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Apple Researching iPad Smart Covers with Secondary Displays, Keyboards, Solar Cells

E-Ink display for notifications / low power reading = brilliant.

Touch display... not quite sold, personally feel touch panels would be better used on the back of the device - to allow scrolling / navigation without blocking the display.

Solar panels, that's either a designer oblivious to solar panels, or someone who just wanted to fill up a patent with just-in-case options for later on...

First: It would take over 2 days just sitting in the sun - perfect sun (no windows / clouds or grazing angles) to even consider charging the iPad 3 battery.

Second: Has anyone actually used their iPad in the sun? It borders on unusable - thanks to the display washout / glare / reflections.

Third: The worst thing you can do for this battery chemistry is get it hot... guess what will happen when you leave your iPad in the sun all day?
 
MacHiavelli said:
The more they add to the iPad, the closer it gets to being a MBA-like device with a detachable keyboard/power supply/magic cover/etc.

I have an iPad (3) and am underwhelmed by it: not as powerful as an Air, not small enough to be convenient to carry around, slow and handicapped by the limitations of iOS.

I use it a lot (I own it so I might as well use it), but think it is a flawed device.

For me, a MBA and pocket-sized iPad with a useable file system and multi-user accounts would hit the sweet spot.

Oh, and one with 4G that works outside of a handful of countries. I bought my "4G" in the UK and was told twice by Apple Store staff that it would work with UK 4G. Apple's customer service for the iPad 3 has been lamentable.
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Maybe the iPad is not targeted to people like you, I have both an Air and an iPad.

I can't use the iPad for job related stuff, I only use it for relax, reading books and web browsing.

In the other hand I find myself akward trying to use my Air to anything but job tasks.
 
j-a-x said:
So if this was filed in 2011, does this mean Apple thought of the idea of a Smart Cover with a keyboard built into it before MS demoed it? If that is the case, then the only unique feature about the Surface tablet (the keyboard built into the Smart Cover clone) is not really that unique.
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It wasn't really that unique without this. It's just a twist on the Logitech etc cases with a keyboard that have been out since the original iPad

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djrod said:
Maybe the iPad is not targeted to people like you,.
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that is the answer about 90% of the time. About many things Apple does. Another example are those 'lame' Genius ads.
 
Great. Just what I was looking for... A way to let everybody knows what I'm listening and/or what's my planning for the day...
/sarcasm

Seriously, the keyboard and energy cells sounds nice...
 
j-a-x said:
So if this was filed in 2011, does this mean Apple thought of the idea of a Smart Cover with a keyboard built into it before MS demoed it? If that is the case, then the only unique feature about the Surface tablet (the keyboard built into the Smart Cover clone) is not really that unique.
Click to expand...

I hate to say it, but you sound awfully condescending making the claim that the only unique thing about their tablet will be the smart cover when it hasn't even been released yet and we don't really know anything about it. :rolleyes:
 
djrod said:
Maybe the iPad is not targeted to people like you, I have both an Air and an iPad.

I can't use the iPad for job related stuff, I only use it for relax, reading books and web browsing.

In the other hand I find myself akward trying to use my Air to anything but job tasks.
Click to expand...

Maybe you're right: the iPad is generally a consumer device and I do use it for books, browsing, music, etc.

I find it a bit too big and cumbersome to use as a mobile device and too underpowered and incapable as a mobile device.

A powerful Air with a smaller iPad would fit me well. The Air to work on anywhere at anytime and the smaller iPad to chillax with, without it being too clunky, heavy and looking somewhat stupid in public ;)

You are right. Got me spot on ;)
 
looks pretty horrible but i'm guessing its really just for holding the patent on it more than anything with no intention of actually doing it.
 
Elven said:
I really hope this comes out for the iPad3 and does not eventually get released as an iPad 4 only item.
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Oh it will, or the iPad 5. Their is no way to power the cover on the iPad 3. This was just a idea, it might even never happen. Like all of apples other pateints.
 
hmmmm

I must say, it looks awesome but perhaps Apple should look at making a smart cover that actually functions as advertised.

Now don't get me wrong, I am truly an Apple fanboy but the current smart cover is not practical.

I bought a leather smart cover for £69 and you can use the case as a raiser when typing but if you try to use it as a stand, it falls over with the slightest nudge and you can't touch anything higher than 4-5cm from the bottom of the screen as it will fall over :-/

Wonder if Apple will cover damage to iPads caused by them falling over without being touched due to poor cover design?
 
So if this portects the iPads screen. What is to protect this thing? I know it won't be cheap. AT ALL!
 
jordanm86 said:
I must say, it looks awesome but perhaps Apple should look at making a smart cover that actually functions as advertised.

Now don't get me wrong, I am truly an Apple fanboy but the current smart cover is not practical.

I bought a leather smart cover for £69 and you can use the case as a raiser when typing but if you try to use it as a stand, it falls over with the slightest nudge and you can't touch anything higher than 4-5cm from the bottom of the screen as it will fall over :-/

Wonder if Apple will cover damage to iPads caused by them falling over without being touched due to poor cover design?
Click to expand...

This is my experience with the cover as well.

I just think it's impossible to make it sturdy without increasing the weight or size.
 
notjustjay said:
Now I'm curious to know who patented the "keyboard in a cover" idea first.
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Since a certain company from Redmond already has introduced the "keyboard in a cover", there would now be "prior art" even if Apple received a patent for it - hence Apple's patent, would they get it, could be easily invalidated.

Proving that there was "prior art" is the most effective way to kill a patent. If it weren't, some idiot would already have patented the wheel or the roman alphabet.
 
It seems like a cool idea. I wonder how much heat they'd get for creating a keyboard on the cover right after Microsoft the Surface with something like that.

I wonder what the benefits are of having some sort of video control system on the cover though? (Or is that just a loose idea to be able to apply the patent? I don't know how it works exactly), but it seems like having controls at the back when you have the iPad placed the way it shows on the drawing, it doesn't seem very useful? Having to stretch your hands further to control them when you can just touch the screen in a faster gesture?
 
charlituna said:
It wasn't really that unique without this. It's just a twist on the Logitech etc cases with a keyboard that have been out since the original iPad

----------



that is the answer about 90% of the time. About many things Apple does. Another example are those 'lame' Genius ads.
Click to expand...

I think the advertising is part of the problem with the iPad. Apple's has webpages promoting the iPad in business: it does work in some business areas, but its is hamstrung by what iOS can't do.

I really wanted the iPad as a mobile tool for business, but it just doesn't fulfil my needs. It is too slow and lacks full compatibility with OS X devices. Using it for business is a chore.

As a mobile business device, the iPad is small. If it worked as well as it could, it would be a great size for mobile business use.

As a consumer device in the home, it's fine.

As a consumer device on the road, it's just too clunky. Think most people want something they can throw in their pocket: something larger than an iPhone but smaller than an iPad.

Personally, I don't want all the add ons . . . they wreck the original design and just add to the bulk you have to carry around. I want a sleek design that works flawlessly with my OS X devices.

One thing I really don't get about the iPad design is why, as a mainly handheld device, did they make the thing so slippery?
 
Big-TDI-Guy said:
First: It would take over 2 days just sitting in the sun - perfect sun (no windows / clouds or grazing angles) to even consider charging the iPad 3 battery.
Click to expand...

But aren't the solar panels intended to only power the requirements of the smart cover? Like the e-paper, etc..?
 
Shut up and take my money!

Also that last picture is an iPad one!!!!
This must have been in the works for a while.
 
Big-TDI-Guy said:
Solar panels, that's either a designer oblivious to solar panels, or someone who just wanted to fill up a patent with just-in-case options for later on...

First: It would take over 2 days just sitting in the sun - perfect sun (no windows / clouds or grazing angles) to even consider charging the iPad 3 battery.

Second: Has anyone actually used their iPad in the sun? It borders on unusable - thanks to the display washout / glare / reflections.

Third: The worst thing you can do for this battery chemistry is get it hot... guess what will happen when you leave your iPad in the sun all day?
Click to expand...

I'm fairly certain that a solar panel would, at the very least, prolong the iPad's battery life. I doubt it would be viable for charging, as you've said, but I could see getting an extra hour or two out of your iPad with this cover.
 
This looks stupid.

A cover is meant to protect the ipad screen... not provide another layer to get damaged in transport.

This will suck the battery life quite a bit and add to the weight.

I have my ipad in my bag while travelling and when i use it i fold the cover to the triangle. How the hell is it supposed to get charged with solar power? Unless you close it flat when not in use, which i do not do... I just dont think this is practical.
 
east85 said:
I hate to say it, but you sound awfully condescending making the claim that the only unique thing about their tablet will be the smart cover when it hasn't even been released yet and we don't really know anything about it. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Well, maybe I should have said "from what we know, the only unique feature is the keyboard on the Smart Cover".

I watched the MS demo and it's basically an iPad running an MS operating system with the same magnetic cover, only this cover has a keyboard. That's why I say the keyboard is the only unique feature. I do admit that the OS is technically unique but it's also just another mobile OS like iOS and Android, and it's not really a breakthrough for a company to build a mobile OS for a mobile OS.

Okay, it has a kick stand. I guess that is unique. :p
 
Big-TDI-Guy said:
If money isn't a factor - you could have all three here. ;)
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Please explain.

I think this mostly has to do with the weight, if your smart cover weighs more, it'll be more sturdy, but if it weighs more, you would also have a heavier cover to carry.
 
Big-TDI-Guy said:
E-Ink display for notifications / low power reading = brilliant.

Touch display... not quite sold, personally feel touch panels would be better used on the back of the device - to allow scrolling / navigation without blocking the display.

Solar panels, that's either a designer oblivious to solar panels, or someone who just wanted to fill up a patent with just-in-case options for later on...

First: It would take over 2 days just sitting in the sun - perfect sun (no windows / clouds or grazing angles) to even consider charging the iPad 3 battery.

Second: Has anyone actually used their iPad in the sun? It borders on unusable - thanks to the display washout / glare / reflections.

Third: The worst thing you can do for this battery chemistry is get it hot... guess what will happen when you leave your iPad in the sun all day?
Click to expand...

I'm no expert, but if they are RF energy cells, they don't need to be out in the sun to trap power.
 
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