Spot on and Apples patent pertains to connecting things with magnets (how that got thru I realy don't know beyond patent officers need better drug testing IMHO). This is a magnetic sensor so Apple can do nothing. Maybe functionality is not enabled and this is why it is not mentioned. There were a few NFC phones that initialy in the earlier days did not mention they had NFC built in as the software was not ready to utilise it. Indeed there are probably many features in phones chipsets that don't get used, but are mearly a software update away. All technology has to some extent undocumented features - undocumented CPU instructions being a classic one of its time. maybe a better example is how some USB TV tuners can act as hardware for software radio's.
  - rch 14y ago
    That's my guess too - the power management software may need some refinement yet. Or maybe it's perfect, and being pushed upstream... that might keep it from being 'final' as well.
prayag 14y ago
This was my guess but I wonder if they will let 3rd party accessory developers to provide the missing piece. They can't be sued for that and it makes their offering much closer to the iPad.

Zenst 14y ago

RIM mobile phones have for years and years (least as long as I remember) had a magnetic sensor. With a official case that has a magnet in, it will turn the screen off and lock the device once it aligns with the magnet in the case - so pop phone into case on your belt and bingo - screen shuts off and phone locks. So I'm not sure what patent is being violated at all and indeed who's.

nchlswu 14y ago
It's amazing how much marketing can make a difference. When the Smart Cover released, it was like no one had ever heard of a BlackBerry.
- mrkurt 14y ago
  To be fair, belt clip covers are not awesome.

donniezazen 14y ago

Android accessories are often pretty cheap in price and quality. Apple Smart Cover is a well made product.

Synaesthesia 14y ago
It's alright. I still think its overpriced.