Apple Applies for New Multitouch Patent

A recent patent application filed in LA has kicked the Apple tablet rumor mill into overdrive.

We've already had two stories about Apple's tablet this week. One about the company bringing back one of the lead developers on its Newton platform (possible to take charge of marketing the new tablet), and one regarding a deal between Apple, newspapers and text book publishers.

Today there's a slightly more interesting rumor doing the rounds and this one is based on a patent application filed by Apple in June of this year. AppleInsider reports that a filing by Morrison and Foerster LLP on behalf of Apple describes a 'a hand-based system that would allow "unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device."'

Now, companies file patents all the time and sometimes, they just sit there and do nothing forever and ever. However, with all the tablet rumors we've had over the last year (does it feel WAY longer to anyone else?), it's hard to believe Apple would try to patent something that individually detects each finger and both palms, allowing for touchscreen capabilities unlike any other.

AppleInsider goes on to cite the patent filing which gives examples of the touchscreen capabilities. These include resting of hands, measuring when a hand or fingers touches and leaves the surface, interpreting taps from one finger as mouse button clicks, but disregarding a tap from two fingers, and more.

While most Apple tablet rumors have become quite boring (an ereader, really?), this one actually makes me sit up and wonder what the company could have up its sleeve.