A patent application, listing Apple as the assignee and Duncan Kerr and Steve Hotelling as the inventors, was published on the USPTO site late last week. The abstract described a computer with an illuminable housing and a light device -- red, green, blue and white light emitting diodes "disposed" inside the housing.
The filing describes a "chameleonic" electronic device which can "alter its visual appearance."
This published patent, filed on 2 February, is the latest in a series related to this capability.
Apple representatives declined to comment on the filing. The Web site Mac Observer first noted the updated application.
The application has 36 claims regarding what is used to light up the casing of a computer -- different colour LEDs and a partly translucent housing -- and how and when it is supposed to occur. An indicator assembly produces an image on the surface of the case when activated.
Apple started a trend in creating more colourful desktops in early 1999 with the introduction of five "flavours" of iMac, strawberry, blueberry, tangerine, grape, and lime.
The company has acknowledged it is working on a new iMac design.
Apple will be participating in a trade show in Paris at the end of the month.
Talkback
oh ffs why do people have to do this?! why spoil the surprise -- i managed to avoid anything about Lord of the Rings until the third installment had arrived, I then was able to see all three successivley, and it was great (not knowing anything, not having read the books).
I can understand that ZDnet reports on all the scrapps that it can find but mac is different, its so much better to wake to a full stocking at the end of the bed in the morning. And the titles of stories like this one, its hard not to peek.
Samuel
Is this seriously all Apple can think about flashing lights
A little thought towards COMPATIBILITY would be a bit more usefull i would have thought
Or are they members of the M$ Corp Ideal lock it up tighter than a ducks butt and thats waterproof !.