“An Apple patent application published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Thursday describes an intelligent magnetic attachment system that provides an interface for an iPad to connect and communicate with a variety of accessory devices, including other iPads,” Mikey Campbell reports for AppleInsider.
“Apple’s patent for a ‘Magnetic attachment unit’ has a basis in the keyed magnetic mechanism present in all iPads,” Campbell reports. “Currently, Apple uses the internal magnet arrangement as a simple anchor point for Smart Covers or Smart Cases, but the proposed invention takes that idea much further.”
“Apple describes methods in which an iPad can be connected to a variety of cases, electronic devices and even other iPads. By leveraging the tablet’s internal wireless hardware suite, any number of accessory devices may be operatively coupled to the iPad,” Campbell reports. “Apple offers a variety of solutions, from “static” cases and docks to “active” peripherals like game controllers and detachable keyboards.”
Much more, including a slew of Apple’s patent application illustrations, in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Fred Mertz” and “Arline M.” for the heads up.]
Hopefully these magnets won’t interfere with the GPS lke in my first model iPad
The first iPad didn’t have magnets.
It didn’t have GPS either, which I think is part of the joke that Sarasota is making.
No, the 3G version had GPS, and the magnets in aftermarket cases available at that time would interfere with it.
The headline is wrong (as usual). A patent application is not a patent.
Is iPad magnets functionality already patented by Apple? Why Microsoft Surface use it to attach a keyboard?
This was announced by a startup company at CES http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/nanoport-connect-and-charge-your-devices-with-magnets/2014/01/09/6a9f9684-799a-11e3-b1c5-739e63e9c9a7_story.html
Nice try Apple.