A series of recently published patents seems to demonstrate that Apple has been concerned with three things: location, location and location. Take, for example, an invention that deals with searches based on the user's future positioning.
If you are traveling and want to find a place to have lunch, it is very #FAIL your iPhone will say that the ideal place is one that you went through half an hour ago and that is already miles away. With this invention, a smartphone could combine search information with its future route and only show results that are still in its itinerary. I don't think Google will like to see this registered on behalf of Apple
Another patent describes methods for a magnetometer to calculate the position of the geographic north, differentiating it from magnetic north. This can increase the accuracy of a gadget's electronic compass. Detail: without depending on the user's actions.
Speaking of “user actions”, who doesn't know the good old calibration gesture of the iPhones 3GS / 4 compass? He may have his days numbered! That's because a patent describes mechanisms that combine two- and three-dimensional calibrators that would allow you to do this process even while the gadget is attached to the dashboard of a car.
These three inventions were just some of a pile of nine, some very similar to each other, but all with a focus on geolocation. Apparently, Ma must see a promising future in the improvement of these technologies.
(via Patently Apple)
