Summary
The post explores significant patent acquisitions and applications by major technology firms in February 2015, focusing on Google’s purchase of the Odysee photo-sharing app, Apple’s button-less Touch ID patent, and Google’s auto-Incognito Mode patent. Each acquisition is analysed in terms of its unique features and the speculation it generated in the technology market. The discussion highlights how these patents signal potential strategic moves by Google and Apple, particularly regarding product enhancement and competitive positioning. The analysis remains objective, considering both the technical merits and the speculation surrounding these developments. The post references original sources and maintains a factual perspective throughout.
Whenever an organization acquires any patent there is a whole lot of speculation that hits the market along with the product. Let us now see some of these acquisitions that made highlights in February, 2015.
(1) Google acquires Odysee.
Google has purchased Odysee, an iOS and Android app concerned with the backing up and sharing of photos.
Why would Google need this? It has Google+ photos!
Odysee’s capabilities are slightly different. It allows for full quality photos to be automatically backed up, via the cloud, to your computer. At the same time, Odysee concerns itself with seamless private sharing of these high quality images.
What’s the speculation about?
It has been rumored that Google is looking to separate its photos feature into a stand-alone app. Bulking out its feature-set would be a natural move if the company wants to be able to compete with the other formidable photo-sharing
services out there.
(2) Apple’s button-less Touch ID patent
According to a patent that was recently unveiled, Apple is looking at ways to incorporate Touch ID into the very touchscreen of its devices.
Why?
Apple is now making iPhones with significantly bigger displays then before, and it can do so because these phones are slimmer, and the side bezels are thinner. There’s one major area to improve, though, and that’s the top and bottom bezel areas.
What is the speculation about?
It is about the potential for a significantly smaller iPhone. As well as, how the home button is now limiting compact Apple and can go with its phone design. It will almost certainly be removed in the years to come, and now we know that this won’t come at the expense of the Touch ID.
(3) Google’s auto-Incognito Mode patent
Google has just won a patent for a kind of smart Incognito Mode that automatically engages a private web browsing session where appropriate.
Why do we need this?
Right now, if you want to start a private web browsing session, where no cookies, history, or web caching files are stored locally, you have to do so manually. Google’s proposal is that this process could be initiated automatically every time you access certain websites – whether they relate to banking, log-in screens, payment inputs, or something a little more risky.
Given that this patent request was filed back in 2011, it’s quite possible that Google is about ready to roll with this handy feature in the near-future version of Chrome.
Reference: Site 1
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