



I. Monopoly is Almost in Apple's Grasp




Apple gavel





II. Ubiquitous Patent Won't Expire Until 2028



Apple iPhone 4S
[Image Source: Carlos Rull]



III. How Did We Get Here?




Apple iPhone
[Image Source: David Paul Morris/Getty Images]





Game over



Source: FOSS Patents

Comments     Threshold


So what is affected?
By drycrust3 on 4/3/2012 6:05:53 AM , Rating: 2
If Apple's patent claim is upheld, then what is covered? Sure, unlocking ... sorry ... the "using the slide unlock" feature is affected (because a PIN number is covered by a different patent), so what else is affected? The "rolling screens" affect may be affected too, so what else? Page up and page down on a browser?
If that is it, then I can't see how this would be the end to Android, it will just mean methods covered by non-Apple patents will need to be used, e.g. using the volume control to page up and page down on the browser. Sure, that will leave those "slide" features to being distinctive of Apple products, but will that make a huge difference? My belief is people don't buy Apple products either for philosophical reasons or because they can't afford them, so people that do buy Android will have to accept a phone without a slide unlock, etc. I can't see those who won't buy Apple products for philosophical reasons changing their purchasing decisions because of that, and I think those who buy Android because of the price difference will only feel less love for Apple than they would otherwise have done, which may affect their future buying preferences, but hardly their current decisions.
The move towards paying for goods in a store with your cellphone will mean the "slide unlock" is simply not good enough anyway, you will need to back up the unlock process with at least a PIN number, and then the slide unlock becomes cumbersome and users will want to remove it anyway.
All in all, I don't think this is going to be the "killer app" Apple are hoping it will be.

