patents

Apple comes up with a lot of great ideas, but sometimes it misses the mark -- by a long, long way. These are the strangest Mac ideas Apple has ever patented.

The design of the iconic iMac hasn't changed much over the past few years, but there could be hope that Apple's all-in-one computer could have a much different look in the years ahead. A recent patent suggests that the company could be playing with the idea of a modular iMac with a curved glass display. 

The Samsung Galaxy Fold hasn't resurfaced yet, but these patents could give us our first look at Samsung's next planned foldable phone, as well as a possible design for a folding tablet. Could this be the Samsung Galaxy Tab Fold as well as the Galaxy Fold 2? Only time will tell, but they look amazing.

Folding smartphones haven’t even properly arrived and they've already been surpassed in desirability by a folding smartwatch from IBM that goes from having a single small screen to a mini tablet on your wrist. It’s unlike anything we’ve seen. Sadly, the watch just a concept in a patent; and IBM is addicted to filing them.

Toyota announced this week it’s offering royalty-free access to almost 24,000 patents related mainly to its hybrid-vehicle technology. The Japanese automaker says it hopes the move will boost the market and ultimately help countries around the world to meet their emissions goals.

Possibly taking a cue from Apple's popular AirPods, Bose has filed a patent application for infrared technology which it would build into various models of earbuds, including fully wireless models. The tech could save battery life, improve sound quality, and possibly help people locate lost earbuds.

Embarrassed of issuing voice commands in public, or tired of screaming over a bunch of houseguests to communicate with a smart speaker? Microsoft might have the answer to a less awkward experience with a new technology that claims it can understand voice commands ushered in near silence.

Apple was ordered by a California jury to pay WiLan, a Canadian patent licensing company, the sum of $145.1 million for damages as a result of patent infringement. According to the jury, some of Apple's iPhone models used two of WiLan's wireless communications technology patents.

Apple is dipping its toes in the dual-screen laptop category with a new keyboard patent that essentially replaces the keyboard with a giant second touchscreen offering configurable software keys, haptics feedback, and sliders and dials. Other ideas include a physical keyboard overlay and a membrane cover.

In a patent filing released today, Nvidia describes a technology that could fundamentally alter the way your games look, feel, and perform. Nvidia calls it "infinite resolution," and it's effectively a clever way of using vector graphics to replace static textures in games.

Amazon noted in its latest patent that its customers "may be alarmed or confused" when one of its noisy delivery drones approaches their house. With that in mind, the company proposes fitting its drone with lights, speakers, and even a projector to help the flying machine communicate with the customer.

Ford applied for a patent for an unexpected design: a car with an integrated electric motorcycle. Citing the need for multimodal passenger vehicles in urban areas where parking is expensive and hard to find, Ford's design lets the driver park the car outside the city and take the EV bike to their final destination.

In patents filings made public this week, Oculus describes a couple different technologies that could make its virtual reality even more realistic and immersive. The patents describe a couple methods for simulating touch in VR environments, one of which includes a "skin stretch instrument." 

Apple has been awarded a few new patents that hint at a seriously upgraded Apple Pencil. There are two patents in total.

Apple could be developing a new MacBook keyboard designed to prevent crumbs and dust from getting those super-shallow MacBook keys stuck. 

The most recent Microsoft patent filing indicates that it could be working on a "Surface Phone" device with a hardware-based laptop mode.

The trusty Surface Pen is overdue for an update, and it looks like Microsoft knows that, according to some recent patent filings.

Apple has been awarded a series of five patents this week, including one that hints at the company's work on sleep tracking.

Amazon is serious about its Prime Air drone delivery plan, and has a busy R&D team working on the project. But you may find its latest idea a little puzzling.

One factor that holds PlayStation VR back from achieving more is the Move controller. If two patents filed by Sony are anything to go by, a new motion controller could be on its way.

Canon patents that were approved in the U.S. last year averaged roughly nine patent applications every day, topping over 3,000.

There may be times, such as when you're out and about, when you'd prefer Siri to whisper back its response. Apple is looking into the idea.