Apple is considering iPhone laptop dock designs

[HEXUS]

The iPhone becomes both the brains and the touchpad of the laptop dock.

Read more.

[LSG501]

lol apple and their 'original' ideas....

[stevie lee]

so its like the ASUS padfone https://www.asus.com/Phone/PadFone_S_PF500KL/ (available since 2011) but instead of behind the screen its in a keyboard.

although ASUS already have a keyboard dock https://www.asus.com/Phone/PadFone_Station_Dock/

I sense apple and asus lawyers getting itchy fingers.

[this_is_gav]

While there are obviously existing products, I have to say I really like the idea behind this one.

You've got a touchpad that pretty much anything could be designed for, running laptop that could be screen, keyboard and a massive battery.

It would obviously not going to be serious competitor for a dedicated laptop or desktop but the potential would be fantastic given the power of mobile chips now.

Shame it will never really take off anytime soon, but I really like the idea behind it.

From a personal viewpoint it's a shame it's Apple, but if anyone could make it work it would be Apple and their lack of fragmentation. I suppose with USB-C now someone like Samsung could attempt it - they've already got the DeX HDMI dock coming with the S8, and that's pretty much this without the built-in screen and keyboard.

[Tabbykatze]

so its like the ASUS padfone https://www.asus.com/Phone/PadFone_S_PF500KL/ (available since 2011) but instead of behind the screen its in a keyboard.

although ASUS already have a keyboard dock https://www.asus.com/Phone/PadFone_Station_Dock/

I sense apple and asus lawyers getting itchy fingers.

I thought that, I wonder if Asus have a similar patent so they can block it.

[Sunderas]

There we go again with Apple inventing what already is there...

[scaryjim]

Isn't this the exact opposite of a headless device? When you talk about "headless" in computing it usually means running a computer (most often a server) without mouse/keyboard/display and controlling it remotely. Whereas a lapdock that you put your phone into is only a mouse/keyboard/display, which would make it a "head", rather than "headless"....

Although no doubt since this is Apple the entire world will suddenly switch to using it their way....

[Lanky123]

Sweepstake on what Apple would charge for a screen, keyboard, small battery and the all important shiny white logo?

No doubt everyone would need to buy a new dock every time the phone changed size slightly or they shifted the connector a few mm...

[Otherhand]

so its like the ASUS padfone https://www.asus.com/Phone/PadFone_S_PF500KL/ (available since 2011) but instead of behind the screen its in a keyboard.

although ASUS already have a keyboard dock https://www.asus.com/Phone/PadFone_Station_Dock/

I sense apple and asus lawyers getting itchy fingers.

Neither of those use the phone as a touchpad for a laptop, unless I'm missing something? There are, of course, a bunch of apps that have been allowing you to use your phone as a touchpad for many years, but I don't know if any of them will have the legal capability/deep pockets to take on Apple here.

[Smudger]

So exactly the same as Microsoft Continuum then?

[LSG501]

So exactly the same as Microsoft Continuum then?

maybe with the iPhone one, the iPad is just a dock. To be honest though even MS have been moving away from continuum with their new arm builds of full windows 10 so apple seems to be trying to make sure they have 'something' (iOS based by the looks of it) when full windows 10 works on everything...

[MonkeyKing1969]

Is this there new concept for their "Pro" line of products? Given how weak they have made their "Pro" line in tehg past few years, THIS would make a lot of sense. Just think, the power for a the cheapest 4.5" iPhone rendering video....the APPLE way!

[FromUSA]

Remember one thing....Apple makes it better...that is why they do so well

[DanceswithUnix]

so its like the ASUS padfone https://www.asus.com/Phone/PadFone_S_PF500KL/ (available since 2011) but instead of behind the screen its in a keyboard.

Was that before or after the Motorola Lapdock? Such a long long time ago I can't remember

Docking though, that's rubbish. I expect these days to be able to use my phone as the "brains" of a laptop without the bother of removing it from my pocket.

[DevDrake]

now the main question, how i will dock my iphone in a case - 99% ppl i see are using cases to protect the device.
Are they realy expect us to tinker every time you want to run the laptop?

Anyway, i like the idea of robust OS on the phone when you need it, but not like that. Simply because if i can take laptop with me then i will do that, if i cannot, then i dont take this with me as well as this have size of a laptop. Pointless.

one good thing that may come from this design is a phone working as toochpad without installing any additional software.

[stevie lee]

don't some cars have a dock where you use your phone as the 'brains'?
like this -
https://www.engadget.com/2016/02/23/...e-concept-nav/
did the Honda drivemode concept get to consumer?

just goes to show, the 'docking small thing into bigger thing' concept has been around a while, be it Motorola or Honda or asus.