Apple Pencil may soon let you draw in the air, new patent suggests
According to a newly published patent filing spotted by Patently Apple, Apple is developing a stylus that may function independently of a screen, potentially allowing users to write, draw, and gesture in mid-air. The patent outlines the use of advanced motion-sensing technologies that could turn the Apple Pencil into a freeform input device.
The document describes the use of optical flow sensors or laser speckle flow sensors, similar to those found in optical mice, to track the movement of the Pencil across a wide range of surfaces. These sensors are capable of detecting small shifts in light and shadow as the device moves, allowing for accurate motion capture.
To achieve this, the Pencil would measure spatial and temporal changes in image brightness. This data would then be translated into real-time input on a connected screen such as an iPad, Mac, or iPhone.
What makes this development particularly noteworthy is its potential beyond simple sketching. According to the patent, the Pencil could support air gestures for handwriting, drawing, or even manipulating 3D objects. This opens up possibilities for spatial computing and AR applications, especially in combination with devices like the Vision Pro headset.
The Apple Pencil could also act as a universal spatial controller, enabling users to navigate files, control audio playback, or perform other system-level actions with mid-air gestures.
The illustrations in the patent show the stylus being used alongside various Apple products, including the iPad, MacBook Pro, iPhone, and the Vision Pro. This indicates a broader ambition to make the next Apple Pencil a central part of Apple's hardware ecosystem.
As always with patents, there's no guarantee that the product will be commercialised. However, the technology described could significantly expand how users interact with Apple devices, especially in AR environments or creative workflows that benefit from untethered input.
If Apple brings this idea to life, the Apple Pencil could soon become more than just a stylus, it could be a controller for the spatial era.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
34 minutes ago
- India.com
This company became World's first trillion-dollar business 18 years before Nvidia; now it ranks below Mukesh Ambani's Reliance, it is...
As the technology industry is expanding quickly, one company is presenting itself as a real competitor to the giants of the sector, Apple and Microsoft. Due to their investments and innovations, they will have a valuation of $4 trillion. The company is Nvidia. The world's most valuable company is Nvidia. Recently, the company that makes AI chips became the first publicly traded firm to reach a valuation of $4trillion. No one has previously achieved this milestone before. No other company has achieved this before. However, China's PetroChina was the first company to become a trillion-dollar company. PetroChina had a market cap of 1 trillion dollars in 2007. Today, its market cap is 21.747 billion dollars and is the 66th most valuable company in the world. India's most valuable company is Reliance Industries at 24.309 billion and is the 53rd most valuable in the world. Trillion-dollar companies: $1 Trillion 2007: 🇨🇳 PetroChina 2018: 🇺🇸 Apple, 🇺🇸 Amazon 2019: 🇸🇦 Saudi Aramco, 🇺🇸 Microsoft 2020: 🇺🇸 Alphabet 2021: 🇺🇸 Meta, 🇺🇸 Tesla 2023: 🇺🇲 NVIDIA 2024: 🇺🇸 Berkshire Hathaway, 🇹🇼 TSMC, 🇺🇸 Broadcom $2 Trillion 2019: 🇸🇦 Saudi Aramco 2020: 🇺🇸 Apple… — World of Statistics (@stats_feed) July 13, 2025 After PetroChina, the next group of trillion-dollar companies took 11 years to occur. In 2018, Apple and Amazon accomplished this. Next, Saudi Aramco and Microsoft did so in 2019. The following year, in 2020, Google's parent company, Alphabet, followed that trend. Then, in 2021, Meta and Tesla joined the group. Nvidia entered this group in 2023, and in 2024, was joined by Berkshire Hathaway, Taiwan's TSMC, and Broadcom, an American company. However, Saudi Aramco became the first 2 trillion dollar company in 2019. Apple also became this milestone in 2020. Microsoft and Alphabet became 2 trillion dollar companies in 2021. Last year, in 2024, Nvidia and Amazon also reached this milestone. So far there are only three companies that have reached the 3 trillion dollar club, Apple in 2022, and then Microsoft and Nvidia both in 2024. This year, Nvidia became the first and only company to reach 4 trillion dollars in market cap.
India Today
5 hours ago
- India Today
Apple signs $500 million rare Earth deal With Pentagon-backed MP Materials
Apple has signed a $500-million deal with Pentagon-backed MP Materials for a supply of rare earth magnets, becoming one of the first tech companies to ink a US supply agreement after China curbed exports earlier this move reflects strong backing for the Las Vegas-backed MP by one of the world's most-valuable companies, coming just days after the US government said it would become MP's largest shareholder. Both mark an amazing about-face for MP after it contemplated merging with an Australian rival last year just to shares jumped 21% in Tuesday trading to a record high, while Apple's stock gained under 1%. The deal, announced on Tuesday, guarantees Apple a steady flow of rare earths and magnets free from China - the world's largest producer. For Apple, the cost to support US magnet production paled in comparison to the long-term risk that it could lose access entirely to the critical components, analysts last week agreed to a multibillion-dollar deal with the US Department of Defence that will see the Pentagon become MP's largest shareholder and financial backstop."Any time you have government ownership, that's a huge vote of confidence," said Gracelin Baskaran, director of the critical minerals security program at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. "We're in an era where executives are willing to pay a significant premium for a reliable supply chain. They don't want stoppage."Neither the precise length of the deal nor the specific volumes of magnets to be supplied were provided, although the agreement does call for magnets produced from recycled material, in keeping with Apple's long-standing goal of ending its reliance on the mining earths are a group of 17 metals used to make magnets that turn power into motion, including the devices that make cell phones vibrate. They are also used to make weapons, electric vehicles, and many other halted exports in March following a trade spat with US President Donald Trump that showed some signs of easing late last month, even as broader tensions underscored demand for non-Chinese part of the agreement, Apple will prepay MP Materials $200 million for a supply of magnets slated to begin in 2027. The magnets will be produced at MP's Fort Worth, Texas, facility using magnets recycled at MP's Mountain Pass, California, mining complex, the companies said."Rare earth materials are essential for making advanced technology, and this partnership will help strengthen the supply of these vital materials here in the United States," Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a O'Donnell, president at market research firm TECHnalysis Research, said Tuesday's move "makes complete sense" given that Apple requires significant amounts of rare earth magnets for its by focusing on a US-based supplier, it does help position Apple more positively in Washington," he which said the deal is part of its $500 billion four-year investment commitment to the US, has faced threats from Trump over iPhones not made in the U.S. But many analysts have said making the iPhone in the U.S. is not possible, given labour costs and the existing smartphone supply which sold about 232 million iPhones last year, according to data from IDC, did not disclose which devices in which it will use the magnets. MP said the deal will supply magnets for hundreds of millions of devices, which would constitute a significant share of Apple's product line, which also includes wearable devices such as watches and already produces mined and processed rare earths and has said it expects to start commercial magnet production in its Texas facility by the end of this company already has a magnet supply deal with General MotorsG and Germany's week's deal between MP and the US government includes a price floor for rare earths designed to spur investment in domestic mines and processing plants, which has been lagging partly due to low prices set in China.- EndsMust Watch
Mint
9 hours ago
- Mint
Samsung could supply custom displays for Apple's crease-free foldable iPhone: Kuo
Apple's long-anticipated foldable iPhone may feature a game-changing 'crease-free' display, thanks to a custom solution being developed by Samsung Display, according to noted supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. As reported byMacRumors, Apple's foldable iPhone, slated for mass production in the latter half of 2026, is expected to feature a custom-designed metal plate to manage the stress generated during screen folding. This innovation aims to tackle the persistent issue of visible creases seen in current foldable smartphones. The metal plate will reportedly be sourced mainly from Fine M-Tec, a supplier already linked to components used in Samsung's foldable displays. Curiously, Samsung's latest foldable flagship, the Galaxy Z Fold 7, still displays a noticeable crease along its inner screen, even though it also incorporates metal plates from Fine M-Tec. This has sparked speculation that Samsung Display may be working on a bespoke display solution designed specifically for Apple, prompting questions about why similar technology hasn't been introduced in Samsung's own foldable lineup. According to Kuo, Apple's upcoming alleged foldable will sport a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch outer screen, complemented by two rear cameras, a single front-facing camera, and a power button integrated with Touch ID, a notable departure from the Face ID technology found in most recent iPhones. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman earlier reported that Apple is prioritising a high-quality hinge mechanism, which could further help in minimising or even eradicating the central crease, a feature often criticised in rival devices. Physically, the foldable iPhone is expected to measure 4.5mm in thickness when open, and around 9 to 9.5mm when folded. While this would make it marginally bulkier than Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 (which measures 4.2mm unfolded and 8.9mm folded), Apple appears to be focusing on durability and display integrity rather than shaving off millimetres. The move could represent Apple's most significant foray into the foldable market, and if the crease-free claim holds true, it could set a new benchmark in the segment.
