Intel Confirms Atom-based Larger iPhone (Mini-Tablet)?

[FJ218700]

iPad + iPhone = portable

won't be called the "iPad",

everyone in Boston already has one.

[brian6504]

Can't wait to see what Apple has up its sleeve come WWDC. If this turns out to be true, the two bridges bit makes total sense. Development with SDK diverges into the iPhone apps and the iPhone Pro apps and will expand from there.

Apple is all about convergence, not divergence. Their strategy of the Mac as the digital hub has worked out very well for them, all of their devices and services relate back to that. Only with the introduction of the iPhone did we see a new, somewhat separate, platform. It's way too immature to start branching that line into distinct products in which software is incompatible.

[Stately]

I guess you forgot about those bluetooth earpiece headsets that everyone is using these days. You don't need a Macbook on your ear. :)

People tend to bypass the fact that there may not be a need for lifting the device to the ear OR use an earpiece. It may not be a phone, just a tablet. Apple made a phone, yes. However they MAKE computers. They cant help it if they are good at everything. ;)

[berkleeboy210]

Well, I'll be lining up tomorrow afternoon for the Opening of Boston's new store.

And from the sound of these rumors, it looks like I'll be lining up there again the days after June 9th to actually buy something, either the 3G iPhone or this Mini-Tablet.

Hoping that BOTH products are a reality.

[Mr Maui]

what if you forget to bring your earpiece one day or you forget it somewhere???????

Well, my comment was in response to all of the talk concerning having a phone option built into a tablet. The Newton-style tablet and the iPhone are two completely different beasts and they do not both need to have the same features.

Many of the posts here are people saying they want the features of a laptop or tablet in the package-size of an iPhone. This is not a realistic design or use concept. Use an iPhone if you want the phone features, music abilities, light web browsing, etc. and the tablet for more advanced capabilities and larger screen WITHOUT trying to build phone capabilities into it as well. JMO

[Stately]

I can totally sympathize with your positions but Apple doesn't release products for niche markets. They're a consumer electronics company and their products and policies have proved that over and over again. They don't think in the business context; it's not their model.

Apple would need to see a sizable consumer market to enter and this forum hasn't proved there is one. The took a risk with the Apple TV, entering an unsure market, and didn't get it right. They're continuing to try but I don't think their investors would be happy if they continue to enter into unsuccessful market (i.e. the tablet market).

Yes the main consumers being those in fields of business. And I'm sure that many lay persons to that area would just enjoy the portability combined with the functionality.

[brian6504]

Yes the main consumers being those in fields of business. And I'm sure that many lay persons to that area would just enjoy the portability combined with the functionality.

The consumer market is the home users: mom, dad, kids; the family, not the market in which consumption takes place.

DEFINITION (http://www.bitpipe.com/tlist/Consumer-Market.html): Purchasers of goods and services by consumers who personally consume or benefit from the purchased products and do not buy products primarily to make a profit, such as groceries, magazines, television sets, haircuts, etc.

[Mr Maui]

People tend to bypass the fact that there may not be a need for lifting the device to the ear OR use an earpiece. It may not be a phone, just a tablet. Apple made a phone, yes. However they MAKE computers. They cant help it if they are good at everything. ;)

See my response at #262 (at least at the time of this post). :)

[macerroneous]

The fact the intel guy says the Atom will be used in an iphone doesn't mean the device has to be a phone. After all, Apple is calling the touch's operating system "iphone osx". So, the entire family of devices might be considered as iphones (including the touch). Nevertheless I don't think you'll see Apple release an iphone device on an x86 cpu because I still say Steve DOES NOT WANT WINDOWS to run on his baby.

Now, what about form factor? This whole project came about when Steve said out loud "Wouldn't it be insanely great if the whole computer was just a screen?" I really think its about the screen and readability. I'm a surgeon. I have decent eyesight, don't use reading glasses yet, but I'm over 40. I think the current screen is perfect for a phone. I already have friends who say the phone's too big, but you wouldn't want to do what iphone does on a smaller screen. However, any bigger and its too big for what we consider a cell phone. The real question is "What do you want a bigger screen for?"

1. Streaming video/ watching itunes movies IN HD. The screen needs to be in 16x9 proportions and 1080 resolution. The pixel size is currently perfect (for me) since I can't see any pixels now.
2. Reading (including ebooks) but particularly 8.5" x 11" documents. So I need an 8.5 x 11 screen, right? No, you read in landscape mode and the perfect screen size is 8" x 4.5" so the document can fit (no margins). (9.2" diagonal)
3. Remote desktop control. Current screen too small to see and control your desktop, though it is being done.
4. Use it at home, in office, etc. Sit on your couch watching the plasma with you tablet on your lap doing whatever it is you want to do (the way I use iphone) But this is not to be carried in your pocket. it is first and foremost a screen that's built for the limitations of the human visual system. After that, the software engineers get to go wild. It will be able to do EVERYTHING because it is all about getting all that data from silicon, through your eyes, then into your brain.
5. Oh yeah, it can be used as a phone, too.:)

[Aeroworks]

:eek: I hope they don't put that stupid logo all over it.. at least make it small. one reason i never got a macbook, Giant glowing apple logo for all to see.. then, i could just put a sticker of a pineapple on top :p

[Tallest Skil]

What's wrong with the Apple logo? Theft? Maybe you should watch over your laptop...

[Digital Skunk]

:eek: I hope they don't put that stupid logo all over it.. at least make it small. one reason i never got a macbook, Giant glowing apple logo for all to see.. then, i could just put a sticker of a pineapple on top :p

That's pretty much like every computer on the market. Except they don't glow.

[Stately]

The consumer market is the home users: mom, dad, kids; the family, not the market in which consumption takes place.

DEFINITION (http://www.bitpipe.com/tlist/Consumer-Market.html): Purchasers of goods and services by consumers who personally consume or benefit from the purchased products and do not buy products primarily to make a profit, such as groceries, magazines, television sets, haircuts, etc.

LOL calm down. I know who the consumer market consists of. I wasn't barking at you. What I'm saying is the main market here will not be those that you mentioned above in entirety. Apple has been known to be a consumer company, maybe they are addressing two parties of people here, this time maybe the business person more than the ordinary consumer.

[Mr Maui]

:eek: I hope they don't put that stupid logo all over it.. at least make it small. one reason i never got a macbook, Giant glowing apple logo for all to see.. then, i could just put a sticker of a pineapple on top :p

Must be a Mac switcher (because of the superiority of the Mac) who still has deep, hidden PC tendencies. :D

[ivan123]

Newton, Mid 2008

[brian6504]

LOL calm down. I know who the consumer market consists of. I wasn't barking at you. What I'm saying is the main market here will not be those that you mentioned above in entirety. Apple has been known to be a consumer company, maybe they are addressing two parties of people here, this time maybe the business person more than the ordinary consumer.

Sorry. I think the Exchange support in iPhone OS 2.0 was a huge step forward in terms of enterprise-friendliness, but I don't see them diving head first into this space. Exchange support was just an addition to an existing product and it's unlikely they will introduce a new product where the primary focus or market will the be the enterprise.

[D4F]

I'm sure I don't need it but **** I want one!!:D

[Samwise592]

won't be called the "iPad",

everyone in Boston already has one.

I actually laughed at that.

[pohl]

A random thought: what if this hypothetical iPad is not really a larger phone per se, but an internet device that just so happens to use a cellular network for very mobile access? Since it wouldn't exactly be an iPhone, perhaps it could skirt the letter and spirit of their exclusive 5-year contract with AT&T and allow you to connect to some other provider's EDGE network for browsing, email, and IM even when you're not near a WiFi hotspot.

[Stately]

Sorry. I think the Exchange support in iPhone OS 2.0 was a huge step forward in terms of enterprise-friendliness, but I don't see them diving head first into this space. Exchange support was just an addition to an existing product and it's unlikely they will introduce a new product where the primary focus or market will the be the enterprise.

Right, Exchange is a smart move on Apples part Even if it doesn't signify them choosing one market over another they are at least broadening their options. Maybe they will eventually divide the field and have a pro model and also a more ordinary everyday model.

A random thought: what if this hypothetical iPad is not really a larger phone per se, but an internet device that just so happens to use a cellular network for very mobile access? Since it wouldn't exactly be an iPhone, perhaps it could skirt the letter and spirit of their exclusive 5-year contract with AT&T and allow you to connect to some other provider's EDGE network for browsing, email, and IM even when you're not near a WiFi hotspot.

I concur :apple:

[dernhelm]

Wow. How exciting. It's funny, but I never thought the iPad (if it actually did exist, which until now I didn't also believe) would actually be a phone. I figured on a souped up iPod touch. Maybe include BT (for headphones).

But a phone that is actually bigger than the iPhone? I dunno. The iPhone seems pretty big as is.

[Stately]

Wow. How exciting. It's funny, but I never thought the iPad (if it actually did exist, which until now I didn't also believe) would actually be a phone. I figured on a souped up iPod touch. Maybe include BT (for headphones).

But a phone that is actually bigger than the iPhone? I dunno. The iPhone seems pretty big as is.

I agree but I think it would be well done if it incorporated the ability to connect to edge somehow to send important files. (Maybe to the iphone ?):confused:

[sterlingindigo]

Hale Yayus APPL! Take my money, take my money, take my money!

[Chef Medeski]

The higher ppi is exactly what we want to avoid. The desire for the larger screen is directly related to the ability to view web, video and other information in greater detail. To see that detail you need a larger screen.

Personally I'm all for it, the extra size isn't that much of a problem relative to carrying a laptop around. The extra functionality over an iPhone like device will make for fast and intense sales.

Thanks
Dave
Well I mean, I think we underestimate the difference. A small increase in the length or width turns into a rather large increase in area. From 3 to 3.5 is a 16.6% increase in length (its going from a 3.5" screen to about a 4-4.25"), but in terms of area, its an increase of 36%!!! Thats huge. And thats only a moderately larger screen. A 5" which would have the same ppi would be a MASSIVE INCREASE in screen size. I mean in terms of a little bit more screen space, going to 4 or 4.25" is already quite nice, 5" would make it an oversized PDA/hand-tablet. So I guess it depends who they are targetting. Personally I think a 4.25" screen is a more than welcome increase that would still keep the iPhone very pocketable. 5" would become more of a small book but still not bad. I guess we'll see.

[iansilv]

How sweet would this be if this was the new mac mini- think about it- dock next to your display with dvi out, all connections for the computer, you plug it in to this dock and bam- you have a desktop computer! Holy shizz they would sell millions of them.

[Chef Medeski]

I have a couple of thoughts...

I mentioned this in the other forum, but I thought I'd rehash it here. I think this product will basically act as a replacement for the iPod touch, and similar in size to a larger version of the Nokia N800 internet tablet. This would increase the differentiation between the iPhone and the iPod Touch, and basically create two entirely separate product lines. I'm never seen a poll done, but anecdotally it seems like there are a lot of people who like the idea of the Touch as a Wifi-based web/application platform and media player, but wish the screen was larger and higher resolution for a higher functionality-level, while still being able to fit in a large pocket or small bag. The iphone-shape is great, although it should be natively in landscape mode and with a 5" screen. Have a look at the Nokia tablets and Samsung/Sony UMPC for similar devices.
Yeah thats exactly what I was thinking but couldn't remember the name of. This reminds me exactly of the Nokia Tablet but well implemented. It would only be a little bit larger, or even the same size and be able to fit a 4.25" or 4.5" screen which would be a 50-75% increase in screen area, MASSIVE! Thats exactly what I want. I want an iPhone that is better implemented for browsing the web and typing. Well I'm holding out, not like we have much choice. Everything else is sold out, lol.

But this seems exactly like what I want.

Good point about the iPod Touch as well. I would agree. The Touch seems like an akward size, too big to really feel like an ipod, but too small to really feel like an internet device. Plus if you removed connectivity features and packed this thing with a 32 or 64gb flash drive and a 10 hr battery life for movies, that would be one hell of a multimedia device. Like ONE HELL OF A DEVICE. Yeah. Makes sense though. Would you like an iPhone or a full blown multimedia device, oh and u can get them mixed as an iPhone Pro. Or Ultimate, I like Ultimate.

Makes more sense to me, cause Apple usually has to make logical sense in their product lines.

Well, my comment was in response to all of the talk concerning having a phone option built into a tablet. The Newton-style tablet and the iPhone are two completely different beasts and they do not both need to have the same features.

Many of the posts here are people saying they want the features of a laptop or tablet in the package-size of an iPhone. This is not a realistic design or use concept. Use an iPhone if you want the phone features, music abilities, light web browsing, etc. and the tablet for more advanced capabilities and larger screen WITHOUT trying to build phone capabilities into it as well. JMO

Well if you are going to put in 3G for connectivity, might as well allow it to work as a phone too. I mean is it that hard to do! And it sure would help him persuade people its worth the hundreds of dollars, cause its not just an ipod, a pda, a tablet, and internet messenger, but ITS ALSO A PHONE!

Thank you, and now that I have read it, you bring up an interesting point. I think it would be pretty sweet to run Windows Mobile and OSX on the iPhone via some 3rd party software. That way, when there is an app that the iPhone can't run, we can just dual boot to Window Mobile and run it.

And those business professionals can have their working tool, and toy at the same time. That's revolutionary.
But wait don't you need an Intel CPU for that just like the PowerPCs of old....


:eek::eek::eek:

[DisturbedSith]

Hey everyone, just wanted to chime in about the resolution. If you guys notice, the Apple ads that are in HD are @848X480.

What if they use this resolution instead of the 720X480 and release HD content on iTunes soon after.

And, couldn't they do something similar to screen sharing where this device could then control any home macs? This could be such a big product!

[Mr Maui]

Well if you are going to put in 3G for connectivity, might as well allow it to work as a phone too. I mean is it that hard to do! And it sure would help him persuade people its worth the hundreds of dollars, cause its not just an ipod, a pda, a tablet, and internet messenger, but ITS ALSO A PHONE!

Perhaps you should read back. I have no problem with a phone option, but a lot of people seem to want all the features of a tablet, computer, phone, music player, hi def video, internet access, camera, etc, and in a smaller package. Get serious already.

You can't get a 61" plasma experience in a 13" B/W box.

[Stately]

Well, my comment was in response to all of the talk concerning having a phone option built into a tablet. The Newton-style tablet and the iPhone are two completely different beasts and they do not both need to have the same features.

Many of the posts here are people saying they want the features of a laptop or tablet in the package-size of an iPhone. This is not a realistic design or use concept. Use an iPhone if you want the phone features, music abilities, light web browsing, etc. and the tablet for more advanced capabilities and larger screen WITHOUT trying to build phone capabilities into it as well. JMO

This is my point exactly. The iphone is a phone, this will be something else. I need itunes though. :D

[jeremyrader]

A random thought: what if this hypothetical iPad is not really a larger phone per se, but an internet device that just so happens to use a cellular network for very mobile access? Since it wouldn't exactly be an iPhone, perhaps it could skirt the letter and spirit of their exclusive 5-year contract with AT&T and allow you to connect to some other provider's EDGE network for browsing, email, and IM even when you're not near a WiFi hotspot.

Like a $39.99/mo data-only plan from T-Mobile? Add Skype and a BT headset...

[dicklacara]

ya? well, 7/8 of the people i know have their cell phones in their pockets.


My pocket is bigger than your pocket.

Seriously 3" x 5" form factor would fit in most shirt and pants pockets.

[Chef Medeski]

Perhaps you should read back. I have no problem with a phone option, but a lot of people seem to want all the features of a tablet, computer, phone, music player, hi def video, internet access, camera, etc, and in a smaller package. Get serious already.

You can't get a 61" plasma experience in a 13" B/W box.
Oh well.... I doubt its going to be as much computer as people think. I mean its more sized as a PDA which means if anything it'll run the same software.

I mean at that size, there is no way u can fit phone plus computer. You might be able to fit down stripped down comptuer only cause Apple is amazing.

But you are completely right. I mean we are talking about a 5 to 6" device, its smaller than a UMPC, its not going to be able to cure cancer.

[mdriftmeyer]

I can see this as a portable iChat device on a wifi N network. That would be huge for enterprise customers. Some type of desk mount and a portable case.

If Apple pushes iChat it could start a new paradigm in communication. Video phones have never really taken off in mainstream context because of transmission quality, price, and implementation. Using a portable iChat capable device would change that dynamic.

Portable chatting doesn't make Apple nor those who distract themselves with chat all day any money.

A tablet would be targeted for vertical markets.

[Lershac]

why the hell would anyone want a tablet? i mean, it's probably too big for pockets (or if you squeeze it in, it'll be uncomfortable) and it'll be just like all the other crappy mini-laptops out there.

think of it this way, it'll be about the size of a portable dvd player. what's the point in that? if you need a PC that bad when you're on the go......get a full blown laptop (MBA or MB or MBP). If you don't need a PC that bad, but just wanna surf the net, watch movies, play games.....an iphone should suffice and it fits in your pocket.

this is a bad idea and the only market that exist for a tablet is for HARDCORE fanboys, not 99% of the other population.

this will be a huge dud. the only purpose the tablet will serve is to TEST technology so they can use it in future MacBooks and iMacs.....nothing more, nothing less.

unless its maybe the perfect size to fit in a doctors coat pocket, or a nurse.Every hospital I go to has tons of laptops on these carts that they use to track every aspect of patient care. I think all that could be replaced by one of these in a pocket..

[ sarcasm ]

Oh yay. A tablet. How exciting.

[ / sarcasm ]

A multitouch tablet. I have been searching for a thin thin touchscreen tablet for surfing and casual use for a long time. I will buy one. And aesthetics would be important for me.

Additionally I can see many vertical integration applications for this.


People with aging eyes like bigger screens.

Rocketman

With so much of the populatioin aging.... THIS

[AidenShaw]

My pocket is bigger than your pocket.

Seriously 3" x 5" form factor would fit in most shirt and pants pockets.

You're missing the point. This is an adjunct to the phone and the laptop - not a replacement for either.

If you're going jogging, you'll grab a small phone (not an Iphone, but a small phone).

If you're traveling light (everyday), the maxiPod will be your phone and internet terminal.

If you're doing heavy lifting, you'll take a laptop + the phone.

So many arguments here short-sightely focus on "A" or "B", when "A" and "B" is what people really want.

Sometimes I need a feature poor tiny phone.

Sometimes I need a feature rich PDA (Iphone doesn't meet that requirement).

Sometimes I need CS3 and Premiere, and Entourage and ...

--------------

I don't expect one device to fit all needs....

[stephenli]

Uh oh, Steve isn't going to like this one bit... if there was one coming out, get ready to see it cancelled! :rolleyes:


hahaha. just like ATI display cards.

anyway I really don't care what processor it is using. If it release a tablet (or could we call it UMPC?) that runs full version of OSX, I would place my order...
e...well...if the price is lower then a mini it would be nice....

[SGHiLL]

yeah...and geared toward the super-dooper-tech-geek. no ordianary consumer will want a tablet when they can get an iphone or MPA/MBP.

a tablet is one of those things that has no real place in the world. it serves no purpose other than to test new touch technology and maybe garnish some funds from the super geeks who want anything/everything new.

I'm a student who has used a tablet for a little over a year now. The thought that there is no market for tablets is absurd. I am consistently asked about the cost, features, and ease of use by fellow classmates. Furthermore, I have had professors who lectured with tablets and see tablets heavily utilized in local hospitals. In the medical industry, and even in higher education, there is a place for the tablet. It's like paper, if paper were powerful and effortlessly organized.


I took a serious look at the ModBook before going with Vista and sometimes I wish had paid the extra $1000 it. Fortunately, OneNote is one of the best Microsoft products I have ever used.

If offered with a complimentary note-taking program that synchronized with my Mac Mini, I would be there on opening day, just like when I bought the iPhone.

It should be noted that I definitely qualify as a "super-dooper-tech-geek."

[JGowan]

Newton 2 !!!

I'm surprised no one has said this yet ... or maybe everyone in here is too young to remember the original.Considering Steve KILLED this thing when got back in '97, most people wouldn't consider this at all. It might be similar in the way people use it, but it would never (EVER) be marketed as such.

Age has nothing to do with it, in my 42-yr old opinion.

[btnnaz]

go to apple store website. Click iphone then click. Window->Activity.

Notice lots of image files and others double click them and they will open.

Scroll Down some more

There is one that says this: http://a248.e.akamai.net/7/248/2041/1424/store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/violator_new_iphone.gif

But when u double click it it comes up a blank image. Strange- "New iPhone"

[MikeELL]

this will be a huge dud. the only purpose the tablet will serve is to TEST technology so they can use it in future MacBooks and iMacs.....nothing more, nothing less.

ever heard the expression "jumping the gun"?
:rolleyes:

[jwdsail]

2. SJ's been on record in the past dismissing Tablet PC as a product category.



Cause Jobs *never* disses an idea then comes out with that exact feature or product.... ;-) (video on an iPod for example...)

[Obi-Wan Kubrick]

I predict the iPhoto frame.

[jwdsail]

im confused. they are going to come out with a screen larger than the iphone and put a phone with it? wont that be a pain in the ass to put up to your ear when you get a phone call?

No, because you'd be talking with your bluetooth earpiece or over the built-in speakerphone ;-)

[bigwig]

Why would anybody want to use the Atom? I would bet an ARM with an up-rated power budget could deliver better performance at a lower price.

[xhambonex]

Although there may be a market for tablets, not necessarily the consumer market apple seems to target, I would think that if this "tablet" was at a reasonable price point, the macbook air would see a hit in sales. I would imagine that tablet would be able to do everything an iphone can do, plus some extra functions, possibly basic programs word, excel, things like that. Wouldn't apple's brand new ultra-portable device (mb air) be squashed by an even more portable device that does most of the things macbook air owners can do.

[jwdsail]

720p or 1080p is important because I want my media library to run on a device as well as the TV. I don't want two copies of everything, or a less than perfect resolution on my TV.

And if the device included DVI output, being able to plug it into the hotel's flat screen TV and watch content at 720p would be great as well ;-)

[sushi]

Considering Steve KILLED this thing when got back in '97, most people wouldn't consider this at all. It might be similar in the way people use it, but it would never (EVER) be marketed as such
Yep. We may see a Newton type device, aka, iPad, iTablet, or whatever. But one thing is for sure, it will never be called anything with the word Newton in it.

After using the Touch I am reminded of the Newton.

I don't expect one device to fit all needs....
Completely agree.

[rtdunham]

I have a collection of many tens of thousands of books...

can you spell "hyperbole"? Or are you on the list at this link?

http://www.ala.org/ala/alalibrary/libraryfactsheet/alalibraryfactsheet22.cfm
:rolleyes:

[ravenblue]

http://designforpeople.ca/mockups/ipodhome.jpg

[iEdd]

He said "tens of thousands", ie. plural, so it doesn't take a genius to work out that owns the Library of Congress. :o :D

[khanriazaoif]

now this looks slick



http://designforpeople.ca/mockups/ipodhome.jpg

[olternaut]

I knew it!!!!!!!!! I knew it I knew it I knew it!

MACTOUCH FTW!!!!! :D:D:D

http://designforpeople.ca/mockups/ipodhome.jpg

*slobbers*

*faints* :D

[FJ218700]

I predict the iPhoto frame.

makes sense with the power-hungry Atom.

[terrordemon]

Good evening all. This is my first post ever and would like to say, I love Apple ;):apple:. Now let's take this trek. I'm picturing a tablet device with great battery power, and the ability to run pro apps. i.e. Adobe Ps, Ai, Dw etc... Aperture, Word, itunes, excel, powerpoint entourage and all that good stuff. Feel me?

i honestly feel like a tablet that mac would put out would fail miserably if it didnt have the power to run the adobe suite

[olternaut]

I'm going to be on the edge of my seat during the WWDC live feed!:D

ARgh!!!! I'm not watchin some idiot from gizmodo type into a live blog while genius paraphrases Jobs keynote very innacurately......again! I want to see the friggin keynote....video and all LIVEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

Didn't CNN carry a live video feed on their site from the last macworld? :mad::(

i honestly feel like a tablet that mac would put out would fail miserably if it didnt have the power to run the adobe suite

Your thinking about a different kind of tablet. There are two types of tablets that Apple can come out with. One is a largish tablet which is basically a laptop without the keyboard.......there is your wacom tablet dream.

The other is the large iphone type of device which is meant to be an iphone on steroids.
I have a feeling the device debuting will be the latter. Perhaps down the line they will come out with laptop without the keyboard design.

[MikeELL]

http://designforpeople.ca/mockups/ipodhome.jpg

nice work. I'm betting on "iMac Nano" :)

nice work. I'm betting on "iMac Nano" :)

The things you say to stop being called a newbie :rolleyes:

[MacFly123]

http://designforpeople.ca/mockups/ipodhome.jpg

OK if this were just a tablet i dunno, but if they make it like this, as a master home media controller/tablet/iPod/home network remote etc.... WOW now I would want that in my home with my Apple TV :D

[terrordemon]

Your thinking about a different kind of tablet. There are two types of tablets that Apple can come out with. One is a largish tablet which is basically a laptop without the keyboard.......there is your wacom tablet dream.

The other is the large iphone type of device which is meant to be an iphone on steroids.
I have a feeling the device debuting will be the latter. Perhaps down the line they will come out with laptop without the keyboard design.

i agree with you, i just *hope* they can find a common form factor for the two tablets.

honestly though, what do i really want?

a macbook (pro) where the screen is touch sensitive and flips around to work as a tablet (a la axiom mactablet), but still works as a fully functional normal laptop when open as one

god, i mean steve, please grant this one wish...

[Lershac]

OK if this were just a tablet i dunno, but if they make it like this, as a master home media controller/tablet/iPod/home network remote etc.... WOW now I would want that in my home with my Apple TV :D

damn thats just sweet

[deputylove8]

I doooooooooooo hope it comes out in June. Just imagine the magnitude of uses dat Mr Tablet can do!! Exciting!!!!!!:D

I really do wish it will come out. But reports speculate that Mr Tablet's
ETA is in 2010 sob sob. I want it in june in june!

Mr Stevey...if you are reading this (which I know you are not), if Mr Tablet comes out in June, I'll buy Mr Tablet and a New Macbook too!

BY the way, check out the multi touch keyboard....!!!!:D

[MattInOz]

http://designforpeople.ca/mockups/ipodhome.jpg

I so want that to be real.
But i thought the tech was still 6-12 months off making something like this real.

Still preparing credit card for post WWDC damage.

[currentinterest]

It will be a slightly larger and thicker iPhone, and likely be the iPhone Black. Simply a couple of hundred more, with more features than whatever a 16 GB regular (3G) iPhone has (which will be slightly thinner than today's phone).

[EyceLotus]

So here's my speculation. Steve Jobs announces that he has "a few things" he'd like to share with us today. First, he'll discuss the success of leopard and some of the milestones as well as the track for the future. Next he'll discuss the iPhone software and highlight the new features in 2.0. Then he'll say that there is "one more thing" and mention the rumors of a 3G iPhone, make a couple jokes, then blast us with the new iPhone, coming out with some sweet new features that amaze us all. Then he'll tell us all about the iPhone nano and iPhone tablet. BTW could the iPhone tablet be the infamous iPhone Black posted on AT&T's website? hmm... Cool name, doesn't take away from it still being an iPhone, it's like having a black macbook, it's faster and better and in this case it's got a bigger screen. The tablet will have a better version of OSX and be able to run things like Pages, Numbers, iPhoto and some other cool productivity apps. The iPhone Nano will be a smaller version of the iPhone with less memory at a cheeper pricepoint. Apple is covering all it's bases with the three iPhones. And expect iPhone Nano to come out in colors.

[Chef Medeski]

So here's my speculation. Steve Jobs announces that he has "a few things" he'd like to share with us today. First, he'll discuss the success of leopard and some of the milestones as well as the track for the future. Next he'll discuss the iPhone software and highlight the new features in 2.0. Then he'll say that there is "one more thing" and mention the rumors of a 3G iPhone, make a couple jokes, then blast us with the new iPhone, coming out with some sweet new features that amaze us all. Then he'll tell us all about the iPhone nano and iPhone tablet. BTW could the iPhone tablet be the infamous iPhone Black posted on AT&T's website? hmm... Cool name, doesn't take away from it still being an iPhone, it's like having a black macbook, it's faster and better and in this case it's got a bigger screen. The tablet will have a better version of OSX and be able to run things like Pages, Numbers, iPhoto and some other cool productivity apps. The iPhone Nano will be a smaller version of the iPhone with less memory at a cheeper pricepoint. Apple is covering all it's bases with the three iPhones. And expect iPhone Nano to come out in colors.
Basically. Except for the iPod Nano, the recent improvement in Apple rumors has truly led me to believe there is no more surprises. We knew about the Macbook Air, the fatty iPod Nano, the iPhone, 3G. I mean if we haven't heard any rumors yet about the Nano for some reason I doubt its existence. Jobs you've lost the cloak of mystery.

[deputylove8]

Some of us find the prospects of having a tablet as pointless, while some of us are excited by it. As for me, i m overly sexily excited! Haha. Being in the healthcare industry, having a tablet would be a boon!

Imagine looking through digital xray films, pictures of angiograms, and just zooming and out into the affected the area during surgery.

Freakishly futuristic!

[brian6504]

I predict the iPhoto frame.

That would be awesome. An Apple photo frame would not only work and look great, it would work by magic.

[stownsend3]

http://designforpeople.ca/mockups/ipodhome.jpg

Wow. This would be a great way to sit on the couch and just casually surf during the day. Definitely not intended for pro apps (keep buying those other :apple: products). Integrate with :apple:tv and your home wireless network. access files on enabled macs and edit with touch to your hearts content. This would be an AMAZING product that would be worth a huge announcement.

[irun5k]

I think, much like the Air, that this thing will simply fill a niche. It doesn't have the mass market appeal of a MacBook, iMac, or iPhone.

This is OK... nothing wrong with filling a niche. However, I think there are still some huge mass market areas that have yet to be fulfilled by Apple. The whole home entertainment space is just waiting to be filled (and the Apple TV doesn't do it.) Look at your A/V rack right now. It is probably a few components piled on top of one another and interconnected with varying levels of interoperability. This isn't that much different from the A/V rack you probably had back in the 70's. Sure, you trade a turntable for a DVD player and improve the electronics... but the concept is old and outdated.

These stupid uber-remotes are only a band-aid for an age old problem. To me, it is like writing a screen-scraping app because someone is unwilling to rewrite an old mainframe CICS application.

[MacFly123]

Would anyone be interested in this??? :D

BEFORE & AFTER Apple iHome

[ecoons]

You're missing the point. This is an adjunct to the phone and the laptop - not a replacement for either.

If you're going jogging, you'll grab a small phone (not an Iphone, but a small phone).

If you're traveling light (everyday), the maxiPod will be your phone and internet terminal.

If you're doing heavy lifting, you'll take a laptop + the phone.

So many arguments here short-sightely focus on "A" or "B", when "A" and "B" is what people really want.

Sometimes I need a feature poor tiny phone.

Sometimes I need a feature rich PDA (Iphone doesn't meet that requirement).

Sometimes I need CS3 and Premiere, and Entourage and ...

--------------

I don't expect one device to fit all needs....

Why? I would want a maximum of 3 devices, ideally 2. (4 IF you include the shuffle I take to the gym). First of all, NOONE wants to have multiple phones, and I think that one of the first iPhone commercials with the "buff" guy clearly said, "hey we are trying to consolidate devices here." SO you have a phone and a laptop. MAYBE some sort of desktop if you need it.

Why have MORE options? Sometimes MORE is less. ;)

Plus I feel like the 3.5-4.5"x5-7" size is just extremely awkward. What OTHER device is that size? A digital picture frame? High-tech TV remotes? Society (I believe) has settled on a large size (~ a piece of paper) and a small size (~a deck of cards).

(And yes, I DO want to see an Apple tablet, but I would like to see something...like, basically digital paper, with some scaled down OS for note-taking and maybe multimedia, but it would need a stylus)

[SkippyThorson]

Newton, Mid 2008

Call me crazy, but that Newton shell would make an interesting retro iPhone case.

That iPod Home pic is pretty awesome. I would take one for sure. Any odds Apple would still keep the single button aspect on a mini-computer?

I would think it would at least have a few option buttons that take you to something wherever you are on iPod Home.

One to Settings, one to Internet, one to Mail, etc. Even if not that, the one button on such a device looks a bit strange.

[Waragainstsleep]

I really can't see Intel being privy to this much information. And if they are, that german exec has had it.

They would know that Apple is intending to use the Atom, but I see no reason for Apple to tell Intel what they are doing with it.

[Devil's Refugee]

More likely to be a derivative of this, shown at CES this year...

http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/08/hands-on-with-intels-silverthorne-based-mid-prototype/

[Bravo0]

I remember this concept ...

http://mt13.quickshareit.com/share/2167062607_3d3b5bfff5c6bb.jpg

... and an Engadget article (http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/03/apple-patents-a-maxiumus-alike-keyboard-imac-macbook-dock/).

http://sunki.quickshareit.com/share/untitledfc221c.png

Time ago AppleInsider (http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/01/11/sources_apple_newton_tablet_not_ripe_for_macworld.html) wrote this.

http://www.macplus.net/magplus/IMG/gif/050510_tablet_patent.gif

And Gizmodo (http://gizmodo.com/339918/apple-docking-patent-works-perfectly-with-ultra+slim-macbook) too.

If there will be a mini-tablet, i think there will be a new Aplle Cinema concept too.
All of this in January 2009, I suppose.

[bentoms]

lets assume your proposition. How do you hold the "iphone pro" to you ear to talk. That would look ridiculous. You might say use a bluetooth headset, but what if you forget it at home?

keep dreaming

Why not have a Bluetooth headset can be kept in the body of the iPhone Pro when not in use (like a stylus) &/or the same hands free earphones & mic as per the iPhone.

This would be great for video conferencing!!

I remember this concept ...

http://mt13.quickshareit.com/share/2167062607_3d3b5bfff5c6bb.jpg

... and an Engadget article (http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/03/apple-patents-a-maxiumus-alike-keyboard-imac-macbook-dock/).

http://sunki.quickshareit.com/share/untitledfc221c.png

Time ago AppleInsider (http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/01/11/sources_apple_newton_tablet_not_ripe_for_macworld.html) wrote this.

http://www.macplus.net/magplus/IMG/gif/050510_tablet_patent.gif

And Gizmodo (http://gizmodo.com/339918/apple-docking-patent-works-perfectly-with-ultra+slim-macbook) too.

If there will be a mini-tablet, i think there will be a new Aplle Cinema concept too.
All of this in January 2009, I suppose.

Reminds me of the duo dock but with a built in screen!!

http://macintoshuser.up.seesaa.net/image/powerbook_duo_dock_l.jpg

Below with screen added;

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/Duodock.jpg

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PowerBook_Duo

Duo Dock

This was the largest and most expensive dock for the PowerBook Duo. Unlike cumbersome "port replicators" that plugged into the back of other laptops, the Duo Dock allowed the PowerBook Duo to actually fit completely inside itself via a mechanical sliding mechanism (similar to a VCR or dvd drive on modern Apple laptops), thus turning the PowerBook Duo into a full size, full powered, fully functional desktop computer, with all the common desktop ports which could physically support a heavy, high-resolution display on top of it. The Duo Dock included a floppy drive, two NuBus expansion slots, an FPU, level 2 cache, slots for more RAM, a slot for more VRAM to enable more colors at higher resolutions, and space for a second hard drive. The original Duo Dock was replaced by the Duo Dock II, which added AAUI networking and compatibility with newer color-screen PowerBook Duos; a replacement lid was also available to allow use of these Duos with the original Duo Dock. This was followed by the Duo Dock Plus, which was identical to the Duo Dock II, but lacked the FPU and level 2 cache (which were not compatible with the PowerPC-processor PowerBook Duo 2300c).

Now the above with as an iMac with a dock for tablet & syncing between HD's so you can work on the tablet or if you don't have the tablet from the err... "dock" would be SWEET!!

[elminno]

So if Apple uses the Atom chips for the new iPhone range, what will the recently acquired PA Semi chips be used for?

[MacRonin]

This:

http://designforpeople.ca/mockups/ipodhome.jpg


With this (the nano, duh) as a 3G tether (via BlueTooth) when WiFi is not available:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2094/2157532826_2195b27a15_o.png

[felixkunze]

This tablet rumor makes me think of what I wrote about last December. Not blowing my own horn but reading through my article again, it kind of is turning out the way I had thought.

http://octumo.com/blog/2007/12/steves-vision-for-the-iphone/

I know, terribly self-congratulatory, but I even surprised myself!

:p

[winterspan]

So if Apple uses the Atom chips for the new iPhone range, what will the recently acquired PA Semi chips be used for?

Nothing. Hasn't this issue been completely beaten to death?!? They aquired PA SEMI for their technical expertise with embedded systems and NOT for their POWER chips.


*SNIP* "Iphone and "Iphone Nano picture"

For a smaller iPhone model, you can just shrink down the current form factor. It doesn't work --- the on-screen keyboard would be much to small to be able to use comfortably. Also, It wouldn't make any sense to remove the web browser for a smaller model. Internet access will be an intrinsic part of every phone in the future.

[TerrorOFdeath]

It has bee marked as fake.

http://www.golem.de/0805/59706.html

Just in german.

It says that a intel man has stated on the phone with golem that it was not meant to be this way, because his boss does not know even a thing^^

TOD

[mac jones]

It has bee marked as fake.

http://www.golem.de/0805/59706.html

Just in german.

It says that a intel man has stated on the phone with golem that it was not meant to be this way, because his boss does not know even a thing^^

TOD

Now THIS I believe.

What a joke.

[macidiot]

Jobsian/Ivian Show-offy Smallness Niche: MacBook Air, Mac Mini, MacTablet :D

or... MacPhoneAirTabletPro, umm, iPlus.

or... Kickin' it old skool, the PowerPhone. Yo.

A random thought: what if this hypothetical iPad is not really a larger phone per se, but an internet device that just so happens to use a cellular network for very mobile access? Since it wouldn't exactly be an iPhone, perhaps it could skirt the letter and spirit of their exclusive 5-year contract with AT&T and allow you to connect to some other provider's EDGE network for browsing, email, and IM even when you're not near a WiFi hotspot.

Nokia already makes one. On it's second generation, I believe. And since you're basically describing it as a new device Apple should make, you pretty much already know how popular they are...which is to say, not very.

Basically. Except for the iPod Nano, the recent improvement in Apple rumors has truly led me to believe there is no more surprises. We knew about the Macbook Air, the fatty iPod Nano, the iPhone, 3G. I mean if we haven't heard any rumors yet about the Nano for some reason I doubt its existence. Jobs you've lost the cloak of mystery.

It's what happens when you use Intel products.

And when you become a tech bellweather stock, with a market cap over 100 billion and virtually every portfolio manager owning some.

[fastbite]

I totally agree with the line of though of having 3 iPhones (which are ultimately much more than a phone as we know) The iPhone as we know it will remain the same size but with different colors and redesigned/perfected case and 3G -- Then the mini with limited functionality but attractive price and the tablet like one, still with phone functionality but closer to a portable mac in essence.

[ckiyan]

Is it finally how is it going to look like?


Link
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=413824

[mac jones]

it's unfortunate that this is in German, because the upshot now is that it's an error.

So we are in for a storm of nonsense for the near future.

Should be amusing.

[TerrorOFdeath]

Translation by Google.

http://translate.google.ch/translate?u=www.golem.de%2F0805%2F59706.html&sl=de&tl=en&hl=de&ie=UTF-8

Funny, nuclear-chip^^

TOD

EDIT: German Link: http://www.zdnet.de/news/hardware/0,39023109,39190870,00.htm
english translated: http://translate.google.ch/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zdnet.de%2Fnews%2Fhardware%2F0%2C39023109%2C39190870%2C00.htm&sl=de&tl=en&hl=de&ie=UTF-8

[boer]

All I have to say about this is:

HELL YES!!! Bring it on if it's not a crippled tablet with flashy UI. I hope that the hardware matches the software, and we get things like GPS

Why would you need a GPS in a tablet, unless of course you live in a trailer and move it around a lot?

[tgl]

Nokia already makes one. On it's second generation, I believe. And since you're basically describing it as a new device Apple should make, you pretty much already know how popular they are...which is to say, not very.

Nokia makes one with OSX in it?
Does it also sync with itunes and has a touch based safari browser?
Will it sync with .mac as well?

If the answer to any of the above is no then we are talking about completely different devices and the fact that nokia is not doing well has nothing to do with the potential success of this device.

[Bye Bye Baby]

Easy there cowboy.... It's just my opinion. No need to pretend you are smarter than anyone else on this board.

That's ok partner. It wasn't hard work.

[abrooks]

The HTC Diamond has a ppi at about twice the iPhone, but a smaller screen.

A 300+ppi display, please find me a source for that info because it would be truly amazing!

[MikeDTyke]

Anyone think that this purported tablet is Apple's answer to the Kindle?

I could see it paired with an iTunes book library, with downloadable books, wifi and bluetooth. Sure it'll be an ipod as well and be great for watching movies but i think the focus will be better battery life than the iPhone & touch in order to provide a handheld computer that's going to own the Education market.

The extra neat thing is that we'll probably get the book store on the iPhone on macs/PC's. So yes if your stuck on a train you could download a book and start reading it on your iPhone but the tablet (i vote iBook to come back from the dead) will provide the optimal reading platform.

M.

[olternaut]

So if Apple uses the Atom chips for the new iPhone range, what will the recently acquired PA Semi chips be used for?

Lets get a touch more specific here. The Atom is a cpu. Analysts are saying that Apple wants to use PA Semi to make other supporting system chips for mobiles and other computers.

[Digital Skunk]

Why would you need a GPS in a tablet, unless of course you live in a trailer and move it around a lot?

So you know where you are when you use Google Maps, or your GPS navigation software while on the road.

Remember, this new tablet is going to be the iPhone Pro with the professional features that business users have been craving for so long.

[TheNorthWaves]

A message to Apple:

I would like to say "thank you" if you are going to release this product, the tablet iphone thing. I am going to be a 3rd-year med student on rounds sooner than I'd like to believe, and this is exactly the kind of machine I need.

Please be smart and make it compatible with microsoft garbage, because my hospital uses that stuff. Please make it good with PDFs - we use a lot of them. I would give anything to use this device instead of some Windows-mobile-95 piece of junk they'll try to make us use. I am afraid to say that if there are incompatibilities, I will simply have to shrug and buy a windows mobile platform.

Also please get on the ball with fully integrated docx and xlsx support. It is 2008.

[ravenblue]

http://designforpeople.ca/mockups/ipodhome.jpg

It's all about how Apple can make more money. Apple needs to pump out new devices to capture different categories of users. The iPhone captures the affluent "American Psycho" early adopters. The AppleTV captures the average TV consumer. There are still lots of consumer groups left to go after.

Apple likes consolidate their devices - if they can produce one device that casts a wide net of consumer behaviors that can grow their revenue base, then they have a business case. There could be a business case for an iPod Home, which is focussed more on family-based usage, particularly with Tweens+Teens, a massive growth market.

Some examples of what we might use the iPod Home for:


Purchase + Watch TV shows in bed
Watch movies in the back seat of the car
Read the New York Times online in the bathroom
Listen to NPR podcasts in the kitchen while chopping vegetables
Portable iChat at christmas - pass the device from one person to another
Take vacation photos and videos
Lipsync to Britney Spears and upload to YouTube
Check soccer practice times on the calendar


If the price came down far enough, they could be marketed as something each person in a household would have. Maybe a 4-pack for $399?

These could also be designed to work in tandem with your mac, so that multiple people could access their own desktop at once (using screen-sharing), no more waiting your turn.

[krye]

I'll believe it when I see it. Although I'm in love with the image that ravenblue chalked up. I can think off 100 uses for that. Awesome. But knowing Apple, it'll be like $1000.

[ravenblue]

Yeah it'll be $999 in 2009 Q1, and then $499 by Q4 ;)

[maccompaq]

WOW! Just watch the Apple stock jump up.

[deputy_doofy]

http://designforpeople.ca/mockups/ipodhome.jpg

I like the look of that. I wouldn't mind a slightly bigger tablet that had phone functionality. I see the phone functionality working as a speaker phone or bluetooth option only, as holding something that large to your face might look stupid (and not be too comfortable).
It should have a connector on it so, when it is charging on the dock, the bluetooth can charge by connecting to the iPhoneTabletTvThing. Lastly, it should little "legs" that unfold so I can put it on a table and watch movies/vid/tv stuff.

[Mr Maui]

Call me crazy, but that Newton shell would make an interesting retro iPhone case.

OK Crazy. ;)

[Wolfpup]

This is crazy awesome! I mean *INTEL* is basically confirming a tablet?!? I can't wait for this thing-I wasn't expecting it at all, really, and certainly not running an Intel processor-which may mean it can run just regular Mac software!

The PDA market's been pretty pathetic for years, and...I hope this thing can fill that gap! I hope it does PIM stuff well, and...actually it may be able to run just a plain vanilla version of Word...real Word and Excel!

And if I can use it as an eBook reader, that would be awesome...oh man, I can't wait for this thing!

EDIT: It could use Apple's already existing technology to mount an optical drive wirelessly (or though USB)...although it would be better still if it could play DVDs that way. Of course the lack of an optical drive is much less of a huge deal on a product like this!

[benmrii]

Read the New York Times online in the bathroom

Sold.

[paja]

You are all setting yourselves up for a major disappointment. There is no Tablet.

- New 3G iPhone
- SDK
- New iPhone Partnership Announcements.
- Updates.

and that's all folks.

[cobalts]

If we look at the original comments as quoted as hearsay, I'm not sure there's been enough analysis of what this rumor really means.

As Chef Medeski points out, there's really no reason to increase the size of the device just to increase the resolution of the screen. There are plenty of screens of higher resolution than the paltry 480x320 screen on the iPhone. So when this German dude says that the new Atom-based "iPhone" "needs" to be larger because of the "resolution" of the screen, that to me suggests that either the screen is at least 800x480 (at 4" to 4.5" diagonal) or even greater (1024x600 at 4.8" to 5.5" diagonal). These resolutions would be overkill on just a phone -- only a few Windows Mobile devices have a full VGA screen. However, 800x480 would be minimum for a MID, from the standpoint that the "standard" website is 800 pixels across. Increasing the resolution beyond this point is helpful for UMPCs but comes at a cost of readability/size and power consumption. So the only reason the proposed device "needs" to be bigger is because it is designed around a larger screen and/or a larger battery.

Furthermore, the Atom is not intended for phones or PDAs, but for MIDs and UMPCs. It has a broad range of speeds (I think 800MHz to 1.6GHz). While the power consumption is higher than the CPUs in cell phones/PDAs, it is much lower than any other mobile processor Intel has produced. The benefit to a company like Apple is that the Atom CPU will run the same code as any of their other CPUs. Since the iPhone runs a version of OSX, switching over to the Atom makes sense.

So the Atom is slightly physically larger, and it also draws more power, meaning you need a larger battery. This proposed device also has a larger or higher resolution screen, which also uses more power. At that point, you are looking at a larger device that is 3G enabled. But it's not a phone, in the sense that current iPhone owners are happy, but would be happier if the phone were just a little larger. This thing is a 3G enabled MID. It's not a UMPC. The whole distinction between MIDs and UMPCs doesn't apply anyway, since the iPhone is already running on OSX. But if you call it a UMPC, what you have is a small, low-powered, more expensive notebook, with at most a tiny keyboard if any at all. It sets up the expectation that it will run "the same" OS, but with a processor that will set you back about 5 years technologically.

If you take a look at the soon to be released (in Asia) Sharp Willcom D4, you'll see that any form factor is possible but limited by battery life and usability issues. The D4 is a UMPC/phone running Windows Vista on a 1.33GHz Atom CPU, 1GB RAM, and a 40GB HDD. It has a largish phone w/ flip out keyboard design with a 5" 1024x600 screen, and it claims a 4.5 to 5 hour battery life. It is 3G enabled, and apparently has special software to use the device as a phone from within Vista.

http://www.geekstuff4u.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=742

I would suggest that the limiting factor for size in these small devices is battery life. A MacBook has a 4h battery life, but for some reason, the smaller the device is, the longer we want the battery to last. Nobody thinks a 3G enabled MID that has 4h of battery life is particularly desirable, because we want it to last all day.

Further comments:
1. There's no way this is an e-book reader with an e-ink display. It might be something you can use as an e-book reader, but you don't need an Atom CPU to display text, and e-ink technology is still not ready for full adoption.
2. Text on a 5" 1024x600 screen would be ridiculously small. At a certain point, if you want a higher res display, you need to make it larger for usability purposes.
3. This German dude probably didn't really know what he was talking about.
4. It won't be "reasonably priced." It will be expensive.
5. I hope it's a tablet at least 8.9" diagonal with more than one button and one USB port.
6. If it's a MID, it won't also be a phone. I.e., You'll need both. (!)


The HTC Diamond has a ppi at about twice the iPhone, but a smaller screen. At 3.5" you could easily get that resolution with less ppi. Thats a touch device too unless multi-touch needs much smaller resolution (which it doesn't seem to have). So its certainly plausible that the iPhone could have a 720x480 with the same form factor. I imagine 1.5x each dimension would be a bit too big. But about 1.25x with a screen size of about 4 or 4.5" and a smaller border, would be pretty good size. It would look a bit large, but nothing too ridiculous and would greatly help looking at website and videos.

Hopefully they add a MicroSD or SD slot so we can easily upgrade 8 or 16GB up. :)

I wouldn't mind using it as a phone.



The HTC Diamond has over twice the ppi of the iPhone, so I'm sure it wouldn't need to be that big.

[corrado7]

So you know where you are when you use Google Maps, or your GPS navigation software while on the road.

Remember, this new tablet is going to be the iPhone Pro with the professional features that business users have been craving for so long.

How do you know this will be the iphone pro targeting professionals? Unless you have insider sources i doubt you know anything at all.

I doubt it will be a phone also. SJ likes minimalist design and in order for it to be a phone it would look ridiciouls holding it to your ear because it will be substantially bigger then the current iphone. You might say that i will come with bluetooth head set. What if you forget your bluetooth headset or you loose it? what happens then? You might say that it will be incorporated into the tablet for storage similar to a stylus, but SJ said himself with the iphone that these things can get lost if you are not careful.

I dont see the tablet being positioned as an phone. I see it more as a device to complete the iphone, a device that can be used in your living room to browse the internet, to interact with the :apple:tv or to show a presentation to a client. A bridge between macbook air and the iphone. If a tablet is really a tablet the screen should be big enough (5x8 or other sizes) to display rich content.

By positioning the device as a tablet only, you will reach a bigger target audience. If its target as a phone also, it might not appeal to everyone.

[Wolfpup]

You are all setting yourselves up for a major disappointment. There is no Tablet.

- New 3G iPhone
- SDK
- New iPhone Partnership Announcements.
- Updates.

and that's all folks.

Then where do all these rumors keep coming from? It's pretty clear even if they don't end up launching something they've at least had it in R&D. And I mean this is coming from INTEL for crying out loud! Can't get much of a better source than that!

I hope Apple doesn't get mad at them about this. Certainly isn't preventing me from buying any *APPLE* product knowing about this-though I'd sure think twice about buying anything semi-similar from another company until we know for sure Apple's not launching this.

I wonder what the price range is though? Hopefully it's <$800, although the thought occurred to me that this could be a crazy $1000-2000 type product like some Windows type devices are. Some of those are actually nifty...if they cost more like $500 instead of 2-4 times that.

[dc2141]

yeah, yeah, yeah....I keep hearing this same old tired argument that tablets have no place in the world and it's just stupid. Smart phones had very little place in the world until Apple showed the world how to do it right with the iPhone.

Saying that tablets have no place in the world is about as stupid as Dvorak saying that the iPhone would be a dud or that IBM guy way back when saying there's probably only a need for about six computers in the world (or whatever version of that he said).

The PDA died because people got them in an excited rush to play media, perform organizer functions, and do computing work on a portable machine. Then iPods came along and played media better. Cell phones came along and did organizer functions as well or better. What's left? COMPUTING.

And computing -- real computing like writing, spreadsheet work, and database form entry, not just browsing Facebook -- simply sucks on a small screen, even an excellent small screen like the iPhone's. You just need more screen real estate.

Tablets haven't taken off yet because no one has done it right yet. Maybe Apple will.

In balancing performance versus size/weight versus cost, every tablet maker has been thus far been stupid and avoided the one winning combination: sacrifice performance for small size and weight and low cost. They all pack features in with a stick and drive the cost up to be more than a laptop or keep the cost down but make it bigger and heavier than a laptop -- dumb, dumb, dumb.

You don't need sizzling speed and terrabytes of storage for a successful tablet -- you need it small and light and cheap (relatively).








yeah...and geared toward the super-dooper-tech-geek. no ordianary consumer will want a tablet when they can get an iphone or MPA/MBP.

a tablet is one of those things that has no real place in the world. it serves no purpose other than to test new touch technology and maybe garnish some funds from the super geeks who want anything/everything new.

[jouster]

[IMG]The iPhone captures the affluent "American Psycho" early adopters.

.....people who like innovative consumer electronics and the fantasized brutal murder of innocent women?

Pretty much a niche market there.......

[lunchbox02]

The real issue becomes if the screen is tablet size how to make it smaller. The answer may be in this patent.

http://www.ohgizmo.com/2008/03/18/patent-watch-apple-designing-clamshell-iphone/

[macerroneous]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A102 Safari/419.3)

why don't they care about lost iPhone sales?



It must be because the new phone will cost MUCH more and the higher price will be offset by a big rebate from carriers. That's the way you convert low-revenue sales numbers into bigger numbers. Plus, now each sale to Nigerian and Russian pirates will increase revenue dramatically. New agreements probably cancel revenue sharing by carriers and instead stipulate "we'll let you carry our phone but only if you eat a $200 rebate sandwich."

[Digital Skunk]

....

Don't worry about it too much, it's still just a rumor. No one has any insider sources....

It's all "speculation" !

[Wolfpup]

yeah, yeah, yeah....I keep hearing this same old tired argument that tablets have no place in the world and it's just stupid. Smart phones had very little place in the world until Apple showed the world how to do it right with the iPhone.

So-called "smartphones" were getting more and more popular even before the iPhone, and still sell tons.

The PDA died because people got them in an excited rush to play media, perform organizer functions, and do computing work on a portable machine. Then iPods came along and played media better.

The PDA isn't dead, just the stand alone market is pretty anemic. I think it's partially because they can slap a phone radio in them and sell them for four times the price, and partially because a lot of people apparently don't grasp what they can do for them. I'm amazed at the people who are horribly unorganized (just like me) but still don't use them.

Cell phones came along and did organizer functions as well or better. What's left? COMPUTING.

I completely disagree. Aside from phones that are really PDAs, the typical cell phone makes a TERRIBLE organizer.

[stagi]

This would be very cool

[marcg007]

this is a bad idea and the only market that exist for a tablet is for HARDCORE fanboys, not 99% of the other population.

this will be a huge dud. the only purpose the tablet will serve is to TEST technology so they can use it in future MacBooks and iMacs.....nothing more, nothing less.

How can you be sure it will be a dud? Many people said that about the iPhone, and about the iPod Touch and so far, those two items are doing quite well. Personally, I would love something like this as long as I could connect a bluetooth keyboard to it to take notes in my classes. I have terrible back problems and can't carry a lot of weight. Not crazy about the MBA but the macbook weighs more than my 12 inch PB G4. I would have no problem with a smallish screen but bigger than the iPhone/iPod Touch with a BT keyboard connected. That would be perfect for me and many others.

[Wolfpup]

How can you be sure it will be a dud? Many people said that about the iPhone, and about the iPod Touch and so far, those two items are doing quite well. Personally, I would love something like this as long as I could connect a bluetooth keyboard to it to take notes in my classes. I have terrible back problems and can't carry a lot of weight. Not crazy about the MBA but the macbook weighs more than my 12 inch PB G4. I would have no problem with a smallish screen but bigger than the iPhone/iPod Touch with a BT keyboard connected. That would be perfect for me and many others.

People said it about the iPod too I think, and that the market was already too saturated. Ya never know. Plus Apple has good marketing, and may have the right mix of good marketing, and a good price point, and a good product where other companies have failed at one (or all) of those aspects.

[xhambonex]

I would guess that a tablet is in R&D. My guess is that we won't see it as soon as everyone here is thinking. The Macbook Air would suffer from a tablet introduced so soon. Especially if the tablet was cheaper, lighter, smaller, and did all the same basic computer functions everyone is dying to have in this tablet. I also don't think the technology is far enough along...battery life would need to be longer.

[wizard]

I think we are after the same thing here that is more screen real estate. It is a very important feature to many of us. What I was trying to get at was just how useful would be a higher ppi?

Frankly I think at the current resolution you are really at the point of diminishing returns. That is an even hight ppi will not give you much in return for its complexity and demands. At least not relative to keeping the same ppi and going to a larger screen.

Don't get me wrong if Apple comes out with a device slightly larger than the current iPhone that can do HD, I'd go for it as video play back at full resolution is an item high on my demand list. It is just that being able to see the difference is important too.

Dave


Well I mean, I think we underestimate the difference. A small increase in the length or width turns into a rather large increase in area. From 3 to 3.5 is a 16.6% increase in length (its going from a 3.5" screen to about a 4-4.25"), but in terms of area, its an increase of 36%!!! Thats huge. And thats only a moderately larger screen. A 5" which would have the same ppi would be a MASSIVE INCREASE in screen size. I mean in terms of a little bit more screen space, going to 4 or 4.25" is already quite nice, 5" would make it an oversized PDA/hand-tablet. So I guess it depends who they are targetting. Personally I think a 4.25" screen is a more than welcome increase that would still keep the iPhone very pocketable. 5" would become more of a small book but still not bad. I guess we'll see.

[wizard]

If we look at the original comments as quoted as hearsay, I'm not sure there's been enough analysis of what this rumor really means.

So we will add even more?


As Chef Medeski points out, there's really no reason to increase the size of the device just to increase the resolution of the screen. There are plenty of screens of higher resolution than the paltry 480x320 screen on the iPhone.

I think you are missing a few important points here. It is not an issue of increasing screen resolution but size and keeping the same ppi. Further there is diminishing returns for going to a higher ppi with in the confines of the current screen size. A larger screen with more pixels does not increase resolution at all if the same ppi is kept.


So when this German dude says that the new Atom-based "iPhone" "needs" to be larger because of the "resolution" of the screen, that to me suggests that either the screen is at least 800x480 (at 4" to 4.5" diagonal) or even greater (1024x600 at 4.8" to 5.5" diagonal). These resolutions would be overkill on just a phone -- only a few Windows Mobile devices have a full VGA screen.

I think this is an indication that either the guy was mis quoted or this thread is based on simply bogus reporting, a guy in that sort of position should know the difference between resolution and the number of pixels a screen carries. A larger screen at the same resolution simply keeps the same ppi but offers up more pixels to the user.

However, 800x480 would be minimum for a MID, from the standpoint that the "standard" website is 800 pixels across. Increasing the resolution beyond this point is helpful for UMPCs but comes at a cost of readability/size and power consumption. So the only reason the proposed device "needs" to be bigger is because it is designed around a larger screen and/or a larger battery.

Most of the above is garbage. What is important is that there is a need for a larger screen to offer up to the user more information. That is why we want a larger iPhone, simply to have more screen real estate.


Furthermore, the Atom is not intended for phones or PDAs, but for MIDs and UMPCs. It has a broad range of speeds (I think 800MHz to 1.6GHz). While the power consumption is higher than the CPUs in cell phones/PDAs,

Obviously you are not in tune to Intels marketing nor how it intends to evolve the processor over time.

it is much lower than any other mobile processor Intel has produced. The benefit to a company like Apple is that the Atom CPU will run the same code as any of their other CPUs. Since the iPhone runs a version of OSX, switching over to the Atom makes sense.

With OS/X's UNIX underpinnings the processor isn't a big deal. The big advantage that ATOM offers u is not compatibility with other Intel processors but rather its 64 bit nature. Currently it is the only low power 64 bit offering in existence. Building a family of devices around ATOM means not having to deal with any sort of address space limitations for the foreseeable future.

So the Atom is slightly physically larger, and it also draws more power, meaning you need a larger battery. This proposed device also has a larger or higher resolution screen, which also uses more power. At that point, you are looking at a larger device that is 3G enabled. But it's not a phone, in the sense that current iPhone owners are happy, but would be happier if the phone were just a little larger.

I guess you will have to speak for your self. Many of us consider the iPhone to be to small. Not for a phone but as a smart phone / computing platform. Especially as a web enabled device. More so for business uses a web optimized iPhone would be ideal and the primary way to optimize for that is a larger screen. WE are not talking hugely larger either, less than an inch in width and length would make for a much more useful device.

This thing is a 3G enabled MID. It's not a UMPC. The whole distinction between MIDs and UMPCs doesn't apply anyway, since the iPhone is already running on OSX. But if you call it a UMPC, what you have is a small, low-powered, more expensive notebook, with at most a tiny keyboard if any at all. It sets up the expectation that it will run "the same" OS, but with a processor that will set you back about 5 years technologically.

Don't be daft it is either a larger iPhone or something of a newton bent. It has been plainly demonstrated that trying ot put PC apps and functionality into smaller and smaller portable devices doesn't really work well. I see zero chance of Apple trying to build a Mac into the for of an iiphone class of devices.


If you take a look at the soon to be released (in Asia) Sharp Willcom D4, you'll see that any form factor is possible but limited by battery life and usability issues. The D4 is a UMPC/phone running Windows Vista on a 1.33GHz Atom CPU, 1GB RAM, and a 40GB HDD. It has a largish phone w/ flip out keyboard design with a 5" 1024x600 screen, and it claims a 4.5 to 5 hour battery life. It is 3G enabled, and apparently has special software to use the device as a phone from within Vista.

Answer this question, who would be stupid enough to run Vista on such a platform? Apple has clearly demonstrated that desktop OS/'s have no place on hand held or mobile devices.


http://www.geekstuff4u.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=742

I would suggest that the limiting factor for size in these small devices is battery life. A MacBook has a 4h battery life, but for some reason, the smaller the device is, the longer we want the battery to last. Nobody thinks a 3G enabled MID that has 4h of battery life is particularly desirable, because we want it to last all day.

Sure battery life is important I don't think anybody will discount that. The thing is with ATOM and an iPhone class device Apple has a lot of choices to deliver good battery life. First there is no reason for them to run ATOM at its fastest rates. Second the power usage numbers Intel has quoted are for the two chip set, Apple could go its own way for a supporting chip. Third higher integration else where means power saved for he CPU. A larger screen does afford more space for a larger battery and the payoff in battery size is more than what is lost to the larger screen. Finally with the right cell chip set the ATOM processor could be put to sleep for long periods of time.

It is not a given that ATOM is impossible in a larger iPhone. I see it as very possible and extremely likely.


Further comments:
1. There's no way this is an e-book reader with an e-ink display. It might be something you can use as an e-book reader, but you don't need an Atom CPU to display text, and e-ink technology is still not ready for full adoption.

This I would agree with as it makes no sense for Apple to produce a special purpose device when a full function device costs the same.

2. Text on a 5" 1024x600 screen would be ridiculously small. At a certain point, if you want a higher res display, you need to make it larger for usability purposes.

Agreed! The important thing in my mind is that Apple keeps the same ppi. This will dictate what size screens Apple can deliver but does not eliminate larger hand held devices.

3. This German dude probably didn't really know what he was talking about.

I think it is more a question of garbage reporting.

4. It won't be "reasonably priced." It will be expensive.

I don't know about that, It should come into the same price range as the current high end iPhone.

5. I hope it's a tablet at least 8.9" diagonal with more than one button and one USB port.

Now you are totally off the wall here. Such a table is not what most of us want or need. Apple may come out with a Tablet MAC some day but that is simply not what is being talked about in this thread - not even close. This thread is about people that need a larger iPhone or a Newton replacement.

6. If it's a MID, it won't also be a phone. I.e., You'll need both. (!)
I don't see such a platform as being practicle. Further you seem to mis the most important thing here and that is the need for on your person portability. Mids offer nothing over laptops in that regards, a larger iPhone could still fit into ones suit pocket or pants pocket yet offer up an incredible amount of utility.

Dave

[wizard]

Considering Steve KILLED this thing when got back in '97, most people wouldn't consider this at all. It might be similar in the way people use it, but it would never (EVER) be marketed as such.

Age has nothing to do with it, in my 42-yr old opinion.

Well here is an age 47 opinion. Steve took over Apple at a time when many thought it was a dead company. Like many a CEO put into that sort of situation he had to make very tough choice and Newton got zapped. What Steves personal opinion of the device is or was is unknown. Sure there were public comments made but one has to put them into the context of trying to save HIS company. I say HIS in capitals because in many ways I believe Steve always thought of Apple as his company.

So we can't say that it won't be marketed as such. What will likely happen though is that it will be marketed as another member of the iPod / iPhone family which it will be. They might name it Newton 2 or something similar simply to leverage on history, but from a marketing standpoint it will simply be another iPod / iPhone.

In any event all I really care about is that something comes out soon that is similar to what has been discussed for some time in the forums. That is simply a larger than current iPhone that is more advanced in capability.

Dave

[gkarris]

I hope it's Atom-based bonded together to form larger molecules... or it wouldn't exist...

(sorry, in that sort of mood right now...) :eek:

[wizard]

Nothing. Hasn't this issue been completely beaten to death?!? They aquired PA SEMI for their technical expertise with embedded systems and NOT for their POWER chips.

The most recent indications are that PA Semi was acquired due to a chip set they where working on for Apple at the time they where acquired. Now what that chip set is has not been disclosed. It is completely possible that they had PA working on a highly integrated low power ARM chip.


For a smaller iPhone model, you can just shrink down the current form factor. It doesn't work --- the on-screen keyboard would be much to small to be able to use comfortably. Also, It wouldn't make any sense to remove the web browser for a smaller model. Internet access will be an intrinsic part of every phone in the future.
While I agree that shrinking the current iPhone would lead to usability issues, if any thing Apple needs a larger iPhone, that does not eliminate the possibility of Apple making a smaller easier to use cell phone. Further multi Touch does offer Apple a lot of alternatives for an even smaller screen some of which they have already patented. The potential if there for a more limited but smaller iphone device. Sure the web will suck there but that still is not a big draw for many.

But back to ARM and ATOM. It is interesting that Apple has yet to publicly say that they have intentions to use ATOM on the iPhone. ATOMS only current advantage is its 64 bit nature, which makes sense long term. ARM though can be very competitive in the short term, especially if PA Semi can com up with a highly integrated iPhone on a chip implementation. Apple could potentially drive the cost of an iPhone down to something like $75. That would be nice :)

Dave

[maestro55]

I would like them to figure out a way to have the power of the Atom processor in the iPhone.

[sleepingworker]

You are all setting yourselves up for a major disappointment. There is no Tablet.

- New 3G iPhone
- SDK
- New iPhone Partnership Announcements.
- Updates.

and that's all folks.

Yea, I tend to agree with this. No tablet ... yet. Still, June 9th will be fun and the new iP will be a must buy for me.

[MattInOz]

ATOMS only current advantage is its 64 bit nature, which makes sense long term. ARM though can be very competitive in the short term, especially if PA Semi can com up with a highly integrated iPhone on a chip implementation. Apple could potentially drive the cost of an iPhone down to something like $75. That would be nice :)

Dave


OK this is the sort of comment BG would be proud of.
Why would you need more than 4GB of direct access memory. on a Phone or MID for that matter?

[cobalts]

Now you are totally off the wall here. Such a table is not what most of us want or need. Apple may come out with a Tablet MAC some day but that is simply not what is being talked about in this thread - not even close. This thread is about people that need a larger iPhone or a Newton replacement.

I don't see such a platform as being practicle. Further you seem to mis the most important thing here and that is the need for on your person portability. Mids offer nothing over laptops in that regards, a larger iPhone could still fit into ones suit pocket or pants pocket yet offer up an incredible amount of utility.

Dave

Thanks for your reply. It was informative and interesting.

I do think that an updated Newton-like device would be considered a MID. These product names don't really make that much sense, admittedly. But I do think there is a rapidly growing market for a 3G enabled portable platform. Intel is pushing it, the hardware (for better or worse) is coming out, and the choice of OSs is pretty weak right now.

I would frame the likelihood of Apple's involvement in this way. Steve Jobs has repeatedly said things like, "Only a simpleton would want to look at video on a very small screen," and "No, no, we won't put out a phone, that's just stupid." (Not direct quotes.) Now, Apple is being pushed to release a 3G phone because of the international market, even though it will cut in to the battery life -- hence the 3G on-off switch. I can just imagine the guys at Apple thinking, "Well, it doesn't make sense from a design perspective, but that's what people want for some reason. But if people are really dead set on a 3G enabled portable device to surf the internet and download and upload content, we might as well make a proper one."

My comments about Vista and OSX had more to do with the unusual position Apple is in to jump into this market successfully and decisively. Not only do they have a relationship with Intel such that Apple would be first to know about and incorporate new Intel products, they have the mind-set and the demonstrated capacity to scale their OS to devices of different kinds, as well as to drive the development and distribution of software for a new platform. MS clearly cannot scale their OS and IMO is actually looking at a really big problem in their whole line of operating systems as a result. (I think running Vista on a tiny phone sized computer is ridiculous, by the way.) The success of the EEE PC, iPhone, and to a lesser extent the Nokia tablets indicate that most of the time people don't want, need, or want to need a full desktop environment, they just want portable functionality to access content, manage data and media files, and send content through the world wide web.

So I think the possibility of Apple re-introducing a Newton-like device with a cellular data connection (perhaps as an option) is high. If it did happen, it would reveal a lot about the relationship between Apple and Intel. The CPU in the MBA is an example of Apple getting first crack not at a new Intel product but at new technological advancements. From what I recall, the news that Intel had made a special processor for the MBA was pretty much a surprise to everyone -- i.e., they managed to keep that secret locked down. Intel would be thrilled if Apple picked up the Atom and had stated that the first Atom products would be released Q3 2008. Two Atom devices -- the Sharp Willcom D4 and Fujitsu U2010 -- have been just recently announced. They both run Vista, have GPS, wifi, and some cellular connection, and they both have keyboards. So we'll be able to see soon if Apple took a pass on the Atom, or if they took advantage of their relationship with Intel to make some kick ass new device.

[winterspan]

I would like them to figure out a way to have the power of the Atom processor in the iPhone.

The current Atom runs on the "Menlow" platform, and requires an external southbridge, I/O units, memory controller, RAM, etc. The second generation Atom will be part of the "Moorestown" platform which integrates all these necessary parts onto the CPU die as a System-on-a-chip. This will allow power requirements to drop dramatically, especially during idle times and should allow its integration into smartphone size devices.

I don't think Apple will use Atom until this 2nd generation for a device similar in size to the iPhone or a bit larger.



Smart phones had very little place in the world until Apple showed the world how to do it right with the iPhone.

I agree that the iPhone is a huge step above, but those tens of millions of Blackberrys and Treo owners would certainly disagree with your statement. You might mean the consumer world, but smartphones were certainly popular in business.


The most recent indications are that PA Semi was acquired due to a chip set they where working on for Apple at the time they where acquired. Now what that chip set is has not been disclosed. It is completely possible that they had PA working on a highly integrated low power ARM chip.

While I agree that shrinking the current iPhone would lead to usability issues, if any thing Apple needs a larger iPhone, that does not eliminate the possibility of Apple making a smaller easier to use cell phone. Further multi Touch does offer Apple a lot of alternatives for an even smaller screen some of which they have already patented. The potential if there for a more limited but smaller iphone device. Sure the web will suck there but that still is not a big draw for many.

But back to ARM and ATOM. It is interesting that Apple has yet to publicly say that they have intentions to use ATOM on the iPhone. ATOMS only current advantage is its 64 bit nature, which makes sense long term. ARM though can be very competitive in the short term, especially if PA Semi can com up with a highly integrated iPhone on a chip implementation. Apple could potentially drive the cost of an iPhone down to something like $75. That would be nice :)

Dave

Yes, they could indeed have been working on an ARM variant. I should have better stated that.. "PA SEMI was not acquired for their POWER technology".
Anyways, Intel is obviously large enough to be a big competitor with the Atom, but ARM is by no means standing still. The iPhone is not using anything close to the highest performing ARM cpu. ARM's new line is the Cortex-A8 and Cortex-A9. These chips scale to dual-core and over 1.0Ghz, easily enough power for a future iPhone and do not take more power than the ARM11 in the current iPhone. Coupled with the newest PowerVR/SGX video chip from Imagination, that would make for a great iPhone upgrade in the future.

I guess it all depends on the future revision of Atom, and what x86 has to offer Apple since they already ported everything over to ARM. I'm not sure how much 64-bit x86 matters, or if ARM has a 64-bit mode, or the implications of that. I think Apple will most likely stay with ARM for the time being and maybe introduce Intel CPUS in a few years or so.

[Kwill]

won't be called the "iPad",

everyone in Boston already has one.

I have one friend from Boston so it took me a while to get this. Sorry for being so slow. It is funny. :)

Releasing a larger iPhone is interesting. For dedicated surfing, the current iPhone is rather small; it's OK for occasional "quick" data lookups or for iPhone Web Apps. If the new unit fills a different niche, current iPhone customers may purchase it as an adjunct rather than a replacement for their first generation product - a faster 3G portable surfing machine with better gaming experience or something designed to be accessed in the car for GPS. Some interesting questions still need to be resolved.


Since developers are writing apps for the original form factor, will the new screen scale proportionately? (Apparent yes.)
Is this a laptop with Cocoa interface and built-in data connection or a large iPhone running Cocoa Touch?
Can the new device share minutes with regular iPhone? (It must!)
Will the "iPad" fit in one's pocket? (I don't imagine it will. To be significantly larger it may need to be about half the size of letter size sheet of paper - 5.5" x 8.5").

[jnc]

I have one friend from Boston so it took me a while to get this. Sorry for being so slow. It is funny. :)

Releasing a larger iPhone is interesting. For dedicated surfing, the current iPhone is rather small; it's OK for occasional "quick" data lookups or for iPhone Web Apps. If the new unit fills a different niche, current iPhone customers may purchase it as an adjunct rather than a replacement for their first generation product - a faster 3G portable surfing machine with better gaming experience or something designed to be accessed in the car for GPS. Some interesting questions still need to be resolved.


Since developers are writing apps for the original form factor, will the new screen scale proportionately? (Apparent yes.)
Is this a laptop with Cocoa interface and built-in data connection or a large iPhone running Cocoa Touch?
Can the new device share minutes with regular iPhone? (It must!)
Will the "iPad" fit in one's pocket? (I don't imagine it will. To be significantly larger it may need to be about half the size of letter size sheet of paper - 5.5" x 8.5").



I believe the rumours are getting all crossed and mixed up. Bottom line, Apple's not going to introduce a radically new product hot on the heels of a new iPhone - if anything, I think it must just be the iPhone's going to get a bigger screen. I mean like 4" as opposed to 3.5", nothing ridiculous. It still has to be pocketable.

Excuse my speedy PS job - "new iPhone" vs current iPod touch:

http://i25.tinypic.com/2qbbyvd.jpg

[zedsdead]

I believe the rumours are getting all crossed and mixed up. Bottom line, Apple's not going to introduce a radically new product hot on the heels of a new iPhone - if anything, I think it must just be the iPhone's going to get a bigger screen. I mean like 4" as opposed to 3.5", nothing ridiculous. It still has to be pocketable.

Excuse my speedy PS job - "new iPhone" vs current iPod touch:

http://i25.tinypic.com/2qbbyvd.jpg

I agree with you. I think it might be native 16x9 instead of 3x2. Then again, that might make it difficult for the SDK apps since the resolutions are different, so maybe not.

[louden]

I have one friend from Boston so it took me a while to get this. Sorry for being so slow. It is funny. :)

Releasing a larger iPhone is interesting. For dedicated surfing, the current iPhone is rather small; it's OK for occasional "quick" data lookups or for iPhone Web Apps. If the new unit fills a different niche, current iPhone customers may purchase it as an adjunct rather than a replacement for their first generation product - a faster 3G portable surfing machine with better gaming experience or something designed to be accessed in the car for GPS. Some interesting questions still need to be resolved.


Since developers are writing apps for the original form factor, will the new screen scale proportionately? (Apparent yes.)
Is this a laptop with Cocoa interface and built-in data connection or a large iPhone running Cocoa Touch?
Can the new device share minutes with regular iPhone? (It must!)
Will the "iPad" fit in one's pocket? (I don't imagine it will. To be significantly larger it may need to be about half the size of letter size sheet of paper - 5.5" x 8.5").


1) I've been thinking about this. Apple could easily provide new Interface Builder widgets for iPhones/iPad devices with different resolutions. If they wanted to leverage existing screens and screen resolutions in other devices, they could be pulling up a dialog-like box that's modal to the device with the size of the iPhone interface. In that way, you could leverage the same "Settings" screen from the iPhone on a new device. You could have the same visual effect of pulling up a document or folder in preview mode in macos.

2) Don't know, but if it is bigger, why not give it a bigger battery and just run macos? Can't they run macos on an Atom chip?

3) If Apple/providers want to sell things things, they should share minutes/connectivity. As a consumer, I don't want to spend more than $100 a month on phone, data and broadband support - both in the home and out. I don't need a home, land-line phone, and I'd be happy to see some kind of bundling between various providers. I think that may be a ways away. Right now, I spend 140 on home broadband and cell phone service, and I don't think I'd spend any more for some additional device. It's the principal that matters.

4) I think it needs to fit in cargo pant's outside pocket...

[louden]

I believe the rumours are getting all crossed and mixed up. Bottom line, Apple's not going to introduce a radically new product hot on the heels of a new iPhone - if anything, I think it must just be the iPhone's going to get a bigger screen. I mean like 4" as opposed to 3.5", nothing ridiculous. It still has to be pocketable.

Excuse my speedy PS job - "new iPhone" vs current iPod touch:



hmm... I'd believe this for the short-term maybe, but Apple is positioning the iPhone as a platform, which means you should expect different devices with different resolutions...

[jnc]

I agree with you. I think it might be native 16x9 instead of 3x2. Then again, that might make it difficult for the SDK apps since the resolutions are different, so maybe not.

Aren't they coded to be "resolution independent"?

[LeviG]

2)Can't they run macos on an Atom chip?


I would expect so, windows and linux can run so at worst (in my opinion) its just an update for chip support now that os-x is universal.

[zedsdead]

Aren't they coded to be "resolution independent"?

I expect they are, but I have no idea.

[winterspan]

Aren't they coded to be "resolution independent"?

1) I've been thinking about this. Apple could easily provide new Interface Builder widgets for iPhones/iPad devices with different resolutions. If they wanted to leverage existing screens and screen resolutions in other devices, they could be pulling up a dialog-like box that's modal to the device with the size of the iPhone interface. In that way, you could leverage the same "Settings" screen from the iPhone on a new device. You could have the same visual effect of pulling up a document or folder in preview mode in macos.

Mac developers around here will know a lot more than I do, as I've just started to dabble in OSX development having come from the windows world. Apparently,
according to some comments on this article: http://www.tuaw.com/2007/11/01/the-case-of-the-missing-resolution-independence/ ,
Apple does indeed have some elements of resolution independence working in Leopard, but it's not enabled by default and seems to be incomplete. This article is more than 5-6 months old so I'm unsure of progress since then in Leopard or if the iPhone's CocoaTouch is resolution-independent. Either way, if it is not at this time, I'm sure they are actively working on it.

Full resolution independence and arbitrary UI scaling will make the issue of screen resolution and aspect ratio on a possible mini-tablet much easier, but there are still many issues. Let's assume the tablet has a 5.0-5.5" screen (diagonal) and has a resolution of 800x480 or 1024x768 or similar.
Directly porting "normal" applications to the larger interface shouldn't require a lot of effort unless new visual features are added to take advantage of the additional screen space. Things change when we start talking about applications that use 3D OpenGL graphics, especially games. In this case, the resolution difference matters, as the higher resolution display will require greater 3D hardware to maintain the same frame rate, all else (texture sizes, polygon count) remaining the same. I guess developers will have to optimize the game for each device independently to get the best compromise between quality and framerate.

I also wonder about the dimensions of the device and how you would hold one and interact with it. Would one hand support the device and the other hand interact with it through multi-touch gestures? Or would you hold it with both hands like a game controller and use your thumbs to interact with the screen? I wish we could get a leak of the interface!

[jnc]

hmm... I'd believe this for the short-term maybe, but Apple is positioning the iPhone as a platform, which means you should expect different devices with different resolutions...

Like a new 16x9 iPhone in conjunction with the current iPod touch? :D That's as lofty as I'm going to get, expectations-wise...

[MattInOz]

The SDK videos talked about something like this.
You include any bitmap graphics in format and resolution of choice, then as you build for a device it scales the image resolution and format to best suit the device.

Most other graphics are vector or openGL mostly so can be scaled on the fly anyway.

So maybe the App packages will be built with an number of resolutions, app store taking care of what bits to send out in the pack. another reason in have apple manage the store so they can keep app sizes down, yet still free to sell devices at resolutions they see fit.

[sassenach74]

Wirelessly posted (PPC; 240x320; HTC_TyTN/1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 7.7))

Anyone seen this, quite interesting:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/19/auo-unveils-curved-slim-and-8-inch-multi-touch-displays/

[aamaczz]

Hi, don't know if this has been mentioned yet but Stuff Magazine did a mock-up of what they thought it might look like - it would be the height of a CD/DVD (as the picture showed it to have a slot drive built in - the tablet was a little bit bigger) and widescreen so whatever that makes it in width. That would be a good size for a tablet pc/dvd player.

That's something that you could take on a long trip with you or even carry it around in a bag if you spend more than 30 mins surfing the web in the day. Plus at that size it would have a bigger virtual keyboard which would make it easier to type with. Another feature could be that it would get a proper hard drive, which would be great too! Just think 250Gb would fit an awful lot of music and films!

Also, I read (I think it was Stuff magazine, again) that Apple have a patent on a monitor with a dock behind the screen - just think you could use this all day, come home and dock it into your monitor and continue where you left off.

[jnc]

Hi, don't know if this has been mentioned yet but Stuff Magazine...

Please do not pay any attention to anything Stuff Magazine has to say, ever.

[winterspan]

Hi, don't know if this has been mentioned yet but Stuff Magazine did a mock-up of what they thought it might look like - it would be the height of a CD/DVD (as the picture showed it to have a slot drive built in - the tablet was a little bit bigger) and widescreen so whatever that makes it in width. That would be a good size for a tablet pc/dvd player.

That's something that you could take on a long trip with you or even carry it around in a bag if you spend more than 30 mins surfing the web in the day. Plus at that size it would have a bigger virtual keyboard which would make it easier to type with. Another feature could be that it would get a proper hard drive, which would be great too! Just think 250Gb would fit an awful lot of music and films!

Also, I read (I think it was Stuff magazine, again) that Apple have a patent on a monitor with a dock behind the screen - just think you could use this all day, come home and dock it into your monitor and continue where you left off.

Yeah, whats funny about that is that the mockup image actually was presented as a "leaked" apple product.. It made the front page on either Macrumors.com or Appleinsider.com, although I can't remember which. If you search "Stuff magazine mockup" I'm sure you'll find the forum thread for it.

[cobalts]

Some new benchmarks of the Atom, which are consistent with earlier, preliminary tests.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/msi-wind-pc-benchmarked-secrets-of-the-atom-cracked/#comments

[louden]

What if it's a tablet that is "tethered" to your iPhone? Not something that you hold up to your head and make calls on, but something with a larger screen that you can surf through your iPhone and do work on. Might not be bad.

I don't think Apple would release a tablet that is pretty much the same as current Tablet PCs with the only difference being maxos.

I think Steve is looking for a game changer - to truly embrace and extend the tablet platform, just as it did with the cell phone.

I think you can predict -
- very thin, very battery conscious devices (charge lasts a day!) - which means these might be a good choice for the Atom processor
- not too big, not too small. My requirement - must fit in the outside pocket of my cargo pants...
- very sexy - 7-10 inches of pure screen...
- high speed connectivity - 3G/wimax?
- easy to use - runs all mac os productivity apps - like mail, calendar, etc.
- some other gee whiz stuff - HD video for the long plane ride?
- next gen handwriting recognition/multi-touch - keeping with the finger concept?

[LeviG]

- next gen handwriting recognition/multi-touch - keeping with the finger concept?
god I hope not, I want a stylus, that simple, I like the option to be able to draw normally and a finger just doesn't work.

[rtdunham]

What if it's a tablet that is "tethered" to your iPhone? Not something that you hold up to your head and make calls on, but something with a larger screen that you can surf through your iPhone and do work on. Might not be bad.

what if the tablet does contain a phone: as small as apple's bluetooth earpiece is, it could fit into a tiny charging slot that entirely contained it: when you want to use the tablet for a phone call, you pop out the (charged) earpiece, dial on the tablet, put the tablet back in your pocket or leave it on the table top or wherever and conduct your call. That seems like a nice way to "tether"

Around the house, i use my iphone this way--it sits on my desk top, it's the "dial pad", but i motor around conducting my calls, return to the phone only to dial a new one: with the earpiece I can finish a call, or receive a new one, without physically dealing with the phone itself.

[vietportal]

http://samj.net/2009/03/crystal-ball-apples-599-ipad-netbook.html

[Bye Bye Baby]

As much as I trust Apple to design great products, I just can't seem to get my head around a Mac tablet.

I don't know what use it would be.

That doesn't mean anything, I just can't see it. It will be interesting, however.

[iPhoneNYC]

Yes. A larger version? All of this is just vague enough to be true. And it sounds like fun.

[macpluslaptop]

I agree with your point about Apple being able to produce a better eBook reader than the Kindle, yes. Even without using electronic ink that another poster thinks is critical to success.

That electronic ink is what makes e-books revolutionary. If the new Apple device has a glossy screen, that will make the eyestrain issue even more apparent. Kindles are incredible.

Now, if you're talking about graphic novels, or comic books, that's a market Apple could exploit. But it's niche.

[Sehnsucht]

Whoa.

I really don't know what to say other than I WANT.

Wow, that's pathetic. All you Apple-worshipping fanboys need to get a life...and a Zune! :eek:

:D :D LMAO! Just kidding...this "iPad" definitely sounds really cool...can't wait to see what it looks like. :)

[Monty Burns]

That electronic ink is what makes e-books revolutionary. If the new Apple device has a glossy screen, that will make the eyestrain issue even more apparent. Kindles are incredible.

Now, if you're talking about graphic novels, or comic books, that's a market Apple could exploit. But it's niche.

Full-color Kindle-esque "electronic ink" displays are on the way.

And, what is the big deal with the tablet??? It seems like a terrible idea -- why would they need such a product? You've got Macbooks, you've got the iPhone, and the iPod -- is there really a space in the middle that people are just dying to have filled (obscene jokes go here)? Imagine if something had a similar design and form-factor to the iPhone, but had an 8 or 10 inch screen. Do you know how prone to scratching and breaking that thing would be? And where would you carry it? In your backpack, where you carry your laptop anyway?

I think the iPhone as it is has just about the perfect dimensions, and Apple should focus their attention on making THAT device as good as possible, rather than trying to introduce a netbook or tablet. Maybe a true widescreen iPhone would be good, but otherwise I think an "in-between" product is pretty stupid.

[Noiseboy]

Full-color Kindle-esque "electronic ink" displays are on the way.

And, what is the big deal with the tablet??? It seems like a terrible idea -- why would they need such a product? You've got Macbooks, you've got the iPhone, and the iPod -- is there really a space in the middle that people are just dying to have filled (obscene jokes go here)? Imagine if something had a similar design and form-factor to the iPhone, but had an 8 or 10 inch screen. Do you know how prone to scratching and breaking that thing would be? And where would you carry it? In your backpack, where you carry your laptop anyway?

I think the iPhone as it is has just about the perfect dimensions, and Apple should focus their attention on making THAT device as good as possible, rather than trying to introduce a netbook or tablet. Maybe a true widescreen iPhone would be good, but otherwise I think an "in-between" product is pretty stupid.

I assure you that what is stupid here are the people who are incapable of seeing something as valuable and useful simply because they cannot imagine a use for such an item in their limited experience, many of us here have been waiting (im)patiently for an Apple tablet for years because we do have a use for one.
If you think that Apple can work on only one device at a time you are mistaken. They have a campus of thousands of engineers and a cash stash of billions of dollars.

[AidenShaw]

If you think that Apple can work on only one device at a time you are mistaken. They have a campus of thousands of engineers and a cash stash of billions of dollars.

I work in an advanced R&D group.

We believe that it's important to have some projects that are failures - if nothing fails, that means that we're only doing "easy" projects and not advancing the envelope.

Apple needs more Cubes, not fewer.

[alphaod]

Don't get too excited people—Intel confirmed it. :p

[Sehnsucht]

I work in an advanced R&D group.

We believe that it's important to have some projects that are failures - if nothing fails, that means that we're only doing "easy" projects and not advancing the envelope.

Apple needs more Cubes, not fewer.

I am dying for Apple to release a minitower in the cube form factor. The G4 cube failed simply because it was too expensive compared to a G4 PowerMac with similar specs. This excerpt from the Wikipedia article caught my eye:

Since the Cube's demise, a number of Cube enthusiasts have made modifications to their machines. Some of the more popular upgrades are high performance video cards (complete with ductwork to allow the GPU fan to work correctly in the small Cube case) and third-party CPU upgrade cards (up to 1.8 GHz per August 2005); a few people have even modified their Cubes to take a dual-processor upgrade. A popular upgrade is the Geforce 2 MX, which exists in a version specially created for the Cube. Other popular changes include case modifications such as lighting and extra cooling. The Cube uses the same memory and hard drive components as a traditional desktop machine and these upgrades were common. Although the Cube uses a fanless convection-based cooling system, the mounting points for a standard desktop cooling fan are already in place. Upgraders of the Cube often take advantage of this to add a cooling fan to the system.

Upgradeable Core i7 cube, anyone? :D

[polaris20]

This could be really valuable in the enterprise too, with something like the new Citrix Receiver iPhone app:

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=313735334&mt=8

http://www.mrmobileblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/200903301130.jpg

Add that to the already existing Exchange connections, VPN, and possibly an iWork/iLife lite, and it would be very cool.

I know we could definitely use them.