Apple investigating accessory that turns iPhone, iPad into full-fledged touchscreen laptop...
An Apple patent application published Thursday details a so-called "thin" portable hardware accessory that boasts the components necessary to act as a laptop surrogate for iPhones and iPads.
As published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Thursday, Apple's application for an "Electronic accessory device" describes the company's take on an oft-attempted, but never fully realized idea.
Specifically, the IP covers a "thin" accessory, a kind of "headless" device that contains traditional laptop hardware like a large display, physical keyboard, GPU, ports and more, but is incapable of functioning without a host. In this case, an iPhone or iPad would slot into the laptop-esque piece of kit to fill the role of CPU.
Aesthetically, Apple's proposed hardware would be akin to a MacBook, with aluminum mentioned as an ideal enclosure material.
While the accessory can take many forms, the document for the most part remains limited in scope to housings that mimic laptop form factors. In some embodiments, for example, the accessory includes a port shaped to accommodate a host iPhone or iPad. Located in the base portion, this slot might also incorporate a communications interface and a means of power transfer, perhaps Lightning or a Smart Connector.
Alternatively, a host device might transfer data and commands to the accessory via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or other wireless protocol. Onboard memory modules would further extend an iOS device's capabilities. Though the document fails to delve into details, accessory memory would presumably allow an iPhone or iPad to write and read app data. In other cases, a secondary operating system or firmware might be installed to imitate a laptop environment or store laptop-ready versions of iOS apps.
In addition to crunching numbers, a host device might also double as a touch input. For example, an iPhone positioned below the accessory's keyboard can serve as the unit's multitouch touchpad, complete with Force Touch input and haptic feedback. Coincidentally, the surface area of a 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus is very similar to that of the enlarged trackpad on Apple's new MacBook Pro models.
Some embodiments also allow for the accessory to carry an internal GPU, helping a host device power the larger display or facilitate graphics rendering not possible on iPhone or iPad alone.
Since the accessory is technically powered by iOS, its built-in display is touch-capable, an oft-requested feature for Mac. Alternatively, certain embodiments have an iPad serving as the accessory's screen, with keyboard, memory, GPU and other operating guts located in the attached base portion. This latter design resembles a beefed up version of Apple's Smart Case for iPad.
Considering Apple's stance on portable computing, especially recent advertising campaigns touting iPad as a laptop replacement, it is highly unlikely that today's published application will make its way to market. That said, the invention suggests Apple is, or at least was, mulling an expansion of its iOS device lineup to a point that blurs the line between handheld device and laptop.
For now it seems the company is content with marketing two clearly delineated lines -- iOS and Mac -- as evidenced by this week's release of a new iPad model. Starting at $329, the 9.7-inch tablet features an A9 chip, non-laminated screen and only two storage allotments to target budget shoppers and first time buyers.
Apple's accessory laptop patent application was first filed for in September 2016 and credits Brett W. Degner as its inventor.
As published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Thursday, Apple's application for an "Electronic accessory device" describes the company's take on an oft-attempted, but never fully realized idea.
Specifically, the IP covers a "thin" accessory, a kind of "headless" device that contains traditional laptop hardware like a large display, physical keyboard, GPU, ports and more, but is incapable of functioning without a host. In this case, an iPhone or iPad would slot into the laptop-esque piece of kit to fill the role of CPU.
Aesthetically, Apple's proposed hardware would be akin to a MacBook, with aluminum mentioned as an ideal enclosure material.
While the accessory can take many forms, the document for the most part remains limited in scope to housings that mimic laptop form factors. In some embodiments, for example, the accessory includes a port shaped to accommodate a host iPhone or iPad. Located in the base portion, this slot might also incorporate a communications interface and a means of power transfer, perhaps Lightning or a Smart Connector.
Alternatively, a host device might transfer data and commands to the accessory via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or other wireless protocol. Onboard memory modules would further extend an iOS device's capabilities. Though the document fails to delve into details, accessory memory would presumably allow an iPhone or iPad to write and read app data. In other cases, a secondary operating system or firmware might be installed to imitate a laptop environment or store laptop-ready versions of iOS apps.
In addition to crunching numbers, a host device might also double as a touch input. For example, an iPhone positioned below the accessory's keyboard can serve as the unit's multitouch touchpad, complete with Force Touch input and haptic feedback. Coincidentally, the surface area of a 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus is very similar to that of the enlarged trackpad on Apple's new MacBook Pro models.
Some embodiments also allow for the accessory to carry an internal GPU, helping a host device power the larger display or facilitate graphics rendering not possible on iPhone or iPad alone.
Since the accessory is technically powered by iOS, its built-in display is touch-capable, an oft-requested feature for Mac. Alternatively, certain embodiments have an iPad serving as the accessory's screen, with keyboard, memory, GPU and other operating guts located in the attached base portion. This latter design resembles a beefed up version of Apple's Smart Case for iPad.
Considering Apple's stance on portable computing, especially recent advertising campaigns touting iPad as a laptop replacement, it is highly unlikely that today's published application will make its way to market. That said, the invention suggests Apple is, or at least was, mulling an expansion of its iOS device lineup to a point that blurs the line between handheld device and laptop.
For now it seems the company is content with marketing two clearly delineated lines -- iOS and Mac -- as evidenced by this week's release of a new iPad model. Starting at $329, the 9.7-inch tablet features an A9 chip, non-laminated screen and only two storage allotments to target budget shoppers and first time buyers.
Apple's accessory laptop patent application was first filed for in September 2016 and credits Brett W. Degner as its inventor.
Comments
samsung had a very similar patent in 2015:
motorola actually released something similar (netbook powered by docked phone) in 2011 which bombed as usual:
Apple is patenting it to prevent other companies from doing it.
They realized their phones are/will be so powerful they could be computers and can be used as them.
Apple wants to sell you two devices. They don't want you spending a bit less and getting the most out of your one device.
I wonder which would be more popular?
Didn't work that well for Surface, will lackluster sales and worse profits compared to Mac. Despite early reports to the contrary, the latest "MacBook Pro had already outsold all of its competitors, and had nearly quadrupled the number of sales Microsoft had secured for its closest MacBook Pro competitor, the Surface Book. "
... Carrying an Apple Watch and an IPhone -- that's ok and it's not what I'm talking about.
But carrying an IPhone and an IPad and a MacBook are just totally, absolutely redundant. Almost a crazy kind of stupid. They each are supporting: systems board, batteries, memory and processors that are each capable of doing what the other formfactor is doing. The only real difference is screen size and external keyboard & touchpad.
So, OK! Let's Do This! It's time to leave the 20th century!
But, there is another, more important reason: Apple is getting killed by the Chromebook. Parents, schools and kids simply don't want to shell out $2,000 when $200 gives them what they need. But, they all carry IPhones. By plugging them into a light, thin, dumb terminal that supplies a large screen and professional quality keyboard you have everything you need at less than the cost of a Chromebook -- and Apple preserves its youth market.
I agree with some post here: just add touch screen and modem to regular computer and drop the rest of idea as it is simply dumb (and I do not care who comes up with it on wave of fashion: Apple, Microsoft, Motorola or any other large corporation looking for profit from gizmos)
The Samsung example and the Apple example shows clearly why Apple knows design and Samsung is left wondering how to do something unless they see it first.
Apple placed the iPhone where the trackpad is supposed to be. Along with haptics it can duplicate, accurately, a trackpad on a MacBook. Samsung puts there's out of reach by the screen, and adds a stupid slide-out trackpad at the bottom.
Not sure I'd use one, but at least Apple is thinking about usability.
Also, anybody remember the Asus Padfone that briefly appeared and disappeared like random particles popping in and out of existence in the void?
Umm, because they don't want to.
Do you seriously think Apple hasn't designed, built and tested such a device? Of course they have, probably many, many, many years ago and decided the experience sucked. And in case you haven't noticed, Apple is more inclined to build devices THEY want, not what YOU want.
This is why Apple makes so much profit. They make a single device that sells 10's of millions, instead of making a million different devices that sell 100's of units.