In researching types of displays that can be folded or bent, Apple is continuing to work on technology so iPhone displays themselves could "heal" the inevitable wear and tear.
The Apple Car could have its own MagSafe-style charger alignment system, with contacts on a charging station automatically aligning perfectly with counterparts located on the electric car.
With a combination of radar, and the LiDAR now present in the iPad Pro and iPhone 12 Pro, "Apple Glass" could sense the environment around the wearer when the light is too low for them to see clearly.
Apple is investigating how to make AirPods respond to gestures, have more touch sensitive areas, and even feature physical buttons or scroll wheels.
If you can't decide between two items in a store, you may be able to hold them side by side and have "Apple Glass" display a rundown of the benefits of each.
Where a user is wearing "Apple Glass" or other head-mounted device, their iPhone may be able to recognize and respond to head gestures.
Apple is researching iPhone displays that could be pulled or rolled out of a device to show a greater screen area when desired.
One of the company's many research efforts in strengthening the glass on every iPhone has now been revealed, and it involves using ceramic particles.
Apple wants the iPhone to replace drivers' licenses and any other form of ID, so it is working on technology to keep details secure when authenticating the holder's identity wirelessly.
Apple is researching how to move sensors from the bezel, and placing them in the screen itself, making it possible to have edge to edge displays on a future iPhone, or even an iMac or MacBook Pro.
A future control system for Apple devices like Apple Glass could consist of finger-mounted "smart rings" with research suggesting that charging the peripherals could be accomplished with an enclosure similar to the AirPods charging case attached to a VR headset.
Apple is exploring the use of high-speed but short-range optical wireless communication systems to aid self-driving vehicles, such as the rumored "Apple Car".
As part of making Siri more useful, and leveraging all of your devices, future HomePods may be able to automatically take calls, using acoustic authentication to make sure the connection is secure.
Medical technology company Masimo is accusing Apple of delaying their patent legal fight in order to sell more Apple Watch models.
Sonos has levied another lawsuit against Google that claims the Mountain View company infringed on five of its audio technology patents related to smart speakers.
For a product that Apple still hasn't officially admitted that it was working on, the "Apple Car" is getting a lot of research and development work, including steering, ventilation, and software-based self-adjusting sensors.
A future Apple Watch or iPhone may warn users about poisonous gas or pollen in the local environment, with Apple coming up with ways to reliably sense the air using a combination of lasers and other sensors.
Apple is investigating hydrogen fuel cells in mobile devices as an alternative to present battery charging technology, partly to achieve far longer battery life, but also to be more ecologically sound.
Apple is developing a smart floor plan deduction system for HomeKit that could detect, analyze, and authenticate users and objects moving through an environment — allowing for deeper customization per user.
Apple is working on a type of hinge mechanism for an iPad keyboard case that could fold flatter than standard assemblies, as well as new methods of providing adjustable tactile key feedback.
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William Gallagher
Malcolm Owen
Mike Peterson
