Apple Files New Patent With Smartphone Concept That Contains an AMOLED Display Wrap-Around

Behold, the iPhone 6. Nah, we're only joking -- what you see above is a diagram lifted from an Apple patent application that popped up at the USPTO today, which describes a "consumer electronic product" that's nothing but screen. The patent involves building a device from an open-ended transparent body (of glass, for example) that becomes a full wrap-around display when a flexible AMOLED screen is unfurled within it. It doesn't imagine all that real-estate will necessarily be used at once, though, and includes details of a "detection mechanism," such as a camera and facial recognition software, which would determine how much of the screen you can see, so that power is only sent to the parts that are in view. It's important to note that, apart from mentioning some real-world applications, the concept and method of constructing a wrap-around display are all the application covers. In other words, this patent does not describe anything close to a complete device. Apologies if we've killed your buzz, but we're just managing expectations before we move onto some interesting spitballing from Apple about what other design features such a device could carry -- read on after the break for more.

While the diagram up top is certainly the most attractive-looking concept in the filing, several other form factors are suggested as potential recipients of a wrap-around display, including the traditional rectangle with rounded corners, and one sketch that's almost cylindrical. It's also suggested that part of the housing could be metallic, providing some extra support. In the claims, the transparent body is described as being open at both ends, and Apple explains the "end caps" could allow devices to be connected together (think centiPhone), or could be swapped out for others, such as "an improved camera or a different set of wireless antennae." Layering multiple screens within the enclosure is elaborated on, and could serve to increase image depth for a semi-3D effect. And what about the external buttons? Apple explains alternatives like on-screen replacements and using multitouch gestures to disable screen lock. It's worth reiterating that not only is this just an application, but would be an incredible (and likely, incredibly expensive) feat to actually create something even close to this concept. Also, we don't care how strong Gorilla Glass gets with each new generation -- we're not sure we'd be brave enough to carry around an all-glass iPhone. [Source]

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Apple Releases Another Two iPad Related TV Commercials

Apple has launched two new television commercials for the iPad family of tablets called “Alive” and “Together.”

The focus of Apple’s two latest television spots for the iPad and iPad mini seems to be more on the apps that are built for the devices more than anything else. Throughout both spots we are shown a barrage of apps while adjectives flash on screen every so often to announce words such as “bright,” “loud” and “alive.”

AppleInsider has also stumbled across some new billboards that accompany these ads.

It seems it would be safe to assume we are definitely back in the land of classic Apple commercials instead of that odd side journey we took during the Summer Olympics with the Apple Genius ads.

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Is an All Aluminium iPhone on The Way? This New Apple Patent Seems to Indicate Just that...

Apple is renowned for meticulously, almost obsessively arranging each element of its vast product range, with every detail carefully placed in order to facilitate the sleekest of finishes. The iPhone 5 is a fine example of a well-designed smartphone, and with the introduction of a partial aluminum finish to the argument, many have lauded it as the most aesthetically-pleasing to date. But surely, a shell fully-enclosed in the light, robust material has to be seen as the ultimate dream, and a recent patent award to Apple concerning the antenna suggests such a dream could soon become reality.

It’s always dangerous to pay too attention to patent filings, particularly since a vast portion of them wind up amounting to precious little. However, patent award to the rights for the so-called “microslot antenna” technology, is certainly difficult to ignore, as it would reduce the device hardware required to collect bands of communication. The current form factor of the iPhone 5 indicates Apple is a fan of implementing aluminum wherever possible, and where the current internal radio antennas are enclosed within a specially-crafted window, the new technology see the antennae consist of a few tiny slots within the shell of the device.

This is where it gets interesting, since the only way the antennae can be woven into the housing in this manner is if the outer consists of a conducive material. As well as the iPhone 5 and iPad range, every MacBook is now clad in a smooth aluminium finish, and while the Gorilla Glass II is still a major element of the iPhone 5, some are already suggesting it may be among the last of the Cupertino handsets to do so.

Of course, it’s not all clear-cut, and at the moment, these are mere suppositions based on a patent award. Moreover, the scratch factor has proven to be an issue at consumer and manufacturing level, so the chances of an all-aluminum iPhone releasing in the immediate future would seem minimal.

Although nobody likes to see scratches on their device, I have little doubt that an aluminum shell would be an improvement. In the early stages of the iPhone 5′s release, there was a danger of a storm-in-a-teacup over the scratching of the anodized aluminum on the Black & Slate model, but that hasn’t stopped the device continuing the remarkable success of the iPhone brand. [RedmondPie]

Do you think it would be an improvement?

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