Apple patent application details universal iPhone / iPod dock

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.

[c w j Posted Dec 10th 2009 6:28PM]

Wait....you mean Apple doesn't produce something like this already?

One peripheral that shared among products?

Really?

Wow.

(keep cut/paste insinuation to self)

[kjsin1994 Posted Dec 10th 2009 10:26PM]

fail... a universal charger should have been made long ago

[Hotrod Posted Dec 11th 2009 6:53AM]

I think the purpose of this dock is because a lot of people have cases on their iPhones, iPods/touch. This would allow you to still be able to use the charging dock as opposed to the ones they currently ship, which require your device to be naked. The iPhone in the patent photo looks like it's wearing a case. Pretty smart apple.

[crappypunk Posted Dec 11th 2009 10:04AM]

I wish apple would die with all their patents lol

[husher Posted Dec 11th 2009 4:51PM]

looks like a tiny i-whatever waterbed

[HektikLyfe Posted Dec 11th 2009 8:22PM]

I don't mean to sound like a troll but this is not going to happen. Too...malleable.