In its continuing quest to build its already massive collection of smartphone patents, Apple has achieved another win, having been awarded a patent for list editing in iOS.
Joe Aimonetti reports for CNet:
It’s yet another example of Apple gaining stronger legal ground to defend the look and feel of iOS from competitors looking to capitalize on the popularity of the mobile operating system.
The patent, uncovered by Patently Apple, for “a computer-implemented method for displaying and managing lists on a portable multifunction device with a touch-screen display” describes, in exhausting detail, another principle function of iOS, namely list editing.
This would be better known to iOS users as the, “I don’t like the way that list is ordered, so I’m going to grab that little three-line thingy on the left and drag it to where I want it” patent.
This seems like such a little thing, because we’ve been seeing this in iPhones, and competitors knock-offs, since 2007. But, before that, smartphones just didn’t have abilities like this. (Think back to the dark days of the original Motorola RAZR.)
This patent will become another weapon in Apple’s arsenal to fight off companies attempting to implement a like-minded technology in their touch-screen devices. Think about it class, how else would you re-order a list? Google might have to figure out a new method if Apple decides to get pushy with this new patent.
