First things first: just because you see the words "Apple" and "patent" in the title shouldn't trigger blind rage. Apple works within the terrible, broken system created by the USPTO (read: don't hate the player, hate the game). Now, on to the real story...
Most people say that you shouldn't sweat the small stuff, but Apple takes pride in finding a relatively small annoyance and finding a way to ease it. The newest issue the company wants to take on is that small annoyance where you're not too sure if you should call or text a friend.
The way it works is that users control the variables like time, location, mobility, or other factors. That data syncs and is used to let others know what the best way would be to contact you. Maybe you set triggers for work, or when you're at the gym, or any other factor, and choose whether it's best to contact you with a call, text, e-mail, or maybe through another messaging service.
The trouble that we foresee with Apple's patent on this is that it isn't automated enough. This is a kind of system that would work a lot better with either the social network of Facebook around it, or the automation of Google Now. Apple's vision seems to rely too much on users to put in all of the information of where they are and when and what to do. There is some automation, for example if you're at a concert, the system will figure that out based on your GPS, clock, and microphone data. But, we're pretty sure this system would be better to be based on GPS and public events calendars or even your personal calendar, rather than having to tap your device's microphone.
Michael Heller is known for his clear and informative articles on mobile technology. He explores important topics such as the rollouts of 5G networks and the advancements in mobile payments, offering readers insights into the evolving tech landscape.
Recommended Stories
Loading Comments...
COMMENT
All comments need to comply with our
Community Guidelines
Phonearena comments rules
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed: