LMAO!!!!! typical people defending apple...citing only SOME of what was written and not all. How do you have unbiased opinions using only SOME of the info?
Unless I'm missing something, this blogger didn't say "SurePress" was "force touch." in fact, the blogger states
"...SurePress technology that provided haptic feedback." I'm no BlackBerry expert, nor do I profess to be, but seemingly pressing the screen on the Storm devices was just that...pressing the screen. In doing so, however, the user was provided haptic feedback...which does not mean you have to "SurePress" a screen on a device that has "ForceTouch" technology in order to get haptic feedback. In other words, the screen does not have to move for you to get the feedback...that was just the case in the Storm. The Storm could be "off" and you could still press the screen and get no feedback, so it doesn't appear that one has anything to do with the other. The blogger goes on to state "BlackBerry appears to have patented the general concept of integrating a “click” mechanism with a touchscreen that provides a tactile feedback similar to what a user would experience using a physical keyboard." Again, another reference that 2 separate things (SurePress and haptic feedback) were brought together to work together.
The blogger goes on to state "We identified at least 40 US patents owned by BlackBerry that are directed towards mobile touchscreens that provide tactile/haptic feedback. These patents relate to screen and sensor manufacturing and components, as well as the use of such feedback for various user operations." Again, that doesn't mean the technology was limited to a phone with "SurePress." The Storm with "SurePress" just happened to be the phone the haptic feedback was introduced on. And for everyone stating Apple's MacBook's and watches have the haptic feedback technology, this blogger stated BlackBerry's patent was for mobile devices, not laptop computers and watches. So apple could indeed be infringing upon BlackBerry's patent. Perhaps they were in no jeopardy of "borrowing" BlackBerry's technology until they introduced it into iPhone (i.e. a mobile device).
I don't uphold ANYONE in their wrong. I love my BlackBerry just like others do and I've had my share of gripes where BlackBerry is concerned, even considering getting the 6S+ when it comes out (NEVER thought I'd say that, even just threw up in my fingers a little), but if Apple has "borrowed" said technology, then they must pay the Piper.
Good rant lol. But here's the thing... patent laws are weird and can float in any direction. The outcomes are never really predictable even when things seem obvious. One drawn on a bar napkin sketch submitted can swing the whole thing.