When the G1 launched back in October, a common question clanged through the halls: wheres the multitouch? When a few clever minds managed to patch in their own multitouch support, proving that the hardware could handle it, things got even more perplexing. Had Google just not ironed out the multitouch workings enough to support it in this first device, or had Apple’s patent stranglehold scared them away?
According to details given to VentureBeat by an Android team member, it’s something along the lines of the latter. If their source’s retellings ring true, Apple “asked” Google not to make multitouch a part of the device. it’s unclear whether “asked” here means “Please don’t include multitouch support” or “Please don’t include multitouch support, or our lawyers will eat your face.”
The source also adds that they were glad Google didn’t challenge Apple’s request. Google and Apple have a rather strong relationship, especially in the mobile realm – the iPhone comes out of the box with Google Maps installed, Google’s search engine in the browser’s top bar, and Apple has seemingly turned their heads on the fact that Google’s voice search application relies on restricted APIs.
While it might work out for everyone involved for the time being, I can’t imagine it’ll stay that way for long. Heavy marketing of the capabilities of many-fingered input on Apple’s part has made it a look-for feature, and no manufacturer wants to be on the wrong side of a trend. Palm seems to be moving forward with the Pre (which makes heavy use of multitouch), regardless of the threat of litigation by Apple’s COO Tim Cook. Multitouch has become a staple and, if they have hopes for Android to be successful as a platform (beyond the initial rush of device’s we’ll likely see at Mobile World Congress next week), Google will have to find a way to offer it.
It’s highly unlikely that a simple request from Apple has scared Google from multitouch altogether. What’s more likely is that multitouch support is being developed and maintained throughout the platform, but in a seperate (and private) development branch – in other words, “behind the scenes”. When an end to the dispute is reached, be it by Apple licensing the patent (probably not going to happen) or losing the legal ability to dictate who can detect two fingers rather than one (more likely), Google could be ready. As we’ve seen through the user-made demos, Android supports multitouch with just a few lines of code in the right places; with a few quick switches, multitouch could be sent out to the masses.
Doesn’t Microsoft’s Surface also involve some form of multi-touch? Wasn’t this developed in parallel or before the iPhone launched? That would suggest that Microsoft has its own version of the technology that it can choose to license to the Palm’s of the world – just as with ActiveSync. Further, it suggests that there is more than one way to achieve a multi-touch outcome (if MS and Apple methods are independent). Why wouldn’t competitors come out with their own implementations that do not infringe on Apple’s patents?
Surface uses a significantly different system (hardware wise) for tracking multitouches I believe.
Quite right. Microsoft’s system uses visual clues to register the different gesture. It is a more convoluted way to convey the information to the screen.
hand touch movement variations on a screen should not be patentable. likened to the volume knob on a stereo or the steering wheel of a car.
question: who invented the wheel, 5 gallon bucket, and claw hammer.
EvolutionLocator.com – it’s inevitable!
Try to analyzes this, Apple sued Mircosoft in previous times on the using the idea of multiple graphical representations of running applications that is knows in today as windows. Nowadays news about suing Palm on using the multi-touch in its new phone Pre. Meanwhile they never stop talking about creativity and being open to the community. I don’t believe it is very true to make a patent for the ideas. the first one who ever made a cafe can not sue Starbucks for this!
Patenting multi-touch just seems rediculous in the first place. I LOVE that Palm went ahead with their multi-touch plans though. I think it just goes to show that a company on the brink of failure can do some pretty amazing things.
It’s not like Palm is throwing caution to the wind, daring Apple to sue them out of existence. They must be confident, either that Apple’s patents won’t stand up to legal scrutiny (which is very possible), or that they’ve got a few patents that the iPhone infringes upon (which is also very possible).
Given the likelihood of at least one of those conditions being true, Apple will not want to deal with a lawsuit. Imagine what would happen to Apple’s stock price if their multi-touch patent was invalidated, or if Palm was granted an injunction to prevent Apple from selling iPhones (and iPod Touches) for the duration of a trial.
Palm is basically counting on the fear of mutually assured destruction to prevent Apple from taking action, or to force Apple into a co-licensing agreement.
“Ridiculous”
Not RED iculous.
Seems like many people typing these days are misspelling that particular word.
Sorry, I just HAD to.
Google tends to avoid outright confrontation. It’s likely they’ll implement multi-touch at a time when it wouldn’t upset Apple (or when Apple wouldn’t matter so much).
Apple bought one of the first companies to employ multi-touch, but even it was preceded by others. Screw Apple, why do they think they can patent UI mechanisms? That is the lamest anti-competitive crap I have ever heard.
Oh btw, apparently they have the patent to the tree menu and drop-down menu, dueches.
http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/apple_patent_is_for_user_interface_elements_for_hierarchical_selection_of_i
Who in the hell do these people think they are kidding?
Seems like Eric Schmidt needs to ride a fine conflict of interest line being involved in both companies.
Maybe there is a win-win here for Google and Apple. Google doesn’t implement multi-touch in the Android platform and doesn’t end up with a painful Google/Apple patent battle.
In return Apple continues to provide premium access for google apps (search, maps – maybe more in future devices)
Of course if a device manufacturer (HTC, Samsung, Sony Ericsson) were to choose to implement multi-touch on an android device then the would risk patent litigation with Apple – but then they face the same risk if they implement multi-touch on their existing platforms.
I don’t see anything sinister here – a sensible win-win situation for both Google, and Apple. Keep multi-touch out of the Android platform, and let manufacturers risk patent litigation if they so choose.
Maybe I’m missing something, but multitouch has got to be one of the most overrated features out there. For larger screens where you have actually have two hands available for a lot of fine detail work I can see the usefulness. But for a tiny handheld device it seems largely a wasted feature IMO if your primary aim is to be able to use the device one-handed most of the time.
Good point.
Who is anyway bothered about G1. I do hope palm isn’t affected due to patent issues
And? The point of this article is….Patent owners are allowed to request their patent be respected?
Is that weird? Just because something is kool, does it means everyone has the “right” to used it, patented or not?
I like Aria Giovanni, but if I go and try to grab her boobs just because I like them, she will kick my sould uot og this world. And rightfully so…..
And those are multi-touch too, by the way….
As an Android user with enabled multitouch and iPhone/Mac owner I suppose we all write Open Letters to Apple to ask for opensourcing MT.
I did already.
Oliver
This is another example of why our Patent system is stuck in the 20th century and has not been updated to the 21st century.
Is it that outrageous of a thought that multiple people/companies could come up with a method of using multi-touch on devices? We have evolved to become a technology driven society where multiple people can have ideas. Our patent system is still so outdated to think that the concept is what needs to be patented and not the actual execution.
200, 100, and even 75 years ago, it was entirely plausible that someone coming up with the concept was one of very few people that could do so and should have been protected. Hell, coming up with the telephone was an extra ordinary accomplishment (who did it, that is a different question – don’t get me going on that one). But today, to think that only the geniuses at Apple are able to come up with Multi-Touch is just plain ridiculous. In actuality, Dreamworks should have asked Apple for a cut of the profits because the concept was first (recently) envisioned in Minority Reports.
For Google to cave-in shows how powerful Apple has become today and to what extent Apple is willing to use their power. For Apple to think that the G1 was going to take any of their iPhone business also shows that Apple is afraid of competition. I have both the G1 and the iPhone. They do not compare at all. There is not a single thing that I can say reminds me of an iPhone on the G1 and vice-versa.
The sad fact is that by doing this, Apple is essentially squashing creativity and innovation. Something that they have blamed Microsoft for doing for almost three decades. Yet, when they do it, it is okay.
So the real question is – Is Apple the New Microsoft?
Kudos to Palm for implementing what is obvious feature in my mind and hopefully invalidating the patent around this obviousness.
Absolutely agreed, Tostada-man. I am glad I am a worker drone mearly clipping away to make “The Man” richer than I will ever be.
Goodness forbid that I might be a creative type working hard to create some new, even if seemingly obvious, next cool thing. Writers like this and the commentors here have an stunningly visceral dislike of patent holders keeping cool (but clearly unique) features to themselves.
If Apple holds the patents reported I would hope they would license it. If they don’t… it is their prerogative (and to their company’s and investors’ benefit) and rooting for companies to defy them just so you can have the feature elsewhere is kinda lame.
But….what about Aria’s boobs? You don’t CARE about boobs?
Whatever. I hope Google’s working on Google MindReader. I’d love to not use fingers or speech altogether.
Android is software and hardware in essence. Perhaps its not implemented so that all these other platforms can retain a common subset of functionality.
This whole patent on multitouch is a little ackward. Such things would never be patented in Europe, and there’s a good reason for that.
If Apple had patented backwards walking… Michael Jackson shouldda watch his back.
jajaja funny but its true, all the problem is the patent.
Things only become obvious when someone shows you how to do them. If the multitouch interface for a mobile phone is obvious, why did it take 10 years for it to appear in a mobile phone product?
Maybe because of processor speed, hardware costs, etc?
I agree, that Google will wait until there are other players. They don’t need any issues or lawsuits over a non core offering.
I heard it privately from someone senior on the Google’s mobile team three months ago that they can’t implement multitouch on their phones, because apple has the multitouch patents locked up.
If Apple were a car manufacturer we would all be driving Reliant Robin clones :)
I don’t get this. In Sweden you are unable to get a patent if the object for patent has been shown to the public (in any form). And I first saw multi touch in the early 90s. How can common knowledge be patented? It beats me….