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On today’s edition of the never-ending Apple rumor roundup<\/a>, we take a quick detour into the murky realm of the United States patent database, topped off with a charming unsourced tip and some delightful analyst conjecture. Let’s blaze.<\/p>\nThe rumor:<\/b> A recent Apple patent application for a capacitive touchscreen-specific stylus<\/a> may or may not mean The Tablet uses a stylus for input. Our take:<\/b> This would be like a dream come true for the consumer, and a crazy heroin nightmare for Apple to actually implement — can you imagine an iPod with a freaking CableCARD slot? Neither can we. Besides, it’s not like Apple to push content sales from anything other than the iTunes Store, and it’s especially not like Apple to extend functionality to older iPods when it can just release a newer one in a slightly different metallic finish. Next!<\/p>\n Continue reading Apple rumor roundup: iPhone patent 4.0 edition<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Apple rumor roundup: iPhone patent 4.0 edition<\/a> originally appeared on Engadget<\/a> on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds<\/a>.<\/p>\n Permalink<\/a> | | Email this<\/a> | Comments<\/a> <\/p>\n Buy This Item: [Click here to buy this item]<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
\nOur take:<\/b> We’ve already promised to eat our hat if Apple puts a removable battery in the iPhone, so what’s next? A shoe? We will eat a shoe if Steve Jobs introduces a product that requires the use of a stylus. Besides, this product already exists: it’s called the Pogo Stylus<\/a>, and it’s not exactly rocking minds (although we are intrigued by Inklet<\/a>). Apple likes to file silly broad patent applications<\/a> and see what it can get away with — it’s never been wise to read too much into them.<\/p>\n<\/h6>\n