Here, here, Apple's doing it again...

I happen to own a couple of SyncMaster 971p displays. Though they're not touchscreens, their hinges are exactly like presented in the application, and, naturally, allow for a very shallow angle if such is desired, and even for fully horizontal display.

Moreover, I'm sure I've seen a Wacom display-drawing tablet combo, which is too, naturally, touch-sensitive, and is also almost horizontal.

Think Jobs's taking this patent thingie a little bit too far, ain't he?

...Mine is the one with patent application for a round device that helps lowering the friction while moving heavy objects... Think I'll call it "the Wheel(tm)"

"not one has had the wit the figure out that users might also want a more shallowly angled screen"

No, it's just nobody else thinks that such a - frankly obvious - design necessity deserves a patent.

We've had screens that tilt for some years now...

Patent madness.

...any possibility of a useful non-apple touchscreen computer.

Queue patents from MS which incline the user rather than the screen...

I'm not really impressed with a lot of modern monitor stands. They are all a bit flimsy and the slightest movement seems to make the monitor start oscillating back and forward.

Now look at the figure 4, which seems to be designed like a spring to test theories of simple harmonic motion. Touch the screen and see how many times it wobbles back and forth before it stops.

A better idea IMHO is a prop leg out of the back of the monitor that allows the angle to be adjusted, but holds it in a more stable way. I haven't patented my idea because:

1. It's probably been done already (and I don't i-work i-for i-apple)

2. It's obvious to anyone (except those who work on i-touch i-screen i-monitors)

Sounds a bit like something Wacom have already released (and you chaps reviewed...):

http://www.reghardware.com/2010/08/02/review_graphics_tablet_display_wacom_cintiq_21ux/

http://www.wacom.eu/index2.asp?pid=95&lang=en

They weren't happy ripping off the form factor of the TC1100 for the iPad, they've also ripped off the stand too. Let me guess, the stand allows for portrait/landscape rotation too? Sheesh, they should have just photocopied a TC1100 brochure and sent that in for patenting...

The touchscreens in Argos already do this.

Apple is patenting swivles?

That native touchscreen support will appear on Mac OS X soon. I'd like to see my Acer T230H supported on a Mac Mini as I'm planning to get one soon for experimental purposes (4 ports on KVM. Only three used at the moment. Not happy about how the wire on the fourth port is left dangling in thin air).

Buy shares in microfibre screen-cleaning cloth.

Greasy fingerprints all over the screen? No thanks. I'll stick to mouse + keyboard.

This works. Just move it closer, say within arm's length, and all is well. Why you can even make the screen smaller since it'll be so much closer. But for me this is a waste of time and effort. If I want a computer right at my fingertips, I'll just use my netbook. No screen smudges either; fewer chances of scratches too..

I thought that patents could not be awarded for 'innovations' that were 'obvious'. That, as shown, has to be totally obvious.

Apple patenting something that is truly innovative for once, rather than land grabbing obvious stuff that people take for granted.

...surely it's not even worth patenting?

oh wait - this is Apple, and this is the US patent system. The unholy union.

Logical enough solution, but quite frankly I still don't get it. I just seriously cannot see the point of dragging your monitor across your desk in and flipping it over just so you can use it with your fingers, if you are going to fo that, you may as well just get a touchscreen tablet. I just think companies are trying to force a technology into an area that just doesn't suit it well, particularly when that area already has a perfectly good input solution that works. It works great at info kiosks and is perfectly suited to mobile devices, it just doesn't fit with a desktop in my opinion.

At last !

I'm not an Apple fan but this is a much more natural reading position (like reading a magazine)and it is obvious this will be the future with touch screens and maybe ordinary screens too. Normal monitor stands never have sufficiently low adjustment for me although some HP ones go pretty low. I bought an arm instead which allows me to do this already. We may even see indented desks in future to allow better ergonimics.

The only real problems I see are with reflections and dust.

Robin

Clearly, the patent isn't in the 'hey look, we tilted a screen!' bit. *Look* at the diagram, it's a concept of having a monitor at arms length, or a tablet at your fingertips - ie it's doesn't just tilt back, it drops forward and down as it does so. It's a 'so-simple-it's-obvious' development as the Reg says, but it's the key to making a desktop touch-friendly. I haven't seen any other screens that do this.

...my Windows 7 HP Touchsmart 300 PC already has a tilting multitouch screen.

Nice to see Apple catching up.

Next they'll patent digitizer pens, because my HP Touchsmart TM2 laptop has one of those and Apple hasn't done that yet either.

Ho hum.

Apparently common sense is now patentable ?

have looked at the patent..

It's laughable that so much ill-informed comment is posted whenever Apple apply for a patent.

This patent is not for the stand, it's for what's attached to the stand.

...have been using similar (and rather better 720 degree) mounts for wheelchair users for at least 30 years. Don't Apple do any research into previous applications of touchpanels and surface devices....