Week 9 - Post 2: Apple Seeking Wraparound Display

        For my next post, I read another article this week about Apple and its patents.  Currently, Apple is seeking a patent on a wraparound display for their iPhone.  The picture below is a preliminary look at what the new iPhone may look like.  The display itself would expand the viewing area of the phone, and all physical buttons would finally be done away with, according to the specs of this patent.  Also, there will be no frame or bezel surrounding the frame of the iPhone, thus further increasing the surface area of the new iPhone.  Unfortunately for Apple, Samsung recently showed off a prototype phone in January with a display that is bent around the edges, in a manner similar to Apple's iPhone filing, however their technology was not wraparound.

        Like my previous post about a patent that Apple just received on a "smart pen", it will be interesting whether Apple actually takes advantage of this patent or not, although it still remains to be seen if Apple will even be granted the "wraparound" patent.  However unlike the smart pen, the idea of a wraparound screen on an iPhone seems like consumers may actually find the product relevant and useful.  Is this the sort of innovation that Apple needs to revive itself and again find its way to the top of the technology industry?  Recently Apple has been sluggish, and its stock price dropped severely over the past several months.  Apple has not recently demonstrated any strikingly new and innovative technologies to the public recently, and many investors are questioning whether Apple is finally slowing down.  It remains to be seen whether Apple will be able to compete in the future with companies like Google, which is actively pursuing the development of both its "Google glasses" and its self-driving car.  However at least within the smartphone space, a wraparound screen seems like it could give Apple the boost it needs out of its current slump.

Link: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505124_162-57577078/apple-aims-to-patent-iphone-with-wraparound-display/