Hasta La Gadget!

Steve Jobs doesn’t like fingerprints any more than you do, and given the man’s focus on aesthetic perfection, we suspect that smudged displays are the sort of thing that keeps him awake at night. Apple has certainly flirted with oleophobic anti-grease displays in the past, but a newly surfaced patent application takes the whole thing to a new level. “Direct Liquid Vaporization for Oleophobic Coatings” outlines an intense process for the application of a grease resistant coating, whereby the substance is “placed in a liquid supply system coupled to a vacuum chamber,” pressurized, vaporized, and then deposited. Take that, finger grease.

Apple patent application proves that Steve Jobs hates fingerprints as much as you do, probably more originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 20:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple uses an oleophobic coating to keep fingerprints and oil from mucking up device displays. Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com

All that swiping and tapping on your iPhone takes a heavy toll on the screen, leaving it a streaked and grimy mess.

Apple’s been battling our greasy fingers for years, and a recently discovered patent application describes a new way of making sure our oily fingers don’t mar future generations of gadgets from Cupertino.

In the application, Apple describes a way of depositing an oleophobic substance that bonds with the screen. It uses a direct liquid application called Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD).

Image: Patently Apple

Apple’s no stranger to oleophobic (the term describes something that rejects or repels oil) surfaces. The iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 use them, as does the iPad.

It works well enough, but it’s also possible — though rare — to remove the coating if you clean the screen with anything abrasive. It also could wear off over time through normal usage.

Patently Apple describes the process:

The oleophobic ingredient could be provided as part of a raw liquid material in one or more concentrations. To avoid adverse reactions due to exposure to air, heat, or humidity, the raw liquid material can be placed in a bottle purged with an inert gas during the manufacturing process.

The bottle could be placed in a liquid supply system having a mechanism for controlling the amount of raw liquid material that passes through the liquid supply system. Upon reaching the vaporizing unit, the liquid could be vaporized and the oleophobic ingredient within the liquid can then be deposited on the electronic device component surface. As the liquid supply is drained from the bottle, additional inert gas is supplied in its place to further prevent contamination.

This patent was filed in February, so the method described may not currently be in use yet.

via Cult of Mac

Really, there’s nothing new in Apple’s patent flirtation with the world of projection, but the latest application does take things to a whole new level, with pico projectors connected to the iPhone, iPad and MacBook. Cupertino’s “Projected Display Shared Workspaces” patent application details a utopian universe wherein tiny projectors are connected to Apple products, with communication links across devices that allow for the sharing of image data between projected displays in the aforementioned “shared workspaces.” Oh, and included cameras let the user interact with the displays via gestures, Wii-style, which puts our old projector shadow puppet shows to shame.

Apple pico projector patent application makes shared workspaces fun again originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple has succeeded in getting the Galaxy Tab 10.1 blocked from import into most of Europe — but not the Netherlands. Today the initial proceedings in the legal dispute between the two companies there came to a close, an apparently entertaining show that saw Apple attempting to make the case that its design is being stolen. Apple presented online market research indicating that 80% of respondents found the iPad and Galaxy Tab 10.1 to be “identical” or at least “similar in general impression,” a study that apparently did not impress the judge. Apple also alleged infringement from the Galaxy S and the Galaxy Ace, while Samsung, for its part, said Apple’s claims were far too vague, enough so that any digital photo frame would be in trouble.

While Danny Crane sadly did not make an appearance the presiding judge still seemed rather amused, calling the various legal representatives “terriers” according to Andreas Udo de Haes, an editor at Webwereld who live-tweeted the proceedings. The judge finished by saying a ruling would come on September 15th and if indeed an injunction were coming it won’t appear until October 13th. So, tablet fans in the Netherlands, know that you have at least two months worth of worry-free shopping ahead of you.

[Thanks, Paul]

NL ruling on Apple vs. Samsung dispute due on 9/15, courtroom antics catalogued originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 10:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The plot thickens yet again in the seemingly endless patent war between Apple and Samsung. A new ruling by a regional court in Dusseldorf, Germany has granted Cupertino a preliminary injunction, blocking the sale and advertising of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 across Europe, save for the Netherlands. Samsung can still appeal the ruling — in the meanwhile, however, the decision will stand. According to The Telegraph, the likely appeal will take about a month to be heard by the judge who granted the injunction.

German Apple suit ruling blocks Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 sale in Europe originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 13:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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