Dec 27 2008
The Cell Phone of My Dreams
Hello, one and all! Hope your Christmas was astounding, in a good way. And to contrast your peaceful holiday season, I’d like to vent a bit about Apple. I’m sure you all remember hearing about a ground-breaking new typing interface called Swype, made by the same guys who came up with T9? Well, Apple recently patented some cute little “gestures” to augment its iPhone typing interface, and basically ripped off Swype in the process.
Now I’m not much of a hater, but when you go after something that’s close to my heart, you’re bound to get on my bad side. I’ve been rooting for Swype ever since it was announced; the truth is, I’m still waiting for a cell phone to come out with it. (Rather anxiously, might I add.) And here comes Apple, the all-powerful dictator of the universe as it were, trying to steal away Swype’s vision, and you expect me NOT to get upset?
Sure, Apple applying for new patents hasn’t always lead to actual products. (Take, for instance, this alternative iPhone patent.) But the fact that Apple is even threatening to destroy Swype’s chances at stardom is enough to get me riled. Unless you plan on truly offering Swype on your phones, you had better just leave it alone, whoever-you-are-that-runs-Apple. (Phillip Schiller, perhaps? Where’s Steve Jobs when I need him?!)
Sadly, the most good ol’ Phil can do is obliterate the future of Swype. I really rather doubt Swype will ever be soundly implemented on the iPhone, thus further postponing my date with the amazing cell phone of my dreams. Still, I am not disheartened; there is always Android!
