How is it that "Apple Computer" is being seen as the pioneer of multi-touch? I really don't get that at all.

I mean seriously, Microsoft SURFACE had multi-touch functionality WAY WAY WAY before Apple ever stole it!

Am I mistaken here????

Google hasn't backed down to anybody.

They are playing well with the Apple sandbox boys so permeate the smart mobile market in if infancy with Google product... $$$ it's all about mobile ad revenue $$$

Besides - Apple doesn't have a pot-to-piss-in in this patent case. So let someone else set the precedent first... like ... oh... Palm... who is a long time player and would wipe Apple's @$$ in a patent case.

Bring it on Apple !

if it's capable of multi-touch but google aren't supporting it is it only a matter of time before a coder develops an app to use it? am I being over simplistic?

I suspect it's far more likely that Google agreed to Apple's request, in order to maintain the existing relationships it has with Apple (e.g. Google Maps) than any fear of dubious patent claims.

There is also some doubt that Google actually has that part of their product at a point they were totally happy with.

If Apple iNvented multi-touch then Al Gore surly did invent the iNternet!

Wouldnt the multitouch patent merely say something like "A method for using multiple simultaneous inputs to change the behaviour of an output" ?

So like alt f, s when I want to save something.
Ctrl Alt Del.
Or Shift A, on my grandma's old typewriter. How far back to we really want to go for prior art?

Does it really make a difference that the input device is a touchscreen and not a keyboard?

Lets face it, mouse gestures have been around for a while now.
So has the keyboard.
And the touchscreen.
And the touchscreen keyboard - presumably they have shift keys too!

Wasnt multitouch merely the next logical increment founded on already existing ideas, but simplified?

I don't think a government, any government, should use it's power to help a large company make insane profits while the little guy can barely get in the door. If it were my job to decide the the rules, I'd say that any patent filed after 2015(not sure how I'd choose the particular day) would have a limit on it's profitability/exclusivity. The more powerful you're company, the harsher the restrictions. We are taught to believe that innovation costs 100s of millions of dollars, but how do we know it's the best, most innovative system? I think we can majorly improve it, and should improve it.

I acknowledge that apple makes hot-tech stuff. But I hate how they rip off the world. Comparison: google lets you use all internet tools and goodies, and the price you pay (for now) is a bit of unobtrusive advertisement; apple lets you use nothing unless you pay dearly for it (no apple clones).

Therefore, if I could, I'd make free applications for android that implement all the multi-touch stuff and more. All for free. Nor google, nor HTC (or whoever makes the phone), nor me get money, but we bust apple's extreme greed.

Can't (multi) touch this

love the inq :)

No the Cross Licensing poster has it correct here, Palm has far more handset, touch screen, mobile device patents then apple could dream of having. This suit, could even be construed as a hope that Apple would get cross licensing rights to protect itself from future litigation from Palm. If Palm decided it felt like it, I am sure future litigation could be more painful for Apple. However, Palm doesn't have the stomach for that or the desire to engage in it, I shant think.

Instead, I honestly think that Palm'll play nice rather then fight to get Apples Patent overturned based on prior art; one of the many patents, products, etc. that Palm holds, or the industry in general has produced. I doubt Palm would've missed the chance to file with one of its many patents that hey, we could use two fingers on our touch screens as well. ;)

Either way, Apple better not F$%@ with my ability to get a Pre. I swear I will drive to a Mac Corporate store and injure it with my craptastically inferior iPhone through the nearest window!

Treo 650 - iPhone... :(

Give me cut and paste, the ability to do work on my phone again, watch divx / xvid, etc back. Please.

patents are retarded, they hold innovation back on so many things in the interest of business. stuff like this makes me worry how far towards the fascist end the world has turned. I find it unfortunate that for a touch screen to be fully functional it has to be multitouch, apple is seriously crippling other touchscreen devices with this patent.

I think the reason Google backed down and Palm didn't is very simple. Palm has been in the smartphone business for quite a while and must have a number of patents especially on touchscreen phones.

Google as the new guy on the block would not have any patents.

Palm will just counter sue Apple for infringement of their patents and they will just cross license.

This is without a doubt the darkest cloud I've seen for the Palm Pre so far.