The Apple iPad, iPod, iTunes and the ubiquitous iPhone are just a few of the top ten inventions that Apple co-founder Steve Jobs has invented and brought to market.

We take a look at the future of Apple’s creative inventions to uncover clues to future iPhones, iPads, Macs, the Apple Watch 2 and new Apple TV, as well as unreleased products we're excited about.

Apple have a recorded 2933 registered designs in the EU, with 406 published just this year – that’s an average of 2 or 3 a day! Apple continue to surprise us and open our eyes to the future of technology and product innovation.

Apple is, as you can understand, very secretive when it comes to letting the world (and more importantly their competitors) know about their future innovations. Like all companies they have to provide a list of patents to the United States Patent & Trademark Office and include some details of future and upcoming projects. 

Lots of people are wondering what Apple will invent next, let’s take a look at some of their ideas…

Glass IPhone (US2013188366A1) – Most of us have cracked our iPhone screens at some point, reports show 26% of iPhone screens crack within 2 years. An extract from the patent explains Apple now has the rights covering “An electronic device which may have a glass housing structure. The glass housing structures may be used to cover a display and other internal electronic device components. It may have multiple glass pieces that are joined using a glass fusing process.”

Flexible IPhone (US2013073095A1) – Apple has been granted a patent for a flexible phone that can be deformed, twisted, and even bent in half! The patent outlines the possibility of flexible batteries and circuit boards, and proposes that a bendable iPhone would be manufactured out of plastic, thin glass, fibre composites, thin metal, fabric or silicone.

Sapphire Screens (EP2822760A2) – Parents of teenagers will be delighted that Apple are making stronger screens by making them from a sapphire laminate instead of glass.  Sapphire is about three times harder than toughened glass and will make screen damage a thing of the past.

Non Static 3D Map View (EP2859533A2) – Apple has been granted a patent for iOS 8 Maps with interactive 3D Views that includes the flyover feature. Maps gives you turn by turn spoken directions, interactive 3D view and the flyover feature. The geographic data includes a set of camera captured images that correspond to the portion of the 3D map. The mapping application includes an image processing modules for rendering the view of the 3D map based on the geographic data by animating a type of map element in the view of the 3D map.

IPod Shuffle – The next generation of the apple music player is due to arrive in 2020. The future Ipod will hook onto your ears like a bluetooth headset. It has been reported to have unlimited memory and battery life. Also the headphones are noise cancelling or you can turn on the microphone and listen to what is going on around you. Also the headphones will send the sound into your inner ear giving you the best sound quality so far. The iPod will also send music from iTunes over a G3 internet account so you can update your music on the go.   

iCar – Apple is reportedly developing a self-driving vehicle. The Apple electric car project, codenamed "Titan", is an electric car project allegedly undergoing research and development by Apple. In May 2015, Apple investor tycoon Carl Icahn stated that Apple will enter the automobile market in 2020 with a unique car, as "the ultimate mobile device".

You may also like to read our article on ‘The benefits of a provisional patent application’.

Downing IP are Intellectually Property experts specialising in Patents, Trademarks and Design Protection. Michael Downing, Patent Attorney at Downing IP has a wealth of experience in preparing and filing patent applications. For more information on our services please contact us on 01494 422626.