Apple purchases iSlate domain, experiments with touchscreen tactile technology

Dec 28, 2009 08:41 GMT  ·  By

A document attesting Apple’s ownership of the iSlate.com domain has been dug up by the people at MacRumors, who call this more than just a big coincidence, referring to the tablet-focused event rumored to take place next month at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. Fueling speculation is a recently published patent application belonging to Apple, which describes several mechanisms for providing tactile feedback for touchscreen keyboards.

The story with iSlate.com

According to those who’ve found this interesting account, “The iSlate.com domain was originally registered in October 2004 by a company called Eurobox Ltd. It later changed hands to Data Docket, Inc. in 2006. In 2007, however, the domain was transferred to registrar MarkMonitor.com. MarkMonitor handles domain name registrations and trademark protections for many companies, including Apple. As is typical, however, the name of the actual registrant was initially hidden to obscure the identify of the actual owner [...] Apple's name was temporarily exposed as the actual owner of ‘iSlate.com’ for several weeks in late 2007.” MacRumors was able to find what it calls a “historic record” proving Apple's ownership of the domain, although it was changed back in just a few weeks, at the time these events occurred.

A patent for “Keystroke tactility arrangement on a smooth touch surface” is unveiled

Via a different report, the same source tries to link more pieces together in an effort to paint a picture of Apple’s much-speculated tablet device, the iSlate if you will. In a report dating December 24, 2009 03:29 PM EST, it reveals that a recently published patent application entitled “Keystroke tactility arrangement on a smooth touch surface” looks at older technology aiming to provide tactile feedback for a touchscreen device such as a tablet. After skimming through the patent’s description, one learns that the technology addresses several mechanisms for providing tactile feedback for a keyboard displayed on a smooth touchscreen surface, including the use of protruding bumps to identify keys.

Apple credits Wayne Westerman for the invention. MacRumors points out that the inventor is actually the founder of FingerWorks, a company acquired by Apple in 2005. FingerWorks is responsible for the multi-touch technology used in the numerous products Apple advertises and sells.