A new filing shows that Apple started working on effective speakers for the small space within the new 24-inch iMac from late 2019.
The new 24-inch iMac
The Magic Keyboard used on an iPad Pro.
One of the features of many keyboards is the inclusion of backlighting. While decorative, the feature can be essential for some users, as it would allow the keyboard to be used at night or in dark conditions where printed key glyphs aren t easily seen.
Backlighting is generally found on rigid, fixed keyboards, as such systems usually employ a small number of LEDs to illuminate all of the keys, and such systems usually rely on fixed-in-place components. This makes it hard to include backlighting in thin and flexible keyboards, such as those used as keyboard covers for iPads and other mobile devices. And where they do have backlighting, such as Apple s Magic Keyboard for iPad, it s difficult to provide a consistent, even light across the whole keyboard.
Future compact and bendable iPad keyboards could gain backlighting that more evenly lights the keys, with Apple suggesting the use of light guides on a flexible substrate to direct light to where its needed.
One of the features of many keyboards is the inclusion of backlighting. While decorative, the feature can be essential for some users, as it would allow the keyboard to be used at night or in dark conditions where printed key glyphs aren t easily seen.
Backlighting is generally found on rigid, fixed keyboards, as such systems usually employ a small number of LEDs to illuminate all of the keys, and such systems usually rely on fixed-in-place components. This makes it hard to include backlighting in thin and flexible keyboards, such as those used as keyboard covers for iPads and other mobile devices. And where they do have backlighting, such as Apple s Magic Keyboard for iPad, it s difficult to provide a consistent, even light across the whole keyboard.
The HomePod mini is covered with fabric, though not fabric buttons.
Practically every electronic device on the market includes at least some form of button or switch. Be it to turn a device on or off, or to interact with an item, buttons have been around for a long period of time, and are unlikely to disappear anytime soon.
However, the current way that buttons operate are somewhat limiting for hardware designers, as they could be quite bulky relative to more important components and elements. This is in part due to a button effectively changing the state of a switch between open and closed, which is monitored by control circuitry.