Apple wins patent to basically make a Surface Book

In a new patent awarded to Apple, the company continues its march to remaking Microsoft's Surface Book and Surface Pro PCs, an idea once mocked by Apple's CEO in 2012.

What you need to know


Apple recently won a patent for a hinged keyboard iPad accessory.
The design, while semi-unique, results in a hybrid tablet-laptop computer.
Despite criticizing hybrid computing devices in 2012, Apple seems poised to continue to emulate 2-in-1 PCs like Surface Pro and Surface Book


The running joke in tech media is something doesn't exist until Apple invents it (after everyone else has been doing it for years).

Whether digital pens, NFC, face recognition, or hybrid computing devices, Apple sits on the sidelines until it thinks it can do it all better. (My favorite Apple excuse was in 2012 when Apple Senior VP Phil Schiller said Qi-wireless charging is "more complicated" because it still must be plugged in.)

But to be fair, Apple often does master the execution of specific technology, which, ...