Escondido na usual litania de reivindicações de uma patente concedida em janeiro – intitulada “Display Housing for Computing Device” (caixa de display para dispositivo de computação), que cobre seus atuais displays portáteis –, a Apple descreve um puro dispositivo tablet com comunicação por rádio:
[0015]As a housing for a computer device, one embodiment of the invention includes: a front shell; a back shell coupled to said front shell to produce said housing, electrical components for the computer device being internal to said housing; and a foam stiffener provided internal to said housing to substantially fill unused space internal to said housing, thereby providing stiffness to said housing.
[0017]As a computer system, one embodiment of the invention includes: an antenna, said antenna being configured to transmit or receive RF signals; and a computer housing, said computer housing being configured to enclose said antenna such that said antenna is entirely contained internal to said computer housing and is operable while being internal to said computer housing without having to extend any portion of said antenna outside said computer housing.
Como sempre, patentes não têm que se materializar em produtos, mas é confortante ver a Apple pensando em criar um dispositivo do tipo. Ou, ao menos, contemplando a possibilidade e cobrindo todas as apostas em uma patente. [USPTO via Electronic Pulp]