7,249,168 Method and apparatus for automated remote volume mounting using a plug-in installed on a client (14 pages)
Remotely and automatically mounting volumes over a network.

7,248,476 Apparatus for air cooling of an electronic device (11 pages)
Air cooling for the MacPro case design. Claims cover a contoured panel used to channel air through the case.

7,248,265 System and method for processing graphics operations with graphics processing unit (44 pages)

7,246,226 Method and apparatus rendering user accounts portable (11 pages)
Storing user account information on portable devices.

7,246,225 Method and apparatus for implementing a sleep proxy for services on a network (7 pages)

7,244,129 Connection system (12 pages)
An expandable connector port (for example, for a USB connector) in a low-profile laptop. The connector port is in a compact configuration when there’s no plug, and expands to fit the height of the plug.

7,242,576 Quick release structures for a computer (42 pages)
Release mechanism for the access door on pro-level towers.

7,242,411 Adjustment of color values for optimized image processing (13 pages)
Color space conversion from YCrCb to RGB.

7,242,169 Method and apparatus for voltage compensation for parasitic impedance (14 pages)

20070152978 Keyboards for portable electronic devices (45 pages)
Related to the application listed above. Claims recite a keyboard in which at least some of the icons contain two or more symbols.

20070152977 Illuminated touchpad (34 pages)
Touchpad (examples shown include an iPod scroll wheel or a laptop trackpad) that at least a portion of lights up when touched.

20070152966 Mouse with optical sensing surface (27 pages)
A mouse that can sense different gestures made on its outer surface.

20070140505 Method and apparatus for masking acoustic keyboard emanations (8 pages)
Mask typing noises from a keyboard to provide security, such that what a user types cannot be determined based on the typing sounds. Apparently, the sound generated by typing can be analyzed to determine what keys on a keyboard were pressed and in what order. See the researchers’ Web site (not much there) and the paper (a PDF) on which this is all based. Claims are directed to outputting a masking signal to cover the typing sounds.

20070140504 Method and apparatus for masking acoustic keyboard emanations (8 pages)
Same as the previous publication. There don’t appear to be many differences in the claims, just that this publication has fewer claims than the previous one. Not really sure why that was done; I may have missed something on my review.

20070138999 Protecting electronic devices from extended unauthorized use (13 pages)
Disables the recharging circuit of a device if its use is unauthorized.

20070138806 Magnetic latching mechanism (17 pages)
Magnetic latch for a laptop display. Opens (magnets repel) and closes (magnets attract) by magnet positioning.

20070110074 System and method for synchronizing media presentation at multiple recipients (29 pages)
Using iTunes (or similar software) to wirelessly play a media file to multiple locations from a central host. For example, you could play a song in multiple locations around your house, all controlled by software on your computer which is located elsewhere in the house. Each client device has a network interface through which it communicates with the host (just like regular networking). The host uses a reference clock to sync with local clocks in each of the client devices, so that playback is synchronized among all the clients.

20070109737 Computer enclosure (25 pages)
A laptop having a singular composite structure. This application describes how the case is assembled. The assembly includes structurally bonding (with adhesive) the parts together and electrically sealing the interface between the parts to provide electrical shielding.

20070109326 Intelligent scrolling (23 pages)
This is a latest in a long chain of continuation applications, with priority all the way back to December 28, 1990. This application relates to clicking and dragging an object in a GUI window, permitting scrolling within the window based on the dragging. Remember that this application dates back to 1990, so you need to consider the state of the art at that time when reading this patent.

7,218,510 Computer controlled display device (116 pages)
Related to the construction and mechanical operation of the “lamp base” iMac. This patent describes how this iMac is put together, from a mechanical perspective. Shows a few different views of a gooseneck design (Figures 23A-23F), the straight neck design (Figures 33A-33F), and a telescoping neck design (Figure 47). The claims are directed to a moveable assembly that provides at least three degrees of freedom for a display and a brake device to control the positioning of the display.

7,218,226 Acceleration-based theft detection system for portable electronic devices (12 pages)
An electronic device has an acceleration sensor, and based on the sensor output, a determination is made whether the device is being stolen. Theft can be detected by using an acceleration profile characteristic of theft. The device can determine if the acceleration were due to a shock or an impact to the device. Certain types of movements could be filtered out based on the acceleration frequency generated by the movement (see column 4, lines 28-42). A theft profile can include various acceleration changes that are likely to result during a theft (see column 4, lines 43-62 and column 6, lines 43-57).

Note: I can’t quite figure out how a thief would be profiled. I also think that this could be easily be defeated by a constant motion for a period of time. The opposite could be true – the alarm could go off if you suddenly find yourself running for the bus, and that’s not normal behavior for you.

D542,288 Computing device (4 pages)
Design for the Mac mini.

7,216,304 Graphical user interface for computers having variable size icons (11 pages)
This patent is related to an application that was published in April 2007 (read that discussion here) about variable sized icons. The claims of this patent relate to a method for varying the size of displayed icons.

7,216,302 Method and system for automatically resizing and repositioning windows in response to changes in display (12 pages)
Repositioning and resizing windows in a GUI based on changes in the display resolution. The claims relate to a method for maintaining the windows in a preferred screen position.

7,215,813 Method and apparatus for color correction (35 pages)
GUI for performing color correction. Users can changes the colorspace of individual pixels, and other pixels will change proportionally in response.

D541,799  Electronic device    (5 pages)
Design for flat-panel iMac with the camera at the top front of the display.

7,213,103  Accessing data storage systems without waiting for read errors    (16 pages)
Accessing data on a data storage system that is experiencing a slow access (i.e., access that takes more than a predetermined length of time).

D541,298  Media device    (5 pages)
Design for the iPod, 4G and up.

D541,297  Media device    (4 pages)
Design for the iPod nano.

D541,042  Electronic device holder    (7 pages)
Design for the iPod nano arm band.

7,209,344  Computer controlled display device    (136 pages)
Various embodiments for the old iMac “desklamp” design. In 102 pages of drawings, this patent shows the mechanical aspects of how the screen is supported and moves.

7,209,146  Methods and apparatuses for the automated display of visual effects    (20 pages)
Fade transition effects for video clips.

7,207,104  Hybrid ground grid for printed circuit board    (15 pages)
Printed circuit board layout with ground traces.