Patently Apple doesn't come up for air as often as some other blogs, but when they do surface with a new posting, they never fail to bring us some interesting content. Take their latest finding, for example: Apple's patent for "smart device covers."
For those of you familiar with the iTwinge, the patent filing might seem like old hat. However, upon taking a more extensive peek, the patent reveals some interesting possibilities. While it could be difficult to convince devout iPhone and iPod touch users that their already versatile software keyboards could be improved upon with a physical overlay, the other possible applications for smart device covers could easily become gotta have add-ons for what's already one of the best smartphones on the planet. Honestly, ask yourself: are you happy with a case that simply prevents dings and dents, or would you prefer one that offers a solar panel, accessibility options for the disabled, physical controls for a video game or even provide cellular phone capabilities for an iPod? Hard to say no to that sort of thing, isn't it?
Of course, until they end up on stage under the heady influence of a reality-distortion field, don't count on seeing these cases any time soon, if at all. Apple is notorious for filing patents that never see the light of day.
Print