Patent application reveals that Apple might cave and give iPhone users a long awaited feature
Will future iPhones have a customizable notification light in the shape of the Apple logo?
“An electronic device may have a housing in which electrical components such as a display and other components are mounted. Adjustable decoration may be formed on the electronic device. The adjustable decoration may serve as trim for the housing or a component mounted on the housing, may include a logo, or may be used to form other visual elements. The adjustable decoration may have an appearance that is electrically adjustable by control circuitry in the electronic device. The control circuitry may measure sensor data using sensors, may gather user input from input-output devices, and may gather other information with input-output devices to detect events. When an event is detected such as an incoming communication, a calendar reminder, user input, activation of an electrical component such as a camera, or other event, the control circuitry can adjust the appearance of the adjustable decoration.”-Apple
The problem with a rear-facing notification light, of course, is that the back of the phone must be facing the user. If the device is placed screen side down on a table though, having a rear notification light makes sense. According to the patent application, different types of notifications could adjust the appearance of the decoration or logo. Most likely this is referring to the possibility of having different colors represent various types of notifications and alerts. For example, the Apple logo could turn red for an email, blue for an iMessage and green for a text. There even could be some level of customization that would allow the user to select the color of each notification.
Apple originally filed the patent on September 18th, 2018.