Apple planning a laptop with a camera latch?

Apple Computer has filed a patent for a laptop that has a camera built into the latch between the lid and the base, suggesting that it is working on such a feature in an upcoming laptop model.

The patent application, which was published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office last week, is for a portable computer that includes a camera in the housing that secures the lid to the base. The camera, which is integrated into the PC, includes an image sensor and a lens assembly, according to documents on the government agency's Web site.

The patent, which has not yet been granted, was filed by Apple in March 2004.

An Apple spokesperson declined to say whether the company is planning to include the feature in any forthcoming products, explaining that the company doesn't comment on "rumor and speculation."

An image of the proposed device is included on the front page of the patent application.

Other computer makers, including Sony, already sell laptops with a built-in Web cam. Apple, for its part, has not released a notebook or a desktop with an integrated camera, but does sell its iSight Web camera as an $149 add-on.

Ingrid Marson of ZDNet UK reported from London.

Interesting...

The article would be a bit more informative
about what part of the camera design is
patented. The building of a camera into the
display frame, even at the hinge, is itself not
new. A number of Japanese laptops and consumer
devices have cameras so situated...

Clearly, the patented bit is not the camera or
its placement but something else.

[johncottone]

similar to Sony's?

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/LC_ViewPage-Start?isurl=true&basetemplate=/lc/base/lc_hf.isml&page=static/lc/vaio/notebooks/tr/features/index.isml

Wonder how different it will be from Sony's

[Jess McLean]

No difference at all

Heh, and I thought people who work for Apple are being innovative.

[drewbyh]

Whatever...

Apple did the same thing with a wireless iPod idea a while ago that we have yet to see. Since Creative was granted the patent for the basic interface Apple wanted for the iPod, Apple is going to seek a patent for every piece of crap it can squeeze out. If I was them I would most likely do the same.

[drewbyh]

Whatever...

Apple did the same thing with a wireless iPod idea a while ago that we have yet to see. Since Creative was granted the patent for the basic interface Apple wanted for the iPod, Apple is going to seek a patent for every piece of crap it can squeeze out. If I was them I would most likely do the same.

[IchibanJay]

It would ACTUALLY be the latch

That's the only diff I can see. Refer to: http://
www.appleinsider.com/image.php?i=patent-camlatch1&id=1273
to see a picture of the patent application

[Sboston]

yuck!

That looks like something that could easily be broken.

[IchibanJay]

It would ACTUALLY be the latch

That's the only diff I can see. Refer to: http://
www.appleinsider.com/image.php?i=patent-camlatch1&id=1273
to see a picture of the patent application

[Llib Setag]

iSight Video Conferencing To Go?

What if it is an Apple iSight camera built into an Apple notebook?
Digital camera + video camera + iChatAV / AOL IM capability like
current iSight systems, but smaller & built into PowerBook.

THAT would be interesting...
Wait & see, but until Jobs says so, it's only pure speculation.

[Llib Setag]

iSight Video Conferencing To Go?

What if it is an Apple iSight camera built into an Apple notebook?
Digital camera + video camera + iChatAV / AOL IM capability like
current iSight systems, but smaller & built into PowerBook.

THAT would be interesting...
Wait & see, but until Jobs says so, it's only pure speculation.