Patent Application Furthers Apple iPod Speculation
In November 2004, Apple filed for a patent for "audio user interface for computing devices". This was just published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office causing increasing speculation about the release of the Apple iPhone.
Patent Application Furthers Apple iPod Speculation
In November 2004, Apple filed for a patent for "audio user interface for computing devices". This was just published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office causing increasing speculation about the release of the Apple iPhone.
Language from the application talks about "an audio user interface that generates audio prompts that help a user navigate through the features of a computing device. The audio prompts provide audio indicators that allow a user to focus his or her visual attention upon other tasks such as driving an automobile, exercising, or crossing a street." This latest patent filing could be describing a new iPod interface, rather than an iPhone. It is expected the iPhone will be a merge of both iPod and phone functionality. Voice command is readily available on smartphones, so it would make sense that any iteration of an Apple phone would require voice command. The addition of this feature would expand the iPods capabilities. For example, you could say, "Play next song" or "Play We Will Rock You".
Apple's patent covers a variety of devices including a phone. Here is yet another excerpt indicating this could be iPhone related. The computing device can be various types of devices such as, but not limited to, media players, mobile phones (e.g., cell phones), personal hand-held devices, game players, video players, digital cameras, and digital video cameras.
