Apple gets "iPhone in toilet" patent...

[wizardzz]

I don't blame them for trying, hell, maybe they thought it was a longshot, but actually getting it granted? They must have some good friends in the patent office.

[leppie]

My initial thought was WTF too, but after scanning the article, the patent is clearly for the 'external indicator' part. Not the actual detection process. Not sure how this got through, as it is pretty much a gauge.

IronScheme
((λ (x) `(,x ',x)) '(λ (x) `(,x ',x)))

[Lost User]

wizardzz wrote:

have some good friends in the patent office

As the old saying goes, "It's not who you know, it's who you ..."

Why is common sense not common? Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level where they are an expert. Sometimes it takes a lot of work to be lazy Please stand in front of my pistol, smile and wait for the flash - JSOP 2012

[realJSOP]

Hmmmmm - my 3 year old HTC Hero does that...

".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997

[realJSOP]

Apple's only shows when you drop it in a toilet.

".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
-----
You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997

[nickjc]

Patent was applied for in Dec 2006. Their invention disclosure was likely a while before that. 5-8 years is a pretty typical turn around for the US patent office. I just got one last month that was applied for in 2003. The 'new' part is having the indicator visible through a peripheral connector hole not a special hole just for that purpose.

[lewax00]

That's no good, that's the first place I think to put Apple products...

[Slacker007]

John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:

Apple's only shows when you drop it in a toilet.

And the indicator isn't red, either. :)

"the meat from that butcher is just the dogs danglies, absolutely amazing cuts of beef." - DaveAuld (2011)
"No, that is just the earthly manifestation of the Great God Retardon." - Nagy Vilmos (2011) "It is the celestial scrotum of good luck!" - Nagy Vilmos (2011) "But you probably have the smoothest scrotum of any grown man" - Pete O'Hanlon (2012)

[Steve Mayfield]

wizardzz wrote:

I don't blame them for trying, hell, maybe they thought it was a longshot, but actually getting it granted? They must have some good friends fanboys in the patent office.

ftfy :doh:

Steve _________________ I C(++) therefore I am

[Mark_Wallace]

lewax00 wrote:

I thought it was standard practice to put those in phones

I agree that it should be standard practice to put iphones in toilets.

I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!