Patent Application Hints MSFT is Working on Own MagSafe

By Jane McEntegart
published

Is Microsoft looking to make a MagSafe of its own?

Apple's line of Mac laptops all sport the same MagSafe magnetic adapter. First introduced in 2006 with the MacBook Pro, the magnetic power cord has been present in every Apple notebook since and is seen as a uniquely Apple feature. However, Apple could soon have some company in the magnetic power cord territory as a newly public patent application seems to suggest that Microsoft could be out to design something similar.

 

The application was filed last year and describes a connector with one or more magnetic attractors that is capable of delivering both power and data to a device. Of course, Apple's MagSafe doesn't deliver data, just power, but we can't imagine Cupertino will be too pleased with Redmond moving in on what it no doubt believes is Apple turf.

Of course, as we all know only too well, while a patent application can offer some indication as to what kind of products a company is planning, this isn't always the case and it's not uncommon for companies to file for a patent only to let it sit gather dust for years after it's granted.

SlashGear points out that Apple applied for a similar patent a few years back, so Microsoft's application may not even be successful. The Apple patent application in question was filed in 2008 and granted in November of 2010. It describes a single magnetic connector cable capable of supplying both power and data to a mobile computing or other type of device using a single connection.

Further Reading

Microsoft Patent Application - USPTO

Apple Patent - USPTO

Follow @JaneMcEntegart on Twitter.   

Jane McEntegart
18 Comments Comment from the forums
  • alidan
    i have a deep fryer that is old as hell that has a magnetic power source... how is this pattentable?
    Reply
  • shin0bi272
    Me personally Id rather have wireless charging. Get me a power mat with a cooling fan in it and take my money.
    Reply
  • bison88
    john_4Yet another copy of Apple by MS.

    You don't hear PC users saying, "Yet another copy of MS's idea by Apple" when Apple releases a product similar to one of Microsoft's ( i.e. the iPad vs the Tablet PC 10 years ago). Don't see why Apple fanboys find a reason to constantly flick there nose at everything Microsoft does.
    Reply
  • balister
    john_4Yet another copy of Apple by MS.
    Which that idea from Apple was copied from someone else.
    Reply
  • jojesa
    bison88You don't hear PC users saying, "Yet another copy of MS's idea by Apple" when Apple releases a product similar to one of Microsoft's ( i.e. the iPad vs the Tablet PC 10 years ago). Don't see why Apple fanboys find a reason to constantly flick there nose at everything Microsoft does.Hey Bison, pay no mind to the benighted comment.. you have to understand that they only understand stuff from their cult. They don't know that there are other things in their world besides Apple products.
    Reply
  • bison88You don't hear PC users saying, "Yet another copy of MS's idea by Apple" when Apple releases a product similar to one of Microsoft's ( i.e. the iPad vs the Tablet PC 10 years ago).Not to dispute the trollishness of the original comment, but Apple's Newton came out nearly 10 years before that . . .

    Don't see why Apple fanboys find a reason to constantly flick there nose at everything Microsoft does.For much the same reason Windows fanboys find reasons to constantly sneer at everything Apple does. Some people just won't grow up. While the rest of us who are fanboys of all good technology regardless of the logo on it just ignore it and move on.

    (typing this on my Macbook, but the Windows installs in this room outnumber OS X 3:1)
    Reply
  • 11796pcs
    Some people just won't grow up.
    The problem is that Apple fanboys are always bringing this stuff up and starting the argument. If someone talks about their PC to an Apple fan 90% of the time the Apple fan will start to talk about how they believe Apple is superior. The opposite however rarely takes place. One thing I don't understand is why Microsoft is doing this in the first place. I thought they didn't desire to make hardware. Every time Microsoft releases hardware I feel like ripping my hair out. Their job should always be software and every time they release something hardware-based it's always trash.
    Reply
  • DjEaZy
    ... well... if you can not innovate, you imitate...
    Reply
  • DRosencraft
    So, getting back to the topic of the article and not the fanboy childish arguing... This is an interesting idea that could theoretically make for smaller connectors. I imagine there is a bit of working to do to keep the magnets from interfering with data transmissions. The biggest problem would be commercialization. We already see the trouble of Thunderbolt, you have to imagine that this would compete with Thunderbolt and USB. It's interesting, but I don't know that we need another connection thrown out there.
    Reply
  • halcyon
    Magsafe is a good idea, no matter who originated it. Seems dumb that you'd have to have an Apple laptop to get it. I hope MS gets the patent and licenses its to PC makers. i like Apple fine but their stuff is expensive.
    Reply