Apple’s next generation Smart Covers for iPads will do much more than just protect the screen
Apple’s new patent gives us a sneak peek into what the company is planning to do with its future Smart Covers for iPads. The patent published by the US Patent & Trademark Office details a method by which iPad users could access notifications on an iPad by just partially opening the Smart Cover.
The patent application called ‘Device Input Modes With Corresponding User Interfaces’ reveals how Apple plans to lessen physical buttons on the next-generation iPads. By partially opening the smart cover, and using specific gestures, many functions can be done without unlocking the iPad.
Apple’s next generation Smart Covers for iPads will do much more than just protect the screen
iPad-with-retina-display
By Tasneem Akolawala
Saturday January 24, 2015, 11:28 AM
Apple’s new patent gives us a sneak peek into what the company is planning to do with its future Smart Covers for iPads. The patent published by the US Patent & Trademark Office details a method by which iPad users could access notifications on an iPad by just partially opening the Smart Cover.
The patent application called ‘Device Input Modes With Corresponding User Interfaces’ reveals how Apple plans to lessen physical buttons on the next-generation iPads. By partially opening the smart cover, and using specific gestures, many functions can be done without unlocking the iPad.
apple-ipad-smart-coverApple Insider shares diagrams in the application, which reveals that when the Smart Cover is uncovered partially, it shows a notification panel which gives access to essential keys like the playlist buttons, email notifications. When you further uncover it, you can see the email expanded reading the contents of the mail, all without unlocking the tablet. Even gestures like, swiping across the partially uncovered area of the iPad could adjust the brightness might be embedded.
Other features the report mentions are adjusting volume and the orientation of the clock through gestures, and automatically adjusting the video size according to the amount of Smart Cover that is uncovered.
Apple hopes to achieve this with the help of magnetic sensors embedded in the iPad to complement with the ones on the Smart Cover. It plans to add ambient light sensors and iSight camera sensors among others.
