Apple planning Newton revival?
updated 12:10 pm EDT, Wed September 26, 2007
Apple Newton Revival
Apple's iPhone and iPod touch may have prefigured the release of a new PDA-like device that rekindles the spirit of the Newton, according to "well-respected" sources speaking with AppleInsider. The report claims that Apple plans to leverage the multi-touch input technology in a considerably larger design than either of today's models; though similar in shape, it would be roughly 50 percent larger than either existing touchscreen device and would have a sharper 720x480 resolution. Users may also have access to input tricks not seen on the iPhone or iPod, such as dragging and dropping information or cutting and pasting text, the sources claim.
The exact role of the device in Apple's product line is unclear, though it would reportedly run a mobile version of Mac OS X Leopard similar to that already in use on the existing devices. It would largely be treated as Apple's answer to the "Origami" ultra-mobile PC concept put forward by Microsoft last year and introduced into shipping products by third parties, such as Samsung's Q1 Ultra or Sony's VAIO UX. If substantiated, the rumored slate device would ship in the first half of 2008. An announcement during January's Macworld San Francisco keynote address would be possible but is less certain given that manufacturing is unlikely to begin until a few months later, the insider allegedly said.
Although the device is unlikely to bear the name of its Newton predecessor, the supposed leak draws immediate comparisons to the old device and shows an apparent reversal of the company's longstanding apprehension about returning to the data-focused handheld market. Shortly after his return to the company's top position, Apple chief Steve Jobs famously canceled the Newton as part of a move to simplify the company's lineup. At the Wall Street Journal-hosted D: All Things Digital conference in 2004, Jobs admitted that he had been proud of an Apple PDA developed since his return but which was ultimately shelved.
No.
09/26, 02:03pm reply
What was the first thing Steve did when he came back to Apple?
So, no.
Zaren
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
no doesn't always mean no
09/26, 02:10pm reply
c'mon, Apple already has the platform for it. Apple TV is just a Mac mini, after all. Why wouldn't they seek to use the iPhone technology they've already invested in, for a PDA?
The only reason I could see for not doing it is, how different is an iPhone from the usual PDA as far as functions? Perhaps the iPhone itself will be used to invade the PDA market, rather than creating a seperate product.
climacs
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Joined: Sep 2001
why not?
09/26, 02:12pm reply
Why is Steve's canning of the Newton relevant now? That was epochs ago in tech-market terms.
The market's response to the iPhone and iPod Touch clearly indicate the viability of a PDA such as the article describes.
notehead
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Joined: Aug 2001
go for it
09/26, 02:48pm reply
If they could keep the price down, a larger screen would be the final straw that would have me buying an iPod touch.
bhuot
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Joined: Nov 2003
wifi plus
09/26, 02:54pm reply
...an e-mail client, please!
Feathers
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 1999
Books
09/26, 02:54pm reply
A bigger screen means easier to read which means... BOOKS. I want a combo internet-enabled PDA media device. And media includes books just as much as it does music and movies.
Apple needs to step up and bring book publishers into the internet age, just as it did to the music and movie industries.
nhmlco
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Joined: Mar 2007
isn't this
09/26, 03:07pm reply
basically what the iPhone technically already is ?
Minus the Stylus ?
Also - those always highly accurate Apple Insider Stories - couldn't have possible touched on Steve commenting on maybe the iPhone [circa 2004] - since at that point no one had a clue as to what was to come ?
So unless something has arose recently - sounds more like the folks over at Apple Insider are merely killing free time and perusing the archives to feed their traffic patterns_
UberFu
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Joined: Oct 2002
also...
09/26, 03:09pm reply
otherwise - WTF ?
Why is every news source [apple insider - macnn - engadget - etc..] "breaking news" absed only on information from 3 years in the past - where's the new update since then ?
UberFu
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Joined: Oct 2002
parlance
09/26, 03:29pm reply
it's just terminology. a handheld pc based on osx is no 'PDA'. the PDA that once was is dead.
Rezzz
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Joined: Jan 2006
why
09/26, 06:28pm reply
Well, not necessarily why. I'm at the stage where I wouldn't buy an iPod touch because I can get an iPhone, and at this point, easily unlock it. But, if they come out with another device, that we're all sure would have the media capabilities of the iPod, the contact management of the iphone and the Safari from both, why would I but anything else. And what would current owners do once the price for their device drop another 40%?... aside from be pissed off again.If they made the iPhone such a revolutionary device, why not upgrade with the added capablity. A larger device would lead me to buy a 12.1" Mac book and get a LAPTOP.
gitcypher
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Joined: Jul 2007