Apple patent adds flexible display to a Smart Cover . . .

When Apple released the Smart Cover for the iPad it formed a clever way to protect your screen and act as a tablet stand in one. But a patent that became public today details how Apple may have a lot more functionality planned for their Smart Covers in future.

The patent in question is called “Cover attachment with flexible display,” and was filed by Apple around a year ago. It details adding a flexible display to the inside of a Smart Cover so as to offer up new functionality beyond the main tablet display.

Based on the diagrams included with the patent filing, Apple envisions this second display to also acts as a touchscreen whose functionality changes based on its configuration. For example, when laid flat it can be drawn on with a stylus, used as a keyboard, or simply displays additional information to compliment whatever is on the tablet’s display. Roll it into a stand configuration though, and touch sensitive playback controls appear allowing you to manipulate the action on screen without ever touching it.

The use of this enhanced Smart Cover would require a new connector be added that allows it to be plugged into the iPad to draw power. If thin battery tech continues to improve though, I bet Apple would prefer to add a battery directly into the Smart Cover and keep the design cleaner.

Whether this Smart Cover+ ever sees the light of day is up to Apple, but I can’t see anyone not liking having a second display built into the iPad’s screen protector and stand. There’s one sector of the market that will be sweating over this, though: peripheral manufacturers. If Apple released this new cover it would replace the need to buy a separate keyboard accessory, and probably a range of other add-on devices too depending on the final feature set.

DoubleRobotics uses an iPad and robot to change telepresence forever . . .

Telepresence is a useful way for people to be in a meeting or somewhere important without actually having to be there. It’s an instant, global service that can save companies millions of dollars in transportation fees and man-hours. Now an outfit called DoubleRobotics has come up with a robot that gets you closer to being actually being there than ever before.

What’s new is DoubleRobotics’ first product, Double. It’s essentially a Segway-shaped stand for an iPad that allows telepresence to be much more involving than just a webcam. The user can use this robot to move around wherever it is using their iPad’s (or iPhone’s) touchscreen controls. They can even adjust the height of the stand to get a good look at that powerpoint presentation they’re missing or communicate with others at eye level.

The robot certainly gives people the sense you’re in the room with them when, although the floating-head-on-a-stick does look a bit creepy. It does however give users complete control as Double can move forwards, backwards, and turn with ease. The Double only weighs 15 pounds and releases two stands between its wheels when not in use in order to conserve power.

Perhaps with the introduction of Double, your boss will never physically need to come into work again, she can just supervise you from home or a local coffee shop. Of course you’ll be able to turn them off at any time, goof off for a few hours, and then blame it all on IT.

The Double will set you back $2500 when they ship in December, or $2000 if you pre-order one.

More at DoubleRobotics, via VentureBeat