“When I get to my office, I connect my 13-inch MacBook Air to a 27-inch screen and use a wireless mouse and wireless keyboard. In this case, my MacBook Air is kind of a “brick” in that it just sits there providing the processing power, operating system, user interface and access to all my files,” Tim Bajarin writes for TIME Magazine.
“But what if we could have that same kind of modular functionality in a ‘brick’ that fits in your pocket? A very small device that houses a powerful processor, operating system, custom user interface and data files – a device that can be docked into a multitude of screens that are accessible around the office, school, home, shopping malls and other places,” Bajarin writes. “As far out as this seems, I believe this is exactly the vision Apple has for the future of the iPhone.”
Bajarin writes, “If you’ve used an iPhone in an audio docking system you may have already thought of this idea…. And if you’ve ever used Apple’s AirPlay, you kind of have a glimpse of how the iPhone and the iPad can use wireless technology to share images and video. One of the key technologies Apple has created that would help facilitate part of this is their 30-pin connector. While it has 30 pins, only about two thirds of them are actually used for synching, charging, and audio/video output. In essence, Apple has future-proofed this connector so it could be used for a lot of other functions in the future.”
Read more in the full article – recommended – here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Sarah” for the heads up.]
… and if they continue to align OS X and iOS, plugging the iPhone into a screen and using magic trackpad and keyboard might not be that different than using a docked MacBook air.
There is no doubt that the 30 pin connector offers a lot of potential for this type of use, but other people assure us that the 30 pin connector will soon be no more.
For every Apple story, there appears to be an equal and opposite one.
Geez, you think?! We seen this when the iPhone came out in 2007. A Mini Tablet that could serve as a second computer. A device that fits in the pocket and have instant access to the Internet and core email for the user. We could see the extension to desktop screens, extended storage, and gaming. However, we are glad to see people jumping in on the vision and welcome all to Apples reality. The future is bright!
Should not surprise anyone that Apple plans to let users have computing power where they need it when they want it, whether through “add-ons” with an external device or via networking of some type.
On connecting screens and with 30 pin connectors & their successors, I can see all the hardware connections advancing and eventually becoming optical connections when hard “wired”.
The hardest trick in this is going to be the software to keep it all running right and for it to be understandable and usable by the end user. That is where Apple shines brightest.
Not if you have to squint to see anything on screen. 3.5″ was revolutionary in its day but that gold standard has now been superseded by newer models brought out by competitors. Just look at MWC 2012 in Barcelona for examples. Time to bring out the new 4″ iPhone 5.
For pete’s sake, get off it you ninny. Everyone knows you for the one note jerk you are. 100+ posts all about your bad eyes far fingers.
Go away, please. Why don’t you go to Barclelona and get whatever makes you happy, huh?
I, for one, am a fan of Ballmer’s Left Nut. Keep on keeping on.
Glad to see someone not intimidated by the relevance police. BLN’s contributions (I don’t say virtues) are monotone consistency, monumental overreaching, Kevlar psyche, unapologetic sexism, and occasional lucidity.
Hmmmm. Sounds like a Motorola Aatrix. Which was a less than rousing success.
Apple’s moving the iPhone and iPad away from dock connectors for mirroring to larger monitors/TVs and is going to AirPlay and other wireless technologies.
The only concerns about a change in the dock connector is instantly outdated third party accessories (including some pricey audio/car accessories) and a lack of support for an iPhone/iPad plugged into something less wide if a correctly-sized device adapter is not available. With the proliferation of cases, having a sturdy dock connector is important because an adapter typically won’t fit your case.
when they announced the iPhone this had to have occurred to any good tech writer…
This is news?
I’ve put this idea forward several times in the past year or so.
Sounds like Ubuntu for Android…
So it’s modular but wireless. Only thing is you’d need a screen with the software in it to AirPlay on demand… Heeeey….