Apple is planning to turn the iPhone and iPad into a Palm Pilot with new patent
A new patent suggest that Apple may be planning to extend support of Apple Pencil well beyond the boundaries of the iPad, to encompass other devices like the iPhone, and possibly future versions of the iPod Touch.
“Devices and Methods for Manipulating User Interfaces with a Stylus”, is a rather on-the-nose hint of the implication of the patent, which, as we further read through the “Exemplary Devices” section, is explained in detail:
“...[0106] Embodiments of electronic devices, user interfaces for such devices, and associated processes for using such devices are described. In some embodiments, the device is a portable communications device, such as a mobile telephone, that also contains other functions, such as PDA and/or music player functions. Exemplary embodiments of portable multifunction devices include, without limitation, the iPhone.RTM., iPod Touch.RTM., and iPad.RTM. devices from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. Other portable electronic devices, such as laptops or tablet computers with touch-sensitive surfaces (e.g., touch-screen displays and/or touchpads), are, optionally, used. It should also be understood that, in some embodiments, the device is not a portable communications device, but is a desktop computer with a touch-sensitive surface (e.g., a touch-screen display and/or a touchpad). ...“.
The patent encompass several use cases, with illustrations describing many scenarios, such as editing video in iMovie, online shopping, and more.
Apple has reportedly been testing Apple Pencil in iPhones and iPods for some time amidst polls indicating that a large number of Apple users would love to be able to use Apple Pencil on more devices.
Competitors Microsoft and Samsung have adopted universally applicable methods of using a stylus on multiple devices well in advance, and although Apple Pencil includes features unavailable in regular stylus, what seems to matter the most to consumers is that Apple Pencil, considering the hefty financial commitment, should ideally be compatible with as many Apple devices as possible.
By this token, early rumors surfaced as far back as mere months after the launch of the Apple Pencil, hinting to the possibility that Apple may be working on a way for the Pencil to work with Macs, through the Magic Trackpad
The ability to use Pencil across all Apple devices would be a game changer, and a threat to Microsoft, as the Mac would gain the one feature that keeps Surface devices one step ahead with creative professionals.
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