Another week, another Apple patent. This one is called “embedded force measurement“. Here’s how it works: When you push down a certain area of your screen with enough force, a substrate placed under the display caves in to let you “feel” your press. So is this practical?

You know how the screen on your iPhone turns off when you put it up to your head to take a phone call? Well, that same technology could potentially come to speakers. According to AppleInsider, a new patent reveals that the Cupertino company is interested in “adjustment of acoustic properties based on proximity detection”. In other words, if you’re closer to a speaker, it doesn’t have to be on full blast. But if you’re far away from your iPhone, like you left it charging in another room, then the speaker can get absurdly loud.

Apple versus Samsung, Microsoft versus Google, Dog versus Cat, these are the fights of our generation, at least that’s what the headlines would have you believing. You’ve probably heard about more court cases and patent feuds than you can shake a stick at, but at the end of the day, do they honestly have any impact?