HTC Virtual Book UI 1

HTC is working on next gen “Virtual Book” touch UI

Nowadays, every mobile company in the world is hard at work to come up with the best user interface  for their mobile touchscreen devices.
Samsung is developing TouchWiz, LG has S-Class, Nokia has S60 5th edition (Now Symbian^1) and Maemo 5, Sony Ericsson has their panels, even Acer has come up with it’s [...]

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Nokia 3D multi-touch

Nokia is exploring 3D multi-touch interface

By now, almost everyone has figured what a good touch interface on a mobile device should look like. Also, almost everyone is dabbling with at least some sort of multi-touch features on mobile devices.
Nokia is no exception here.
While Symbian based Nokia touch handsets might still be lagging behind the competition, their Maemo [...]

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iPhone call messaging

New in iPhone software patents

It’s Thursday, the patent day here at UV HQ, and it’s time to check out what new cool stuff  USPTO brought us this week.
Of course, the company everyone’s watching most closely is Apple. And they do not disappoint us. 2 new interesting iPhone software patent applications surfaced today, with some features that could [...]

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Apple device abuse detection

Apple’s device abuse detection system and the stupid exploding iPod story

An interesting Apple patent became public today on USPTO website.
It’s called “Consumer abuse detection system and method” and is meant to help Apple service reps to see whether the broken device you brought in was your fault or Apple’s.
To do that, Apple proposes placing a number of sensors that can detect liquid, thermal [...]

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RIM capacitive resistive patent

RIM files for hybrid capacitive/ resistive Blackberry touchscreen patent

In the minds of hardcore touch phone fans the answer about which – resistive or capacitive –  touchscreen technology is better, is already answered. And the clear winner is capacitive screen.
After all, capacitive touchscreen displays are faster, more responsive, support multi-touch, and are the holy grail of a modern user interface…
In real life it’s [...]

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RIM Blackberry rotator 1

RIM Blackberry form factor fantasies

A lot of the things that go on in the R&D labs of major handset makers do not usually make it to the actual devices or are ever seen by a  wider public.
But some bits  of what they are up to might be found in the patent applications that company files. And today it’s time [...]

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Google ringback patent

Google to monetize Voice via ringback advertising auctions?

The newly announced Google Voice looks like a great service that should ease your communication problems on multiple devices significantly.
And Google is already thinking of the ways of monetizing Voice. In a way it knows best – through advertising. And it just might work.
When I use my phone, there is actually one time, when I wouldn’t [...]

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Apple headset memory patent

Apple thinks of adding flash memory to headsets to ease new device configs

Remember that exciting time when you buy your new phone or media player and start playing with it? Me too.
But there’s also one problem. Through the years of using, you’ve set-up your old device to work with perfectly.
You know – things like fast dial numbers, equalizer settings, network connection passwords, bookmarks, shortcuts to [...]

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iPhone object recognition

Next in your iPhone OS: live object identification, face recognition, text filtering, smarter messaging, voice alteration

Apple guys  do keep themselves busy thinking up new ways how to improve their iPhone OS software. And Apple’s  patent applications give us a glimpse of how they may go about it.
Last we told you about event based modes, intelligent and scheduled communications that could come with your new iPhone 4.0 [...]

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Remote input sleeve by Nokia

Remote input sleeve from Nokia

Nokia seems to be a bit behind the competitors in figuring out how to make full touch user interface work on it’s smartphones.
But they are getting better at this and should eventually figure things out.
In the meantime Nokia R&D labs aren’t sitting still too, and are looking for a new ways to control [...]

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