Apple has been sued by Taiwan based manufacturer Elan Microelectronics Corp. for reportedly infringing two of its patents for touchscreen technology. The lawsuit, filed in a US District Court here on Tuesday, accuses Apple of infringing on Elan patents in its iBook, PowerBook and MacBook portable computers, the iPhone smartphone and the iPod Touch digital music player.

“Each of these devices includes a touch-sensitive input device capable of detecting the simultaneous presence of two or more fingers or other capacitive objects using the structure and methods claimed in (Elan’s) 352 patent,” the complaint said.

Elan alleged that the iPhone and iPod Touch infringe on another patent held by the Taiwan company. The complaint claims the patent infringement is causing Elan “irreparable harm,” asks the court to put an end to it and demands unspecified damages from the Cupertino, California-based Apple.

According to The New York Times, Elan filed suit in 2006 against another US company, Synaptics, over one of the patents mentioned in the Apple lawsuit. It said Synaptics countersued and both actions were dismissed last year after the companies reached a cross-licensing agreement.

(Source) AFP

Tags: Apple, apple lawsuit, Business, damages, digital music player, elan microelectronics, input device, iPhone, iPod Touch, patent infringement, patents, portable computers, powerbook, smartphone, taiwan company

Gamers are bound to love these two new gadgets unveiled by Performance Designed Products (PDP) that will change the face of gaming. The 2 new devices are the GameTrak Freedom and SmartStylus.

Gametrak Freedom is a proprietary and patent-pending ultrasonic 3D motion sensing technology that delivers performance, increased control and flexibility. The system is comprised of a base unit, which attaches to the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft via USB, and a hand-held controller.

Unlike other motion sensing gaming systems, Gametrak Freedom does not rely on the gamer pointing a controller at the screen, nor does it restrict the gamer to limited movements. The system accurately tracks the true 3D position and precise movements of up to four players anywhere within a given environment. This technology provides players with total control and unrivaled game play opportunities.

PDP also unveiled the new revolutionary wireless SmartStylus 1 and 2 devices for the Nintendo DS. The patent-pending SmartStylus™ 1 and 2 both feature a vibration feedback that players using the stylus will feel based on movements and commands in the game. The SmartStylus 2 can include a variety of added features, including LEDs, sound and motion feedback.

With the motion feedback capability, the stylus can now act as a motion input device, allowing you, for example, to hit a home run by swinging the stylus off the DS screen. The SmartStylus 1 will launch this fall and is pending licensing by Nintendo.

“The technologies offered by both the Gametrak Freedom™ and the SmartStylus™ tools are the first of their kind,” said John Moore, senior vice president of marketing for the California-based PDP. “PDP is excited to be introducing these new technologies. They will create a new level of gaming that can be enjoyed by the whole family.”

(Source) Press

Tags: 3d motion, 3d position, Accessories, entertainment system, family source, game play, gaming systems, input device, john moore, new gadgets, nintendo ds, patent pending, pdp, Portable Devices, precise movements, senior vice president, sensing technology, sound and motion, video game, Xbox 360