The New Digital Device

[AmbitiousLemon]

Amongst the rumors surrounding the coming year ive noticed a tendancy of many prognosticators to push back the release of a g5 powermac by inserting a "new digital device" in the lineup of apple announcements to be made between now and mwny.

although it seems most of us here would be ecstatic about an apple branded pda few of us think this is a possibility. So the question that comes to my mind then is what sort of "digital device" are we predicting here?

[GigaWire]

Palm and Pocket PC PDAs are ****. Though not a very appealing market, they (apple) could easily move a good deal of them, especially if they emphasize the ability to write as you want to. The longer they wait, the better the others get.

[AmbitiousLemon]

Originally posted by GigaWire
Palm and Pocket PC PDAs are ****. Though not a very appealing market, they (apple) could easily move a good deal of them, especially if they emphasize the ability to write as you want to. The longer they wait, the better the others get.

o i think we all know just how much the pda market sucks. and right now would be a great time for apple to get back into the market but the consensus here seemed to be that it wont happen anytime in the near future (and thats the optimistic way of putting it). although it would be great for apple to release a pda is this the "new digital device" that some of you are predicting or are you guys thinking it will truly be something "new?"

[eyelikeart]

PDA :rolleyes:

[sparkleytone]

the mp3 market sucks too, but there is one shining winner in that category. the market is there, but the products suck, and people buy what they think theyll be the least pissed off with. same principle with pda's i think.

[AmbitiousLemon]

Originally posted by eyelikeart
PDA :rolleyes:

:eek: argh!!! you people drive me nuts sometimes you you know!

there are like a dozen old threads (and a couple not so old threads) talking about apple pdas and everyone explains how ridiculous it is. and i have to argue just to convince anyone it would be worthwhile. now youre all saying o well its a pda lemonboy jeez isnt that obvisous? argh argh argh!

ok so i guess we have changed our minds. care to explain why?

[Buggy]

PDA's in their current configurations are crap. No one has it all together yet. Apple is in the position to create a PDA with a purpose.
For a PDA to be something for me to buy, it would need to
-- interface seemlessly with my OS
-- work within a LAN and work with a wireless web
-- have a real OS
-- run real programs
-- have real hand writing technology
-- be able to store "real" file sizes (mini HD)

Nothing on the market fits this, I do think that this could be realeased within the context of a Pro Desktop model. I do not think this would "put off" any announcement.

Do I really think it will happen... No.

[eyelikeart]

Originally posted by AmbitiousLemon


:eek: argh!!! you people drive me nuts sometimes you you know!

there are like a dozen old threads (and a couple not so old threads) talking about apple pdas and everyone explains how ridiculous it is. and i have to argue just to convince anyone it would be worthwhile. now youre all saying o well its a pda lemonboy jeez isnt that obvisous? argh argh argh!

ok so i guess we have changed our minds. care to explain why?

I can completely appreciate the need of a PDA for a lot of people....but it's been like dreamworld talking about the Apple PDA up to this point....

I've never changed my mind about it.....I'm sick of hearing about stupid Apple PDAs!!!!

[mischief]

THERE WILL BE NO APPLE PDA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If Apple does a handheld it will not be a PDA, It'll be something new. It's more likely to be an OS X pocket-terminal. I find it unlikely that a dying market wil be Apple's next forray.

[eyelikeart]

let's start our own "Anti-Apple PDA" club mischief! :D

[mischief]

If we could find SJ's e-mail I'm sure he'd join. Why would I spend $250.00+ for a digital daytimer????? I'd rather have a larger, wireless device that exploits my desktops' resources at range anyway. Why is it people don't listen when SJ says, flat out :
"There will be no Apple PDA."?
SJ may embellish or mislead but direct statements have historically been true.

[bunge]

So, how big of a screen is the PDA going to have? [ducking]

[mischief]

Don't mind me, keep talking.

(Mischief backs into the room beckoning off camera, the sound of a dumptruck back-up beeper can be heard. The scent of Simian excrement wafts through the open double doors. Suddenly the convention room seems smaller, room occupants begin nervously counting exits.)

I figure you'll need plenty of this, where do you want it? :D

(Regulars and would-be scrappers begin rolling up sleeves and cocking their poop slingers)

[eyelikeart]

here...

dump it next to my PDA...
:p

[mischief]

The.......new..........amazing.........revolutionary: Apple Cellphone!!! (kazoo fanfare):p

[OKComputer]

the ipod is a signal that apple wants to move (only slightly) into the realm of consumer electronics. We have to think what could apple improve on that its third party friends havent already perfected to work well with a mac. I say look for something innovative. (PDAs are not innovative...not yet at least and so apple wants nothing to do with them) what about an lcd picture frame that syncs with iPhoto?

[Ensign Paris]

I wonder if applepdarumors.com is available!

Might go nd find out!

[AmbitiousLemon]

ok ok, glad to see you guys backing of the pda thing but the question remains. many of you have placed "new digital device" in your line up for the coming year. if its not a pda... what is it?

and the iframe... sounds kinda lame, but at least your trying to come up with something.

[mischief]

Take a 12" iBook, substitute the (touch) screen for the keyboard. Add IR for programmable universal remote features. Sell it with reduced HD size and an inexpensive processor. Runs OS X Remote. A centralized "face" for the digital hub. Now think about what happens if Apple makes the satellite network thing happen. :cool:

[mischief]

EVEN IN THIS CONFIG IT WOULD NOT QUALIFY AS A PDA.

A PDA is defined by it's core design, not it's physical configuration. If it's more than a digital daytimer and less than a laptop, it's something new;and don't talk to me about "pocket PC's " they're just improved PDA's. The average consumer never used a datawatch, and as such is not adapted to squinting at a screen the size of Bill Gates' concience. One thing we must keep in perspective is that any product released into general consumption must be light enough on the "geek-factor" to be appealing to technophobes. A PDA has the same # of geek points as a datawatch. A web-enabled cellphone has enough geek-points to earn you a wedgie from the Woz himself.

[eyelikeart]

although I never much liked wedgies....I am interested in the web-enabled cell phone issue....

old news yes, but I still think the basis for the Danger hiptop is pretty killer!

[macaddict123k]

to day i got an email from palm saying they have a new palm handheld comming out.


"Dear Ted,
All we can says is that the newest palm handheld is comming. Stay tuned for details."

[AmbitiousLemon]

wow no wonder eyelikeart is so tired of hearing about apple pdas. everytime the conversation starts to get away from a pda someone brings it right back.

apple has already released the ipod, a consumer electronics device. will this be the only such item or will there be more? if there are more what will they be (for artsyboys sake dont say pda)? the only suggestions so far are a pda (ack), iframe (double ack), tablet (blah). on other rumor sites ive seen suggestions of a hub device (this seems kinda silly even before you see the mock ups). so in furthering apple's digital hub strategy what is next? we already have iphoto, itunes, idvd, ipod, imac. whats next? where are we going form here? this cant be the whole picture.

[mischief]

Jeez, give it a rest already. I think PDA's keep coming up because they're easier for game-boy toting teens to understand.

Some of us who have to weigh cost against usefullness (or have ever owned a PDA) have come to the conclusion that only die-hard, monitor-tanned, data-watch wearing uubergeeks use a PDA for more than taking up space. The PDA is the hulahoop of geekdom:everybody has one, and then, suddenly everybody is throwing around a Nerf football and the hulahoop is sitting dusty in the garage. How many of you actually own a PDA? Of those, who still has endless scraps of paper all throughout their lives? PDA's are a trendy scam.

[networkman]

yuppies love them, but one day all the young psudo hippies on pacific in downtown santa cruz (your city) will have them, too

maybe it's a trend, but it has not nearly seen its end yet

[mischief]

I know what you're saying. How about an Apple iWatchthedamnroad: a combo PDA,GPS, and PCS cell phone that operates entirely by Voice. A product designed for every trendy, SUV buying moron out there who's endangering lives driving while using one or more of these devices.
Better yet:iDarwin, a device similar to the iWatchthedamnroad but without the voice feature and a screen about 4 characters wide.

[Quark]

Originally posted by mischief
...designed for every trendy, SUV buying moron out there who's endangering lives driving while using one or more of these devices...

:mad:
MOST OF THE MORONS I'VE SEEN USING CELL PHONES WHILE DRIVING ARE NOT DRIVING SUVS.

Keep your blatant uneducated, liberal bias out of these threads and stick to Apple rumors!

[mischief]

And my views on federal spending have nothing to do with my dislike for large, wasteful vehicles that never seem to fit into parking spaces. As to education: At no point will a smog breathing redneck technophobe tell me how to think speak or act. Ignorance is a choice you made on your own, don't assume the rest of us came along.

[Unregistered]

I like mind-candy as much as the next guy, but a PDA? I don't think so.

By way of support of this scenario, note that Apple, since the second coming of Jobs, has NEVER produced any software, the main purpose of which wasn't to entice someone to buy a Mac. Same with the iPod.

With this prime directive in mind, look at what Apple has at it's disposal:

Quicktime/Mpeg4
Firewire
Airport
Industrial Design
Low Power PPC
OSX
iMovie
iDVD
iPhoto


My Pick,

I would build a DV CAM, hard drive storage, 1394b and USB 2.0, with Mpeg4 encoding and wireless streaming, and an OSX Lite interface (as per iPod). I'd imbed iPod audio functionality in it as well. Wonder how Jonathan would package it (Carl Zeiss for the optics). I saw rumors of this awhile ago. I doubt it will happen, but I would buy one.

OT. Only thing that I can't figure out on the iPod is why there isn't recording capability built in. Seems an oversight.

[mischief]

I like it. It would explain the new relationship with Sony too.:cool:

[eyelikeart]

at least AmbitiousLemon understands where I'm coming from...

it's not that I have a hatred for PDA's....but a lot of u guys are beating a dead horse with the Apple PDA situation...

could someone hand me the ipoop-sling?

[evildead]

It would have some uses for A sysadmin. I know that If Apple made one.. I would get one right away. Not only would it help me get organized, rais my MacHead status to DefCon6, and just be a cool toy. It would also be usefull at work... that is if it had a OS X like OS running on it and it had a terminal app. Currently Sharp has a Lunix based PDA with a terminal app and I am considering getting it just for that reason. I am a UNIX system admin and I would love to beable to connect directly via crossover, hub, wireless, or serial to a UNIX box or storage device to troulbe shoot or configure. When I have to travle , I would much rather bring a PDA than a laptop on a Airplane and trough all the securtiy check points. I would probably play with it more than use it for realy work... but hey... thats what being a macHead is all about. I would like to see an Apple PDA... but I just dont know if it will sell enuph to make Apple happy. Im no sales analyst so maybe there is a market for it, or a small slice out of the all ready over crowded market for Apple. I would like to see one... but I dont think we will see one.

[mischief]

This iPoop is a 30mm,pneumatic rotary poop cannon. I had to get a Yeti and purchase the entire Venezuelan produce export for the year, but it was worth it. I've taken heads clean off at the shoulders. It's time for some serious house cleaning.

I think the camera idea is interesting.

[AmbitiousLemon]

Originally posted by Unregistered
I like mind-candy as much as the next guy, but a PDA? I don't think so.

By way of support of this scenario, note that Apple, since the second coming of Jobs, has NEVER produced any software, the main purpose of which wasn't to entice someone to buy a Mac. Same with the iPod.

With this prime directive in mind, look at what Apple has at it's disposal:

Quicktime/Mpeg4
Firewire
Airport
Industrial Design
Low Power PPC
OSX
iMovie
iDVD
iPhoto


My Pick,

I would build a DV CAM, hard drive storage, 1394b and USB 2.0, with Mpeg4 encoding and wireless streaming, and an OSX Lite interface (as per iPod). I'd imbed iPod audio functionality in it as well. Wonder how Jonathan would package it (Carl Zeiss for the optics). I saw rumors of this awhile ago. I doubt it will happen, but I would buy one.

OT. Only thing that I can't figure out on the iPod is why there isn't recording capability built in. Seems an oversight.

good thinking there kid. very interesting idea.

i dont think this is too likely though. we need to take the ipod as an example of what apple is likely to do. the ipod was a new spin on what was thought to be a dying product. i think this is why people have recently become so enamoured with the idea of an apple pda. this truly is a dead-end product that could use some reinventing. but will apple do a pda? of course not lets not even get back into that. but my point is this "new digital device" needs to be an even better idea than an apple pda. i like your thinking though, its a useful manner of reasoning that my bring us to something in the end, i just dont think we are quite there yet.

[rekras]

Originally posted by eyelikeart
let's start our own "Anti-Apple PDA" club mischief! :D
I'm in it too, im really getting sick of people begging for a damn PDA, get a notebook and a pencil

[eyelikeart]

ok so I got 2 recruits...

who else is with me?! :p

[mischief]

We're gonna be fighting on all sides. It's hard to get across how useless PDA's are to sheltered geeks. I hate fighting our own. How about a more accurate name? Rather than "palm-top" or "Lap-top" how about "Arm-top" as the clipboard size makes more sense.

[deusvede]

A device must (at least) fit two things:

1.- Do what it's supposed to do.
2.- Do it efficiently.

It's clear that every PDA out there doesn't fit any of these. These "organizers" disorganize a lot. So, what we need? Someone who release a real PDA. And, what is the perfect company for doing a device that fits the two things?

Please Apple, do it again. Save us.

[eyelikeart]

Apple isn't releasing a PDA...

is it that hard a pill to swallow? :confused:

[deusvede]

You'd read twice before talk.

I'm talking 'bout EVERY device, not only PDA's. I don't expect for an Apple PDA 'cause Apple don't want to release one. Their market strategy is near Palm today, so they're not going to compete (it also occurs with VPC). I only say that Apple is, IMO, the only company ready for going beyond all that crap devices, PDA's, MP3 players, phones, cameras...

Please, try to go beyond the next time.

[eyelikeart]

Originally posted by deusvede
A device must (at least) fit two things:

1.- Do what it's supposed to do.
2.- Do it efficiently.

It's clear that every PDA out there doesn't fit any of these. These "organizers" disorganize a lot. So, what we need? Someone who release a real PDA. And, what is the perfect company for doing a device that fits the two things?

Please Apple, do it again. Save us.

ok...but u mentioned the need to release a "real PDA" and u just asked Apple to do it again....oh forget it....

this is so dumb....I really shouldn't even put effort into it.... :o

[BillGates]

We get iTunes then iPod
We get iPhoto then ??? Digital camera with 5GB HD attaches via Firewire or maybe some kind of Digital photo display device?

The only good PDA is a TiBook the size of my hand with a holographic display.

[networkman]

you are coming up on my old handle really fast

i rather like this political discussion

the suv's are very common in california and they do annoy me so and they bug people both liberal and conservative

one day we will have to switch to a new energy source for cars and dual g4s

[cplmd]

I agree that Apple in it's current cult-monopoly-leadership will not do a PDA as we know them - I too am intrigued by the Palm mailing - unless wireless is built-into the thing I am not interested.

Given the iPod is simply a stealth device that is really a reason for Apple to sell more iBooks (no kidding, I convinced a few colleagues to by their kid an iBook cause the kids kept buggin them about wanting one.

[eyelikeart]

Originally posted by networkman
you are coming up on my old handle really fast

once I reach it....I can say u were my inspiration :p

[Unregistered]

I've thought this was coming for awhile. Makes sense to me. Might even be cheaper than the competition without the need for a tape mechanism.

[rastalin94]

The hard drive DV camera would be great. Or even hard drive with tape combo. The only problem with a Hard Drive unit is that you are stuck with a set amount of time. Yes you can download, but tapes do make a gerat storage medium with no detail loss. Still I would buy one.

Apple should not get into the PDA market. The PDA market is going to die in a few years anyway when phones are running something like a Palm OS. And also Apple already made the best PDA so for them it would be taking a step backward. They need to come out with something that is ahead of the curve again.

A firewire add-on that would turn your Mac into a Tivo would be cool. It could also contain a hard drive in the device that stored the video. and could be pulled from the computer and hooked into a normal TV some how, making it a portal Tivo that can hook into your computer......just an idea.....

[eyelikeart]

now a video camera is something I could get into....but I feel we're still a bit too far away from seeing something of the sort...

has anyone actually read anything regarding such a device?

[networkman]

we all know how steve jobs likes sony and sony has this miniature laptop with a built in digital video camera lens in it with zoom and relatively high resolution

though something like that would be well over two grand, it would be cool but i fear since it runs the less familiar mac os, it wouldn't justify the tens of millions that a product like that would cost in research and development to the store shelf

i mean the dalmation color scheme on the imac took a year and a half and cost a lot of money only to fail miserably and hurt the imac product forever in the eyes of many

apple is just one company and a camera, a pda, and other devices cannot be made all at the same time and be expected to sell enough to justify the enormous cost it would take to come out with a full line of digital hub accessories by apple

[AmbitiousLemon]

Originally posted by networkman
we all know how steve jobs likes sony and sony has this miniature laptop with a built in digital video camera lens in it with zoom and relatively high resolution

though something like that would be well over two grand, it would be cool but i fear since it runs the less familiar mac os, it wouldn't justify the tens of millions that a product like that would cost in research and development to the store shelf

i mean the dalmation color scheme on the imac took a year and a half and cost a lot of money only to fail miserably and hurt the imac product forever in the eyes of many

apple is just one company and a camera, a pda, and other devices cannot be made all at the same time and be expected to sell enough to justify the enormous cost it would take to come out with a full line of digital hub accessories by apple

id tend to agree with this except for one thing - the ipod. i think the ipod sets a new precident with apple and has shown that apple can design and sell something to its limited market and still come out on top.

[Buggy]

Everyone seems to be trashing PDA's...rightly so in many cases. I have no desire to own any of the current configurations.

However, I have a great desire and needs that could be fullfilled by an updated Newton. Would the posters here call the Newton a PDA??? or at what point does a PDA stop being a PDA. What needs to be in it to no longer call it a PDA?

My needs

I need to connect to a Lan wirelessly as I move around at work.

I have to enter Data via the web multiple times a day from multpiple locations. Currently I have to find a Desktop to do this.

I always need to be connected to email.

I need to access simple files like text all the way to video for presentations. Some locations do not have ethernet in them so I have to load into a laptop or a computer on a cart then transport all that to the presentation.

I also have to take data home. Sometimes I use ZIP disks, sometimes iTools, sometimes I email it to myself, sometimes FTP, sometimes I rip out a HD from one of the G4's and take it home (large videos)

A wireless tablet (G3 min) full osX with a iPod tucked in the back as the primary HD would be my answer....


now to all of you out there. Is this a PDA?

It is personal
It does contain data
It does assist (I doubt I could edit in FCP to any extent on this but it should be able ot play Quicktime)

At what point do you not call it a PDA. What size of screen does one need to have to NOT call it a PDA??
Newton size?
Viao laptop??

I think many of you are becoming to rigid in this

BAN ALL PDA talk to really participate in a discussion on what other alternatives are possible.

Hell even the iPod can now store names and adresses.... is that now a PDA?????

Should we stop talking about it???

[mischief]

A PDA is built along "elecronic daytimer" lines. What you, I, and many others have described is a "notepad" computer. A real, dyed in the wool Mac, but without the keyboard or extranious ports and peripherals.

Key difference: A real processor, HD, RAM and TFT.

[Cheezy]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by AmbitiousLemon
[B]ok ok, glad to see you guys backing of the pda thing but the question remains. many of you have placed "new digital device" in your line up for the coming year. if its not a pda... what is it?

... A PDA! Now, the MP3 Players market sucks. Apple comes with a better MP3 Player... Boom! So now y'all say the PDA market sucks too. What if Apple came out with a better PDA? It would rock!

[mischief]

Snap out of it Beavis.

Yo Cheesy, you wouldn't happen to be a "poof" would you?:D
Couldn't resist.

Lookout man it's Cartman and he looks hungry!!

[lma]

the new machine will be a cell phone like device that can access through local phone lines to the internet and sync with documents on your home computer.
you will be able to alter and access your home computer from a cell phone.
this will be like everyone having a personal iMac which acts like a server

you can show your friends photos on your device from your archives

you can access documents like filed tax returns when you are ppling for a loan

you can update your iPod

you can run your heater, lights, etc from the road

you can access security cameras from your phone


imagine the possibilities

[Pablomac]

If you had the chance to use a Newton, you already know the difference between a PDA and a real let's say "mini-computer".
The Newton was not a PDA was far better than that.
I think Apple has a good opportunity to enter in the PDA market since all the models right now just.. suck. It will be easy for them to make an excellent machine that should be:

Wireless
Palm compatible to some extent
itunes
Appleworks lite
Color TFT screen but with the size of the ebookman (www. franklin.com)
10 GB hard disk
Mac-Windows Compatible
Newton's handwriting recognition.

For less that $450 they would sell thousands of them.

This machine would not be a PDA but it will create a category itself, not as big as a tablet or a Newton and not as small as a Sony Clie or ipaq

Pablomac

[Ryu-chan]

A lot of you Palm owners are going to be in outrage at this comment, but seriously... what in the hell do you use one for that you couldn't do with a $20 Filofax anyway... (not that proper Filofaxes can be bought for $20 but...)
They run on batteries, are vulnerable to moisture and dropping on concrete... and hey, if I want to find someone's contact number it takes 10 times as long with a PDA than a paper organizer.
People said that the electronic age would cut paper consumption to a tenth, but hang on... it's now doubled!? People will always be compelled to write things down on paper, and when you don't... your PDAs memory goes haywire and you've lost your whole life - you suck!!
They are just an expensive, meaningless toy that tries to show the world that you are an up-with-it techie yuppie... who cares??
A leather-bound filofax is 10 times as functional in everyday life, and not to mention is more stylish... I mean, how many of you geeks out there wear digital watches anyway... (or is that a bit of a sensitive topic?)

Just as the digital watch is for pathetic geeks, so too is the Personal Digital Assistant...
For crying out loud, just admit that there are some things in life humans were supposed to do in analog... (you guys spend way too much time with your Virtual Sex with Jenna CDs...)

...get a filofax, and get a life!

[mischief]

I have come to the conclusion that there is no imagination left to most post-ers. *sigh* Apparently the best they can come up with is "PDA", because it's familiar. The words "Digital Device" apparently only apply to existing memes and no innovation is possible. I think I'll go whack some post-modernists, they've made western culture intellectually lazy.

Natural Law: The only constant is change. Innovation through evolution is the destiny of all natural systems. Because Humans are a natural phenomenon (we're not a Genetically Designed Organism), there is no part of our behavior that can escape this rule. Therefore POSTMODERNISM IS CRAP. New things will always happen. PDA's are large, slow moving herbivores in a time when small, quick carnivores are becoming very common. :mad:

Find another horse to bet on.

[eyelikeart]

I'm so sick of the PDA issue....

I agree with u mischief....they are slow...and eventually are going to become obsolete when something new comes along...

and all of these poor codependent souls who keep whining for a PDA are not going to know what to do....

Please tell me why it is that this continues to go on?

When will the madness finally end?!

[mischief]

Only when a real replacement for the pocket organizer (filofax/daytimer/rolodex calendar, etc.) userps it. Honestly all the functions of a PDA and a Cellphone could easily be absorbed into a "notepad" computer for about $1200.00 and still get you most of the functionality of a "Real" machine. The critical difference is the Wireless Remote desktop idea.

[KingArthur]

The some of the most powerful PDAs on the market use a skimpy 33Mhz processor, have usually VERY limited RAM (32-64MB) and Flash media for storage. Quite frankly, all you are getting is a 1993 PC or Mac with the only real performance difference being better written software. Now what is the point in that if you can have an iBook that does 1000x more for little more hassle?

[eyelikeart]

:rolleyes: as painful as it is for me to defend the PDA codependents...

u simply can not fit an iBook in your pocket....

[bunge]

I don't own a PDA and I don't want one (although if Apple made a cool one I'd probably break down and buy it...)

But, if we're thinking about breakthrough digital devices and talking about PDAs, I don't think Apple would release one until those fancy bendable plastic screens become available. I think something the size of a paperback book would work, if it folded out and had a huge screen.

Other than that, I think they want us to buy the iBook and pretend that the Newton never existed.

[KingArthur]

But, I personally think that it is pretty easy just to lug one of those iBooks around without a hassle. It is smart to keep a bookbag with you at all times, anyway. You never know when it may come in handy.

I must admit that pocket-sized computers are a fairly compelling idea, but I would not get one. I refuse to even get a pager or cell phone because I don't like the idea of being accessable almost anywhere in the world and I don't want the temptation to use it when I don't need to. So you can see that I do have a mild biased against anything that keeps you half-wired. An iBook would be fine because it isn't just for a few functions that one could do without, it is for anything you want to do with it.

(sorry if this made NO sense, but when you only have dollars, what can you do?)

[Six]

Back on the Hard Drive video cameras, do you think Apple would actually build one after promoting so many other cameras on their website for that long?

[bunge]

They still advertise MP3 players from other companies so I wouldn't put it past them. My only concern about a video camera is what market could they actually capture? The low end could be done better, but I don' t know if Apple would make a low end product. If they did, I'm afraid that most likely it would be too expensive for most and not featured enough for the rest.

[Buggy]

A notebook computer wil not cut it for many people. have you ever tried to type while standing (without a table infront of you)??, just try ot take a quick note on a bus when you do not have a seat. Can't be done with a keyboard.

As for the filo fax...if it works for you great...but my notes have to link with many others instantly. Right now I record them on paper until I can get to a desktop to enter the data. To me this is double working. If I had a "newton"-like device that was connected wireless to my LAN then I wouldn't have to do things twice. Plus I have to wait for the log on and log off times every time I go to a new terminal.

As for the really short sighted comment about what would happen to ones life if their PDA broke... What do you think?? Apple wouldn't make a system to sink up to your computer like the iPod. All PDAs sync. you do not loose your life. Maybe that days notes.

No I do not own a PDA but I also won't trash a person who does. If it makes their life more enjoyable and more productive then all the power to them. If paper is your way...great. No complaints here.

Stop trashing people because they dream of better lives.

[AmbitiousLemon]

Originally posted by Buggy
A notebook computer wil not cut it for many people. have you ever tried to type while standing (without a table infront of you)??, just try ot take a quick note on a bus when you do not have a seat. Can't be done with a keyboard.

As for the filo fax...if it works for you great...but my notes have to link with many others instantly. Right now I record them on paper until I can get to a desktop to enter the data. To me this is double working. If I had a "newton"-like device that was connected wireless to my LAN then I wouldn't have to do things twice. Plus I have to wait for the log on and log off times every time I go to a new terminal.

As for the really short sighted comment about what would happen to ones life if their PDA broke... What do you think?? Apple wouldn't make a system to sink up to your computer like the iPod. All PDAs sync. you do not loose your life. Maybe that days notes.

No I do not own a PDA but I also won't trash a person who does. If it makes their life more enjoyable and more productive then all the power to them. If paper is your way...great. No complaints here.

Stop trashing people because they dream of better lives.

ahmen buggy. i think a lot of people here have been in a bad mood ever since mwsf. we come here to chat about new tech and the possibilities, if you dont want to hear what people think... dont read posts here.

but actually i did start this thread in order to hear people's considerations of new digital devices other than pdas. so far the only thoughts have been the iFrame and iDVCam. i have read threads elsewhere where people have been speculating about a hub device that connects to yoru ipod, computer, stereo, and tv. some people claim to have seen such devices... most people think this is just bs and question the purpose of such a device. personally i think the people creating these hub rumors are taking steve's "digital hub" talk a little too literally.

[Buggy]

Ahem.. Ambitiouslemon.

Please re-read all of the post and then look to see who is being negative (I am not necessarily implying you).

Don't try and make up some inuendo that I don't like to hear others ideas. I do like to hear ideas, that is what I was hoping this post would be about.

Read my posts again. You will see that my posts have clear statements about my needs for a digital device and clear staements about what kind of device I would like to see.

I have not insulted anyone who likes SUV's, Cellphones, PDA's, Notepaper, daytimers, or even called for some ipoop gun to shoot down any opinion I do not agree with. You are aiming your frustrations at the wrong person.

If I am wrong on this, please correct me. I think my earlier posts stand for my support of open disscussions of ideas without biased slamming of people based on their personal choices.

I will state it again because you OBVIOUSLY missed it in the last post. I will reword it alittle incase you miss understood.

"stop trashing people because they dream of better lives"

re-word.
Please do not make personal attacks on people because they are posting their ideas of what would be a good digital device to benifit their lives.

[AmbitiousLemon]

buggy sorry for the confusion bro. actually that was a amen (sp?) (not an ahem). ok im not religious so thats not a word i use often so maybe my spelling is off. i'll have to stick to the "hell yeah"s i guess. i was agreeing with you and congratualting you on a good post when others were just being negative.

ok nuf of that. there is another thread here discussing changed to the ipod. im beginning to think that the ipod will be the only consumer electronics device that apple will release. especially if apple can put larger hard drives in it without increasing costs. with a larger hard drive users could use it as a data shuttle for movies and photos as well as music. this would take care of all the iSoftware currently out, and since most of our speculations have been trying to link an iBrand to an iDevice this would take care of em all. if the ipod had a tv out, then people could carry the ipod around and show off their iphotos and imovies wherever they go. through in the much rumored remote control and audio in and you have a "does it all" data shuttle.

[eyelikeart]

don't forget about the iPoop...

he he he :p

[cplmd]

Well now that that's settled :D

I have imagined an iFrame type device myself.

Imagine the frame is photovoltaic cells so you don't need a power cord, just hang the picture on the wall and the light on the frame recharges the battery. So, one wire down...

Next have a wireless network antenna to get the pictures from a server, WiFi is one way but bluetooth would be better because:

1. Chipsets cost less.
2. Power use is less.

True, the data rate is less with Bluetooth (thus the ignorance to suggest using it as a way to transfer LARGE files in REAL time) but makes it perfect to download another picture into the iFrame buffer while another is displayed.

I am afraid the DV cam and digital still cam market are pretty saturated and work fairly well. The iPod only had one or two models offering micro-Hard Drives to compete against. An iCam or iDV would face an up-hill battle and would not REQUIRE a Mac (or computer, for that matter) to use.

An iFrame would need a computer because you would put the user interface on the computer and have the frames show up as a storage node on your network browser or chooser. Download the pics and arrange the order and time delay between changes if there are more than one picture and let the display start.

As to the PDA flame war, I think you need to think more of a client/server model. The actual information lives on a server/desktop somewhere. (Where doesn't really matter) By having it networked into a LAN then Internet you can access it from any device, be it desktop, laptop or ??????. I fully agree with AmbitiousLemon that the current desktop or laptop (beautiful though the new iMac is :) ) leaves alot of my time open for another device to access this bucket of information on a server. It's just a matter of will Palm build a device to do it or will Apple. I know, I know, Apple won't but nothing is ever written in stone and I hope USERS have some input into what gets done. Afterall, WE spend the money that keeps the company going.

But other than the iFrame, I cannot think of another device to sell more desktop and laptop Macs to be a 'hub' for.

Now if Apple wanted to do a cell phone right ..... ;)

[AmbitiousLemon]

nice post cplmd. i have to admit i didnt like the iFrame idea at first but imagining it as you described makes me think "maybe." the problem with such a device i would think would be price. i couldnt imagine it doing well unless it were under ~$80. im not sure such a device could be built at such a low cost, and i cant imagine a $100+ frame selling well. so for those of you who know about such things could apple build an iFrame as described by cplmd and price it right?

[Buggy]

AmbitiousLemon.
Sorry I didn't notice the typo. Honest error. I make typos all too often myself. I must be one of those a bit tense after MWSF.

Great Topic idea you started.

I too have thought that the iPod 'may' be the only device that they introduce. But I do know that Jobs said they had many project ideas when they started with the iPod design. They went with the iPod first because it would be quickest to bring to market.

Going under the hypothesis that the iPod is the only device. This does not mean it has to be relegated to being just a mp3 player.

I had a "dream" before the new iMac came out that the new iMac would have no internal HD but would have a dock into which an iPod could hook into. (I realise there are many problems with this small HD space and can't really unplug and go without a shutdown...but hey I am dreaming here). With your HD in an iPod then the iPod becomes a DATA wallet. The screen gets an update to allow you access to certain file types. Text, quicktime, jpgs, so that you can view them without a desktop. Also when you get to the next terminal (imagined iMac) just plug in the iPod and it is like you are working at your last terminal. Allof your settings, programs, and data are with you.

Maybe something could be built into the OS to recognized Video files like it recognized MP3's (iTunes), so that you can hook it to a TV or VCR to play movie files. THe audio jack it Left and ricght Audio and they add a video out to the same jack something like the camcorders do.

Plug it into a car stereo and play your tunes their.

Plug it into your web enabled phone/pda and you can send attachments??

Hook two iPods together through the firewire to transfer documents amongst people, contacts, etc.

Plug it dirrectly into a printer to print (need some kind of adapter beacuse most printers are USB)

Scan dirrectly into the pod.

etc.etc.

To make a tablet, just need a touch sensitve screen (video card) with a possible airport.

Anyway enough posted for now.