Is Apple envisioning a future in which all our devices are pretty much completely port-free? With the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, Apple has removed the headphone jack. With the 12-inch Retina MacBook, Apple has furnished the laptop with a single USB-C port, and last we heard, Apple could be considering removing the headphone jack from the MacBook as well.
We’re not sure if all of this is in the name of design or technological advancements, but could the next port Apple could be considering removing the Lightning port? According to a report from Forbes, they have spotted an Apple patent which seems to suggest that Apple is exploring that idea.
According to the patent, it describes a system in which through an optical interface, data could flow between devices, thus eliminating the need for ports like Lightning. With Apple rumored to be working on wireless technology, this really wouldn’t be that much of a stretch. Not to mention the removal of Lightning will probably meet less resistance especially since on Apple’s iOS devices rely on it.
Apple has a history of removing things that we used to think were essential. For example they removed the optical drive from their computers, so the idea that one day Apple could eliminate ports and go completely wireless doesn’t really seem that far-fetched. Of course it could be a long time before we’re completely free of cables, but it does seem that Apple is working towards making that future happen.
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