apple news/media reports
08/16/2007, 10:35am, EDT
Thursday, August 16th
Apple patents retractable notebook ports
Apple may be planning to offer a retractable set of USB, FireWire, Ethernet, and other connections on future notebooks to decrease the overall size of its portables, according a patent filed by the company which surfaced today. Apple's "Connection System" patent filing shows a series of I/O ports on the rear of a laptop that close to conserve space but flip down to provide access when needed. The patent also entertains the possibility of allowing each port to open and close individually, providing access to only those connections that are needed at any given time. Apple is aiming to conserve space by recessing the various connections into the body of the laptop, which would also allow the company to create a tapered edge around the entire system when all ports were in their dormant positions.
Industry watchers expect the Cupertino-based company to unveil its first ultra-portable notebook by early 2008, which would bring an even smaller laptop to Apple's lineup of portables.
Readers interested in Apple patent and trademark filings can visit our patent blog at http://www.macnn.com/patents
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Since the ports can only get smaller, when they extend to full size they should be as strong as normal ports - actually better, because if they flex at all, it's going to be towards gripping the cable better.
Generally, the more moving parts you add to a thingee, the more likely something will break.
I am not looking forward to this at all.
And these aren't that revolutionary. I've used PC laptops that have had network and modem ports that pop out, rather than just plug in.
Although I'm still waiting to find out what Apple's planning to do with the mammals.org web address. It must be something huge, since its been in their possession for like 10 years!