At a time when most consumer electronics manufacturers are jostling to remain in competition, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has gone ahead of its time and is thinking in the futuristic realm. Earlier last week, Apple filed a number of patents for products the company intends to launch in the near future. If the concept and design of these products for such patents are anything to go by, one can expect many innovations, features and designs in the years to come.
This is also seen as significant move for the company after competitor Research In Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ:BBRY) has launched its latest iterations of smartphones, starting with the Blackberry Z10. BBRY has reportedly shipped 1 million Z10 units over the last quarter. Samsung, another big competitor of Apple, is also giving Cupertino a tough time by introducing its own version of the iTunes store.
Some of the products, which have the potential of becoming the go-to, hottest invention of the year in which they’re introduced, are truly breathtaking, and include a rumored iTV, a newer iPhone with a wrap around display, iGlass, and a computerized pen and watch (For details refer to product list below).
Although all of these products have futuristic design features, the biggest challenge for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) may have to do with launch timing. Until such a release, shareholders of the company have little options other than to keep their fingers crossed, patiently waiting to see what Apple has up its sleeve(s).
We have analyzed the new patents filed by the tech giant, and highlights include the oft-anticipated iWatch, and something similar to a project Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) is working on, but there are a few other, particularly interesting concepts Apple has laid claim to. Ever wanted to call someone while writing a book? Or what about a way to protect your phone if you drop it in a swimming pool? Continue reading to find out (selected patent images via Patently Apple).
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No. 15: Luminescence Shock Avoidance in Display Devices
Luminescence Shock Avoidance in Display Devices is an innovation to avoid temporary vision impairment in case the device is activated in a dark environment.
No. 14: Partially Lit Sensor
Partially Lit Sensor is another patent filed by Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), and the system relates to an image sensing system. This mechanism includes a lens and an image sensor, which enhances the picture quality.
No. 13: Haptics with Magnetically Permeable Material
This invention of Apple’s relates to a Haptics device with magnetically permeable materials that will result in enhanced quality in future iPhones, Macs or other devices.
No. 12: Water Resistant Device Housing
Apple is working on a solution to make its devices waterproof, or at least water resistance. The innovation involves using a multi-layered ceramic material mixed with alumina that will give a water resistant feature, along with radio frequency transmission capability.
No. 11: Face Detection using Orientation Sensor Data
This is a new innovation from Apple, where images taken will be automatically adjusted before they’re captured.
No. 10: “Dynamic Autofocus Operations” for iDevice Camera
This patent involves an improved technique for auto focusing the images in Apple’s existing range of devices.
No. 9: NFC Ready devices
NFC is the new buzz-word in the technology world, and the user of this technology is expected to cross 500 million worldwide by the end of 2014. Near Future Communication is a technology which will make life easier by integrating multiple NFC-enabled devices.
No. 8: Smart Covers for iPads
The patent for this innovation really makes everyone think that Apple is really working on improving its product features and making them more user-friendly. This patent involves adding new features to existing smart covers, which include building in solar panels for charging, a flexible display, and soft buttons to control music to name a few.
No. 7: New Graphic User Interface (GUI) for Contacts
Apple is working on redesigning its “Contacts” graphic user interface (GUI) to add new features and to make them more user friendly. Some features includes transferring files to any user by simply dragging and dropping it on the contact visual icon.
No. 6: 5D Technology
This innovation helps by integrating more than one device to provide an advanced 5D experience, Video Conferencing and interactive gaming etc., to its users.
No. 5: iPhone with Wraparound Display
Wrap-Around Display, as the name suggests, is an innovative feature which Apple is potentially planning to introduce in its future iDevices, and possibly in a forthcoming iPhone. This feature should give users an option to enable a display on both sides of the phone, or on a single side individually.
No. 4: Apple’s Future HDTV
Apple is currently working on a futuristic HDTV with will help integrate all audio and video devices with the help of special sensors. This will eliminate the hassles of keeping multiple audio or video devices for your various electronic devices.
No. 3: Apple’s SLAP-BRACELET Display
In my childihood, whenever I used to watch “Star Trek,” I used to fantasize about having a gadget like a watch that does more than just keeping time. Apple looks to be working on that direction to make it possible. With a concept like a slap-bracelet Display, users should be able to communicate, listen to music, click pics and make videos all from the comfort of their wrist. The device may also have a pedometer for counting steps and monitoring heart beat. It is expected to be a trade off between the iPhone and iPad.
No. 2: iPen
With the innovation of the iPen, Apple is attempting to stuff a mini computer in a small pen. This device will keep time, do calculations for you, work as a diary, helps send and receive e-mails, and more, beside performing the simple job of writing for you.
No. 1: Apple’s iGlass
iGlass has the potential to revolutionize the way technology is used in our lives. It is essentially using augmented reality (AR) technology, which Google is also using in their version of Google Glass.
