Patent shows concept for platform-independent word processor
Patently Apple has uncovered a new patent application from Apple that might give us a glimpse of part of Apple's future internet strategy. This approach looks beyond OS X and could bring apps like Pages to the PC and other platforms.
The patent talks about a new word processing platform that allows documents to be edited across all platforms. It also allows them to be formatted and shown exactly the same way on various devices. Similar to Google Docs and Microsoft's 365, the system would work within a web browser. While the patent is centered on a word processor application, it isn't limited to such documents and could be applied to any document presenting text on a screen.
Is this something you would use if Apple produced a device-independent word processor -- or even a suite of apps that you could use on any platform? Let us know in the comments.
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Patently Apple has uncovered a new patent application from Apple that might give us a glimpse of part of Apple's future internet...
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If it's even remotely like iWork I wouldn't use it. It's true I hate Microsoft but Office is the best suite there is. No, OO, Neooffice, gdocs or anything comes close when you really need a full fledged word processor.
Apple, I love you but get with the program when it comes to office productivity.
The challenges facing Apple entering the enterprise software market revolve around the entrenched nature of MS Office in the workplace combined with compatibility issues that are unlikely to be resolved.
I consider Keynote far superior to PowerPoint, but so long as I work in a collaborative environment with MS Office users, I have little choice but to use the latter unless I want to spend half my time fixing converted files back and forth. The same can be said for Numbers and Pages vis-a-vis Excel and Word.
Microsoft owns this space in the enterprise, and more importantly they control the file formats. Any attempts by Apple to challenge this status quo would face the same insurmountable obstacle Adobe encountered when they tried to compete with Macromedia's Flash years ago - that is, they were competing with a moving target they didn't control.
Open file standards would be nice to spur competition, but they're meaningless unless companies adopt them, and that's unlikely to happen so long as proprietary formats are required to support the latest features.
This is more than just Apple's cloud strategy. It's a preview of Apple's business model post-2020. In 10 or 20 years, consumer-level computing power that can handle everything up to photo-realistic 3D gaming and HD movies will be so cheap that not even Apple will be able to maintain their hardware margins. They'll need to migrate their business model from "software sells hardware" to "software sells services."
Apple is nothing if not a forward-looking company. And they're moving toward that service-oriented future now. They're targeting all internet-connected devices, not just iDevices and Macs. That approach worked spectacularly well for iTunes in capturing the Windows pee cee market as well as the Mac market. It can work for Apple as they become a pervasive internet presence.
"In 10 or 20 years, consumer-level computing power... will be so cheap that not even Apple will be able to maintain their hardware margins."
PC hardware prices have already plummeted to unbelievable levels over the last 20 years and Apple is more successful and profitable than ever, while bottom feeding hardware makers like Dell are struggling.
"...they're moving toward that service-oriented future now. That approach worked spectacularly well for iTunes in capturing the Windows pee cee market as well as the Mac market."
While iTunes is platform agnostic on the desktop, it's designed to bolster the sale of Apple hardware devices such as iPhones, iPads and iPods. Apple would never have created this service platform if there was no tie-in to their hardware.
I don't see Apple successfully evolving into a software-only company. While their track record in software design is unmatched, they still rely heavily on high margin hardware sales to drive revenue. I don't see that changing so long as Apple remains competitive and successful.
OMG- Apple invents Google Docs! Where did they ever come up with the technology? It staggers the mind...
May 23 2011 at 12:08 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyDidn't read the source link, did you? No, it isn't Google Docs.
Here's a tip - if you're one of those sad people who are convinced that Apple fans operate in some kind of reality-ignoring, reality-distorting field, then you are going to see evidence that reinforces your misconceptions *everywhere*.
Even when the evidence isn't there (like now). c.f. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias
The way to avoid this problem is to do your research while being deliberately aware of your preconceptions. Read the source link, and do so with an open mind.
If you are convinced that Apple fans are all Kool-Aid drinkers then TUAW is definitely not the place for you to be hanging out. This is a place for objective and rational discussions about Apple and its products and we don't need you making an idiot of yourself. Engadget is the place for that, you will find a lot of like-minded people there, on the staff and in the comments section.
lol. It's called sarcasm. Nice catch. How's that superiority complex working out for you?
May 24 2011 at 7:30 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIs this something you would use if Apple produced a device-independent word processor
I do not really have a need for it, but, if I could host it on my own server, then, if I had the need, I might look at it.
If I'd have to rely on a third-party hosted service, I'd be far less likely to adopt it.
I could see this lining up with what might be coming from iCloud, such that any iDevice and computer could use it instead of Google apps and MS 360. Especially with NFC transfer of document control to whatever personal computing device that you happen to be using...
I would just as soon use Apple's version instead of allowing Google to data-mine everything that I store with them.
you mean like google docs?
May 23 2011 at 11:24 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyThe article does a poor job of summarising the facts and leaves out a lot. If you read the patent you will see that it's much more sophisticated than Google docs.
It's actually a patent for a *new* way of translating documents effortlessly and reliably from one format to another using font metrics and graphic manipulations that ignore the file format in most cases.
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