Macsimum Scoop: Apple’s new series of registered iPod designs
Posted by Dennis Sellers 
Jul 5, 2006 at 3:01pm
The official European Trademarks and Designs office has revealed some very interesting new iPod designs filed by Apple in January 2006. All of the designs that were found, list Andre K. Bartley as the official designer. All of the designs were officially published on March 14, 2006 and carry a priority date of August 24, 2005. Apple’s listed representative is officially Urquhart-Dykes & Lord LLP – of Leeds, United Kingdom.
Unfortunately, due to the fact that the illustrations are from the European Trademarks and Designs Office and not from the EU’s Patent Office, there aren’t any traditional patent-like details to report on describing the functionality of any of the new embodiments below.
On the other hand, what I think can be derived from reviewing these new illustrations, at least for starters, is that there’s a possible new and potentially huge trend that could be emerging here in light of the new Apple + Nike joint-venture that was announced in May. Here, Apple customized a specialty iPod nano to work Nike’s Air Zoom Moire runners, which are marketed as the first footwear designed “to talk to iPod.” Could there be more joint ventures like this in the wings? Perhaps, especially in light of some of the many iterations of the iPod nano that Apple has registered. In my opinion, there’s just too many of them to end up all being for Apple-only applications. But which ever way it works out in the end, it sure demonstrates that Apple is burning the midnight-oil to find new and interesting applications and markets to expand their iPod nano into – in the coming months and years ahead.
First up: a TV remote or a nano phone?
In the first series of new iPod nano illustrations, it’s number 0009 that sparks the imagination most. It appears to look like either a TV remote/channel-changer or a nano phone – which of course would be sold with a wireless headset with a microphone (not illustrated).
Is Apple adding biometrics to the iPod?
In the second series of iPod illustrations, you’ll note that this particular design below represents a video iPod, whereas illustration 0010 above is in nano form. What first comes to mind here is that it could be illustrating an iPod using biometrics for fingerprint security. If correct, this iteration of the iPod would of course have to be used in conjunctions with Apple’s voice activation patented technology.
Some real “head-scratchers”
Well, you’d have to admit that some of these new nano illustrations below are real “head-scratchers.” Illustration 0006 could be illustrating a touch pad while 0004 could just be a variant of 0010 noted above. As for illustrations 0005 (below) and 0008 (above) – I draw a complete blank.
Saving the best for last
I’ve save the best for last. There’s one more illustration to review – and it’s been filed in a separate Macsimum News report. If you haven’t seen it yet, then check out illustration number 0007. If it’s what I think it could be, then I think your going to be one happy camper today!
So, now it’s your turn. What potential new markets can you see being derived from these iPod designs? Can you think of any cool ideas for applications using these designs? Can you figure out what illustrations 0005 and 0008 could be used for? To any of the above, email me at neo@macsimumnews.com
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Contributor
Dennis Sellers
Dennis has been a newspaper editor/reporter (seven years) and teacher (seven years). He has over 4,000 magazine, newspaper and online articles to his credit. He has also covered the Mac and tech industries for over a decade for such online publications as MacCentral, MacMinute and now MacsimumNews.
