Apple buys out 18 'axis-based user interface' patents
Thursday, January 31, 2013 @ 5:35pm
Apple has bought 18 patents from a Canadian firm called Maya-Systems, according to a press release from the latter party. The patents are said to relate to Mayas's "axis-based user interface technology." The company doesn't go into further detail in its release, but in some of its promotional content, Maya illustrates a file sorting system that can reorganize according to time, category, or a common theme -- such as a work project -- and sync with cloud servers and other users.
What Apple might have in mind for the patents is unclear, but the company may be looking to improve the file systems in OS X and/or iOS, particularly as the two become interconnected through iCloud. Currently there is no easy way to manage files hosted on iCloud, and Apple may want to encourage people to treat all Apple devices as part of a single platform.
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