Apple Working on Smart Bezels, Live and Reconfigurable MacBooks

[Matt Savoca]

Patently Apple is reporting two discovered Patents having to do with two similar technologies that Apple may be in the midst of working on for their next generation of products.

The first is of a "Smart Bezel" technology, presumably for the iPad and, that would give the bezel invisible controls. The displays do not have home button, interestingly enough. The idea here would be that controls typically performed by buttons would be accessed via gestures and finger swipes. On top of this, Apple talks in the patent that this bezel would be live and reconfigurable on the MacBook, making the future MacBook pack on not only a touchscreen, but one that could work best for a specific user.

Another patent reveals Apples plans further, stating that Apple is working on adding touch capabilities to other surfaces, such as metal. Obviously these ideas are for products for long into the future, but these seem like feasible ideas for the near future, and build off of successes and breakthroughs that Apple has already had in the advancement of touch surfaces for digital products. It should be noted that this is not the first time Apple has published patents for touch-screen capable Macs, and even though Apple is getting the patent does not mean this technology will ever see the light of day. For now, we'll wait and see.

Source:
Patently Apple
image: Patently Apple

[piston597]

Activator for the iPad and Mac? Some of Apple's "original" ideas I guess...

[steve-z17]

Huh this could go either way..if it even happens.

[MetallicaFan1991]

I read upto the word patent then stopped.

I miss the 2007-2008 MMi.

[coolguy742]

Activator for the iPad and Mac? Some of Apple's "original" ideas I guess...

Lol just like folders were Apple's idea!

[bigboyz]

hahaha...totally agree! Apple let's the HACK community do all the footwork, then they take credit haha! Activator has been around for sometime now. Gestures are fast, easy and can be remembered quickly.

[Jahooba]

So, where's the jackhole that's going to leave a "this is just a rumor I hate MMi" post?

MetallicaFan1991 - *You're today's Big Winner*!

[EskimoRuler]

So, where's the jackhole that's going to leave a "this is just a rumor I hate MMi" post?

MetallicaFan1991 - *You're today's Big Winner*!

Serious I'm sick of those posts.

Although activator may not be their idea I would like to see what they have in mind and are coming out with. I love activator, so much more convenient once you configure it to your prefs

[CaptainChaos]

This could free up function keys by implementing it into bezels. Screen brightness, volume control, scrolling, zooming, endless possibilities here.

[ty22]

Looks like they are trying to take notes from Palm with the gestures on the iPad.