Lies, that is all you know how to do. I didn't say steal, I said Microsoft copied Apple. Who knows if they are licensing the technology from Apple. Apple holds many patents in this area, Microsoft has none. Apple demonstrated their new magnetically detachable cover for the iPad 2 in 2011. Microsoft demonstrated a magnetically detachable cover (with keyboard), that attached and detached just like Apple's the year before ("click...click...click"). Microsoft even copied the same talking points as Steve Jobs used in his demonstration the year before. That's copying!
Microsoft simply is copying the work of others, while Apple is the pioneer.
For instance, patent US6030229 filed by Apple in 1998 and issued in 2000 for "an electromagnetic detachable connector".
US7311526 filed in 2005 and issued 2007 for "magnetic connector for electronic device".
US7351066 filed in 2005 and issued in 2008 for "electromagnetic connector for electronic device".
US7641477 filed in 2008 and issued 2010 for "electromagnetic connector for electronic device".
US7645143 filed in 2009 and issued 2010 for "magnetic connector for electronic device".
US7762817 filed in 2008 and issued in 2010 for "system for coupling interfacing parts".
US7901216 filed in 2009 and issued 2011 for "magnetic connector for electronic device"
US7997906 filed in 2010 and issued 2011 for "techniques for coupling interfaces parts using moveable magnetic elements".
US8087939 filed in 2011 and issued 2012 for "magnetic connector for electronic device".
US8177560 filed in 2011 and issued 2012 for "magnetic connector for electronic device".
This is a mere fraction of the patents issued to Apple for their pioneering work in magnetic catches. Let's see you list Microsoft's patents for magnetic catches. If you can't, it stands to reason that Microsoft is copying someone. Guess who...
Hahahahahaha!
That the biggest joke I ever heard.
First of all, Microsoft is VASTLY moire innovative than Apple will ever be.
Why don't just take a look at the number of patents granted by the US Patent Office in the last few year eh?
2010[2]
5866 patents to IBM, headquartered in Armonk, New York
4518 patents to Samsung Electronics Co., headquartered in Suwon, Korea
3086 patents to Microsoft Corporation, headquartered in Redmond, Washington,
2551 patents to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan
2443 patents to Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., headquartered in Kadoma, Osaka, Japan
2212 patents to Toshiba Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan
2130 patents to Sony Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan
1652 patents to Intel Corporation, headquartered in Santa Clara, California
1488 patents to LG ELECTRONICS INC., headquartered in Seoul, Korea
1480 patents to Hewlett-Packard, headquartered in Palo Alto, California
Where is Apple?
Nowhere to be found!
2008[4]
4169 patents to IBM, headquartered in Armonk, New York
3502 patents to Samsung Electronics Co., headquartered in Daegu, Korea
2107 patents to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan
2026 patents to Microsoft Corporation
1772 patents to Intel Corporation, headquartered in Santa Clara, California
1575 patents to Toshiba Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo
1475 patents to Fujitsu Limited, headquartered in Tokyo
1469 patents to Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., headquartered in Kadoma, Osaka, Japan
1461 patents to Sony Corporation
1422 patents to Hewlett-Packard, headquartered in Palo Alto, California
Apple is AWOL again!
2007[5]
3125 patents to IBM, headquartered in Armonk, New York, USA
2723 patents to Samsung Electronics Co., headquartered in Daegu, Korea
1983 patents to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan
1910 patents to Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., headquartered in Kadoma, Osaka, Japan
1864 patents to Intel Corporation, headquartered in Santa Clara, California
1637 patents to Microsoft Corporation
1519 patents to Toshiba Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo
1476 patents to Micron Technology, headquartered in Boise, Idaho
1466 patents to Hewlett-Packard, headquartered in Palo Alto, California
1455 patents to Sony Corporation
Apple is still missing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_top_United_States_patent_recipients
For the latest year, 2011...
“ IBM wins most patents for 19th straight year; Microsoft only other U.S. company in top 10
Microsoft is the only other U.S. company to make the top 10 list of patent winners, according to IFI Claims Patent Services
IBM retained its patent crown for 2011, topping the list of patent winners for the 19th year in a row. The only other U.S. company to make the top 10, Microsoft fell from third place to sixth place, according to data from IFI Claims Patent Services.
Big Blue secured 6,180 patents last year, up nearly 5% from 5,896 in 2010. Samsung Electronics was the second most prolific patent winner, with 4,894 patents received in 2011, followed by Canon (2,821), Panasonic (2,559), Toshiba (2,483), Microsoft (2,311), Sony (2,286), Seiko Epson (1,533), Hon Hai Precision Industry (1,514), and Hitachi (1,465).
HP (1,308) and Intel (1,244) fell out of the top 10 and landed 14th and 16th, respectively, in IFI’s list of the top 50 U.S. patent assignees.”
Apple?
“* Apple moved up in the rankings to No. 39 (676 patents) after breaking into the top 50 for the first time in last year's list, when it debuted at No. 46.”
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/011112-ibm-patents-254787.html
Chortle!
Apple is not even on the same planet as Microsoft when it comes to innovation. Microsoft Research has been one of the most innovative research labs on the planet for decades, coming up with soe of the most bleeding edge technologies ever:
Microsoft Research celebrates 20 years of crazy innovation
http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/28/microsoft-research-celebrates-20-years-of-crazy-innovation/