The latest patent filing, which was published last week in Europe, suggests that Apple's highly-anticipated iPhone devices will potentially feature flexible transparent wraparound display, using an alumina powder liquid-metal process.

"Without a doubt, this patent application is one of the best of the year," the publication said. "The design would work by essentially leveraging the flexible OLED [organic light-emitting diode] screen tech we've previously seen with Samsung prototypes, protected by sapphire glass and wrapped around a liquid-metal form factor. The patent, quite literally, represents three of the most cutting-edge construction materials for a future iPhone that one could image, based on existing tech."

The patent also details: "The electronic device may have a touch sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, and other sensors for gathering input such as user input. The electronic device may, for example, use one or more sensors to gather information on rotational motion of the device about the longitudinal axis, tilt events, and other motion of the electronic device. In response to detection of these device motions, the electronic device can display content on the flexible display layer."

With the new form factor, all sides of the iPhone can be used as a display. The use of backside gestures to control the device without having to touch the front of the display, a rotating ticker that can scroll across the wraparound display, and auto-scrolling content are some of the possible features of the upcoming device.

The wraparound display can be used on several shapes, including "hollow cylinder, a hollow tube with an oval, triangular, or rectangular cross-sectional shape, or other hollow shapes."