Apple could be working on squeezing its MagSafe charging tech into future mobile gadgets, according to a patent that Jobs and co have been awarded.
The diagram above shows how Apple would squeeze its magnetic power supply into a device like an iPad -- perhaps the iPad 3. It looks like the charging port could jut out diagonally from the gadget in question.
MagSafe reduces the risk of accidentally sending your stuff flying across the room, if you accidentally yank on its power cord.
We'd welcome the addition of this charging port, not just because it could save us a trip to the tech doctor, but because we're rather averse to the 30-pin connector port that currently adorns every iPad, iPod and iPhone. Despite having about a million of them in the office, somehow we can never find one.
Apple's MacBook range of laptops already use MagSafe chargers, so perhaps we could even use our iOS power cables to power our Apple laptops. That is, if we possessed enough cash to afford that many Apple products, which we won't unless we sell our kidneys on eBay.
We do wonder whether the MagSafe connector could be adapted to support syncing with computers, and even if it could, accidentally yanking out the magnetic connector during an update would likely prove disastrous.
Still, we know Apple is moving to cloud-based backup and storage with iOS 5, which will bring iCloud to the party.
Do you have any opinion on Apple's choice of charging tech? Or are you starting to wonder why you read this far down? Let us know in the comments section below, or on our Facebook wall.
Image credit: PatentlyApple.com
Android App 
RSS Feeds 
iPhone App 
Newsletters 
Comments 6
Add your comment
Peter Hudson 18 August, 2011 14:10
I thought apple were one of the companies that had signed up to start using a universal power connector. Wasn't that reported a few months back
Peter Hudson 18 August, 2011 14:12
I thought apple were one of the companies that had signed up to start using a universal power connector. Wasn't that reported a few months back
billfred 18 August, 2011 14:24
Yeah they signed up to the universal thing in the EU for using micro USB but that doesn't mean they have an obligation to do so.
So this means that I can just nudge my iDevice off the desk allowing it to freely fall the floor and shatter the screen ...
This would make no sense. The cable wouldn't be running from a lap or a table top or a desk to a socket allowing for someone to walk past a knock the laptop off the table, it would just be running from a USB port from said laptop to the table top the laptop is sitting on too.
Dean Shepherd 18 August, 2011 15:02
I just have sneaking suspicion though that Apple *WONT* be using this....they are just getting themselves more patents to fight more legal battles in times to come.
Also if Apple wanted to have a universal charge port, they would of done so by now...but they wont for the sake of propriety.
anonymous 18 August, 2011 17:22
Ofcourse there will be NO magsafe on iphone, the phone itself is to lightweight. Yes they are just protecting their ideas. Wireless charging via induction is the way to go. Cut the cords. :)
anonymous 18 August, 2011 22:50
Apple will eventually get rid of the 30pin connector , so the mag safe power is likely.
No parts to ware, more space for other things, or smaller device. Smart idea.