iPhone patent: GPS, video

A newly-published Apple patent application points to iPhone technologies not currently in use, a report observes. The application, measuring some 372 pages in length, documents many different aspects of the iPhone, but makes particular reference to the touchscreen interface and its underlying software. A variety of "modules" are listed as being stored in memory; though many are to be expected, such as those for graphics, e-mail and motion-sensing, one is listed as "GPS Module," while another is a "Video Conference Module."

Neither technology is in the present iPhone, though code in the beta iPhone 2.0 firmware has pointed to the addition of GPS to the anticipated 3G model. Video conferencing is also a possibility with a new iPhone, due to faster broadband, but no other evidence has indicated this.

The document additionally makes reference to a "Blogging Module," but it is unclear what this would entail other than a means of submitting posts. The iPhone already has third-party blogging support in the form of specially-formatted websites.

by MacNN Staff