As smartphones have become more powerful we've seen peripherals appearing that allow them to double as an actual PC hooked up to a display. The latest of those is a rumored desktop dock for the forthcoming Galaxy S8. Now a patent filed by Apple suggests the iPhone maker is considering a similar thing, only in the form of a dumb laptop enclosure.
The Apple patent, discovered by Apple Insider, was filed in September 2016 and is simply titled "Electronic Accessory Device."
It's the details that are interesting, though. The accessory device described offers a display, ports, and a control interface, but does not function without the addition of an "electronic host device." As the image included with the patent filing and pictured above shows, the electronic host device looks very much like an iPhone.
With Apple laser focused on making devices as thin as possible, this would certainly be a way to make a future MacBook incredibly thin. It wouldn't need any internal components beyond a few interface circuits, the keyboard, ports, and display. Battery power would come from the smartphone, as would the touchpad input courtesy of the screen.
Related
- MacBook Pro 2016: Should You Upgrade?MacBook Pro 2016: Should You Upgrade?
Apple does leave scope in the patent for the enclosure to include some additional components such as a GPU and memory. But with the rate at which mobile device performance is increasing, it seems unlikely such additional components would be necessary. One other point to make if this device became a reality: it would be the first Apple laptop effectively running iOS.
For now, this is just a patent, and one that will likely remain an Apple idea until a point is reached where MacBook sales are no longer making sense as a separate product, or competitors try something similar for their smartphones and it proves popular.
The new iPad is the most affordable Apple tablet you can buy; let's see how it measures up against the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, which has a few advantages over its more affordable counterpart.
The 205 Mobile Platform is its first low-end chip with a built-in LTE modem.
Revealed back in January, GPD already has a working prototype of its 7-inch Windows laptop.
It looks like PSVR could become even more immersive.
Think you know the answer? Click through to see if you're right!
Relax Apple Patent Describes Dumb Laptop Powered By iPhone stories
Clips is similar to iMovie, but with the added filters that people have come to expect from social media apps, and little of the complexity of other video editing apps.
Marketed as the most affordable iPad ever, it replaces the iPad Air 2 and uses the same 64-bit A9 chip found in the iPhone 6s.
Forget running Doom on Apple Watch, an iOS developer is unlocking the huge library of Game Boy games for your wrist.
Pro tip: Don't play around with your charging iPhone while taking a bath, or you might die.
Apple hasn't made a major iPad refresh since the launch of the 9.7-inch iPad Pro last year, so the tablet lineup is ripe for updates.
It's expected to launch in 2017 as a 10th Anniversary Edition for $1,000.
The iPhone can be seen emitting smoke as its plastic case curls away from the handset.
He does not, however, think companies should be forced to turn them on.
Microsoft's mobile OS has only 0.3 percent of the market while BlackBerry's share dropped to zero.
Rayz Plus wired earphones integrate a Lightning port for charging your iPhone.
Why risk a landing when a package can be dropped from a safe height...
Samsung Display secures huge order worth billions from its rival.
Chips appear on iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, Apple says cosmetic damage isn't covered under warranty.
It's not always a straightforward process, but it's always a good thing to do on occasion.
Modern smartphones have had a good run, but the next big technological paradigm might already be here.
Wozniak put Apple before his ego, which led to his having a hand in developing some of the world's most legendary products.
Design patent cases very rarely reach the Supreme Court. It had not heard such a case in more than 120 years.
Apple needs a new platform. And Apple CEO Tim Cook knows it.
One of the biggest DIY PC component brands doesn't want you taking apart its new machine.
The DRM-free digital games store brings its software out of beta and ensures you'll never lose save games again.
The service costs $2 to convert a Blu-ray to a HD digital copy, $2 for DVD to SD, or $5 for DVD to HD.
Brands are upset over their ads appearing on content related to terrorism and hate -- and it's starting to affect Google's biggest business.
Apple's cheaper iPad and tech chill.
Most of its fashion brands are getting in on the action.
Workflow can perform many tasks with a single tap.
Blizzard finally stops treating PlayStation and Xbox owners like they don’t matter.
The database for gear is already live, but soon you'll be able to sell your used stuff there.
It was technically legal, but it violated department transparency rules.
