What many people may not know is that Apple is walking the talk – two solar farms and one fuel cell farm in North Carolina have gone live and supplying power to the company’s data center located in the state.
Apple’s CEO is fond of announcing to the press that their company is the one to offer new and cutting edge products – if the patents filed are anything to go by, one can look forward to a solar powered MacBook and many other interesting concepts. Not only is the company using solar power to keep its offices running, Apple is working hard on developing products which will be powered by solar energy. The company is trying hard to go green – it has applied for patents on several new designs. Apple may well be on its way to cementing its reputation ans an innovator in electronics.
According to sources, new devices are being designed in such a way so that they absorb natural light and charge the solar cells built in. One of the key components (which is patented) is Smart Glass, aka electrochromic glass. The glass acts like sunglasses and translucency fluctuates to filter in light on an as needed basis.
Other features:
The basic idea is to build in a layer of photovoltaic cells just like the ones in solar panels. These are located right behind the LCD screen towards the rear of the device and work in conjunction with the Smart Glass. The glass senses natural light and filters it in to charge the cells on an as needed basis, adding to the moniker “smart device”.
One interesting patent that Apple filed for in 2012 is the ability of users to make and receive cell phone calls using their MacBook. Another patent still pending is the back touch technology which will allow users to use certain functions on their laptop without needing to open the cover.
New iPads and iPhones may have rear facing touch controls – a patent is pending for this feature. It was devised with game users in mind. These controls will be placed on the back of the iPhone or iPad – where the fingers eventually rest. Anyone who likes to use either of the devices to play games, the controls would feel really comfortable – just like game controllers.
Other Surprises
The patent applications revealed one more secret – Apple seems to be experimenting with devices connected to cell modules. For instance, one might expect to see a laptop running on a cellular network. Even as it celebrates 30 years of Macs, it seems like Apple hasn’t stopped looking at ways to plan new and exciting innovations.
There is no doubt that the latest changes in the process of being deployed by Apple using solar energy will impact the way people think and use devices, including the power being generated to run them.
Carrie Miller, iOS application developer at Zealous System says that Apple has spent millions of dollars in developing clean energy facilities – this is a new way for companies in the digital sphere to think and source power supplies.
Apple’s CEO is fond of announcing to the press that their company is the one to offer new and cutting edge products – if the patents filed are anything to go by, one can look forward to a solar powered MacBook and many other interesting concepts. Not only is the company using solar power to keep its offices running, Apple is working hard on developing products which will be powered by solar energy. The company is trying hard to go green – it has applied for patents on several new designs. Apple may well be on its way to cementing its reputation ans an innovator in electronics.
According to sources, new devices are being designed in such a way so that they absorb natural light and charge the solar cells built in. One of the key components (which is patented) is Smart Glass, aka electrochromic glass. The glass acts like sunglasses and translucency fluctuates to filter in light on an as needed basis.
Other features:
The basic idea is to build in a layer of photovoltaic cells just like the ones in solar panels. These are located right behind the LCD screen towards the rear of the device and work in conjunction with the Smart Glass. The glass senses natural light and filters it in to charge the cells on an as needed basis, adding to the moniker “smart device”.
One interesting patent that Apple filed for in 2012 is the ability of users to make and receive cell phone calls using their MacBook. Another patent still pending is the back touch technology which will allow users to use certain functions on their laptop without needing to open the cover.
New iPads and iPhones may have rear facing touch controls – a patent is pending for this feature. It was devised with game users in mind. These controls will be placed on the back of the iPhone or iPad – where the fingers eventually rest. Anyone who likes to use either of the devices to play games, the controls would feel really comfortable – just like game controllers.
Other Surprises
The patent applications revealed one more secret – Apple seems to be experimenting with devices connected to cell modules. For instance, one might expect to see a laptop running on a cellular network. Even as it celebrates 30 years of Macs, it seems like Apple hasn’t stopped looking at ways to plan new and exciting innovations.
There is no doubt that the latest changes in the process of being deployed by Apple using solar energy will impact the way people think and use devices, including the power being generated to run them.
Carrie Miller, iOS application developer at Zealous System says that Apple has spent millions of dollars in developing clean energy facilities – this is a new way for companies in the digital sphere to think and source power supplies.