Apple Looking Into Using MagSafe Ports and Wireless Charging for iOS Devices

[Maura]

Boy Genius Report has a story today about a patent application filed by Apple and found by Patently Apple, which shows that Apple is looking into the potential of using magnetic MagSafe connectors with iOS devices. Apple already uses MagSafe connectors on MacBooks, and the patent indicates that it is thinking about expanding the use of MagSafe connectors to other devices. MagSafe connectors basically do away with the traditional “male” and “female” cable and port connectors, and aside from looking neater, also eliminate the danger of pulling a device off a desk when you snag a cable; if you snag a MagSafe cable, then you will only pull the cable off the desk, not the device it's attached to. BGR explains that the patent puts forward the idea that the magnets in this new type of connector would be coded with information that would be transmitted when the magnets were put together, with the benefit being that different accessories would be able to use a single connector port across the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or MacBook range.

The patent also talks about a stylus for the iPad, which would also contain coded magnets either at the stylus’s tip, or close to the tip. The stylus could then be put in a dock connected to an iPad or other device, and used to exchange data. Also included in the patent is the concept of the magnets in the stylus being an added security feature, with unique coding for each stylus that would mean that it would only work with a paired iPad or other device.

Source: Future iPhone and iPad may feature MagSafe ports, wireless charging

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