Today, Apple got the patent for their revolutionary “unlock gesture” on iPhones. From the beginning of the Apple iPhone series, the text which says “ Slide to Unlock ” and the button which moves along a path was really a unique way to unlock a touch screen device. But Later, when the touch screen phones of different phone makers powered by Android OS was released they also used the same (almost) gesture for unlocking the device. I think it is the best way to unlock the device. But, things changed now. Apple submitted patent for their unlock method back in 2005 and here they are now with the patent on their hands. The real problem is yet to begin. A brief look at the patent description;
“A device with a touch-sensitive display may be unlocked via gestures performed on the touch-sensitive display. The device is unlocked if contact with the display corresponds to a predefined gesture for unlocking the device. The device displays one or more unlock images with respect to which the predefined gesture is to be performed in order to unlock the device. The performance of the predefined gesture with respect to the unlock image may include moving the unlock image to a predefined location and/or moving the unlock image along a predefined path. The device may also display visual cues of the predefined gesture on the touch screen to remind a user of the gesture.”
According to the patent, if you use gesture like swipe the screen, or move your finger in a predefined path showing on the display, or follow a button on the screen to unlock the touch screen display other than on a Apple iPhone device then, its the clear violation of the patent and you will be sued for violation. The main problem is for the Android devices where you can see similar unlock method as described in the patent.
Apple didn’t made any move against Google Android or any other mobile OS. So, In Short, Unless the Android developers find a new way to unlock the screen like you see on the Nokia N9 (Double Tap screen to unlock) or anything this is a perfect patent violation and Apple is free to sue who violates their patent. Hope Android folks will roll out a new update soon!
Ouch, this is big time ammunition and is broad enough to cover even the new security unlock features which display a pad of 9 numbers and you slide your finger in a fluid motion across your specific number pattern to unlock phone. Maybe a tap code to unlock phone will be only way to get around the patent.
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You are rite. Folks at Nokia got it rite. Seems like Double Tap to unlock is the only way. Google will definitely find some other way for sure.
Now Google has to be a little create in designing another method to unlock the phone
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I'm sure that competitors will claim prior art on this, as it was in phones like the Neonode n1m before the iphone and before Apple first filed the patent.
The wording that's appeared on some news stories almost seems to suggest that Apple have tried patenting gestures in general! I'm sure there's more specifics and perhaps this applies only to the exact way Apple have implemented it, and other gestures like a swipe down are OK.
The part that I think is going to hurt Android the most is the hap-tic feedback when you unlock your mobile phone. Facial unlock will only work if you are facing your phone directly on the screen. A lot of times i find my self unlocking it on a desk or while taking it out of my pocket nonchalantly, now i have to take it out, have it face me, and wait for it to recognize me, and hope someone don’t try to unlock my phone using my photo.
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You are absolutely rite Mika. That is the main prob of face unlock what if person sitting in the classroom or attending a meeting needs to unlock the phone. But, you can never unlock your phone using a photo of yours. So, dont worry about that. It's not just your face there is something else the software use to get the unlock pattern from your live face.
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Thanks for sharing this great article. I really think it's great that apple tries to protect their devices but at some parts they over react a little bit. Keep on the good wrok!
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This move by Apple simply shows their fear losing the market share Peter….Unless Apple makes their phone affordable for all there is no way of survival…But, the whole credit always should go to Apple. I also believe Android copied some ideas from iOS.