Apple is contemplating the introduction of an iPad that has an additional port for attaching a camera or other device to an iPad, they are also working on a new camera system that can be used on iPads and iPhones as well integrated into their Macbook and iMac product line.
The information which was revealed in new patents recently lodged by Apple also show a second dock connector port on the left side of an iPad.
A second patent reveals modifications to the bottom-left corner of an iPad with some speculating that apple is set to introduce a second touch-sensitive button.
Other features revealed include new technology that adjusts a camera flash based on the scene of the photo and the angle the camera is to an object. The flash lets the camera operator highlight a dimly lit area and focus the flash exclusively there. That means no more photos of people wrapped in shadows.
Apple is also looking to introduce new zoom and telephoto features in their next range of products.
In their patent filings Apple uses the word “dedicated” to describe a possible camera that is not tied to a phone or computer.
Some observers are speculating that the device may be a portable device, such as a dedicated digital still or video camera, a smart phone or laptop/notebook computer with an integrated camera function or it may be a desktop personal computer with a built-in camera function.
In other moves Apple has embarked on a legal battle over the right to use the word “pod”.
The row has come about because of a projector called Video Pod currently being developed by start-up Sector Labs.
When the dispute first began, Apple said Sector Labs’ use of the word might cause confusion among customers.
The legal claim to the name will be played out via documents the two companies will file in a US court over the next month.
Apple has filed an 873-page briefing paper to the court laying out its claim to exclusive use of the name. Sector Labs is due to file its paper arguments in early October. The documents will be sent to the US patents office which will judge their claims.
Ana Christian, Sector Labs’ lawyer, told Wired.com that the fight was about more than just the right to use “pod”.
“What I’m hoping to do with this case is to really reach a lot broader an audience and make it so entrepreneurs and small businesses can use the English language as they see fit in branding their products,” she told the magazine.
The row between the two firms began in 2009 when news about Sector Labs’ video projector emerged.
Sector Labs is one among many tech firms that Apple has taken on because they have used the word “pod” in product names.
