Published on 11/20/2008
Apple has filed a patent that would allow it to have an always on display. By that we mean that when the normal LCD display shuts off, a second, low-power, layer would take over to display basic information (time, email received, battery life...). Honestly, the illustrations are so vague that they don't really help explain the interesting bits - and remember, it's just "an idea" so Apple might just be searching for a way to execute. It might be possible to use an E-ink layer in the display. E-Ink uses power only when changes in the image are required and works great in direct light. Hum...