Apple has patented a modular computer, hybrid Mac and iPad. Apple has always denied wanting to merge Mac and iPad into a single device sooner or later, but a recent patent unearthed at the US Patent Office refers to a “modular processing and input device” and from the attached drawings it is clear that Cupertino is considering the possibility of creating what appears to be a Mac/iPad hybrid.
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Apple’s patent provides for various components that can be magnetically attached/detached.
The House of Cupertino writes in the description attached to the patent that recent advances in IT devices have allowed the miniaturization and reduction of elements such as various processing components, processors, batteries, memories and various integrated circuits; as a result, it is possible to create computing devices with different form factors, useful for offering platforms that are particularly efficient in certain areas or contexts. A laptop or tablet is typically used when you want to have devices on the go; on the other hand, desktop machines are chosen when the user prefers, for example, large displays and/or full size keyboards.
Apple explains that, although computing devices are typically created to meet the needs of general uses (e.g. design, virtual and artificial reality applications, use of social media, etc.), reconfigurable devices could in some cases “be preferable”, offering “a higher quality user experience”, “covering a broad spectrum of uses and environments”.
Apple envisions a reconfigurable device with a base that can be an input surface; one or more devices could be connected to this base, e.g. displays or keyboards. The base features a swivel hinge and features that allow various additional “sections” to be held in place to the hooking mechanism.
As always, we remind you that Apple patents hundreds of patents every year and what is registered with the Patent Office does not always turn into real products.
