Apple patent explores option for ad-supported OS

October 22nd, 2009 by Annkur

While this is something we would typically expect Google to initiate, surprisingly Apple had filed a patent back in 2008 for an Operating System-concept that would be ad-supported. This would, in theory at least, make the software free (or available for a discounted price) for the end-user. The patent shows the Mac OS X interface with the option to delay ads  or view any previous ads.

If there’s one thing on the feasibility of this concept (if at all it will see the light of day) that I have doubts about is the patent description. It hints that certain features could be disabled while the ad plays. Would this make the ad more intrusive?

an operating system presents one or more advertisements to a user and disables one or more functions while the advertisement is being presented. At the end of the advertisement, the operating system again enables the function(s). The advertisement can be visual or audible

For the moment this happens to be just one of the many patents that companies like Apple file on a regular basis. The ad-supported model works very well for iPhone Apps at least

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Categories: Apple, Softwares | Tags: ads in os, apple patent, operating system, patent ad supported OS