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Apple Patent Imagines iMac Made From a Single Sheet of Glass
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It doesn't solve the ergonomic problems of the current iMac, so no thank you. Height adjustment please (and I want mine lower before anyone chimes in with putting a book underneath).
I'd love to see this become the A14 powered smart display my household really needs. An iMac sized iOS device that allows the docking of another device (laptop/desktop). I'm wondering why this article didn't point out fig 12c from the patent package?
Because you didn’t actually read the post now you look like an idiot.
How about a 27" or 32" iMac with a VESA mount? Your customers don't want an artistic sheet of glass that performs amazingly in a wind tunnel, they want a machine that performs well, looks good, and has utility value. The lack of a VESA mount on the iMac over the years is just a blatant disregard of customer's wishes. Apple will always put aesthetics over function. I used to love the previous "thick" iMacs that had the memory card reader on the side. I want that back, along with 2 USB 3.0 ports and a USB-C port.
A sketch of a transparent computer display isn’t innovation. They been in Hollywood films for donkey’s years.
The real thing would be innovation. But at least now they’re in a position to sue anyone else that manages to build one.
MOST of Apple‘s customers today are buying more artistic sheets of glass (iPads) than Macs by a huge margin. With this kind of validation, it makes sense that they’d explore this further.
MMmmm... I don't know if making it so the keyboard is part of the main unit is a good idea. BUT if you want to do that, I can go one better. Make it an all-in-one that is designed to be supported entirely by and attached to a wall-socket. Basically like an iPad that's tall, skinny, where most of the body is a support for the screen which just sticks to the wall, with a keyboard and touch interface where you'd normally rest your hands. Then have it be height adjustable, and maybe have a little seat able to fold out of it.
Apple has all kinds of fanciful patents for imaginative devices that will likely never come to fruition, such as an iMac-like desktop computer made entirely glass, which was shared last week in a patent published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Apple's patent describes an electronic device with an upper portion that serves as a display area, a lower portion that serves as an input area, and a transitional section that connects the two halves for a "continuous curved surface between the upper portion and the lower portion."
The lower section of the device rests on the desktop and is used for holding input devices, while the larger flat area serves as the display, with a stand at the back for propping it up and holding it in place. Given the thinness of the all-glass curved design of the Mac, the stand that holds it in place would be able to house necessary components and would also be able to be positioned differently to adjust the angle of the display.
The glass between the two sections of the device is described as flexible and able to change in angle between the display area and the input area. The input area is said to extend along a portion of the display area to form a "touchscreen-style display," and functionality such as wireless charging for other devices or data transfer capabilities could be included.
Apple separately describes multiple embodiments of the design, including one with a detachable, removable keyboard that fits over the lower portion of the glass design, which, when in place, allows the glass to detect the keystrokes.
This portion of the patent also highlights a camera that could be built into the glass of the enclosure, using an "optically transmissive material." Apple says that the design outlined in the patent could be made of glass, but the housing could also feature plastic or ceramic, as long as the material is light-transmissive.
The material for the design could have special features like scratch resistance, wireless charging support, or it could be able to allow touch and force to be detected through it. Apple also says biometric sensing capabilities could be included, detecting everything from fingerprints to heart rate, blood oxygenation levels, and temperature.
Because the patent describes both an "electronic device" and a "desktop computer," it suggests that this same design could be used for Macs or potentially an iOS device like an iPad. The patent goes into great detail about possible designs and functions, and further reading is available in the application on the US Patent and Trademark Office website.
Apple hasn't redesigned the iMac in some time, and although the patent appears to describe an iMac-like desktop computer, this probably isn't the implementation that we're going to see when Apple ultimately debuts a new iMac enclosure. Apple patents all manner of devices that never make it to production, but with curved glass and foldable devices becoming more popular, there is a possibility that we could see some of the functionality described in this patent at some point in the future.
Article Link: Apple Patent Imagines iMac Made From a Single Sheet of Glass
Actually, I started writing this as a joke, but the more I think about it, the neater the idea seems. Done right, it could actually sell. The main issue would be the wall-attachment. Most power outlets I've seen are NOT designed to bear weight let alone hold something to the wall, beyond that of maybe like, a nightlight. Otherwise... imagine a desktop class computer that required NO desk, and you could use standing up, and that would take up almost no floor real estate in the home, dorm, etc.
Actually, there's probably a market for a computer you could stick to the underside of the bunk above yours, speaking of college, where you could just lay there and stare up at it. The ultimate in lazy computing.
The biggest challenge would be not nodding off while using it. Hmmm... maybe a caffeine IV drip? Low voltage periodic shocks? Not enough to really notice, just enough to keep you from falling asleep.
If they innovate like the Watch that is good.
If they innovate like the MBP then that is bad. Really bad.
Thank god this never saw the light of day. Fine as a concept, but varying screen angle is NOT a useful feature in a desktop...whereas pivot and height adjust are much more useful thank you!
That's the first thing I thought of when I saw this article. Apple could have a problem with 'prior art' if they ever try to make the thing.
But, isn’t that the description of a laptop?
Having seen and played with one of the Luxo iMacs, I’ve always thought it would be cool to be able to just lift the screen off the handle and walk around with it. You know, with all the magnets on the back of the iPad Pro, I’m actually surprised no one has devised a magnetic mount system that would stick your iPad Pro wherever you want it.
This, this, and more this.
At this point it’s safe to say that anyone in these forums who complains that Apple “doesn’t innovate” either isn’t paying attention, or is actually saying “Apple doesn’t gimme what I personally want.”
- How does one make a base that allows you to change height of the screen while still allowing the keyboard to stay on the desk
- How does the glass underneath detect keypresses from the keyboard above, doesn't sound like wireless, makes me think detect means capacitive touch or membrane buttons.
In design, to every “yes” there’s a thousand “no”s.
— Steve Jobs
There’s definitely a thousand no’s to this one...
— Steve Jobs
There’s definitely a thousand no’s to this one...
Someone needs to go back to school and study basic drawing, specifically perspective.
I think people might be taking the patent drawings a little too literally. It’s an illustration of a conceptual idea, not a production blueprint
If, and it’s a big if, they ever produced such a machine, it would almost certainly be a thing of beauty. I think we can at least trust Apple not to make stuff that looks bad.
If, and it’s a big if, they ever produced such a machine, it would almost certainly be a thing of beauty. I think we can at least trust Apple not to make stuff that looks bad.