> The patent filing is unambiguously titled, "Computer in an input device."
Aren't the microcontrollers in every keyboard considered computers in and of themselves? Is it possible to run a meaningful OS on a keyboard microcontroller?
Apple Patent Envisions a Mac Inside a Keyboard
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Re: Apple Patent Envisions a Mac Inside a Keyboard
#12I would love this, especially id airbnbs started stocking nice monitors :)
Re: Apple Patent Envisions a Mac Inside a Keyboard
#13How did this patent get awarded? ZX Spectrum... C64... Atari ST... and countless other 8 bit computers were exactly this.
How does anyone at apple even dare to patent this?
Re: Apple Patent Envisions a Mac Inside a Keyboard
#14How did this patent get awarded? ZX Spectrum... C64... Atari ST... and countless other 8 bit computers were exactly this. How does anyone at apple even dare to patent this?
It wasn't awarded. It was just filed by Apple (in August). It's likely in the review process now. It might be awarded, but patent applications get rejected every single day so this one might as well.
Re: Apple Patent Envisions a Mac Inside a Keyboard
#15What if keyboard stops working?
Whole case of computer needs to be changed?
Re: Apple Patent Envisions a Mac Inside a Keyboard
#16How did this patent get awarded? ZX Spectrum... C64... Atari ST... and countless other 8 bit computers were exactly this. How does anyone at apple even dare to patent this?
Because there are, as far as I know, no actual penalties for filing complete horseshit patents, and sometimes they even get granted.
Re: Apple Patent Envisions a Mac Inside a Keyboard
#17What if keyboard stops working? Whole case of computer needs to be changed?
Well, it's out of warranty and that repair would cost so much that you're really better off getting a new keyputer.
Re: Apple Patent Envisions a Mac Inside a Keyboard
#18> The patent filing is unambiguously titled, "Computer in an input device." Aren't the microcontrollers in every keyboard considered computers in and of themselves? Is it possible to run a meaningful OS on a keyboard microcontroller?
Got to read the list of claims in the patent. It's got a single USB Type C port, a built in touchpad, some sort of additional capacitive touch controls, an internal fan with two vents, and an internal power supply. I think that means it has a battery inside as well since you can't plug Type C directly into the wall without an external power supply. Way more than just a regular keyboard running some sort of software on the microcontroller.
I guess this seems like an interesting idea. It's like a headless laptop which could be good if you only ever want to use this at a desk with a Type C monitor and maybe a docking station. Maybe good for hybrid work situations where you've got a home desk to work at but also can hop on a hot desk at the office. The downside is that you can't work at the coffeeshop or anywhere else but at a desk with a monitor. Maybe there could be a way to output video to an ipad when not at your desk but now you've got to carry that around. It would be cheaper than a normal laptop since no screen but at what cost? The thicker case and active cooling could allow for discrete GPUs alongside a max spec M1.
Re: Apple Patent Envisions a Mac Inside a Keyboard
#19How did this patent get awarded? ZX Spectrum... C64... Atari ST... and countless other 8 bit computers were exactly this. How does anyone at apple even dare to patent this?
Read the claims. Did any of those have internal power supplies (battery?), a touchpad, active cooling, and a single Type C port?
Re: Apple Patent Envisions a Mac Inside a Keyboard
#20This makes sense given that Apple doesn’t want to cannibalize MacBook sales by bringing MacOS to the iPad directly.
What does not make sense is the ability to even try to patent something akin to blue sky.
I mean, it's not like they're short on cash or anything. Patents like these cost nothing to them, so it makes sense that they would try to protect an unfinished project or wild idea.