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

[macs4nw]

Some of this sounds like promising technology, esp. the RF energy antennas and the embedded e-paper display.

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.

Although this would be kind of a hybrid device, with added new technology, I also couldn't help but thinking that maybe we've come back full circle to laptops albeit considerably lighter and smaller and running iOS.

 

[smoledman]

Where the patent application Apple made for this was August 2011... a year earlier than the M$ Surface.

Wow so original to use the $ in their name for the millionth time today.

 

[charlituna]

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!

Well I don't know about anyone else but I work on film and tv sets and I can't always be hiding in video village. So an iPad that works in bright day light would be welcome to me

 

[Thex1138]

So Apple caught a rumor of the MS surface and applied for a patent?

Well based on an approximate 18 month cycle from development to launch... the smart cover was launched March 2011, that patent was lodged August... so that's more than 2 years... then M$ pop out a cover in June this year.
So by the numbers... what rumours are you talking about?


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Wow so original to use the $ in their name for the millionth time today.

Well they've been called M$ since, oh the 90's... even earlier...

Have you just joined up with your internets recently?

 

[Ay_Zimmy]

The surface will also have ms office and actually take better advantage over the iPad.

 

[MacHiavelli]

News flash: you are not the majority. Apple ( or any one) doesn't design products for a single person.

Really? I don't know any iPad owner who doesn't want it to be faster, who doesn't want it to work seamlessly with their OS X devices, who doesn't want multi-user accounts, who doesn't want it to be easier to handle as a mobile device, who doesn't want it to be easier to hold in general, etc, etc, etc.

The iPad has a lot of room for improvement.

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Some of this sounds like promising technology, esp. the RF energy antennas and the embedded e-paper display.

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.

Although this would be kind of a hybrid device, with added new technology, I also couldn't help but thinking that maybe we've come back full circle to laptops albeit considerably lighter and smaller and running iOS.

You're right: they are getting close with all of this to making the iPad back into a notebook/Air type device.

 

[BaronStein]

An intimidating message to the Microsoft and its Surface. Considering the timing, this might be an intentional strategic move to tell them "we got the patent for that".

I smell some patent war in the air.

 

[Thex1138]

Lol

Microsoft just got told they can't use the 'Metro' moniker...

 

[throys]

Awesome specs and if Apple had this in the bag I wonder how MS got their idea for their surface Smart Cover? Either way it's all good.

 

[Atomic101]

Image

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Lol genius

 

[kasei]

This is pretty slick!

 

[dysamoria]

I love things like this. I don't find these designs very "Apple-like" or even very good in their example drawings. Stuff like this only continues to demonstrate how broken the patent system is. Patenting every possible idea, at every possible moment, is a waste of resources. It's only done by entities with financial comfort to afford such continuous filing. It's only done because of fear of litigation by others who think you stole their idea and it's done to preserve a potential opportunity to litigate when someone markets something you thought of but didn't market yourself.

The way things are now, the system does not encourage innovation. It stifles it.

 

[Zaphodsplanet]

OH NOES!!! STEVE JOBS NEVER WOULD HAVE APPROVED THIS!!???1111


/sarcasm

I totally agree. When I first saw this I thought it was cool, then started to look closer and give it a little more thought. Functionally it looks like a train wreck. It looks like some kind of amateurish idea you'd see coming out of a bad PC accessory maker. If Apple can make something cool out of it who knows. I'm just not of the mindset to try and use my iPad in place of my iMac or a Macbook Pro. I know some people like to do that but this thing just wreaks of a disaster in the making.

It's like the car designed by Homer Simpson.....LOL

Someone should really think about firing Fletcher, the designer of this. It just looks so sub-par for Apple while also looking like it was drawn up by someone using MS Paint on a PC.

I'm also guessing that it would only take about 5-6 days to recharge the iPad battery with that number of solar cells. I'd have no interest whatsoever in buying this for my current iPad or the next when I upgrade it.

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The way things are now, the system does not encourage innovation. It stifles it.

Then how was it possible for us to get products like the iPhone and the iPad?

I think you need to rethink your position on that. I agree that the patent system is antiquated. It needs some improvement but capitalism gives us great products like Apple's iPhone and iPad, etc.... yes the lawyers for sure cock it up a lot, but the only thing stopping someone from coming up with the next great thing is their own mindset. Our country and constitution(when actually followed) create and have created a birthplace for innovation like no other place on the planet. You don't have to be a mega corporation like Apple to file and win a patent. Just a great idea and a grand or two. This protects the personal intellectual property of the inventor, much like our constitution protects our personal property. The only difference is one is more tangible than the other at first.

I'm also not digging this product idea at all.

 

[dazzer21]

Willl Samsung be making it?

:d

 

[thinkinblue613]

Although, this may be a great idea... I wonder... Will there be a need for a case for the 'smart cover' case? A case on top of a case? What I mean by that is, since the smart cover will have a touchscreen, wouldn't we want that protected too? Especially, when I stuff it in my bag?

I'm assuming it'll be an expensive cover covering an expensive device. With that much money so close, I would make sure the cover doesn't break, which in turn may damage the iPad.

Unless Apple truly develops an "un-breakable" glass (which they are working on), I don't see it being a valid cover for general consumption until they do.