yeah i agree with all that...but since it's not something Apple put out (i.e. the current smart cover) and now Microsoft presented the Surface, the typical ignorant consumer won't know all the facts and will just say Apple copied the Surface (if Apple ever releases something like this.)
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Apple Researching iPad Smart Covers with Secondary Displays, Keyboards, Solar Cells
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yeah i agree with all that...but since it's not something Apple put out (i.e. the current smart cover) and now Microsoft presented the Surface, the typical ignorant consumer won't know all the facts and will just say Apple copied the Surface (if Apple ever releases something like this.)
Controls I can see so you don't have to touch the screen, adding fingerprints, and distracting from your viewing experience by having the coltrols screen popup over your video.
Considering the average consumer buys Apple iPads at an overwhelming majority over any tablet, same goes for iPod over Zune, you couldn't be more wrong. The 'average consumer' will say Microsoft copied Apple.
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I can understand the controls on the back but not the display. The display is public when it's reversed like that.
I'm still amazed that you can patent "Instead of searching in one place let's search in two or more places".
I wonder how many patents a software developer unknowingly infringe on during his career.
barely scratching the surface
Add a stylus and windows 8 and I'll be impressed. I wish apple would focus on minimizing the size (bezel) and weight of the existing ipad. I would love to see ipad and io6 dominate a super light consumption niche rather than splitting the difference and trying to compete with surface, Perhaps there could be and an ipad pro with osx and active digitizing.
Add a stylus and windows 8 and I'll be impressed. I wish apple would focus on minimizing the size (bezel) and weight of the existing ipad. I would love to see ipad and io6 dominate a super light consumption niche rather than splitting the difference and trying to compete with surface, Perhaps there could be and an ipad pro with osx and active digitizing.
Brilliant? or just an extension of the Tablet PC? Personally, it's the fact they still can't get past a Surface is just a PC that has morphed through a Laptop, and into a skinny laptop with a detachable keyboard, with stylus and mouse inputs still optional.
I've got a bluetooth keyboard built into a folio that an iPad fits into. Sucks, but I got one;-).
Personally, when someone makes a smart cover that charges through motion (like selfwinding watches), so my ipad can charge in my messenger bag while I bike to work, Then I'll say brilliant. (think about it, just a low enertia flywheel with clutched weights using their enertia (as I move up, the weights move down, spinning the wheel) connected to a generator... trickle charging at a couple milliwatts a minute...
Hmmm, where is that patent application? ;-)
MS's touch cover never blew me away. Probably just because I knew it's purpose was to assist them in shoehorning a desktop OS into a tablet. For me if I need to do desktop class work I use my laptop. When I don't and I'm using a tablet I don't want or need a physical keyboard.
CONSPIRACY THEORY BELOW
Ok, here goes. Somebody at Apple leaked this patent to Microsoft, who then hastily cobbled together the Surface version so that it could be "demonstrated". Now everybody will think Apple copied MS!
..or maybe it's just a logical use for the inside of a cover.
'Aye Cap'n, You canna change the laws of Physics.'
Can't have a hand held touch device with out a properly sized bezel.
Can't have 14 hours of use without the capacity to hold an adequately sized battery.
Well, not until we get dilithium crystal powered iPads, with anti-gravity assist.
Can't wait for that patent.
I don't think Apple is 'trying to compete with Surface' I would argue the opposite.
I look at these patents as 'high ground' defensive positions. At worst, they'll use them to generate royalties (doubtful), at best, it will be when you've exceeded what you can do with a tablet, and you need to start building niche interfaces for subclasses of consumers (elderly, professional, mobile, academic, youth), each with a cover that extends the interface in a way optimized for them (artists... having a touch pallette off the 'canvas', for example).
It's a stretch, as it adds complexity to the apps to respond (what type of cover is there?... how present my app?... what happens when it detaches?). Dumb covers are just at the OS level... covers like these need to be exposed to the applications... that's not a short term 'let's add this' and see where it goes ala Tablet PCs of the 90s.
This just goes into the 'patent everything' pile. Sad we require this of our corporations.
"Introduced?" To whom? A handful of internal engineers?
And did you not read that Apple's patent was filed last year, long before the Surface was announced (and the keyboard was off-limits when it was announced). I don't know when Microsoft's patent was filed but as for prior-art there most certainly were and are existing keyboards with built into covers.
Michael
I agree, if someone can prove they have prior art and a prior product already being marketed, they could kill Apples patent, or at least part of it. That is assuming however, Apple hasn't been in development of this or has prior art from years ago. If Apple is at the patent stage, then they most likely have a working prototype or several prototypes as they have proven to do with other products they design and want to patent. They didn't design it the day they submitted the patent application and Apple has been developing the iPad itself for years, so it is hard to say what other technologies they have designed to work with it.
I wouldn't get hopes up for quite a while yet. Stuff like this can take 5-10 or even more years before they finally make it into the initial product. Or they may never see the light of day. In terms of making it cost effective at current I can imagine it being relatively expensive.
Who the hell are all those people reading and working in bright sunlight? Last time I checked (here in Vienna), people are quite eager to find a nice spot in the shade. The only people who stay in the sun are those who want to sunbathe, preferrably with CLOSED EYES!
It doesn't need to since the surface has a kick stand. Anyway, way to innovate Apple.
LOL. I know. I'll wager nothing comes of it. Apple and Microsoft will be growing tighter. It's Apple/Microsoft vs Samsung/Google for the next few years.
Just because Apple's version isn't to market yet, doesn't mean they didn't create it first, which is why they are patenting it.
You have a valid point - that I initially did not consider. A panel of that size would definitely have enough power to keep an e-ink display and touch sensor topped up, as those use very little power. But for standard backlit display - I'm doubtful. To power anything beyond the E-Ink / Touch Sensor would require enough time in direct sunlight that you and/or your iPad will suffer.
There are many materials available that are exceptionally strong and very light. Don't think about typical "carbon fiber" cases you see just about everywhere - those tend to be very cheap in material and construction. If you get a real carbon weave - high density / orthogonal layering - you'd be amazed at how strong and light things can be. Problem is - that "real carbon fiber" is very expensive. You can also get honeycomb / geodic structures of carbon / titanium which can get even more expensive. In short, I was being a bit of a goof - but there is truth behind it. You can get very strong / very light covers for an iPad, if you've got many times the value of an iPad in cash laying around. However I won't hold my breath for Apple to sell one as an affordable accessory.
I've never heard of an RF energy cell before, so I'm not entirely sure what you're referring to. If you mean by inductive charging - I don't think you will get any real power from the sun. Deep IR panels may work under some shade - but they produce less power than visible panels. Even with the most expensive solar panels on that cover - due to the surface area (or lack thereof) you'd still need 10+ hours of constant sunlight. To reiterate, that would result in high case temperatures - which will degrade the battery rapidly.
This patent looks more of a blanket brainstorm to protect Apple from infringement claims down the road. If you look at the level of litigation going on right now - I'm actually surprised that we aren't seeing even more vague "out there" ideas having patents applied for.
I understand what you are saying. I don't yet have an iPad, but for those I know who do have one or some other tablet they like to have a physical keyboard just for faster data input. I would't call email, light word processing, or surfing the web desktop class work, but it sure is easier with a separate keyboard if you have one available.
Obviously, I think it all depends on what position you are in. Sitting on a couch or chair with a tablet in your lap is not going to be conducive to using a smart cover keyboard. However sitting at any kind of desk or table is the perfect environment. That's why I think the touch keys built into the smart cover is such a cool idea. We got my mom an iPad for Christmas and along with it a keyboard case. I really dislike how bulky it is and of course having to have bluetooth on the whole time drains battery.
the last one is ridiculous, that would mean I would need a cover to protect my cover
Unless that cover is a cover in-itself!