Apple patent application hints at solar-powered iPhone
By Sean Hollister 
posted June 6th 2010 11:51PM
posted June 6th 2010 11:51PM
posted June 6th 2010 11:51PM
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I wonder how far off this kind of tech actually is.. you see it on a few kirfs, but i'd love to have it on a proper device. these patents come up all the time.
@safe travels
apples had similar patents for years, they have nothing to show for it. doubt its enough energy to power anything
@safe travels perhaps they can replace their ridiculous bezel which serves no purpose with a some solar collectors which would actually do something... id find that acceptable
@safe travels
I believe FIG 10 is explaining how cookies are made, and FIG 13 is explaining how whale sandwiches are made..
Seriously though.. WTF is that in the middle on diagram 2.... ?
@Technologeee
I just realized, what the weird thing in FIG13 is.. (or diagram 2, which I couldnt fix by editing....)
It is in fact, the alien ball of energy in which powers all the magical and revolutionary components inside the apple device. It all makes sense now!
I wonder if by implementing this tech Apple might reduce solar glare on the screen?
@WindowPhoneOwnsAndroid seriously i see this guy commenting on everything apple im starting to think its bill gates typing behind his macbook getting bit by the jelousy bug :)
@safe travels
This'll never see the light of day.
"spacious, responsive multitouch screen."
You forgot magical, revolutionary, etc.
Unfortunately, the magical solar powered screen wouldn't work on my phone as its mostly in my pocket or indoors.
I shall invent a new accessory for the iPhone Solar. It will be called the iHat. Simply place the iPhone on the iHat mount and you can keep the iPhone charging all day when you're outside! Pockets will be obsolete.
say whaaa?
@WillSmith
whatchu talkin about will`s!?
@ReubenO From Chapelle show;
Whatcha talkin bout bitch?!
As much as apple haters hate apple they have to admit: they innovate damn well
@zorro And other companies don't?
@zorro I don't think they really innovate, but what I think Apple does a great job of doing is taking something that's fairly fringe (slate-screen phones, MP3 players being the most obvious) & make them mainstream through wonderful engineering & design.
Personally, I don't own an iPhone, iPod or iPad, but I am not someone who can't accept that the Palm Pre, the Evo in the mail & numerous other devices I've owned were influenced greatly by their efforts.
@zorro As an Android fan myself, I agree. Competition benefits everyone.
@zorro
a patent application isnt innovative if its not in a product. microsoft has 10,000 patents. that doesnt mean theyre all products.
@zorro
But it's usually in my pocket.
@WindowPhoneOwnsAndroid
As we know, Microsoft tends to brush aside the good patents.
RIP Courier
Well, at least we have the Kin. :-/
@dorothymantooth
they didnt brush that aside, robbie bach clearly said itll be in future products. it was always a concept. shut up.
@zorro
Yea your so right, I can't wait to listen to Steve Jobs claim that apples invented the video call tomorrow. "So we were thinking, wouldn't it be revolutionary to put a camera on the front of the iPhone so that people can 'video confrence'? Here at apple we like to lead the market with revolutionary innovation".
Who knows, maybe next years iPhone will have an innovative microSD slot. Thank god apples beating the competition to the market with all there cutting edge innovations.
I fell so dirty for wanting tomorrows iPhone so bad already....
@WindowPhoneOwnsAndroid
Nothing is certain with Ballmer at the helms. I can see him applying NXE to a whole new line of devices.
When talking about Google's OSs
"I don’t understand even that I’m paid to analyze them."
Microsoft will be back on top soon with leadership like that.
@Judah Rosenthal
Their marketing's pretty good too.
@Judah Rosenthal Totally agree: they make mainstream new technology and take risks which most (big) companies don't do sadly
@zorro
Just how they invented multitouch with gestures, right?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcKqyn-gUbY
@Jacinth Well iPhone owners tend to be the ones flashing their phones the most, there is a reason some people think they're the most used mobile, so it might just give an hour or two more a day. The idea is unlikely to work in any other brand of mobiles, as they're usually in the pocket.
@zorro
There is one crucial flaw:
Nerds tend to stay indoors.
@Judah Rosenthal
Their innovations don't lie solely in technology and research, but also how they change our perception on certain things. Basically they also innovate culture and the whole sh'bang.
Can the new iphone stop BP's oil spill? I holding out for that.
@sircamels
No, all we need is one giant Sham-Wow. Problem solved.
Remember to Vote!
DorothyMantooth for President - 2012
I'd put the chance of this being in tomorrows iPhone at slim to none, but maybe the next model after tomorrows.
@Nitesh
Well thats great and all buuuuuut, 90% of the working public are indoors round 75% of the day...so....it's kinda a moot point because trsut me...my solar charger doesn't work unless in direct sunlight, and its not one of the cheapies.
@TheNexxuvas
Did you know that 99% of internet stats and numbers that back up opinions are made up?
@Joao
And than ten in four people do not understand statistics?
@TheNexxuvas
Exactly.
When im on my cell phone, im either in a vehicle, indoors, or im just not using it.
I rarely use my cellphone outdoors, and when I do, ironically, I always find shade..
OMG...it'll save the earth! It's so..so...so...GREEN!
@teky Leave it to Steve to find ways of letting hipsters feel superior and proactive about the environment while continuing to passively consume the fruits of industrial society.
Can't read it in sunlight, so you might as well charge it.
@everyone does
Do lights inside work the same as sun rays?
Also whenever I was outside, at a picnic, or whatever I could just set it on the table.
@keyl10
from the tone of your post, seems you thought I was knocking it. I wasn't.
It's the first idea where solar powered isn't just about slapping them on the back of the device.
As for indoors? I dunno. It powers the calculator on my desk, but that's a monochrome lcd right?
Its going to be like a can of red balls
Steve: I introduce the new iPhone 5
Steve: it has no battery, it runs off solar rays. The greens iPhone yet
I Have an article about "Apple iPhone 4G Reviews - Not Just Rumour" maybe you can read it to know more. http://www.aneesoft.com/tutorials/iphone/apple-iphone-4g-reviews.html
@candyer09
Funny, That looks a lot like info ripped straight from Gizmodo rather than any article you wrote yourself.
@candyer09 And those GIZMODO EXCLUSIVE photos are yours too?
is it just me or does letting your phone sit in the hot sun sound like a horrible idea?
For obvious reasons this will never happen.
@september11th
Hey take your common sense elsewhere, it's not wanted here.
Brilliant. If it works, this will make for a new wave of mobile devices in the future.