Apple patents OS X Dock

Apple has patented the OS X Dock, nearly a decade after the operating system made its public debut with a new slant on the taskbar. The late arrival isn't due to a lack of initiative, however. Apple applied for the patent December 20, 1999, and it was approved by the US Patent Office only yesterday. Apple summarizes the Dock as a "user interface for providing consolidation and access." The patent puts a particular focus on the Dock's ability to magnify icons to... [read full story]