If you haven't heard by now Apple is in the midst of suing HTC for infringing on 20 different iPhone patents.  From the looks of the documents that have been realeased thus far it appears to be a direct stab and HTC's Android powered devices.  Many of the patents that are being disputed reguard features that Android users have recently come to love.  These include the ability to unlock the phone with a slide of the finger, the ability to multitask, the ability to use multi-touch.  Plus there are several other patents being brought in which include undervolting the processor while in sleep mode to conserve battery power.  

Apple is currently playing their suit as an attempt to stop the theft of their smart phone innovations.  But it doesn't take much imagination to realized what is really going on below the surface.   

The iPhone has been known as the worlds most popular and innovative smart phone since it was released in 2007.  At the time it was released there was nothing like it on the market so Apple had cornered the market for people that wanted an impressive and easy to use touch screen phone.  But that lead didn't last for long.

When the first Android phone, the T-Mobile G1, was released in 2008 many iPhone users bocked at the idea of a supieror smart phone stating it could not compair to the iPhone.  Which is many ways was correct.  The G1, being the first Android phone, was mearly a practice run for the Android OS.  It gave uses a chance to have an rich touch phone experience without having to switch the 'dark side'. 

Soon after the G1 the amount of Android powered devices started heating up.  It seemed that each devices that came out displayed new features that Android had adopted and made it's future even brighter.  Within a year and a half Google released the Nexus One which was the first Android phone that could claim the label "iPhone killer".  The Nexus One introduced many new features to the Android OS itself along with some high powered hardware to back it up.

The Nexus One is just the beginning of the Android revolution that will quickly leave iPhones far behind.  This becomes very obvious when you look at the advancement Android phones have made in just a year and a half.  Where as the iPhone has not changed very much over the last 3 years.  This fact is clearly not missed by Apple.  

Just as Android is about to explode with a slew of new 'super phones' soon to be released Apple decided it is time to put a stop to it.  Rather than competing and pushing the lines of technology they chose to fight it out in court.  This is clearly a very defensive tatic by Apple due to the fear of Android powered phones smashing the grip on the market.  

In my opinion the better choice would be go back to the drawing board and try to come up with something that out does the new Android phones.  It is this type of competition that has and will push smart phone technology beyond its current limits.   Compititon like this in any industry has lead to new breakthroughs that benefit the consumer.  

Apple's approach will do nothing but damage consumers choices of phones.  

If Apple wins their suit it would be a kick in the tooth for HTC Android phones.  As a result consumers looking for a solid touch screen smart phone would be forced into the iPhone.  And as Apple has proved in the past they are very  slow in pushing their technology.  Hypothetically the consumer would have to wait over 3 years to benefit from advancements that Android would likely make in 1 year.  

At this point it is important to remember that the suit doesn't directly call out Android but almost all the patents in question are related to HTC's Android phones.  HTC is a much smaller company that Apple and suffers from small margins on it's handsets.  If HTC was in this fight along the result may not be good.  The good news is Google has stepped up to the plate and stated it stands behind its Android operating system.  So it sounds as though Google will join HTC's fight to try and ensure victory for them and in the end a victory for the consumer. 

We want to know what you think about Apple vs HTC. Do you think Apple is in the right or do you think they are being babies?  Let us know what you think in the comments.