iPad Camera -- another angle

[SteveSparks]

I understand the camera and no camera debate has been beaten to death..


What I speculate is that there is a big PATENT reason Apple has not included a FRONT facing camera in their mobile / non computer devices.

I'm guessing that someone has a patent on:

Front Facing Video Camera in a portable device.

This would be different that a portable device with a rear facing camera to capture images for the purpose of storing photos and videos.

Anyone have any thoughts on this, have you searched for something like this?

I wonder if the current ITC investigations would be part of the reason..

 

[pirateRACE]

While everyone is entitled to their opinion, I think you are grasping at straws here...

3G, GPS, Video Recording... All things that could have been in iPhone v1. Apple strategically left these things out for future versions.

 

[MattZani]

So all phones with front facing camera's are breaking the patent then?

 

[miles01110]

If retarded patents like that were admissible, Apple would already have it. They would have filed it somewhere around 2002 and it would have already been discussed endlessly.

 

[Jaro65]

While everyone is entitled to their opinion, I think you are grasping at straws here...

3G, GPS, Video Recording... All things that could have been in iPhone v1. Apple strategically left these things out for future versions.

Agreed. Can't introduce a full-featured 1st gen product. Why would people upgrade? It is simply Apple protecting their future revenue stream.

 

[goobot]

i guess thats why my mac has one

 

[aaquib]

Isn't my MacBook a portable device?

 

[Davydd]

You can't patent ideas. Front facing cameras is an idea. The camera device itself is patentable. A portable device is an idea. The portable device itself could also be patentable. But combining a front facing camera with a portable device is an idea.