Get charging…

Apple are rethinking how they will allow us to charge up our batteries as three new Apple applications for patents have surfaced.� Apple seem to be moving towards an age where we charge our batteries with other batteries…

Apple’s patent application shows how Apple are looking into providing ports for the batteries in laptops, computer mice, desktop computers and keyboards and the technology is said to be able to communicate with each other so batteries will evidently be telling other batteries that they are running low.

A second application shows how the batteries can be monitored using wireless technology and the user will be notified about the state of the battery, for example when it needs to be changed or charged.

The third application for a patent involved being able to access the “battery chemicals” inside the battery and to therefore be able to renew their power.� This final patent is being described as “intelligent universal rechargeable batteries”.

I don’t want a new iPod – just give me a new battery!

We all know how annoying the batteries are on iPods and the iPhone and more recently on their Macbook ranges – there are not many other devices out there that strictly dis-allow access to the batteries, and the effects mean that you have to purchase a new product ever couple of years – max!

That’s good news for Apple, and not so good for our wallets!

“One problem often encountered by a user of a wireless personal area network is the constant need to re-charge or replace the batteries of the wireless devices.

“Not only is this inconvenient, but it can also decrease productivity. When a critical device such as a wireless mouse or wireless keyboard runs out of power, a user may have to wait until the device is charged … to use the computer wirelessly again,” announced Apple about the new technology.

Wireless is the way forward!

However, they are not specifically focusing their research onto iPods, although there may still be hope for the iPhone.

The move by Apple comes after a number of different wireless chargers are starting to gain momentum and Apple clearly want to explore similar technology for their own products.

Apple are claiming that they are also planning on looking at inductive charging which is often seen used by electric toothbrushes where the metal-on-metal contact need not occur.

Talk about overused…

The patent images that are being seen show a battery that looks interestingly similar to an old iPod Shuffle or an Apple remote control – they clearly like the design (and so do I to be honest).

However, it’s not time to get too excited about this technology coming soon.� Patents are not always indications of the future.� However, it is nice to see Apple turning their attention towards helping us out with batteries.� Let’s get it moving, Apple.