Patent: Apple is working on self-healing coatings for future foldables

• Apple has patented a self-healing coating for a foldable phone.
• The patent details how the foldable could effectively buff out scratches to its surface without user intervention.

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Foldable phones are a boon for those craving tablet-sized displays in smartphone-sized bodies. There is a disadvantage though. As traditional scratch-resistant glass doesn’t bend, display durability has to be sacrificed. Now, it seems that a new patent by Apple could address this problem.

Spotted by Patently Apple, the company’s new foldable designs were filed in January 2020 but surfaced this week. It details a self-healing material — seemingly based on elastomer — that could allow foldable phones’ displays to automatically fill in those inevitable scratches and surface damage.

As detailed in the filing, the self-healing coating could be applied to the foldable’s internal folding display or on the phone’s outer areas. Either way, the self-healing properties remain the same. If damaged, the coating could repair itself without any user intervention. Interestingly, the healing process may also be sped up using heat, light, or electric current.

To ensure the display is adequately flexible, it could also feature slits or grooves in which the self-healing coating can be filled. The patent doesn’t explain if the display itself could also employ a more durable material using this method.

Credit: Patently Apple

While it’s a novel concept for foldables, Apple’s not the first firm to explore self-healing coatings on smartphones. LG launched its wacky G Flex in 2013 and the G Flex 2 in 2015 with self-healing coatings on the back. Motorola also developed heat-activated self-healing coatings, too, although we’ve not seen a phone from the firm sport this technology just yet.

We’ve seen little proof that Apple is actively working on a foldable, but the patent makes it clear the company is exploring ways to mitigate the form factor’s key issues before launching a device of its own. Other patents spotted from Apple suggest the company’s also trying to kill the unsightly screen crease present on most foldables, a tech that could feature on a folding iPad or MacBook, too.

We should stress, this filing also doesn’t explicitly mean we’ll see a folding Apple device in the near future, but if we do, it could be one of the more durable devices available.

Next: Apple iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro: Everything we know

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Anker Bumps Its Tiny Anker Nano USB-C Power Adapter Up to 20W

Gallium nitride (GaN) chargers have become popular over the past couple of years thanks largely to their smaller size and greater efficiency relative to traditional silicon chargers, and popular accessory brand Anker today is launching its latest GaN charger, a 20W Anker Nano.

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The new Anker Nano, priced at $19.99, is an updated version of the previous PowerPort III Nano, raising the power from 18 watts to 20 watts to match the wattage of the fast charger Apple is launching alongside the new iPad Air. But thanks to GaN technology, the Anker Nano with USB-C is roughly the same size as Apple's barebones 5-watt USB-A charger.


With it looking more and more like Apple won't be including a charger in the box with the iPhone 12 lineup, users will be looking at their charging options, whether it be existing chargers around the house or new chargers from Apple or third parties. The Anker Nano is capable of charging an iPhone to around 50% in just 30 minutes, and similar performance should be anticipated with the ‌iPhone 12‌ lineup.

Anker has variants of the Anker Nano available for the US, UK, and EU markets, and with the new ‌iPhone‌ right around the corner, Anker has put together a "survival kit" of recommended accessories to help users get the most out of their charging setups.

In addition to the 20W Anker Nano that offers an extremely portable solution for fast charging a single device, Anker's 60W PowerPort III offers a pair of USB-C ports to charge two devices such as a combination of ‌iPhone‌, ‌iPad‌, and smaller Mac notebook models simultaneously. It also comes with interchangeable prongs for US, UK, and EU outlets.

And for connecting your devices to the chargers, Anker offers its PowerLine III USB-C to USB-C cable for charging your Mac notebook, iPad Pro, or the upcoming ‌iPad‌ Air and its high-end braided PowerLine+ III USB-C to Lightning cable for charging your ‌iPhone‌ or a lower-end ‌iPad‌. For those looking for a cheaper Lightning option, there's also Anker's Powerline II USB-C to Lightning cable.

Tag: Anker

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'Slash Quest!' Arrives on Apple Arcade

New adventure game "Slash Quest!" landed today on Apple Arcade. Made by Green Pillow and Noodlecake Games, the title promises players plenty of "enemy chopping, puzzle solving, door unlocking, river crossing, fire setting, gear spinning," and more.

The Queen's evergrowing talking sword is lost in a faraway land. Luckily you showed up to wield it back to the castle. You do know how to swing a sword, right? Right?!

Forget your power fantasy. Slash Quest's simple yet unfamiliar controls will put you in the shoes of an unlikely knight with a big heart, an even bigger weapon, and absolutely zero skills. But worry not! Just like Shep and Swordie's friendship, before you know it everything will feel right and everyone will be counting on you to save the Queendom.

The gameplay hinges on a unique growing sword mechanic and customizable controls to take players through a storyline-driven 12 levels where they can look forward to several boss fights, dozens of side quests and challenges, upgradeable skills, collectible cosmic items, engaging mini games and Game Center Leaderboards integration.

As an ‌Apple Arcade‌ title, "Slash Quest!" is available across iOS, iPadOS, macOS and tvOS and includes support for physical controllers.

There are now more than 125 games available on ‌Apple Arcade‌, with Apple adding new titles regularly. ‌‌Apple Arcade‌‌ is priced at $4.99 per month, and that price point allows the whole family to play games without ads or additional in-app purchases.

Tag: Apple Arcade

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Lenovo Chromebooks arrives in PH next week, starts at just PHP 14,495!

Last month, Lenovo teased the arrival of its Chromebooks in the Philippines. Now, we are a week from its release and we now know the official prices.

Lenovo Chromebooks will arrive next week

Lenovo Chromebooks starts at just PHP 14,495

You get yours in these stores

This is Lenovo's affordable lineup for those looking for a device to accompany you in your online class or work-from-home lifestyle. The exact models were not revealed yet but we have some guesses though. There are three models priced at PHP 14,495, PHP 14,995, and PHP 15,495.

In our previous article, we speculated about the Lenovo Chromebook 3 that is priced at just USD 229.99 which is around PHP 11K through straight conversion. It has an 11.6-inch HD anti-glare screen at 1366 x 768 resolution. Inside, it has an Intel Celeron N4020 processor, 4GB LPDDR4 RAM 2400MHz, 64GB eMMC storage, and a battery rated for up to 10 hours of usage. It also has a 2 x 2W speakers, 720HD camera, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.2, 2 x USB-C ports, 2 x USB-A ports, 3.5mm audio combo jack, microSD slot, and a lock slot. There's also a 14-inch Chromebook 3 priced at USD 250 or around PHP 12K out of straight conversion.

The Lenovo Chromebooks are set to be available in these stores soon:

Complink

Gigahertz

Octagon

SM Appliance Center

Silicon Valley

Robinsons Appliances

PC Express

Villman Computers

What do you guys think?

Source: Lenovo

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Google Play Pass comes to 24 more countries

• Google has launched Play Pass in 24 new countries.
• These new markets are all in Europe though.

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Google Play Pass is the Play Store’s rival to Apple Arcade, offering a variety of apps and games for a monthly subscription fee. It’s only been available in a handful of countries, but Google is now pushing the service out to plenty more nations.

The company announced on Twitter and on its support page (h/t: Android Police) that 24 new countries are getting Google Play Pass. These markets are all in Europe though, so don’t hold your breath if you’re in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, or Central and South America. Check out the list of new additions below.

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia

• Finland
• Greece
• Hungary
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta

• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Sweden

The new countries join Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, the UK, and the US. We’ll update this article if and when Google brings Play Pass to more markets.

Google’s subscription service has quite a few notable games, ranging from Knights of the Old Republic, Limbo, and the Monument Valley series to Stardew Valley, 80 Days, and Mini Metro. You can check out all the Play Pass games and apps via the previous link.

Next: What would a Google version of Apple One look like?

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