Apple's foldable future: Patent hints at crease-free displays

Image: Patently Apple

Apple may be closer to launching a foldable iPhone or iPad thanks to a new patent for crease-resistant displays. The patent, discovered by Patently Apple, details a process for thinning the folding area through chemical treatments and potentially using different materials to maintain a smooth surface.

Industry insiders in Korea suggest a 2026 launch is more likely, contradicting analyst Ming-Chi Kuo's prediction of a 20.3-inch foldable MacBook in 2027.

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Apple’s new patents could make your iPhone screen invisible to thieves

Image: Apple

It was reported earlier this year that iPhone owners are at risk of having their devices stolen and their data accessed by thieves who watch them enter their passcode. The thieves can reset the Apple ID password and use Apple Pay, Apple Cash, and banking apps with the passcode. Apple said in a reply to this The Wall Street Journal report that it will keep improving the protections to help secure user accounts, but did not specify how. 

But now we learn it may be working on hardware solutions to prevent “shoulder surfers” from seeing the screen, as it has two new patents for limiting screen visibility.

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Patent filing shows Apple's plans for game controller concept

It looks like Apple is thinking about what it can offer in the gaming space. A patent filing shows what the company is thinking about regarding gaming controllers. The filing is titled "Magnetically Attachable Gaming Accessory, showing an accessory that could "readily attach to an electronic device, can be easy to use, and can have a small and efficient form factor." It seems Nintendo Switch-like, with the controller being either attached to the device or used separately (à la Nintendo Joy-Cons). But it will use magnets, which we presume rely on MagSafe or a variation of it.

One of the controller variations shown in the patent comes with a projector, which would be a new offering in the space. If it ever becomes a product, you don't even have to worry about having a bigger display nearby to play. We have to repeat this again, but patents don't always mean these ideas become actual products. But it does show us the headspace of the company when it comes to thinking about gaming. We're hoping it pushes through with this one.

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Apple patent explores light-absorbent matte black finish for its devices

Source: ColorWare

It looks like Apple has been giving some thought about having matte black products with a new patent it has filed. Filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the application is titled "Anodized Part Having a Matte Black Appearance." It outlines the characteristics of a light-absorbent matte black finish that can be used for its devices and the possible manufacturing processes to achieve this. The patent claims this finish can be used on different metals and metal alloys, like aluminum, steel, and titanium.

It has an anodized layer that has "randomly distributed light-absorbing features that are capable of absorbing visible light." The layer contains pores, "where colour particles are infused within the pores." And this results in a surface that has a deep, intense matte black, which is a colour that is generally hard to achieve. Most commercial black products are actually dark gray or blue. 

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