Apple Patents: Apple Loading Up On Protection For This Future Technology

Apple Patents: When it comes to patents, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is definitely one of the top dogs in the technology sector. The Cupertino-based company puts a lot of time and effort into protecting its current technology while also doing the same with future ideas.

According to a recent report by Patently Apple, the company has been granted 19 patents today by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. This may sound like a lot for one company, but it is all a day’s work for the tech giant.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) was awarded a variety of patents spanning many areas of its business including but not limited to “an iPhone’s industrial design, three facets of iOS including one that covers folder management and the famed “jiggle” effect associated with moving apps around on your iDevices.”

What is the Jiggle Effect?

While some patents have boring names, others are a bit more interesting. For example, let’s take a closer look at the patent Apple Inc. was granted for its jiggle effect.

According to the same article, the company has been granted a patent related to the creation and management of its iOS folders.

Any time a user wants to move an app from one page to another, they are promoted to place a finger on the icon and hold it there until the entire “iOS UI begins to jiggle.” Once the jiggle begins, the user is then able to move the icon.

As crazy at this sounds, this is the type of patent that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is most interested in. It is small details like these that set the company apart from the competition.

Apple Inc. was also granted three design patents. These include one for the iPhone 3GS, one for the iOS icon for a reminders list, and the third takes on “their design for grouping apps into folders.”

In today’s tech industry, every company is looking to get a leg up on the competition. If Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is not quick to the punch, somebody else will step in and steal its idea.

While many of its patents will never be put into use, it is nice for the company to know that the idea is protected from the rest of the industry.

What are your thoughts on these patents? Do you see anything interesting that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) may be able to implement in the near future? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Check back here for more updates on Apple Patents.

DISCLOSURE: I have no positions in any stock mentioned.

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