Apple patent application details universal iPhone / iPod dock
By Donald Melanson 
posted December 10th 2009 4:46PM
posted December 10th 2009 4:46PM
Don't get your hopes up too much just yet, but it looks like you might one day no longer need to detangle a USB cable or fiddle with a plastic dock adapter the next time you want to charge or sync your iPhone or iPod. That's if this recently revealed patent application for a new type of universal dock from Apple turns into an actual product, at least. The secret to the dock, such as it is, is that the base would be made of an elastic, sponge-like substance that could conform to any device and hold it in place. What's more, the dock would apparently even be able retain the imprint of your device for convenient use next time, and be reset at the push of the button to let you use it with another device -- we're not quite sure how this thing is supposed to hold up a tablet, though.
Sounds like the creature in The Abyss will be charging our iPhones.
"we're not quite sure how this thing is supposed to hold up a tablet, though"
At a rumoured 1 grand I don't think it will matter. Is the sponge like a power matt wireless charging and data transfer type thing or is there still a connector.
@kris120890
Doesn't matter it still has a 30 pin connector.
@kris120890 did you just reply to your self? haha :]
@THISISDG
It puts @whoever you hit reply to automatically now. He just didn't delete it.
I pity the Foo who doesn't take this into production.
@MrT
eeeehhhh.....
Speak up foo! They ar taking this into production right? Or else these suckas are gonna pay
@MrT C'mon man, just give it a rest already..
@MrT
Yeah its really not funny at all.
@MrT You're not Mr. T. You probably never even watched the A-Team.
Stop.
@Brad Hubbard
I love this MrT character! Don't ever stop Mr T
@Brad Hubbard
Mr T Rocks!!!!!
Is that a button I see?
@nicksilvestri
it is, it is
buttons are so last year
"We're not quite sure how this thing is supposed to hold up a tablet, though."
That's because it will be as universal as any Apple product. It'll only work with one device, because *gasp* Apple wants you to buy another one.
@Special Agent Steve
Oh, and why does the iphone screen look so small?
@Special Agent Steve
...because iPods and iPhones are the same thing? Are you sure about that?
@Jack
Practically.
It's not like it'll charge the OTHER portable device Apple's going to release in 2010.
@Special Agent Steve
Even though all of Apple's mobile devices share the same port? I mean that's kind of the point, isn't it? Apple doesn't make you buy a different kind of adapter for Nanos, Touches, iPhones, etc. They're interchangeable.
@Jack
Not sure why I'm going to post this twice but, OK!
"We're not quite sure how this thing is supposed to hold up a tablet, though."
Most likely, this is going to be another device in which Apple will charge you 100$ to charge your device on a "universal" port that already exists. (i.e iPowerMat)
yay
China hasn't developed something like this yet????? shocked.
They are not going to make it, it's just a placeholder so they can sue someone in the future if they come out with something similar.
@APV That's exactly what I was thinking. I think they're just hedging their bet.
Will it conform to my wiener?
@Needsahaircut
That's what he said.
@Kyle Krcmaric
I hope not.
Yeah how could it possibly do data/power through that if it's going to morph to any device?
There's got to be a cable involved somehow...
@Chris Aversa
My guess that it has a plug which holds the ipod or iphone in place and the sponge just cradles it for extra support. So its a sponge instead of those replaceable plastic pieces that used to come with every ipod to hold it in the dock.
@Chris Aversa Bluetooth? Wifi? Wireless power?
This is such a waste instead of doing this all companies need to stop the BS and make and standard plug for all phones and hopefully portable devices. That way we can have a dock that I can use on my zune, iphone, or waht ever I have. All this is doing is making more trash, when you buy a new device most people just trow away the old cables etc.
@JCerna http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/23/support-for-universal-micro-usb-phone-chargers-grows-with-itu-ap/ - Support where it matters is growing, just very slowly.
@d0mth0ma5 Hey, just don't count Apple on giving support to such standard..
@JCerna
iDon't. Droid Does.
@JCerna
But how would companies make money from you buying another three cables each time you buy any product? Or another dock?
Another point is that exclusive proprietary docks encourage brand loyalty. It was a factor when I replaced my Sony Ericsson with another... I already had a lot of nice accessories that use the fast dock SE uses. Apple users probably have ten times as much stuff... even cars, that dock specifically with their brand alone.
It's incredibly lame and profitable.
Talking about charging, am I the only one who wished the Bluetooth keyboard and Magic Mouse could be recharged rather than having to use old school batteries, so inconvenient to recycle too?
@JeanMichel Decombe
Can't you just use rechargeable batteries?
@Ken J
I think he is stating it would be nice to recharge the batteries within the device.
@Ken J Yeah, that's what I am doing. I fact, I just switched to eneloop batteries. Still, it would be even more convenient not to have to rotate two sets on a regular basis, and instead just put back the keyboard and mouse on the charger (or connect them to it) whenever they are not in use (like, say, an iPod). Ideally, the keyboard should still be ergonomically usable while charging, if used in a desktop configuration, and the mouse charger could be disguised as a mousepad. Bah... just dreaming...
@Ken J @JeanMichel Decombe - Even better use USBCell Batteries
Can we get rid of the damn dock and have a "universal" wireless power mat like the pre and BT file transfer please?
Wow thats a really interesting idea. Apple's designers are insanely creative, I would love to watch a documentary or something about how they go about their design processes at the company every day.
@poematik14
Did you ever see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? As much as we'd love to see what goes on in those meetings its never gonna happen. The best we get is a brief clip of Jonny Ive in 'Objectified' but really, what you want is a 100% uncut 'How to' from Jobs himself. And that's never gonna happen.
What the hell?
cool, now they're going to charge 100 dollars for it.
@yulebellow
Thats what I was thinking. It just looks like an expensive way to charge iPods. Whatever pays the bills I guess.
@yulebellow
Between this and the power mat I don't know which is worse.
Really slow news day...
Apple does not want any usb interface to kill all jailbreaking