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back to article Apple patent shows iPhone ruling the home

Apple has patented using an NFC-equipped iPhone to set up links between electronic devices, hinting at how the company sees the future of the living room and its part there. The recently published patent covers the use of an iPhone to connect to various consumer devices, including speakers, televisions and set-top boxes. The …

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  1. Jimmy Floyd
    FAIL

    Totally prior art

    I know someone who's working on a very similar system, which itself is based on another methodology. And no, I won't tell you what those are.

    The point is: it's been done before. Easily proven. Epic patent fail (with any luck!).

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  2. Dan 55 Silver badge
    Coat

    iPhones already have NFC

    You have to stand less than 20cm from the router to get a signal...

    4 0
  3. SuperTim

    I think it is more telling that...

    This new fangled iphone doesnt have MMS. just "Text" apparently! How quaint.

    I gather this patent was drawn up by a poor staffer who has a crappy old iphone!

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    1. Anonymous Coward
      Reply Icon
      Anonymous Coward

      quaint?

      Ooh how quaint?

      Someone that hasn't heard of the new fangled concept of email.

      See - I can be a tit too.

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      1. SuperTim
        Reply Icon

        yes,

        yes you can.

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  4. Neil Greatorex
    Coat

    !em kcuF

    "give Cupertino an unprecedented level of control over what goes on in your living room."

    Next it'll be the bedroom.

    I'm off to trademark iBedroom :-)

    1 0
  5. Fizzl
    Terminator

    More fun for hackers.

    Plus when the machines rise up I'm not going to be able to open the curtains or change the channel as well!

    1 0
    1. Anonymous Coward
      Reply Icon
      Thumb Down

      valuable in the bathroom too

      iSh1t seems an appropriate name.

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  6. Anonymous Coward
    Thumb Down

    Buy an iPhone to run my home?

    I genuinely thought when I first saw the sub-heading that NFC stood for No F***ing Chance, that's my reaction anyway....

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    1. Ben Tasker
      Reply Icon
      Thumb Down

      Glad I wasn't the only one

      I had the very same thought!!!!

      It also reflects my feelings on the matter as well.

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  7. Naughtyhorse
    WTF?

    nfc

    I saw iPPLE in the heading and therefore natturally assumed NFC meant No Fucking Chance.

    turns out I was right.

    0 1
  8. Anonymous Coward
    FAIL

    Bit of a problem

    I go down the pub taking my iPhone with me.... how's the wifey going to change channel?

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    1. Jerome 0
      Reply Icon

      Re: Bit of a problem

      WIth her iPhone?

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  9. Geoff Mackenzie

    We need open standards for this stuff

    not patents.

    3 0
    1. PsychicMonkey
      Reply Icon
      Pint

      but...

      it's difficult to sue people over open standards.....

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  10. BristolBachelor Gold badge
    Coat

    Apple

    "Apple's extension to that is for the serving device to provide only URLs to the client"

    Ah, so it is like their "Bluetooth" implementation; It says bluetooth on the outside, but when you try to use it, you find the tin is empty...

    File transfer? no.

    Keyboard? no.

    Link to my Tom Tom? no.

    ...

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    1. Anonymous Coward
      Reply Icon
      Anonymous Coward

      @ Apple

      Strange - my iphone links to my Tom Tom quite happily.

      I've actually been quite impressed with the Tom Tom's ability to read out i/c SMS in a manner that actually allows them to be understood.

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  11. Toastan Buttar
    Happy

    NFC

    Yep, I read that as "No F***ing Chance", too.

    1 0
  12. paul 97
    Pint

    iHeaven

    Just think I could control my iTV with my iControl sitting on my iSofa listening to my iAudio just no iPorn (unless its playboy).

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  13. Andrew Culpeck
    Flame

    And the point is ...

    ... that every device maker will have to put Apples source in evey peice of hardware just so the fanboyz can use their iPhone to change channels.

    Wake up TV,Audio and settop box makers of the world and produce a standard for this now before its too late. The alternative is to eate Apple crowle for the rest of eternaty as you pay what ether Apple wants to charge to have their source in your hardware!

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    1. Anonymous Coward
      Reply Icon
      FAIL

      Unlikely

      TV/Audio/Set top boxes can't even standardise on either remotes or the protocols to interlink a devices between themselves. Look at the fact there is Sony's Bravia Sync, Panasonics Viera Link, Philips EasyLink all do the same job and all are not compatable with each other.

      NFC (and I'm not talking near field there!) they adopt a standard that will mean interoperability of anything but the basics unless it's forced (ie SCART/ DVI / VGA or HDMI ) and Apple are not likely to be big enough to do it.

      Also don't underestimate the costs. A large part of why VHS won over Beta is because Sony and JVC both wanted royalties but JVC didn't want as much per machine. JVC gambles on licencing the format out for very little, counting on a small amount per unit but a higher unit volume shifted, they were right. Apple will want top dollar for their royalties, and in a enviroment where price is a factor for many people how likely id is they will push the cost of a set up for a feature many end users will not use or want.?

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      1. Andrew Culpeck
        Reply Icon

        missed point

        I was implying that they should come together not that they could or would.

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  14. Jerome 0
    WTF?

    Prior art? Positively prehistoric

    In what way is this different to the plethora of remote control apps that have been available in the Android marketplace for ages? Why do I need NFC when I've got Wi-Fi and Bluetooth?

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  15. Watashi

    Apple is your friend

    From Orwell's 1984:

    "We are not content with negative obedience, nor even with the most abject submission. When finally you surrender to us, it must be of your own free will."

    1 0
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