Bluetooth? Not much bandwidth, I know, and no use for charging. But possibly enough bandwidth to enable some form of external data display. Or possibly wi-fi...
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Apple Researching iPad Smart Covers with Secondary Displays, Keyboards, Solar Cells
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Bluetooth? Not much bandwidth, I know, and no use for charging. But possibly enough bandwidth to enable some form of external data display. Or possibly wi-fi...
Yeah, I don't really understand the first diagram. Why would you want controlls and a display on the back while you're looking at the iPad screen??
I don't really see a big value to the epaper display cover. Why not just have a clear cover then - would it really save that much in battery life for notifications. However, I am interested in the external epaper devices that will work with iPhones and perhaps iPads like Pebble watches. Seems a little more useful as you would not necessarily have to look at your iPad to see an epaper version of what is on your iPad. Of course, if you have to be too close to the thing maybe it does not matter.
I did buy a Rocketfish keyboard case for my iPad 1. For long bouts of typing I wanted an external, full sized keyboard. For general note taking the iPad on screen keyboard has been fine and the form fitting keyboard cases have the same smallish keyboard so don't seem as nice to me.
Solar charging sounds pretty cool. I think the charging needs of the new iPad are such that it would serve more to slow down the rate of discharge rather than provide a full charging - but that is cool too.
I did buy a Rocketfish keyboard case for my iPad 1. For long bouts of typing I wanted an external, full sized keyboard. For general note taking the iPad on screen keyboard has been fine and the form fitting keyboard cases have the same smallish keyboard so don't seem as nice to me.
Solar charging sounds pretty cool. I think the charging needs of the new iPad are such that it would serve more to slow down the rate of discharge rather than provide a full charging - but that is cool too.
Well, the charging thing would only be marginally useful. They could just skip that feature and go with a keyboard/notification thing. They'll have to drop one of those features, unless they put the keyboard and notifications on the same side? They really should be on opposite sides though, so the keyboard is there when you have it open, and the notifications are there when you have it closed.
Seems desperate, only "covering" their bums
With Microsoft 1-upping the smart cover with built in keyboard and touch pad, of course Apple has to follow suit by at least releasing patents to avoid competitors building more competitive functionality into a tablet cover.
I doubt Apple will implement any of this as it seems very desperate. Why do I need a secondary display on a tablet cover when the tablet screen is just right there. Are we so lazy a society that I can't flip open a tablet cover.
Why offer touch features that isn't a keyboard when the whole point of a tablet is to provide a touch display. Also I doubt Apple would want to make their iPad appear like a glorified solar calculator by having solar panel cover.
Also I think Microsoft pretty much has this concept patented when they came out with their "auxiliary screen" concept back when Windows XP came out, all laptops were going to offer a second screen on the cover for quick lookup of information and status.
This completely goes against Apple's comment about mashing together disparate devices, like a PC/Tablet combo. This seems like Apple wants to mash a toaster with a slightly different type of toaster as I don't see any reason to combine a tablet with a display and touch with a cover with a display and touch.
This seems to be Apple's biggest competitive move, swallow up as many similar patents as possible and then sue the crap out of anybody actually coming out with a feature that uses it. Apple has more patents in reserve then products, they are becoming one of the biggest patent trolls on the planet.
Apple should just simply feel secure about the quality of their devices and the "zen-like" simplicity of their designs, and leave the conglomeration of devices and features to companies like Microsoft and Google. They really don't have to resort to patenting garbage ideas for the same of staving of mythical competition.
With Microsoft 1-upping the smart cover with built in keyboard and touch pad, of course Apple has to follow suit by at least releasing patents to avoid competitors building more competitive functionality into a tablet cover.
I doubt Apple will implement any of this as it seems very desperate. Why do I need a secondary display on a tablet cover when the tablet screen is just right there. Are we so lazy a society that I can't flip open a tablet cover.
Why offer touch features that isn't a keyboard when the whole point of a tablet is to provide a touch display. Also I doubt Apple would want to make their iPad appear like a glorified solar calculator by having solar panel cover.
Also I think Microsoft pretty much has this concept patented when they came out with their "auxiliary screen" concept back when Windows XP came out, all laptops were going to offer a second screen on the cover for quick lookup of information and status.
This completely goes against Apple's comment about mashing together disparate devices, like a PC/Tablet combo. This seems like Apple wants to mash a toaster with a slightly different type of toaster as I don't see any reason to combine a tablet with a display and touch with a cover with a display and touch.
This seems to be Apple's biggest competitive move, swallow up as many similar patents as possible and then sue the crap out of anybody actually coming out with a feature that uses it. Apple has more patents in reserve then products, they are becoming one of the biggest patent trolls on the planet.
Apple should just simply feel secure about the quality of their devices and the "zen-like" simplicity of their designs, and leave the conglomeration of devices and features to companies like Microsoft and Google. They really don't have to resort to patenting garbage ideas for the same of staving of mythical competition.
Apple's patent was from 2011. It may be that MS has an earlier patent(s), but either way, the details matter.
Apple and MS both have strong IP ties so I doubt that we would ever hear anything public WRT cross licensing to avoid infringement between the two parties.
Since any kind of e-ink display will be very low refresh, not a lot of bandwidth is needed.
There are even "1-wire" serial protocols that could be used to send low-haul data through magnetic hinges.
average consumer won't know the difference and will still whine about Apple copying the Surface
Surface's cover copies several iPad keyboard covers already on sale for the iPad. I was about to order one for mine this week.
Patents like these are VERY forward thinking "intellectual property hedges". They come up with an idea, they patent it, then they determine if it is possible, then if it is commercially feasible (profitable). Sometimes these are not to prepare for a new product coming, but to prevent others from making it. Don't expect to see these anytime soon, or at all.
The article says its a new filing but it was submitted in 2011. Plus there are quite keyboard covers for the iPad that look and work like the surface cover, and they are already for sale from Apples site.
I hope they're not trying to patent a semi-physical keyboard in the cover, something that Microsoft came up with.
We want to avoid another unified search/Google Desktop issue.
We want to avoid another unified search/Google Desktop issue.
Dude don't believe the hype! The article says new but this was filed in August of last year. They don't mention this until the end of the article of course. Apple already had these patents filed long before Microsoft showed something that won't be on sale for another 2 months. And the cover with a built in keyboard has been done multiple times for the iPad like the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad that is sold on Apple's site.
For a moment I really thought that the designer really did write "Pickup laundry." I wasn't thinking it was a part of the design.
I've written things like that on say bank/credit card statements and on the sidelines of homework/assignments/graded tests.
I've written things like that on say bank/credit card statements and on the sidelines of homework/assignments/graded tests.
News flash: you are not the majority. Apple ( or any one) doesn't design products for a single person.