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> "and the vertical bar is not a scroll bar." These words were added to get around prior art. All Google would need to do is allow its position indicator to als
by kbutler 14y ago
> "and the vertical bar is not a scroll bar." These words were added to get around prior art. All Google would need to do is allow its position indicator to also function as a scroll bar and this patent doesn't apply.
Interesting to note that on OS/X Lion, the indicator DOES function as a scrollbar. And when it doesn't on IOS, it bugs me (try flicking through a very long document with the non-grabable indicator on iOS). Sounds like Apple has been granted a patent for a less-usable variant of an existing technology.
- i_cannot_hack 14y agoHow can you possible be granted a patent for the removal of a function from an existing idea? Can I take away the headlights from a car and patent it as something new?
- pgeorgi 14y agoheadlights of a headlights-less car probably qualify.
- nuclear_eclipse 14y agoAlso of note is that most disappearing scroll indicators in Android are scroll bars; if you can drag on the indicator before it disappears, you can use it to quickly scroll large distances in a big document or list.
- jack-r-abbit 14y agoI was thinking the same thing. But my current phone does not do that any more. I liked that feature. Maybe now Google will be forced to bring it. :)