A new patent spotted by eagled-eyed Apple insiders points to the possible launch of a newly designed iMac with a bezel-less display and compact, glass construction.
The new patent, filed by the company in May last year, shows a single sheet of curved glass that houses both the keyboard and a large display and a support structure for the internals.
Apple is also believed to have filed a trademark for an ‘Electronic Device with Glass Housing’ that would represent a bold step forward for the popular all-in-one desktop computer.
Apple has largely stuck with the same design for the iMac during the last decade, so a new slimmer footprint does make sense.
However, the amount of curved glass used in the patent design is unprecedented for an Apple device, as is the potential for the keyboard and touchpad to be integrated into the main unit.
Currently, users can plug in a wired keyboard or use wireless accessories.
There are also a few ambitious features planned beyond the core offering.
Apple outlined the possibility of docking a MacBook on the iMac, presumably to provide users with the opportunity to output to a big screen as well as for charging.
News website The Verge believes that the radical design is unlikely to see the light of day in its current form but that some aspects of it could be included in future iMacs.
The iMac has been a hugely popular product for Apple since the original G3 launched way back in August 1998.
The current iMac with retina display is available in 21.5-inch and 27-inch display options, but it still has rather chunky bezels that are more noticeable when compared to the recent iPhone and iPad models.
The reduced dimensions of the iMac in the patent suggest that a newer design would make its way into the entry-level model rather than the new iMac Pro at first.
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