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Rumor Roundup: Apple OLED keyboard, Blu-Ray Mac Pro at Macworld?

Mac ProAppleInsider has the scoop on a couple of new rumors including a new Apple OLED-based keyboard, and Blu-Ray drives inside the Mac Pro.

“Apple Inc. in a new patent filing proposes to solve the ages-old problem of having to manufacture distinct keyboards to support the various alphabets and key arrangements of foreign countries by developing an OLED-based model where key arrangements are altered on the fly by software.”

The new keyboard would be similar to the much hyped Optimus Maximus keyboard.

Analyst reports Blu-Ray drives inside of new Mac Pro

“The Mac maker during the first quarter of 2008 is expected to introduce a significant overhaul to its Mac Pro professional workstations, which are expected to be among the first systems from the company to include drives capable of supporting the Blu-ray format, sources close to AppleInsider and other Apple news publications have said.”

Previously, Apple has said that they will support both HD DVD and Blu-Ray formats.

January 3, 2008 | Filed Under Rumors 

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3 Responses to “Rumor Roundup: Apple OLED keyboard, Blu-Ray Mac Pro at Macworld?”

  1. Elk Maverick on January 5th, 2008

    The Display Keyboard patent already exists and is held by Elkin Acevedo of Pittsburgh, PA. I heard of this patent a few years ago. The patent # is 5818361. He is probably still developing it in secret. Apple Computer may have to negotiate with the original inventor in order to produce.
    Maverick

  2. erik on January 6th, 2008

    I see some problems for Apple because Lebedev would fight for his keyboard!

  3. Klaus Busse on February 20th, 2008

    Art Lebedev might be popular, but obviously #5818361 is older (06/98), and actually I think I remember seeing this based on LCD keys even much earlier (late 80’s).

    After googling it I found even proof of the latter:
    http://www.lcd-keys.com/english/history.htm

    So, the *idea* comes from as early as 1978 from IBM & HP, the first implementation was from 1984.

    There are probably LOTS of patents filed for related technologies, but I’m confident that Apple will sort this out… it’s not that they wouldn’t be used to that.

    In the end what really matters is who’s going to deliver. Especially for complex applications these keyboards would be extremely useful.

    Klaus

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