Apple Into AV Signal Processing?

Several recent news items have solicited editorial comments from NewBay editors to the effect that despite the surge of Apple (and the unbridled love affair the press has with Apple) Microsoft still drives ProAV. Are forays like this patent application by Apple (with some pretty fancy features like “facial recognition… to determine where a microphone should be ‘beam steered’ to achieve maximum voice quality even when a user is looking away from the computer screen”) just legal place-markers, or vaporware, or serious attempts to get into the world of pro AV signal processing?

Here is the link to the patent application article:

http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/01/31/apple-invention-automatically-adjusts-av-settings-based-on-user-positioning-and-environment?goback=%2Egde_37705_member_210125112

David Keene is a publishing executive and editorial leader with extensive business development and content marketing experience for top industry players on all sides of the media divide: publishers, brands, and service providers. Keene is the former content director of Digital Signage Magazine.