Apple has become a nightmare for Smartphone vendors especially for the world leading mobile handset manufacturer “Samsung”. Apple has rigorously been litigating the South Korean electronic giant since last year and now, it seems the fight will be getting more tougher due to Apple’s latest patent. Yes, the company’s latest patent has really threatened to all Smartphone vendors.
Apple has won a patent related to the iPhone’s graphical user interface for displaying electronics list and documents. Apple introduced iPhone in 2007 with touchscreen interface and thereafter, it became the standard for all modern Smartphones. Really, ask to any older smartphone users, for them, use of the device was very clumsy due to more number of physical buttons and huge crowd on tiny Smartphone screen.
Apple legitimated to its endeavor in the Smartphone realm, a patent related to method of displaying documents, lists and other stuffs on the portable electronics device. Indeed, the patent covers almost all graphical user interfaces including email, camera roll, multi-touch interface and more.
Apple’s CEO–Tim Cook–said at the D10 conference, “From our point of view, it’s important that Apple not be the developer for the world. We can’t take all of our energy and all of our care and finish the painting, then have someone else put their name on it.”
At present, a significant number of Smartphone manufacturers are using the same user-interface algorithm which Apple has legitimated. Basically, this interface is used to display electronics list and documents in more lucrative way. As the number of features are increasing, it has become a challenge for the manufactures to design such a user interface so that users can seamlessly interact with multifunction of the device.
You might have remembered, in 2007 , RIM added more physical buttons for users to access the increasing amount of information on mobile device. But it was really embarrassing for users to memorize all complicated key sequences and menu hierarchies. Undoubtedly, Apple’s touchscreen interface has discovered more transparent and intuitive way to access a significant number of information on Smartphone screen.
Apple’s injunctions for copycatting of iPhone and iPad models have already intensified Samsung’s wound. And this time, Apple has received a granted patent related to user-interface for Smartphone. At present, almost all Android devices are using the same methodology of interfacing and it could be a big threat for its partners. Undoubtedly, they will have to look for an alternative, otherwise to be ready for paying patent royalty.
Image Credit: Patently Apple
