Apple patents adapter for mini optical discs
updated 11:30 am EST, Fri November 30, 2007
Apple optical disc patent
Recently published by the US Patent and Trademark Office is an application from Apple, relating to optical disc drives. Originally submitted on May 22nd, 2006, the application details an an improvement to slot-loading drives, which allows them to play smaller-sized three-inch discs, in addition to regular-sized five-inch ones. Normally, only tray-loading drives can play both. The application is attributed to iPod engineer Anthony Fadell, who has devised two possible adapters: one with two folding halves, and another in which four sections lock together.
If used in future Apple products, the technology could be a minor but welcome addition, since even the most recent iMacs and MacBooks are unable to run three-inch discs. The issue is not critical mainly because such discs tend to hold promotional media, rather than critical applications.
wii?
11/30, 12:04pm reply
The wii has a slot-loading drive that plays different sized discs...
EMC
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2002
application number
11/30, 12:33pm reply
For anyone that's interested, you can view the application on the uspto.gov website. It's application number 20070271577.
TheBum
Mac Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2001
to emc
11/30, 12:41pm reply
Apple has patented two ways of doing this, not all ways.
njfuzzy
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2001
bah!
11/30, 01:32pm reply
So rather than force people to use standard size disks, let's keep up with the wonderful non-standrd stuff. Small disks. Misshaped disks.
I find the current mac line perfect for these, for it gives me a good reason NOT to open them.
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Re: bah!
11/30, 02:25pm reply
My buddy just bought an external HDD and it came with one of those mini discs. So, they're out there and that's is a viable reason to have a solution. But, then again, the glass is always half-empty to testudo as long as Apple is the one filling it.
sadmachine
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2004
Standard Size
11/30, 03:33pm reply
The first PowerBook G4 came with a slot loading drive that could read both standard sizes (yes, the smaller disk IS a standard size)
Roehlstation
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Testudo is right
12/01, 01:26pm reply
We should stop adopting non-standard disc formats for our machines. Leave mini disc readers to third party manufacturers. I remember the Iomega Zip drives we used to backup data from our hard drives in the 1990s. That was an essential technology back then because Mac hard drives were no larger than 500 mb and Zip disks held 200 mb. The mini discs today are hardly essential. Most people can use their iPods as backup disks, buy an external hard drive, or a thumb drive. Also, the Mac does not need to play Wii games unless you are too cheap to buy the Wii. Let the japanese release a Mac clone with dozen of slots for discs and catridges and watch it flop. I wouldn't mind this technology but like it says above: it is not a critical technology
ApeInTheShell
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2002
correction
12/01, 01:28pm reply
it's not a "critical issue"
ApeInTheShell
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2002
Re: bah!
12/03, 08:10am reply
My buddy just bought an external HDD and it came with one of those mini discs. So, they're out there and that's is a viable reason to have a solution. But, then again, the glass is always half-empty to testudo as long as Apple is the one filling it.
And exactly what of importance was on that disk, anyway? Maybe if they just stopped putting in worthless disks, there'd be less plastic c*** cluttering the landfills.
Wrong-sized disks, just because people make them, doesn't mean they should be adopted. In the good ol' days, what if someone gave you a 3" floppy? Would you have said "Hey, we need to be able to read this?" or "Hey, you ever heard of a 3 1/2" floppy?).
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001