Apple Patents Putting Ads Into the OS

[pender21]

I think the point of this move was to not put ads in their future products, but to keep other OS vendors from putting ads in their respective OSes

 

[Guest]

This amuses me.

And the thing about it allowing future OSes to be cheap or free? Come on, get off it. Despite rumours, Linux and *bsd don't actually require much time to acclimate to. If you have half a functional brain, you can manage to figure out how to do everything you are used to on one of the windows-clone distros (ubuntu, xandros, lindows^H^H^H^Hspire, etc). If you have less, you probably won't notice any difference.

I'm glad apple is patenting it, though. It means that some new distro won't come along and deal that kind of abuse to the poor noobs that don't know any better.

I am tempted, however, to call prior art. After all, Microsoft has stuck adware (some of it unremovable) prepackaged with Windows since at LEAST Windows 95. The whole Windows Messenger thing, as well, was more or less a glorified spam distribution platform, built into the basic services.

 

[Guest]

This amuses me.

And the thing about it allowing future OSes to be cheap or free? Come on, get off it. Despite rumours, Linux and *bsd don't actually require much time to acclimate to. If you have half a functional brain, you can manage to figure out how to do everything you are used to on one of the windows-clone distros (ubuntu, xandros, lindows^H^H^H^Hspire, etc). If you have less, you probably won't notice any difference.

I'm glad apple is patenting it, though. It means that some new distro won't come along and deal that kind of abuse to the poor noobs that don't know any better.

I am tempted, however, to call prior art. After all, Microsoft has stuck adware (some of it unremovable) prepackaged with Windows since at LEAST Windows 95. The whole Windows Messenger thing, as well, was more or less a glorified spam distribution platform, built into the basic services.

 

[tipoo]

Why is the number pad on the left side of that apple keyboard?

 

[Chipi]

Apple should worry about their own problems:
http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_suing_apple_over_the_infringment_of_a_dozen_of_patents-news-1202.php

 

[cyprod]

Seeing that OSX is only offered on Apple supplied hardware, I tend to agree this isn't to put in OSX, but for grounds of litigation against ad supported operating systems, i.e. anything from google. This seems simply as a method to try to keep google out of the compeition. Of course Apple could simply use it as a means of revenue by licensing it. But if they refuse to license it, it could be viewed as anti-competative... Apple is known for patenting things an then refusing to license them to third parties *cough*fairplay*cough*

 

[kittle]

well so much for trying out apple OSX in the future.

I dont have issues paying for somebody's work in writing an OS - but to have ads cramed down my throat is going too far.

 

[eddieroolz]

Apple is probably preparing to sue the pop-up ad makers to make some cash.

 

[brendano257]

I could put up with it for the most part BUT ONLY IF they are well put together ads from legitimate companies (not the stuff you see of TPB for date sites and such) and keep the moving flash based stuff out of it. In that case I would have only a minimal issue with it.f But if everytime I opened any window on my computer I had to look at awful date site ads and "How I got ripped in 3 weeks!" ads...then I would never use it again.

 

[dheadley]

I think they will use this as a means to offer a computer (possibly a new desktop design or the new white Macbook) for around $500 or less with the caveat of having to use a Ad supported OS to subsidize the rest of the cost of the computer.

They will say once again that they can't make a decent computer for that price, but with the ads supporting it we can give you our decent computer for that price.

 

[dannyaa]

For the amount of nerds here, who are suppose to be smart, the lack of foresight coupled with blind hating amuses me...

Pender21 is right. Apple is very smart. Most likely this patent was filed not for use in Apple products, but to stop others from implementing something similar - namely their new competitor, Google Chrome OS. It's a patent war. If Apple snatches it, Google can't do it, or they will pay for it. Smart thinking on Apple's part... it's like buying up domain names, but with smart patent ideas. Low blow? Maybe. Smart business? Heck yes, I'd do it.

And if Apple does use something like this, you can be sure it would be for a lower priced eco model or something... it certainly would not fit with Apple's main product line up strategy. But seeing as how Apple targeting low end/eco model is not part of their strategy, it is likely this is a simple patent buy up.

 

[wildwell]

It seems like a lot of people are providing negative feedback because it's Apple putting down the patent. Did everybody miss the news the Microsoft is working on a free Ad supported version of Office Lite?

 

[samely]

If they have a free ad-supported version and a non ad-supported version that you pay for, I don't see what the big deal is. If they allowed their OS to be installed outside of a Mac box, it could definitely increase the market for their OS and also reign in people who didn't want to pay for it initially.

 

[wildwell]

[citation][nom]dannyaa[/nom]For the amount of nerds here, who are suppose to be smart, the lack of foresight coupled with blind hating amuses me...Pender21 is right. Apple is very smart. Most likely this patent was filed not for use in Apple products, but to stop others from implementing something similar - namely their new competitor, Google Chrome OS. It's a patent war. If Apple snatches it, Google can't do it, or they will pay for it. Smart thinking on Apple's part... it's like buying up domain names, but with smart patent ideas. Low blow? Maybe. Smart business? Heck yes, I'd do it.And if Apple does use something like this, you can be sure it would be for a lower priced eco model or something... it certainly would not fit with Apple's main product line up strategy. But seeing as how Apple targeting low end/eco model is not part of their strategy, it is likely this is a simple patent buy up.[/citation]

I wish I could give the post an extra thumbs-up. Expecting Apple to introduce a complete computer for

 

[falchard]

Does this mean their computers will cost half as much, considering they are charging that much more for the OS?

 

[pooflinger1]

[citation][nom]pender21[/nom]I think the point of this move was to not put ads in their future products, but to keep other OS vendors from putting ads in their respective OSes[/citation]

That's not the point. They are patenting a METHOD for displaying ads. That's it. If someone else comes up with a separate method, they can then patent it, and not pay apple a single cent for licensing.

Apples action will not stop anyone else from following suit if they so wanted.

 

[AMDnoob]

but such an ad-supported system could lead to more affordable public internet terminals and kiosks

I think that was the key phrase in this ad for the application of such an OS. I would never EVER even consider buying an OS for say my daughter when she goes off to college (when it happens). But like the article states, public machines that are provided as a service would benefit from this.

 

[g-thor]

as part of an approach where the user obtains a good or service, such as the operating system, for free or at reduced cost.

Go ahead - make it free and I still wouldn't want it. Charge for it & I'll cross the street to avoid it. The only way this could work is if you offer no other form of OS. That would work - at least for me, because if you offer no other OS and charge for it, your company will die.

 

[virtualban]

If they really did get the patent to prevent the others from using it while having no intention of using it themselves, it really shows how ROTTEN the patent system is!!

 

[virtualban]

By the way, Chrome OS is not going to be add supported. There are enough adds in addsense for that. As long as more people are Free to browse the internet, google is Ok.

 

[virtualban]

Already found a way to work around the Apple patent:
Given add supported software has existed for centuries, just put the OS for free and the software package in it add supported. And the OS will come preinstalled with addware in new PCs, just like every other pc currently built (remember paying extra for them to take out crap that should have not bothered installing in the first place, oh, right, they have a preinstalled image... right, go buy your brand computer for quality and support).

 

[virtualban]

A new idea for patenting,
A mail address, and mail client that comes prefilled with spam!!

 

[IzzyCraft]

Next article: "Apple patents how to alienate all your users."

 

[virtualban]

Or better, I should patent sending mail for commercial purposes to people I've not known personally and have not asked their permission. Would everybody be happy if I did that? I will implement the invention just a bit, so that I won't be marked as patent troll, and live of lawsuits I'll open towards innocent spammers all over the world.

 

[chriskrum]

The patent system is completely broke. Seriously, you can patent this "idea". There's no code here, no specific implementation, just a vague, obvious description of what a few hundred thousand other people have already vaguely thought of but wouldn't seriously consider doing because it'd make them a-holes.