Apple has a clever new idea for iPhone cases – integrated capacitive buttons and Touch ID

For many iPhone users (myself included), a protective case is an absolute must. We're just too clumsy to expose our phones to the vagaries of nature, and without a case, our devices would have been smashed and destroyed long ago. But a case for the iPhone can sometimes be a nuisance, as the cutouts for the buttons don't fit properly and the features are limited compared to a “naked” phone.

Well, it looks like Apple is working on fixing this problem, at least if a new patent application is to be believed. The newly published patent describes a special iPhone case that could enable a number of additional features, such as Touch ID and a swipe gesture with a mysterious, previously unknown use.