Apple patents wrap-around screen for the iPhone

A recently approved Apple patent might give us an iPhone in the future that comes with a wrap-around display. Described in the filing, the device will have a flexible screen so it can form a loop and have the image or video be presented in this loop continuously. This means they want to make use of as much of the screen as possible. It won’t be like Samsung’s Galaxy Edge in the sense that the patent stated the sides won’t be used but it could just been a bigger display to look at.

The downside to this is there isn’t existing screen technology that can pull this off commercially yet. OLED is the closest we can get. And also, this is still a patent. Apple could be future-proofing themselves but it doesn’t exactly mean they intend to make the technology in the near future.

Source: The Next Web

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