IT House May 4 news, according to Neowin, like many other technology companies, Apple is constantly patenting various ideas and technologies, although many of them have never been implemented in consumer devices. The device described in One of Apple's most recent patents may also never appear, but it suggests that Apple has considered all sorts of crazy ideas, which often contradict what the company has previously made public.
A patent discovered by Patently Apple shows an iPad with a dock that is similar to Microsoft's Surface Book. It has a detachable keyboard with "electromechanical keys", a trackpad and a coupling mechanism that enables different positions, such as tent mode, laptop mode, canvas mode, etc. The hinge in the base may also display short information, contain a camera, microphone or projector, and serve as an Apple Pencil stand.
Another notable aspect of the patent is that the displayed iPad uses macOS instead of the iPadOS system. As Apple adds M1 chips to more iPads and Macs move to Apple Silicon, many fans want to see macOS-enabled iPads or tablets that switch between macOS and iPadOS depending on the accessories connected.
It's hard to say whether Apple will make such a device, especially the company's refusal to make a universal device that can replace laptops and tablets. (If you can sell two units, why only sell one?) In addition, Apple keeps reminding everyone that it wants to separate macOS from iPadOS and develop iPad and Mac in parallel, rather than merging them into a separate "oven + refrigerator notebook."
Finally, it's worth noting that Microsoft's Surface Studio was also a crazy patented idea, but it ended up becoming one of the craziest Windows all-in-ones.