Change the iPhone and iPad to the Computer Complete

APPLE has a simple plan to turn your iPhone or iPad into a new type of MacBook that is possibly Apple’s smartest, and dumbest, computer ever.

A day after news of Samsung’s smartphone dock broke, the US Patent office has approved an Apple patent to use the smarts in the iPhone or iPad in a “dumb” MacBook dock.

Unlike the Samsung dock, which adds ports to a Samsung smartphone but no extra keyboard, the Apple idea for the iPhone and iPad is a more complete computing solution.

While some patents, by the time they are approved, show ideas that are several years old, this latest patent by Apple was only lodged about the time Apple released the iPhone 7 last year.

Apple has been granted a patent for the “Electronic Accessory Device” that would drop an iPhone into the keyboard of a MacBook-style dock, so that the iPhone screen becomes the trackpad, or in another version the iPad becomes the MacBook-style dock’s screen — unlike a real MacBook, would still be a touchscreen.

The patent, discovered by Apple Insider, isn’t just as simple as a keyboard with a hole for the iPad or iPhone.

https://twitter.com/rquandt/status/844296286438379521/photo/1

Certainly, with the patent description of the MacBook shell as not having a processor, you’re relying on the computer power of the iOS to drive the thing. So, in that way, the device would not be dissimilar to current iPad docks like the Clamcase that adds an aluminium shell and keyboard.

But with the Apple patent, the dock would offer more.

“The accessory device, however, can provide auxiliary processing resources, such a graphical processing unit, or GPU, or other processing resources that can support the functions of the portable computing device,” the patent says.

So, the dock could boost the graphics capability, or add some needed battery power, and perhaps even include a USB-C port which, even by itself, would be something of a game changer for the iPhone.

Apple is not the first smartphone company that has played with the idea of using the smartphone as the brains of a computer-style dock.

And, just because it has a patent, it does not mean that it will become a product.

Still, if you like the idea of travelling with a really light laptop, Apple could be working on something that is just the thing.(nws)

Moto Z (2017) Image Leaks With New Fingerprint Sensor; Snapdragon 835 SoC Expected

After launching the Moto Z smartphone with Moto Mods last year, it looks like Motorola is ready with its next iteration of the premium smartphone. The company reportedly gave a sneak peek of the Moto Z (2017) at the recent MWC 2017 when it was showcasing new Mods and more recently was hinted at during Sprint's Gigabit Class LTE service display on Thursday.

One of the most notable changes seen from the images that have circulated online is the new oval shaped fingerprint sensor. Meanwhile, the form factor largely remains the same, which is expected since it has to support current and future Moto Mods. This means that you can expect the next flagship to sport a 5.5-inch display similar to last year's model. An image from the MWC event, complete with a Gamepad mod, was spotted by Android Central, while another image from the Sprint launch was tweeted by WirelessWorld editor Diana Goovaerts,With the device expected to fall in the premium category, the upcoming Moto flagship will look to boast of top-of-line specifications that include Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 835 SoC. The device will also look to maintain the slim metal slab design of the original.

The device that was used to showcase Sprint's Gigabit LTE service was pictured running Snapdragon 835. The alleged Moto Z (2017) smartphone was encased and covered from the edges making it difficult to confirm whether it was in fact the Moto Z (2017).

Sprint, however, did let out the the device used in the testing was of a forthcoming flagship in a release. "Motorola showcased the blazing-fast, high-bandwidth capability of a forthcoming flagship smartphone based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 mobile platform with an integrated Snapdragon X16 LTE modem, supporting Gigabit Class LTE."The carrier also stated that it used a combination of "three-channel carrier aggregation and 60 MHz of Sprint's 2.5 GHz spectrum in combination with 4X4 MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) and 256-QAM higher order modulation to achieve incredible Category 16 LTE download data speeds on a TDD network."

To recall, last year's Moto Z featured a 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED display, and was powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 SoC coupled with 4GB of RAM. The device was touted as the thinnest premium smartphone in the world at 5.2mm. The flagship came with 13-megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS) and laser autofocus, and 5-megapixel front-facing camera with a wide-angle lens and a front flash.(gg)

A better mobile relationship is on its way July 28>>MYBLOG

We need to talk. It’s not you. It’s your phone.

Marshmallow and S’more - Updated>>MYBLOG

Updated on December 8, 2015 to add more devices.

Moto Z Droid Editions with Moto Mods & Moto Mods Development Kits Now Available>>MYBLOG

The wait is over! Starting today, Moto Z and Moto Z Force Droid Editions with Moto Mods^TM are available in the U.S. on Verizon Wireless at Verizon, Best Buy, Costco and Motorola.com. Now, you can turn your phone into a movie projector or speaker, and snap on an extra battery pack when your juice gets low. You can even mix up colors and textures to switch up your style.

This is only the beginning. We are working on even more Moto Mods that we can’t wait to share with everyone soon. But we realize we can’t build this ecosystem alone. There are infinite Moto Mod possibilities out there, and we’ve only scratched the surface.

We are providing all the tools you’ll need to bring your Moto Mod idea to life.*

Through the Moto Mods Developer Program, you have the unprecedented opportunity to help build a complete ecosystem that redefines the future of mobile. The Moto Mods Development Kit (MDK) is available to purchase starting today through our exclusive global distribution and manufacturing partner, element14. The MDK includes the same tools we’re using at Motorola to develop Moto Mods.

We’d like to help jumpstart your development process by investing in your future Moto Mod. Lenovo Capital has set aside up to $1M to help bring the best Moto Mod ideas to market. To be eligible for investment funding, you must have a working prototype. All submissions will be evaluated by our Moto Mod Developer Executive Team, and the development teams with the best prototype will be eligible to pitch for investment funding from Lenovo Capital. Investments will be made on terms proposed by Lenovo Capital, and are subject to due diligence and the eligible development team meeting Lenovo Capital's investment criteria. Stay tuned for more details, including how to submit your prototype for consideration.

We can’t wait to see what you come up with!


*Developing with the MDK requires a Moto Z smartphone.

Unlocking More Choice in the U.S. with the Moto G Family>>MYBLOG

Smartphones should focus on meaningful technology that prioritizes the things people really care about, like capturing great pictures, having all-day battery life or being able to switch carriers when and if needed.

But according to a new survey we conducted among U.S. smartphone users, there are common misperceptions about another meaningful feature of a smartphone -- being unlocked. The majority of people we surveyed are confused about what a universally unlocked phone offers or even what, exactly, an unlocked phone is, so we created a handy infographic to explain it.

The fourth-generation Moto G is universally unlocked in the U.S., so it works on both GSM and CDMA networks and is not tied to a carrier or plan, giving you the most choice possible. No matter where life takes you - whether you want to switch carriers or travel internationally - simply insert the SIM card of your choice and activate your plan. Moto G⁴ lets you keep your options open and focus on what matters.

In the U.S., the new Moto G⁴ will be available starting at $199.99 and Moto G⁴ Plus will be available starting at $249.99 beginning July 12 at Amazon.com, Best Buy, BrandsMart, B&H, Car Toys, Fry’s, MicroCenter, Motorola.com, Sam’s Club and Walmart.com. Pre-orders begin today on motorola.com on June 28, 2016. Moto G⁴ and Moto G⁴ Plus will be available at Republic Wireless beginning July 28.