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Posted by LSG501 - Thu 23 Mar 2017 14:26
lol apple and their ‘original’ ideas….
Posted by stevie lee - Thu 23 Mar 2017 14:26
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.
Posted by this_is_gav - Thu 23 Mar 2017 14:52
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.
Posted by Tabbykatze - Thu 23 Mar 2017 15:42
stevie lee;30143
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.
Posted by Sunderas - Thu 23 Mar 2017 15:52
There we go again with Apple inventing what already is there…
Posted by scaryjim - Thu 23 Mar 2017 16:33
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….
Posted by Lanky123 - Thu 23 Mar 2017 16:39
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…
Posted by Otherhand - Thu 23 Mar 2017 17:00
stevie lee;30143
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.
Posted by Smudger - Thu 23 Mar 2017 17:39
So exactly the same as Microsoft Continuum then?
Posted by LSG501 - Thu 23 Mar 2017 18:24
Smudger
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…
Posted by MonkeyKing1969 - Thu 23 Mar 2017 18:27
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!
Posted by FromUSA - Thu 23 Mar 2017 19:15
Remember one thing….Apple makes it better…that is why they do so well
Posted by DanceswithUnix - Thu 23 Mar 2017 19:47
stevie lee;3787792
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 :D

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.
Posted by DevDrake - Thu 23 Mar 2017 20:16
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.
Posted by stevie lee - Thu 23 Mar 2017 20:29
don't some cars have a dock where you use your phone as the ‘brains’?
like this -
https://www.engadget.com/2016/02/23/honda-drivemode-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.
Posted by DaMoot - Sun 26 Mar 2017 05:18
Apple thinks that it invented something new? This concept has been around for a while.

Even my husband was musing about this idea some 10-12 years ago when we were still dating! lol
Posted by peterb - Sun 26 Mar 2017 07:48
DaMoot
Apple thinks that it invented something new? This concept has been around for a while.

Even my husband was musing about this idea some 10-12 years ago when we were still dating! lol

I don't think it's a question of ‘inventing’ because as you say, the concept has been around for a long time. More a question of developing for a specific platform.
Posted by whatif - Tue 28 Mar 2017 05:17
My first thought with this design is what about those people I see who bash the touch pad. I know that all it requires is a light tap, But one of my friends is very heavy handed with his touch pad, especially when his emotions get a bit raised whilst gaming.
I have never had a apple phone, so not sure myself, but how well does Siri really work? Could it be good enough to use as a voice control for this setup?
Posted by whatif - Tue 28 Mar 2017 09:18
DanceswithUnix
stevie lee;3787792
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.

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.

G'day DanceswithUnix,
Talking about not taking you phone out of your pocket, I came across this thing the other day
Have you heard about this Kickstarter project - the Superscreen ( https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/brentmorgan/superscreen )