Washington Post on Apple's "Vingle" trademark
updated 04:15 pm EDT, Tue October 18, 2005
Vingle trademark
The Washington Post provides some speculation and analysis regarding Apple's recent . Frank Ahrens speculates that Apple may be readying "an uber-portal that combines the search functions of Google and the content scope of AOL's 'walled garden,' the television networks and the music labels." Another possibility is that "Vingle" is a placeholder. "Apple may never try any of the things it lists in its filings but reserves the right to do so under the Vingle name. Speculation is that the name is a contraction of 'video' and 'single,' which would coincide with the new video iPod. The filings have an 'everything we can think of' feel to them, along the lines of Hollywood contracts that ensure studio rights for distributing movies here or anywhere in the known universe."
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Next Generation
In Paris, Steve Jobs gave a bit of glimpse into his powerful mind with the comment, "I don’t think the convergence of television and computer is going to happen." What he was alluding to is the perhaps the concept of convergence at the user level (i.e., portable) and has little to do with a static device such as a television. In the case of the Ipod product, this could be a reincarnation as a device capable of all the remarks in this "Vingle" patent. Imagine being able to have online, offline, and nearline content--anything you want in your pocket and accessible by various means (video, audio, wireless, eyeset, headset, wired) anytime, anywhere. A device capable of interfacing with TV, Computers, Cell Phones, etc on the fundamental level and then go beyond conventionality to include video chat, events, movies, music, internet, books; pretty much anything you can imagine. I think the most logical assumption is to assume that Apple will remove many intermediaries and bypass the convergence of Television and Computer by breaking the very nature of user involvement and become the provider of such services and devices. But who will Apple team with?......Who knows, really. Apple continues to build reputation and leverage in its current industry and the Itunes Music Store may be the child of this post-modern Internet. The revolution being waged in the home is probably just an enabling part of Apple's revolution which goes beyond computing and broadcast and into the social context. This could be a big deal--real soon.