This latest Apple patent application isn't for anything cool or fun like touch screen gestures requiring both hands or anything tablet related. No, this is for an ad-supported OS that could make an operating system either entirely or partially funded by advertisements, meaning free to the end user.
While such a scheme might make business heads
whir, the idea of a computer that features "visual or audible"
advertisements that disable "one or more functions while the
advertisement is being presented," sounds like user hell. We can just
imagine writing really starting to come together, you're in the zone
and the words are simply flying out of you, when all of a sudden the
keyboard ceases working and up pops a cheesy Mentos commercial. And all
your inspiration is gone.
Count us out, Steve-o.
benet
November 10, 2009 at 8:32pm
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mr100percent
October 26, 2009 at 12:54am
The marketplace rejected the idea. Remember PeoplePC? Apple probably does too.
frigmous
October 23, 2009 at 8:45am
Patent it now, charge Google for it when GoogleOS comes out. Make millions from people who hate Windows!
solafide
October 23, 2009 at 5:13am
It could be that this is for a future version of the OS to reside on the Apple TV, or for the Mac OS when in "TV watching mode". Imagine what we (read, at least "I") have wanted - to have a completely on demand access to entertainment. I agreed with SJ when the ITMS first came out that people wanted to own their music, not rent their music. When it comes to movies and TV shows, it is a different story. I don't want (anymore) to have shelves and shelves of DVDs or to have huge, backed-up hard drive storage for maintaining a digital video library. I'd much rather have on demand access to a vast archive of movies and TV shows, as well as live news and sports events - let someone else maintain the huge library - I'll pay a monthly subscription fee to watch what I want, when I want. I'd rather not rent or buy each show or movie.The problem from getting here (ad-supported broadcast television) to there is the giant elephant (the incumbent business model) that refuses to get out of the way. In an on demand subscription system, if I have to deal with advertisements, I'd rather have some control over when I watch them, and I want some return for doing so. It is possible that this new patent is to enable this kind of system. Instead of the current network Internet TV model which forces you to watch ads intrusively (just like broadcast TV), it would be nice to have a system where I could watch ads in product areas I am interested in or, if I choose, a generalized pool of ads, but with some control over when I watch them. Also, it would be great to have this take away all or a portion of the monthly subscription bill, based on how many ads I watch.Maybe this is the model that Apple is working towards. They are building a huge new data center in North Carolina. Maybe Apple will become the leading on demand media distributor as well as a leader in cloud computing for home and the enterprise.TiVo is a worthy attempt to turn the current broadcast system into an on demand system. Though many have thought Apple should buy them and put this functionality in the Apple TV, Apple has not because it is not the future - it is an add-on to the old broadcast model. Maybe this patent points to a brighter future, not doom for the computer user.
zachsterza1994
October 23, 2009 at 4:48am
maybe they plan on selling that software to google when google's OS comes out or something. I never imagined apple with ad's.
lzy23
October 22, 2009 at 10:27pm
Either that OR they wish to reach out to MORE people with a slightly lowered cost of the software.
stevengu
October 22, 2009 at 9:42pm
This can't be right! Why would Jobs apply for a patent that allows an OS to be funded by advertisements? This just doesn't seem like him. This must be a huge mistake!
