Apple patent hits at almost-universal integration of mobile payments

Patents sometimes don’t translate to actual products. But they do hint at what’s possible for a company. Tech giant Apple looks to be expanding its peer-to-peer mobile payment system beyond iMessage. A recently filed patent application by the company suggests they are looking to integrate the mobile payment system into other iOS services such as a phone call, an email, and even calendar events. This means, if Apple intends to develop this, you can use your iPhone and its many apps and services to easily make payments. Now, that is convenient.

Source: Quartz

Patent shows iPhones might be waterproof in the future

Patents aren't a good basis of seeing what'll be coming out soon but they do give us a glimpse of what's possible. A new Apple patent application shows the possibility of having waterproof iPhones in the future. It describes ways of creating water-tight buttons for iOS devices. Of course, the patent doesn't indicate if it will be included in the upcoming iPhone models. But this is certainly a feature a lot of iPhone users would welcome. 

Source: Patently Apple | Via: BGR 

New Apple patent proposes a more durable Lightning cable, docking station

Apple patents don’t guarantee that the actual product gets made but here’s something we’re hoping would make an eventual appearance. Apple is looking for a way to make the Lightning cable more durable and flexible up to the tip. Accompanying this is a new dock that will make it safer and easier to charge your Apple device.

According to Patently Apple, this is the description of the new patent: “On August 28, 2014, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals an improved method of producing a lightning connector that has a newly defined breaking strength. This new feature will be able to protect the receptacle lightning connector and/or the electronic device from damage when a force is applied to the lightning connector. One of Apple’s patent figures specifically presents a new docking station utilizing this new feature.”

Source: Patently Apple | Via: Cult of Mac

Apple patent shows off potential features of ‘iTime’ smartwatch

The tech world has been calling Apple’s much-rumoured smartwatch “iWatch.”  Now, a new patent granted to the company by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office calls the device as “iTime” and reveals some of the features we might see from Apple’s wearable device. The smartwatch will reportedly support arm and wrist gestures with a sensor-filled strap, meaning you can flick your wrist to answer a call or something. The device itself can also be taken out of the strap (much like how the iPod nano can be attached and taken out of its strap). It will have a square-shaped design and have accelerometers, GPS modules, haptic feedback, and Wi-Fi radios.  We’re not sure if this will be what Apple’s wearable device will be like or when it will come out but we will keep you posted on any significant update.

Source: Mashable