Is Apple Prepping Ad-Supported Operating System?

Ed Sutherland ()

Pop-up Mac OS Credit: Engadget

Pop-up Mac OS Credit: Engadget

Talk is swirling around a 2008 Apple patent that could point to an ad-supported version of Mac OS X. The patent, credited to Apple CEO Steve Jobs, would permit embedding “one or more” ads in an operating system in exchange for goods or services.

“The presentation of the advertisement(s) can be made as part of an approach where the user obtains a good or service, such as an operating system, for free or at reduced cost,” Apple explained in the application.

To keep users from ignoring the ads, the OS would disable “one or more function while the advertisement is being presented,” according to the patent filing. Once the pitch is over, the disabled function is returned to working order.

Forcing consumers to watch ads in exchange for goods or services isn’t something new. In the late 1990s, companies offered free computers that contained a hard drive stuffed with ads. Google in 2006 envisioned handing out free cell phones paid by ads. The latest to investigate trading goods for ads is Microsoft. The software giant is reportedly considering offering an ad-supported version of Office to combat the existing base of pirated versions.

Of course, not all patent applications are mere pipe dreams or preemptive moves. Apple’s recently-released Magic Mouse was first detected using a patent filing.

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[Via Patent, Engadget and MacRumors]

13 comments »

About the author

Ed Sutherland

Ed Sutherland is a veteran technology journalist who first heard of Apple when they grew on trees, Yahoo was run out of a Stanford dorm and Google was an unknown upstart. Since then, Sutherland has covered the whole technology landscape, concentrating on tracking the trends and figuring out the finances of large (and small) technology companies.

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  • thanx_al

    Awful, horrible, really bad, no good idea. This is exactly something I would expect from Redmond, not Cupertino.

  • Ben

    This better be a joke

  • http://twitter.com/chas_martin Charles Martin

    Wow, the author really doesn’t know anything about Apple, does he?

    Apple patents literally hundreds of concepts/ideas per year. How many turn up in actual working computers? Maybe a half-dozen. At best.

    For anyone who’s actually used a Macintosh, particularly MobileMe or their website, one thing is made abundantly clear: Apple does not like clutter, particularly from ads.

    In short, I’m not worried.

  • KSB

    funny if Apple activated the AD system only for hackintosh devices :p

  • Bill Millwood

    Not possible. And as already pointed out, Apple registers the patent for hundreds of possible concepts. When you’re trying to predict the future, which is a necessity in the computer industry, you’ll wind up patenting anything and everything that moves, even if it seems like a lousy idea (which ad-supported OS obviously is). In other words, “patent” does not signify intent.

  • Nathan C.

    I dont know why the author decided to post this but do you honestly think apple will released a ad-support operating system? Honestly? Apple spends ample amount of time on small details and has always put customer satisfaction as a priority. Apple would rather have selling price then to try to save a few bucks with advertising.

  • http://www.toxicspark.com Andrew Macdonald

    This better not happen.

    I would be willing to pay MORE than the current cost of the operating system to ensure i didnt get ad’s on my computer.

    If Apple introduces something like this as standard, they might as well kiss their company goodbye.

  • http://www.toxicspark.com Andrew Macdonald

    I didnt realise Apple file hundreds of patents per year and only follows through on a few of them, so thats sorted my worries out.

    Thanks for the info Charles and Bill.

  • ObbieZ

    Maybe Apple patented this so that they could collect money from M$ when THEY try to do it.

  • Monster

    This Better be a joke !!!!!!!!!

  • Chris

    Hey, I’d be willing to watch a few ads if I could get a new Mac Pro for $100. Heck, I’d even settle for a refurbished model. Way to go Apple!

  • Church of Apple

    Gross.

  • Charli

    oh this is funny. in fact it is too perfect.

    apple would never actually do this, but what if the patent covers application software as well. cause there is talk of Microsoft doing some ad supported software instead of the old 30 days and then it’s just bloat on your drive trials.

    and if they did that they might have to license it from Apple. LOL