The Apple MacBook Air 2014 gets more interesting day by day and now new patents from Apple show that the device could arrive with a two sided display and a trackpad that has touch controls and tactile feedback on the chassis, bezel and frame. The MacBook Air has seen vast improvements over the years, however they haven’t been quite as drastic changes as those rumoured. So what might Apple fans be able to look forward to?
According to the US Patent and Trademark Office, they have granted Apple some interesting patents and this could indicate that we will see the new features on the MacBook line.
One patent was for a notebook with a two sided or unique display. The display had solar power and had an external display for touch input. The patent was for an electric device display module and it had a two sided glass laptop display. The display offers the standard display on the front and on the back there are photovoltaic cells. This allows for charging by solar power and touch control sensors.
It is thought that the two sided display would come with a range of materials, such as glass, ceramic, metal and fibre composites.
We have also seen a touch pad patent that comes without the clickable integrated button, which is generally standard. The patent was for a touch pad with force sensors and actuator feedback. It said that it relies on use of forces to make it work. This would be similar to the integrated switch type button that has been used on previous models.
It seems that Apple may want to extend the touch controls on the back of the MacBook as they have put in a patent for illuminated touch controls on the chassis, frame and bezel. This is said to be a touch sensitive MacBook chassis that allows users touch control throughout all of the bezel. Apple would then be free to remove the physical buttons from the device, to offer users a new experience.
