“A pair of patent filings discovered on Thursday reveals Apple may be looking into the deployment of fiber optic systems for iOS devices, as the applications describe an advanced cable and docking system that mates with laser-equipped portable electronic devices,” Mikey Campbell reports for AppleInsider.
“Fiber optic designs are well known for their fast transmission speeds, but up to now the technology has yet to penetrate the consumer market due to manufacturing costs and compatibility, among other hurdles. On the other hand, the tried and true method of conductive electrical transfer is ubiquitous,” Campbell reports. “Apple looks to implement the best of both worlds with its patent, joining the technologies in a compact, highly compatible solution.”
Campbell reports, “In addition to the benefits of being backwards compatbile with legacy devices through adapters, the use of electrical cabling can provide power, something fiber optic systems lack. The invention refers to this dual-mode system as being ‘electro-optical.'”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: LightZing™!
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Mikey Campbell” for the heads up.]
How do you spell innovation?
For years, Apple has been pushing to eliminate wires in favor of wireless connectivity. That is the only way for mobile devices to become an integral, alway-available part of our lives in the way that SJ envisioned.
Fiber optical makes sense for very high bandwidth connectivity to wireless distribution points. Other than that, I don’t see the “Zing.”
…it was the original next-gen connector and data transmission protocol until Intel and Apple decided otherwise. There were many reasons for it to not come to fruition, however it looks like Apple kept working on it after all and changed it’s original intentions 😉