Apple Tablet Computer?

[fflipper]

Not sure if anyone else has seen this but the register has an interesting article on a new apple tablet/wireless display.

New wireless display/tablet? (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/13/apple_tablet_mac/)

published this morning.

[Chaszmyr]

I just saw this and was about to post it. I wish they would have given a precise date this trademark was filed for. Steve Jobs admitted not so long ago that Apple had recently developed a PDA and decided not to release it. This could potentially be referring to that if it's not a brand new trademark request.

[iMeowbot]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/13/apple_tablet_mac/

And the sketch appears to have an iPod dock connector.

Assuming that (a) that little square thing is an iPod dock connector and (b) the drawing is to scale, this thing is about 5.75 by 8.25 inches, about .625 inch thick, with about a 10 inch diagonal display

[fflipper]

The article said that it was filed in may but was not made public till this week of this year. I also remember jobs saying they developed a PDA device but canned it, i just dont remember when he said that.

[MacRumors]

The UK newspaper 'The Register (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/13/apple_tablet_mac/)' published a look at a recent Apple patent filing regarding a previously rumored (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/11/20031126154726.shtml) 'wireless display' tablet mac. The filing, made in May this year but only published this week, covers a "handheld computer" and contains sketches of what look like an iBook screen minus the body of the computer. (sketches in comments thread)

The filing lists Apple CEO Steve Jobs and the company's industrial design chief, Jonathan Ive. It also refers to Daniele De Iuliis, Richard Howarth, Eugene Whang, Matthew Rohrbach, Bart Andre, Calvin Seid and Christopher Stringer all of key members of Apple's industrial design team, with the Power Mac G5, iPod, 17in and 12in PowerBook G4, and others under their belt.

The device is certainly a logical extension of what it's been doing with iTunes and AirPort Express. While its mini wireless access point is good for streaming audio from a host Mac to a hi-fi, it lacks a local control unit. It's tempting to view this latest design filing as the basis for just such a device.

Steve Jobs has publicly gone on record (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/05/20030529030024.shtml) saying that he didn't see the PDA as being a viable option for Apple to persue, and has been blatent about saying the iPod won't be used for viewing video. The introduction of a 'miniMac' may suit both wants, and offer a Airport Express controller in the process.

[Mudbug]

[Veldek]

I can't believe Apple will bring out a Tablet computer seeing what a financial disaster they have been on the PC side (admitted even by Steve Ballmer).

[musicpyrite]

I don't think that Apple will release a tablet computer, because of what's been happening to all the tablet PCs on the Windows side.

But I'd like to see one.

[slughead]

The tablet didn't work for anyone else, why would it work for Apple?

[morkintosh]

I can't believe Apple will bring out a Tablet computer seeing what a financial disaster they have been on the PC side (admitted even by Steve Ballmer).

The windows XP tablet is next to worthless. Frankly the only area that really benefits that much from tablet technology is health care ... a tablet is a nice thing to have for a doctor making his rounds.

With 2% market share for PC I can't imagine Apple actually wanting to get into such a small market ...

[Chaszmyr]

My bad, I overlooked the filing date

[gwuMACaddict]

interesting... and just because they patent something that looks like a tablet, doesnt mean that they will produce one. having that on the books as prior art can protect apple and their ideas from other companies. companies patent as much as they can to protect their technology and ideas. remember stacks anyone? patented years ago, and we still havent seen it

[Chaszmyr]

The tablet didn't work for anyone else, why would it work for Apple?

Cuz everything works for Apple :p

Personally I hope that if Apple does bring a Tablet to the market, there will be something that make people want it.

[stevehaslip]

naa, i can't see Apple actually making this, nice to actually see it though.

[iMeowbot]

Moving over some details from other thread...

Assuming that (a) that little square thing is an iPod dock connector and (b) the drawing is to scale, this thing is about 5.75 by 8.25 inches, about .625 inch thick, with about a 10 inch diagonal display.

I don't think it's a Mac or PDA, but something more specialized.

[flyfish29]

I think this would be a great idea, but I think it will be or should be the iMac. I would love a true desktop computer set up but have the ability to take it anyplace in my house to surf, watch a dvd on my computer, edit movies watching them on my tv instead of monitor, and actually now that I think about it it would be cool to have the monitor span to the tv where you could take this monitor off the stand at your desktop, into your tv room and edit movies using the tablet screen to edit and use your tv as an extra monitor. There are so many possibilities around the house for a portable screen/computer. You would not need the keyboard cause it would be a tablet, although you could use the keyboard I guess, but would be awkward.

anyway, lots of ideas here, but many I would personally love to use. I know I could get a similar set up on a laptop, but the iBooks only mirror screens, don't do all the things i am talking about doing wirelessly as easily, etc. without much added cost, etc.

[gekko513]

I think the reason why the tablet PC hasn't been a success is because it doesn't fill any special needs. It's as expensive as a Laptop, but more awkward to use.

If this is a some sort of cheap multimedia remote that fits perfectly in an iLife environment then it may be a great success.

[MacFloyd G5]

Just because of poor sales by other products and the small number of sales for these devices thus far - what makes you guys think that Apple can't do exactly what it did in the MP3 player industry? As in - deliver just the product that the market needs to take off.

I'll just wait to see what happens.

[Tulse]

I doubt this is a tablet in the traditional sense -- my guess is that it's more a "wireless home media display", a remote way to watch streamed video, look at photos, and control iTunes. Think of it as the remote control for your digital hub.

[macridah]

There is no market for a tablet computer, and I think even Apple can't create one. It's won't be like when steve saw poor MP3 players on the market and decided to make the iPod. Apple saw that MP3 players and computers would make contribute to the digital lifestyle--tablet computers can't possible do the samething, or can it? Probably not, unless steve sees something we don't.

[wowoah]

I think the reason tablets didn't work for the PC market was that no one was interested in an overpriced, underpowered stand-alone machine that was essentially glorified notepad. What this patent looks like, however, is not as much a tablet PC as it is a wireless touch-screen display, which I think has enormous potential for marketing the Mac as a "digital hub." If they can be produced and sold cheaply enough, you could essentially have one mounted in your kitchen or in your bedroom or somewhere that you'd like to have a computer but don't want to shell out $800 for a halfway decent one or waste that much precious table space. This could be used just as an extension of the home's main computer for basic tasks like web-surfing, email, and controlling the Airport Express. I think if they can make these things for ~$450, there may just be a market.

[kerb]

if it could run Ableton Live that thing would be a DJs dream

[gekko513]

OK, we need a new vote!

How much would you be willing to pay for a "remote control for your digital hub"?

[njmac]

.....and I bet there are a few "remote control devices" already designed and soon to be seen from 3rd parties

[broken_keyboard]

Maybe instead of a hard drive it has a slot on the bottom where
you slide your iPod in. Using the home-on-iPod feature from a while ago.

Then people could share it more easily.

[liven2]

How much you want to make a bet that this is the form factor of the new imac.. Looking like an ibook or powerbook with only the screen and guts in the back.. It will be a mountable or a mobile unit. That is my thoughts...

[mfacey]

One of those multimedia remotes would be pretty cool! I've seen a few around, but they're more like fat pdas with lousy GUI's. I'm sure apple could make something interesting out of it.

I'd be willing to pay $300 - $400 for one. But I guess it'll be a more, it doesn't look like a cheap device!

Maybe a surprise for the Paris Expo??!!


EDIT: Yeah, come to think of it. It might be the new iMac!

[Dr. Dastardly]

I don't really see this as happening but just to play devils advocate, if this were used in the new imac as a detachable screen that could be used as a tablet but used the home base computer as a sort of media docking station it might just take off. It would be a totally different animal then the tablet itself.

But how on earth Apple would have made this as a some sort of detachable computer display is beyond me. It really doesn't even seem feesable.

[liketom]

i think that the new G5 iMac will have this wireless display lol where you can take it around the house and work !! mmm sounds lke something bill gates once said about some rubbish they was working on lol

[ifjake]

I don't really see this as happening but just to play devils advocate, if this were used in the new imac as a detachable screen that could be used as a tablet but used the home base computer as a sort of media docking station it might just take off. It would be a totally different animal then the tablet itself.

But how on earth Apple would have made this as a some sort of detachable computer display is beyond me. It really doesn't even seem feesable.

i agree this isn't happening unless the above is true.

[applekid]

I doubt this is a tablet in the traditional sense -- my guess is that it's more a "wireless home media display", a remote way to watch streamed video, look at photos, and control iTunes. Think of it as the remote control for your digital hub.

I also have a similar thought.

There's plenty of reports that Apple wants to add a remote for AirPort Express. A tablet could it.

But this tablet isn't really a computer. It's more of a remote, as you said. It'll only have a few core apps. Preferably, I'd like to see Safari, iTunes, QuickTime, iPhoto, Address Book, iCal, iSync, and a program for scribbling notes. These mini apps are extensions of existing apps. Hook up to your Airport Express/Extreme/regular network and surf the web, look at photos, control AirTunes, play movies, check out your address books, check your calendar and jot a few notes all on one tablet. Use iSync to sync your Mac and iPod to it all. When it's not in use, it doubles as a digital picture frame.

I can see Steve Jobs saying, this new tablet is an extension of your Mac.

Make it sub-$800, and I'm in.

But, The Register lacks accuracy and this may be just wishful thinking. :( Paris Expo is starting to look gloom with very consumer-like iMacs (I was hoping more prosumer style and perhaps a little gaming ability) and no other rumors of apps or devices.

[gorkonapple]

The windows XP tablet is next to worthless. Frankly the only area that really benefits that much from tablet technology is health care ... a tablet is a nice thing to have for a doctor making his rounds.

With 2% market share for PC I can't imagine Apple actually wanting to get into such a small market ...

My Dr's office is using them and we at the college I work for are also beginning to deploy these, They are perfect for anything that's web based.

[wdlove]

I thought Steve commented on never making another tablet type device. We have less than three weeks to find the answer.

[Dr. Dastardly]

If this is the new imac sketch then it would probably not be protable at all. I see as the all new all in one enclosure and have everything in the back of the lcd screen. But if the screen is 17" - 20", that doesn't sound very portable to me. And wouldn't you think if the thing had the G5 specs currently rumored about that it would have a thicker back than something that can be considered portable.

[MondayNgt]

I think artists are generally ignored when it comes to judging the demand of the tablet PC. I would personally love a Tablet PC so I could digitally ink my art for my online comic, but they are too expensive not to mention run a Windows OS (barf). Seperate drawing tablets like Wacoms just aren't the same, I just can't get used to drawing on those. I would love to see an Apple tablet (it would be too perfect with Alias Sketchbook), but I'm not sure how successful it would be considering how horrible the Tablet PCs have sold. On the other hand, they haven't exactly been marketed right either (I've only seen one in my life, a non-working display at Comp USA).

--
Patrick Shannon
My War With Culture (http://www.mywarwithculture.com)
The Positively Eclectic Online Comic!

[dongmin]

But this tablet isn't really a computer. It's more of a remote, as you said. It'll only have a few core apps. Preferably, I'd like to see Safari, iTunes, QuickTime, iPhoto, Address Book, iCal, iSync, and a program for scribbling notes.But it is a computer, or it will have to be, if it's gonna run all those apps. Obviously, if this thing runs all those iApps, it'll have to be a full-featured OS-X-running computer, i.e. an ibook minus the optical drive, keyboard, and with a smaller display. The difficulty with a product like this is that it ends up in this ambiguous area between a PDA and laptop where it'll seem too small/limited for full-time computer use and too expensive for a PDA.

There is potential for success here but Apple needs to provide some "killer apps" for a small portable device like this. I can think of a few:

1. Video conferencing. Build in a mini iSight cam and you have a portable video phone that you can take anywhere.

2. Obviously, remote control for ALL media apps. I should be able to control the DVD player, iTunes, iPhoto (for slide shows), EyeTV, Quicktime, etc. all displayed on my 23-inch HD Cinema Display from my couch across the room.

[Doctor Q]

Steve Jobs has publicly gone on record saying that he didn't see the PDA as being a viable option for Apple...I don't think Apple will produce a PDA or tablet, but if they do, Jobs could simply call it something other than "PDA" or "tablet", and claim whatever distinctions it has set it far apart from the type of products he disclaimed. Reality distortion would come in handy.

[Chobit]

I think artists are generally ignored when it comes to judging the demand of the tablet PC. I would personally love a Tablet PC so I could digitally ink my art for my online comic, but they are too expensive not to mention run a Windows OS (barf). Seperate drawing tablets like Wacoms just aren't the same, I just can't get used to drawing on those. I would love to see an Apple tablet (it would be too perfect with Alias Sketchbook), but I'm not sure how successful it would be considering how horrible the Tablet PCs have sold. On the other hand, they haven't exactly been marketed right either (I've only seen one in my life, a non-working display at Comp USA).


Agreed.. first thing I thought when I saw that was.. If i can mirror that with my G5, and use it to control photoshop, I'll never buy a wacom again. I'd immediately sell my iBook to buy one if they were to come out tomorrow. Think of it as ultra-newton meets wacom. Or at least I can hope.

[HumanJHawkins]

I can't believe Apple will bring out a Tablet computer seeing what a financial disaster they have been on the PC side (admitted even by Steve Ballmer).

Here's why: They aren't going to release a tablet computer. They are going to release a new iMac that has all of the guts built into the back of the display. The display (and guts) are going to be detachable from the frame so that the iMac will BECOME a tablet computer if/when you want it to be. However, for most users most of the time, it will just be a regular iMac.

I don't have any inside information and this could be completely wrong. But it seems so obvious given the combination of rumors about the design of the new iMac and the patent sketches. Doesn't anyone else see a connection here?

[COS]

I've been thinking about how Apple might parlay its sucess in selling the iPod and iTunes to a system that would allow it to sell more machines running OS X... even if it was a really slimmed down version of a Mac, it would count as a genuine Mac because it ran OS X, and with several other add-ons could be a full fledged computer.

What I was thinking is that this could theoretically be a tablet-style computer that was an inexpensive interface to interact with the iTunes music store. When sold with an airport express, it would allow consumers to instantly buy music, store it digitally on their tablet thing... and then have the music streamed to the stereo via the airport express.

If sold for $300 but allowed for the afformentioned add-ons to make it a full fledged computer (additional $300), Apple has sold a product that reinforces its music initiative while also increases its market share in desktop operating systems and computers.

[Max12]

OK, we need a new vote!

How much would you be willing to pay for a "remote control for your digital hub"?

300 tops. and it would have to display dvd content and double as a wi-fi hub (like the airport express)

[wdlove]

I don't think Apple will produce a PDA or tablet, but if they do, Jobs could simply call it something other than "PDA" or "tablet", and claim whatever distinctions it has set it far apart from the type of products he disclaimed. Reality distortion would come in handy.

That is very true Doctor Q. Steve Jobs could offer whatever design he wants "PDA" or "Tablet" and then use whatever name he thinks will be good for marketing. I just hope that it will be a popular as the iPod.

[HumanJHawkins]

I think artists are generally ignored when it comes to judging the demand of the tablet PC. I would personally love a Tablet PC so I could digitally ink my art for my online comic

Take a look at your Wacom tablet... I'm guessing it is worn down to the wires (well not quite). Anyway, most artists I work with quickly add visible wear to their Wacom tablets, and it gets progressively worse from there. Would you really want to do this to the display of a $1500 computer?

Maybe Apple will come up with a super high tech innovation like including (or selling) a cheap replacable plastic layer that could be dropped over the display. Anyway, I haven't seen a good solution for this yet.

[iMeowbot]

But it is a computer, or it will have to be, if it's gonna run all those apps. Obviously, if this thing runs all those iApps, it'll have to be a full-featured OS-X-running computer, i.e. an ibook minus the optical drive, keyboard, and with a smaller display.
Well... If this thing is more of a terminal, it doesn't need a general purpose operating system. They could very well be using Pixo again; the iPod's processor does have the capability to power this sort of device.

[newnomad]

tablet pc's are not hot. Domotica is.
Think www.crestron.com and AMC.
Digital hub...

[iMeowbot]

Maybe Apple will come up with a super high tech innovation like including (or selling) a cheap replacable plastic layer that could be dropped over the display. Anyway, I haven't seen a good solution for this yet.
I don't think that thing is made to be used with a stylus anyway; no receptable for one is shown, and Apple's design patent drawings tend to show every little port and detail. All that's shown is a single rectangular port thingy.

[deepkid]

A friend just provided another use for a tablet device besides use with Airport Express/Airtunes.. restaurants could use them for enhanced menus..to show pics of the food, etc.

Also interesting, Think Secret has info on the next imac..let's hope it doesn't look like the Sony Vaio mentioned in the article

http://www.thinksecret.com/news/imacg5specs.html

[dahacouk]

Just a display with wireless remote. That's my guess. No real processing power or memory. Just a remote control. Minimal cost...

Now what I'd really like is a 10 inch 16:10 screen fully functioning PowerBook. No need for a PDA. Just give me the real thing and make it super light. Happy if it has external CD/DVD. I will pay extra for the small form factor. That's on my wish list. I'm not asking too much, am I?

Either that or I'll have to get a Vaio! :-(

Cheers Daniel

[AoWolf]

Gosh this would be cool but really do any of you see apple doing this. No it's not like them . They would surprise us with a microwave before a pda.

[fflipper]

I don't think that thing is made to be used with a stylus anyway; no receptable for one is shown, and Apple's design patent drawings tend to show every little port and detail. All that's shown is a single rectangular port thingy.

I agree. my hope if this is a real device is that it is a remote that allows me to control my home stereo and tv as well as get content from my mac to said home theater. The port shown reminds me of the port on my air panel (current remote for my theater) that would allow it to plug into the base unit for recharge/faster connection to the base computer.

[unsigned]

Assuming that (a) that little square thing is an iPod dock connector and (b) the drawing is to scale, this thing is about 5.75 by 8.25 inches, about .625 inch thick, with about a 10 inch diagonal display

On the eve of the introduction of the 3G iPod, MacWhispers also had information regarding the production of a white plastic base with these dimensions, causing many tablet rumors. In the same article, the site detailed the construction of a combination firewire/USB2.0 cable, which turned out to be correct, and, though I don't recall it with as much detail, I believe also predicted the iPod base and 3G button arrangement.

So it seems that there may have been some legitamacy there.

Unfortunately apple doesn't sell everything they patent.. we're never going to see the snake-arm imac (thank god).

[njmac]

If this is the new iMac, it will be a HUGE seller for apple. What are the chances?

[dead_parrot]

This isn't a tablet PC. Apple knows not to shoot themselves in the foot. They're careful (most of the time) to make a product that only does so much.

In my opinion, what you're looking at is the new iMac's screen. No hard drive built into it, no cd, no whatever.. the most that might be built into this is an airport and battery.

Now kids, think iPod and the iPod dock for a sec. Translate that to the iMac and you have a portable screen for your Mac. This doesn't tread into the iBook's domain because the iBook is for portability outside the house. This unit is used only to communicate with your base station which will contain all the usual computer stuff.

Now think a step further...a unit for your TV to accept a signal from this monitor. No more wires to play your DVDs / Music ...or whatever elese you're broadcasting.

[salmon]

I personally have been waiting for something like this for a couple of years now. The closest I have seen to what I want is a Samsung Nexio, but it's not close enough, and pretty pricey. An 8" screen would be perfect.

I want a portable media device, and I want one that is well-designed, which is why I won't even look at anything Microcrap is doing with this title. I hate just about everything they've ever made.

I want to be able to record TV shows and clips through an EyeTV type device, edit them and other stuff on my Mac, and then watch them on the bus or show them to people or whatever.

I want a way of showing people digital photos that I've taken, without having to mess around hooking my camera to a tv, on a screen big enough to see comfortably.

I want a device I can browse the web/read an ebook/newspaper while I'm sitting on the couch, deck, can, kitchen (recipes online), whereever, on a screen I can comfortably see.

I want a device that I can do some basic computing on, like checking email or working on a spreadsheet to do my home finances in front of the TV, on a screen large enough to use comfortably.

I want it to have enough storage so I can keep all my important stuff on it. 40G would be great.

I want a device that's instant on, and not bulky (ie not a laptop). I also don't want it to cost too much; I don't want it to be a powerhorse - be able to play a video is enough computing power for me.

I want a device that can accomodate a keyboard so I can easily take some notes during a meeting, or thoughts I have during the day. It should be MORE convenient than a pad of paper.

I want a device that can act as a PDA, but not JUST a PDA.

I want a device that I can use as an MP3 player, in a low-power displayless mode (or have a detachable one that docks into it as the main storage unit...)

I don't want a tablet PC - WAY overpriced, underpowered, bulky (HUGE), crappy Windows based devices.

I don't want a PDA - small screen, no good storage options, no MP3 ability.

I don't want a laptop - too big and bulky, no instant on/off, no touchscreen, battery life still a bit too short.

I'm not looking for a desktop replacement, because I would still need one for real work and editing all of my pictures and videos.

So it's a little too big to fit in a pocket, and it has to go in a backpack or some type of shoulder bag for carrying - that's fine with me.

So basically, I want one of those devices that are ubiquitous on Star Trek:TNG and beyond. One of these rumored devices, with a slot to plug an iPod into would be FANTASTIC. Apple, I'm anxiously waiting, and saving up for it (seriously, I am).

[transistor]

Just a display with wireless remote. That's my guess. No real processing power or memory. Just a remote control. Minimal cost...

I'd like to think that's it! Some sort of "detachable-wireless-remote-screen/control-thing".
But then again, just wishful thinking... this could be just one of many patents filed that will never see the light of day.
The good news, we *might* find out in a bit over two weeks.

[duce]

The concept of having a remote touch screen as a client device for data entry and view is more likely. Given wireless is now at 50k + and G5 servers/cpu combine with a wireless screen is more practical in a proper settings. Consider a class room or medical center this would be very effective. The remote screen would be responsible for displaying and transmiting data only, all the computing is at the server. Unlike a tablet PC is a full function laptop with a touch screen. Home usage is not at all practical but it would be very cool.

[Steven1621]

The tablet didn't work for anyone else, why would it work for Apple?

either did hard drive based MP3 players...

[andiwm2003]

I personally have been waiting for something like this for a couple of years now. The closest I have seen to what I want is a Samsung Nexio, but it's not close enough, and pretty pricey. An 8" screen would be perfect.

I want a portable media device, and I want one that is well-designed, which is why I won't even look at anything Microcrap is doing with this title. I hate just about everything they've ever made.

I want to be able to record TV shows and clips through an EyeTV type device, edit them and other stuff on my Mac, and then watch them on the bus or show them to people or whatever.

I want a way of showing people digital photos that I've taken, without having to mess around hooking my camera to a tv, on a screen big enough to see comfortably.

I want a device I can browse the web/read an ebook/newspaper while I'm sitting on the couch, deck, can, kitchen (recipes online), whereever, on a screen I can comfortably see.

I want a device that I can do some basic computing on, like checking email or working on a spreadsheet to do my home finances in front of the TV, on a screen large enough to use comfortably.

I want it to have enough storage so I can keep all my important stuff on it. 40G would be great.

I want a device that's instant on, and not bulky (ie not a laptop). I also don't want it to cost too much; I don't want it to be a powerhorse - be able to play a video is enough computing power for me.

I want a device that can accomodate a keyboard so I can easily take some notes during a meeting, or thoughts I have during the day. It should be MORE convenient than a pad of paper.

I want a device that can act as a PDA, but not JUST a PDA.

I want a device that I can use as an MP3 player, in a low-power displayless mode (or have a detachable one that docks into it as the main storage unit...)

I don't want a tablet PC - WAY overpriced, underpowered, bulky (HUGE), crappy Windows based devices.

I don't want a PDA - small screen, no good storage options, no MP3 ability.

I don't want a laptop - too big and bulky, no instant on/off, no touchscreen, battery life still a bit too short.

I'm not looking for a desktop replacement, because I would still need one for real work and editing all of my pictures and videos.

So it's a little too big to fit in a pocket, and it has to go in a backpack or some type of shoulder bag for carrying - that's fine with me.

So basically, I want one of those devices that are ubiquitous on Star Trek:TNG and beyond. One of these rumored devices, with a slot to plug an iPod into would be FANTASTIC. Apple, I'm anxiously waiting, and saving up for it (seriously, I am).

I fully agree with every single sentence above. It is the best summary of what I and many people I talked to want from a tablet. bring it and we'll buy it.

I just bought a Palm Zire because my powerbook is to bulky to carry around all the time. the pda will be to small to do what i want, but its the best thing i can get to prepare for meetings, read pdf and so on.

andiwm2003

[applekid]

But it is a computer, or it will have to be, if it's gonna run all those apps. Obviously, if this thing runs all those iApps, it'll have to be a full-featured OS-X-running computer, i.e. an ibook minus the optical drive, keyboard, and with a smaller display. The difficulty with a product like this is that it ends up in this ambiguous area between a PDA and laptop where it'll seem too small/limited for full-time computer use and too expensive for a PDA.

I doubt it'll need that much power. I think you can do everything at a reasonable speed with say, a G3 500 MHz (maybe slightly more), 16 MB graphics card, and a small display. That shouldn't be too expensive at all. It gives you enough power to run those core apps at a proper speed.

I don't mean they'll be full-featured OS X iLife Apps. No. I'm expecting, remote-control-style apps. You iPhoto library stays at your computer, but the tablet can create slideshows from it. You control iTunes/AirTunes from it not carry your music library. You can access your Address Book, not actually transfer it. It'll play QuickTime movies without having a copy of the file on a HD or something. Etc.

It really doesn't have to be powerful to be a current computer, or even a computer from the last two years.

[mpw]

The concept of having a remote touch screen as a client device for data entry and view is more likely. Given wireless is now at 50k + and G5 servers/cpu combine with a wireless screen is more practical in a proper settings. Consider a class room or medical center this would be very effective. The remote screen would be responsible for displaying and transmiting data only, all the computing is at the server. Unlike a tablet PC is a full function laptop with a touch screen. Home usage is not at all practical but it would be very cool.

I think this is about the closest anyone's posted for what it could be used as. I think an 8" screen on a remote control would be overkill and the form factor seems too small for a tablet. It (IMO) will NOT be the new iMac or the new iMac screen. (Again IMO) However much I'd love the idea of an Apple tablet I think this is back of an envelope stuff that won't reach the market.

What would the battery life be on a 8" screen with constant wireless use?

[TwitchOSX]

Remember when Steve Jobs introduced the flat panel iMac? He said that they couldnt put the guts on the back of the monitor because CD's and HD's run slower when they are vertical. So.. I dont think thats the case here.

What I think it is, is a tablet style computer. No optical drives. Only slim HD's such as the ones in the iPod. Then, perhaps, this will mount to a base station.. which could all be combined to be the new iMac.

What happens is, what others have said. Its a digital multimedia controler. Control iTunes, and watch DVD's on it wirelessly.

My first thought was that it was going to be a remote control for digital apps. An addition to your computer. Your sitting on your couch and iTunes is playing through your stereo. Song comes on you dont like. Pick up your remote, and get a visual of the screen of your main computer ON your remote. Using touch sensative controls, you easily change the song. Blamo.. done. I dont know. Would be cool though.

[nagromme]

I'd guess that AppleInsider has it right: this will not ship. It's something Apple worked on and then scrapped the idea.

As AI points out, Steve Jobs has said pretty clearly that Apple did develop a PDA, but he's glad that they made the decision not to go ahead with it. For whatever reason.

I'm probably one of the few who MIGHT actually buy one just for fun :)

[swissmann]

I wonder how big it will be. I'm not interested in buying a tablet (too big - would rather have a powerbook). But I would be interested in more of a PDA type device.

[nagromme]

MacWhispers also had information...

MacWhispers is known to have put fictitious info on their site, a gimmick to draw traffic to MacMice, MacTable, DV Forge, etc.--all names for the same folks, but the connection to MacWhispers was hidden. They even posted an inaccurate bad review of a product from a MacMice competitor, under the guise of being independent.

An unreliable source is one thing... an intentionally false one is another.

[ericmooreart]

Perhaps Apple had a change of heart when Sony announced that at the end of this year they will no longer sell their PDAs in the US?

[Qunchuy]

...Steve Jobs could offer whatever design he wants "PDA" or "Tablet" and then use whatever name he thinks will be good for marketing...
The name iPad seems a natural choice for this.

[tex210]

The name iPad seems a natural choice for this.
yes it does!

I want one... even a first generation... I really want one.
please be a small screen imac g3 w altivec.

[Colonel Panik]

I'd say that the rumour that they sent some of them to developers means that they can't find a proper use for it, and they were seeing what the developers might come up with. Hardware like this needs a killer app, and I can't see what that is. Word? iTunes? iPhoto? That doesn't really do it.

It's a hard market. PDAs have screens that are too small, and they're hopeless for entering information with any speed. And Tablet PCs just beg the question 'WHY?'. Unless it's got a touch screen keyboard facility, it's useless. There are niche markets where such a device might come in handy, but they're too small to generate real profits.

That said, I'd still like to have one, just to see what I might use it for.

[kerb]

I thought iPad then thought it was a bit too similar to the iPod

other ones could be iTab or iScreen

[iMeowbot]

The name iPad seems a natural choice for this.
That sounds like the name for a new age personal hygiene product. :p

Perhaps interesting: On 29 July, Apple filed a trademark registration for Pod -- without the "i". It covers "portable and handheld digital electronic devices for recording, organizing, transmitting, manipulating, and reviewing audio files, and peripherals devices for use therewith; computer software for use in organizing, transmitting, manipulating, and reviewing audio files on portable and handheld digital electronic devices."

[gekko513]

The concept of having a remote touch screen as a client device for data entry and view is more likely. Given wireless is now at 50k + and G5 servers/cpu combine with a wireless screen is more practical in a proper settings. Consider a class room or medical center this would be very effective. The remote screen would be responsible for displaying and transmiting data only, all the computing is at the server. Unlike a tablet PC is a full function laptop with a touch screen. Home usage is not at all practical but it would be very cool.

Why not for home use? If the remote doesn't need any cpu because it's all done on the server it can be made quite cheap. Basically it would be one of those touch-screens that's sometimes hooked up to a cash register, put in a some stuff for wi-fi, some encryption that Jon Lech Johansen can "break", make a pretty design and develop some server side software ... and voila ... iLife remote.

Could be around $200, i guess.

[narco]

The tablet didn't work for anyone else, why would it work for Apple?

same was said with the ipod.

.narco

[slayman]

Imagine this ...

A low cost tablet type computer with NO hard drive. Just Screen, CPU, & RAM, and wireless keyboard. Well perhaps a small 4 gig HD for embeded OS X. This devise could sell for $699 for a 15 inch LCD.

Your iPod IS the hard drive! The iPod contains and all your digital files, home folder, Applications, and settings. The screen/tablet is just there mostly as a screen.

senario ... Imagine listening to your iPod while driving to work. you hook up your iPod to a low cost tablet/screen at work and logging on with your name and password. Work on your projects using the iPod as storage. Once done at work, go home and hook your iPod to the low cost screen at home.

It sounds like the future to me, an iPod future. Carry all your digital life with you. Panther was going to incorporate this type of feature but Apple held the concept back, perhaps for this bigger, mature vision.

Imagine every college student with an iPod connecting to low cost Apple tablet Screens all over campus. Colleges and schools will love the low cost computer screens. While students pay $299-$399 for a kick ass MP4 player and document storage system. Imagine no book bags! Just an iPod in your pocket!

I can see Apple moving everyone to a liberating mobile computing experience. It's not the CPU that's important it's the files and documents that make up your digital life!!!

[Littleodie914]

What if this was the screen of the iMac G5? Like there was a base station type thing that housed additional ports (for your keyboard, ethernet, mouse, etc.), and you plugged the screen into the base, and poof, an iMac? Then when you're done doing whatever, you detatch the screen, (which would slide into a connect-ey thing like the iPod and its dock), and they carry it around with you? Like when it'd plugged in, it's a screen/monitor... When you unplug it, it just wirelessly displays the desktop that the base station is sending? Hmm... That might be kinda cool :D

[Littleodie914]

This isn't a tablet PC. Apple knows not to shoot themselves in the foot. They're careful (most of the time) to make a product that only does so much.

In my opinion, what you're looking at is the new iMac's screen. No hard drive built into it, no cd, no whatever.. the most that might be built into this is an airport and battery.

Now kids, think iPod and the iPod dock for a sec. Translate that to the iMac and you have a portable screen for your Mac. This doesn't tread into the iBook's domain because the iBook is for portability outside the house. This unit is used only to communicate with your base station which will contain all the usual computer stuff.

Now think a step further...a unit for your TV to accept a signal from this monitor. No more wires to play your DVDs / Music ...or whatever elese you're broadcasting. Haha yea, that's what I was trying to say :D

[narco]

Maybe this will sport those 60gig drives Apple bought, thinking they were for the 60gig iPod (that is said to not come out any time soon).

I agree with everyone else: a remote is good enough.

I'd love it to control iTunes from my couch, maybe a "shared" folder so that I can stream ripped-DVD's (or downloaded porn!) to my television without having to eat up all the hard drive space.

Ideally, I'd love a device that'll sync with Mail.app so that I can have all of my mail with me, and maybe Safari Lite (or something) so that I can check my mail and other tasks for work.

Probably not possible, but I'd spend up to $500 for such a device.

.narco

[narco]

Would be cool, but I honestly don't see people lugging around a 17 or 20 inch display with them.

Say if the new iMac did have a detachable screen. I bet everyone will try it out the second they hook their computer up, then get sick of it a week later and use it like a normal computer. It's a cool idea, but it'd seem like a lot of money to create something that only a small amount of people could actually utilize.

.narco

What if this was the screen of the iMac G5? Like there was a base station type thing that housed additional ports (for your keyboard, ethernet, mouse, etc.), and you plugged the screen into the base, and poof, an iMac? Then when you're done doing whatever, you detatch the screen, (which would slide into a connect-ey thing like the iPod and its dock), and they carry it around with you? Like when it'd plugged in, it's a screen/monitor... When you unplug it, it just wirelessly displays the desktop that the base station is sending? Hmm... That might be kinda cool :D

[whooleytoo]

I haven't yet found this specific patent, but there are some more interesting Apple patents here. (http://v3.espacenet.com/results?IA=Apple&sf=q&FIRST=1&CY=ep&LG=en&DB=EPODOC&st=IA&kw=Apple&Submit=SEARCH&=&=&=&=&=)

[big]

I still want an electronic notebook for classes or notes on the job site.... or meetings, one that you could easily sketch or draw on....

[flyfish29]

Would be cool, but I honestly don't see people lugging around a 17 or 20 inch display with them.

Say if the new iMac did have a detachable screen. I bet everyone will try it out the second they hook their computer up, then get sick of it a week later and use it like a normal computer. It's a cool idea, but it'd seem like a lot of money to create something that only a small amount of people could actually utilize.

.narco

You don't think there are people that own an iMac that have a need to take it into the tv room, bedroom or kitchen for some reason. To show someone a web site, a picture, movie, ask someone a question, etc. Tablet type pc's are much easier to carry around, show people things, etc rather than balancing a laptop with a screen and keyboard, etc. I for one would love this and I know many others that would as well.

[whooleytoo]

Interesting.. while searching for the tablet, I found this (http://v3.espacenet.com/origdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=USD489370S&F=0&QPN=USD489370S), a quad jointed flat screen iMac! I'd seen a flexi-attachment, but not this one before.

[Bendit]

I'd say it's just a tablet monitor like the Wacom Intuos.

[Nicky G]

Of note is that the only place one can purchase an iBook G4 these days is through Apple's online store, or a store that happens to have them in stock. Delivery time to resellers is in the 2-5 week range, and neither of the big distributors has ANY in stock.

[biederman]

Assuming that the description is correct, and this device will have a 10" screen, it's hard to imagine what this could be used for. A 10" screen is not large enough to use as a general-purpose computer, nor a decent video player, and yet it's probably too large to be a universal remote. The real test, I think, is whether this device has its own hard drive (like an iPod), or is simply a wireless-enabled client device.
If I had to guess what this device will be, I would say either a high-end input tablet for graphics professionals, or a controller for a home media network that includes Tivo-like capabilities delivered via AirPort wireless networking.

[beatle888]

The tablet didn't work for anyone else, why would it work for Apple?


didnt apple take the mp3 player and make a huge market out of it? they tend to do things right. think of it this way. how many times a day did you use to break out a cd and continualy scan your CD collection to play music? i know i never really played my CDs as much as i do now that they have been converted to mp3s and managed by iTunes and if i had an mp3 player i would benefit even more from this "interest" which is music that apple has made so easy to enjoy. inshort its very easy for people to enjoy something they love when its easy to do. apple will find a market and make it huge by thoughtful design and usability.

[SiliconAddict]

Oh god. I think I just had an orgasmic thought. Windows Tablets come in two flavors. Slate devices that are pure tablets that aren’t all that popular and convertibles where the display of the screen spins around and lays flat against the keyboard simulating a tablet without losing the keyboard. And then you have MS’s failed dumb tablet edition that really ran nothing more then Windows CE but linked back to an XP system through WIFI using terminal services. Good enough idea. Poorly marketed and executed though.

Now what if somehow Apple is working on a 3rd type of tablet? One where you can remove the display and take it with you. What if the display has a very thin battery in the back of the display? Lithium ion polymer batteries can be molded in any form so a very thin very flat battery wouldn’t be out of the question. And Apple already has some experience with the ARM architecture what with the Newton and all. (Well they did at any rate before Jobs ****canned the project. Wonder how many talented people got booted for that.) The ARM CPU is low enough powered that you could easily slap it in the back of a display without too many problems. Add some SS RAM and a flash ROM for memory and you got yourself 2 computers in one.

So lets say you are going to a board meeting. You don’t want to haul your laptop into the meeting with you so you disconnect the display and drag that along. You power on the display. The low power WIFI card in the system detects the network and uses the cached credentials to authenticate to the network. Then it uses rendezvous to call back to mama and lets you start a remote session on you *book. Since the CPU isn’t a factor anymore and since there wouldn’t be a speaker on this tablet for sound the only think you have to worry about is the display and the WIFI card.

Contrary to popular belief WIFI cards have become VERY power efficient. Just about every Pocket PC model released has them. A few Palm’s have them as well. At this point it isn’t the WIFI that is the problem it’s the display. And that can be dealt with by Apple engineers. Tweaking of the brightness and power profiles and the like can probably yield a few hours of battery life at minimum off of such a device. Possibly more if they use a bigger battery but of course the engineering trick is to get that balance just right. Too heavy and it makes the laptop top heavy on the screen and the overall laptop bulky and heavy as well. Too light and you’ll get 1/2 an hour of battery life. Also I would suggest making it replaceable. Such a method isn’t without precedent. Compaq’s WIFI implementation on some of their EVO notebooks was placed on the screen. You simply unscrews the bezel and removed that chunk and simply slide the WIFI card into the slot on it. Simple and easy granted we would be talking a much larger “chunk” that would be replaced but is should be doable.

Dang I would KILL for such a system.

[themacman]

ok. This is a litle off topic but do you think a computer could sit on a table, but this tablet thingy can copy exactly what the computer was doing, like moving your computer without touching it, it would be efficent. I dont know if possible though

[granex]

Imagine every college student with an iPod connecting to low cost Apple tablet Screens all over campus. Colleges and schools will love the low cost computer screens. While students pay $299-$399 for a kick ass MP4 player and document storage system. Imagine no book bags! Just an iPod in your pocket!


This was actually Steve's initial vision for the NeXT computers. This is why he put a (256Mb) floptical drive in every unit initially, even though they were expensive and flakey. You were supposed to have your whole life in your pocket. Well a big pocket anyway, since the media on these things were about as large as the screen system we are discussing here.

I've still got an optical disk with all of my old stuff on it. No drive to read it with, of course. My later NeXT machines had - gasp - floppy drives (2.8 Mb media, of course).

[Xgreed]

If this thingy is a wifi remote-io, i.e. a wireless LCD and a wireless virtual mouse (=touch-panel) then it would probably be Mac + PC...

[puckhead193]

I can't wait to see another apple inovation!

[virividox]

god i hope this isnt true, it could spell disaster for apple, they cant afford to have a bad product line; like the cube (great product) but wasnt practical

[MattG]

I'll bet there's some Apple employee out there, trying his best not to pee his pants as he reads all of these crazy ideas :)

I will admit though, an iMac with a detachable screen/tablet type deal would rock.

[Nicky G]

god i hope this isnt true, it could spell disaster for apple, they cant afford to have a bad product line; like the cube (great product) but wasnt practical

Yes, another failed product will definitely end the company. After all, they only have 5 billion dollars in cash at their disposal. :rolleyes:

[narco]

You don't think there are people that own an iMac that have a need to take it into the tv room, bedroom or kitchen for some reason. To show someone a web site, a picture, movie, ask someone a question, etc. Tablet type pc's are much easier to carry around, show people things, etc rather than balancing a laptop with a screen and keyboard, etc. I for one would love this and I know many others that would as well.

I'm sure there ARE people who would like to take a movie or picture to another room, but that's not very practical. If they want to watch a movie or look at a picture, they can walk 10 feet to the computer room and look at it.

.narco

[iMeowbot]

And Apple already has some experience with the ARM architecture what with the Newton and all. (Well they did at any rate before Jobs ****canned the project. Wonder how many talented people got booted for that.) The ARM CPU is low enough powered that you could easily slap it in the back of a display without too many problems. Add some SS RAM and a flash ROM for memory and you got yourself 2 computers in one.
They still know how to use ARM processors. That's what's in the iPod (2 of 'em).

[Agrippo]

I have been using Macs since 1989 and currently use two powerbooks along with a Wacom Cintiq tablet for my graphic artwork and animating. However, I have also recently purchased an Acer Tablet PC which I have used successfully to do the same work for the last five months. I don't know what experience you that don't like tablet pc's have, but I truly think the tablet experience is awesome, mostly for graphic drawing work. That said, I much prefer the elegant Mac computing experience to the more pedestrian Windows experience. If and when Apple presents a tablet computer, I have no doubt that I will purchase one. I agree that for many users it may not be neccessary, but for digital art creation, the tablet experience is a must. I never would have included a Windows machine into my arsenal if an all-in-one Mac Tablet was available as an alternative. That said, the abilities of my Acer Travelmate to communicate with my macs and to burn DVD content all in a compact, albeit heavy by today's standards (6 lbs.), portable unit are incredible.

[gerrycurl]

Sony released some electronic paper in japan a few months ago, i think apple's going in that direction and you can use firewire to upload recent publications onto your iPaper.

You heard it first here!

[cubist]

Well, maybe it's the iBook Mini. Maybe it'll have a metal case in colors. Maybe you can plug in an external keyboard and mouse.

I hope they get the price right. Tablet PC's would have sold aplenty if they had been $999 instead of $2499.

If the device is like what these notes describe and is priced anywhere below $1000, my order will be right there! :D

[ClimbingTheLog]

Sony released some electronic paper in japan a few months ago, i think apple's going in that direction and you can use firewire to upload recent publications onto your iPaper.


There isn't enough production capability yet, but it's coming, that's for certain.

[JoePike]

I love bizarre speculation like this. Some really creative ideas in this thread. If this theorized new tablet mac is half as innovative as what everyone has drawn it up to be in this board, I think it might have a chance.

[zelmo]

How much you want to make a bet that this is the form factor of the new imac.. Looking like an ibook or powerbook with only the screen and guts in the back.. It will be a mountable or a mobile unit. That is my thoughts...

Much as I like this idea, I just can't buy into it. The new iMac will have a G5, as stated by Apple in their earnings report. If you are correct, then the new iMac basically doubles as a portable, replacing the iBook (sans keyboard), and putting a portable G5 in the hands of the consumer market before it gets in the PowerBook line.

My guess is that it is a device that acts as a remote control for Airport Express, controlling iTunes, accessing multimedia files via file sharing, and also acts as an iPhoto frame for pictures. Prices to sell at a paltry $600. Either that, or smoke and mirrors from Apple to give us something to chat about and misdirect the competition.

[mac_gal]

There's already a desktop computer w/a detachable display. I saw it in CompUSA ~2 years ago. I've been trying to Google for it but I can't remember if it was a Sony or Viewsonic :(

Anyway, I don't think it's as useful as it seems. Most of the time you can just call someone over and say "hay look what's on the screen." People who really want portability buy laptops.

Unless it's really cheap (under $1000 for everything needed), I don't think it'll do well. Sorry Apple. :(

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

EDIT: Found a few things.

http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,109549,00.asp
Sony Tablet TV -- Sounds like something Apple would do, admittedly

http://www.viewsonic.com/support/mobilewireless/airpanelsmartdisplays/airpanelv110p/
This is what I was talking about ... the portable computer monitor (it's Viewsonic)

[ClimbingTheLog]

We were wondering why Apple and Motorola are back together.

"Software-defined radios" Motorola is the expert in this area.

The iPad can have a software defined radio in is that provides the following functions:
UWB - Ultra-wideband radio for the remote-display functions. "Firewireless"
802.11g
Bluetooth
CDMA and GSM cellular.

Running a low-power FreeScale system-on-a-chip this device runs Panther at 800x600x32 with Inkwell as the input system. With a LiPolymer battery and a 1.8" 60GB hard drive, the iPad gets twelve hours of battery life.

[drsuse]

while we're indulging in wild speculations, what i want is a 15" powerbook with a wireless detachable display that's like a cintiq 15x interactive display but with a much thinner bezel and higher resolution.

[hayesk]

Perhaps Apple had a change of heart when Sony announced that at the end of this year they will no longer sell their PDAs in the US?

I read a rumour yesterday that Sony plans to come back with a new PDA, but it won't be a Palm-based one. Probably Symbian.

[tex210]

on the imac in the back thread... the majority of us hate it. In this *book thread we can't wait... In home portability. The way many of us use our powerbooks (granted my powerbook is a 1400). I don't write much sitting at the iMac, and would love to be able to draw away from the desk as well. What if these machines are one in the same? Call it P.C. compatible, and iMacs are selling as an extension to the digital hub for everyone. Make people think of their P.C. as a server in your home, maybe even offload work to it. P.C. users could end up with a true Apple experience.
I still like the idea of the iPod Hard drive being the initial purchase or bundled for those who don't already have it. Dock it and type away on your bluetooth keyboard.
Since I'm ranting, maybe this leaves room for the pizza box/cube/mini tower in the future. Consumers who have ipods get the Pod/*book/iview (or whatever), then later see the other part at the store and feel compelled to complete the set..
omg we are going to be known as the Pod people!

[csubear]

<2cent>

a) this is just the new imac. and the drawings are not to scale
b) this is some sort of thin client.

They adapated remote desktop to act something like X windows. So all this thing needs is some custom display chips, a Wifi connection, and a battery. Bingo. its cheap to make, and has a long battery life.

</2cent>

[myapplseedshurt]

what ever happened with the patent of an enclosure that displayed graphics? There was lots of speculation, but nothing ever became of it. I see that happining here.

[JonGretar]

Well...

The falioure of the tablet PC was couse of price. I have used one and it is way cool and useful. But it was too pricey. But Apple has proven that it can put on a higher price than most ;)

Also remember that MP3 players were not that successful unti iPod. Now everyone has one. And some sort of an iPad would answer the question of the mistery product addon for the iTunes/Airport area of things.


But am I the only one that remembers a different patent Appli filed a short while ago regarding Pads. Something about rotation of screen and related. Everyone thought it was some old Newton thing just being patented now.

I'm not saying on or off about this. I'm just saying that there are is no reason to dismiss it immediatly.

[Xgreed]

Its the big brother of the 4G iPod:
- same ARM based chipset
- 40G to 60G HD
- 12'' colour display
- loudspeeker
- touch-pad
- microphone
- WLAN
- Firewire (to Mac/PC and other 4G iPods)

[pourhadi]

Everyone's saying there's no market for a Tablet Mac and the success would be similar to that of the TabletPC;

Just remember what was said about the iPod when it was first introduced, now look at it...

[ClimbingTheLog]

They adapated remote desktop to act something like X windows.


Actually, they've just jumped on the VNC bandwagon with the current ARD.

[macimp]

Assuming that the description is correct, and this device will have a 10" screen, it's hard to imagine what this could be used for. A 10" screen is not large enough to use as a general-purpose computer, nor a decent video player, and yet it's probably too large to be a universal remote. The real test, I think, is whether this device has its own hard drive (like an iPod), or is simply a wireless-enabled client device.

Excuse me, but that's just wrong. My Mac Classic has a 9" screen, which was perfect for basic wordprocessing.

btw, some sources say the screen will only be 8".

I would love a device with a screen that size, esp. if it would play mp3s and movies, have an internet connection and run basic programs like Word, Excel and Safari/Mozilla!

I wouldn't like to pay more than $1000 for it though.

[myapplseedshurt]

Everyone's saying there's no market for a Tablet Mac and the success would be similar to that of the TabletPC;

Just remember what was said about the iPod when it was first introduced, now look at it...

I agree with you. Apple is coming into being as a defacto authority on cool. If they can swing something that appeals to many different people on several different levels, they can make people re-think their stance on any pertinent topic.

[PPC970FX]

I think that it is the screen of a new powerbook(g5), and you can disconnect the screen when you want, and it is connected to the PB with wireless FW/ something something wireless. It selv is a Screen with minimal mini cpu soc (system on chip) no need for a motherbord, some ram and other things. Just powerfull to see a film, and stuff like that. And there is the 60GB harddrive.

But you can get the screen (but not the same if you don`t buy a powerbook.

[csubear]

Actually, they've just jumped on the VNC bandwagon with the current ARD.

there you go.

wifi + tcp/ip stack + vnc(jpeg codec right?) + touch lcd= new mac remote

and it can made cheap (400-500) the price point of the old 40GB ipod ?

[Squire]

The name iPad seems a natural choice for this.

That was the first thing I thought of when I started reading this.

A lot of you are talking about no optical drive on the back of the screen. No optical drive. Doesn't that ring a bell? (Hint: educational iMac)

Squire

[rdoyle720]

I think artists are generally ignored when it comes to judging the demand of the tablet PC.

Exactly, and I'm surprised more people aren't picking up on this. I think it's more likely that this is the non-launched PDA, but a pressure sensitive tablet computer would be great for many designers.

[ozone]

For all of you dumping on the inability of a Tablet or how worthless it might be, have you actually used one or owned one?

Don't knock it till you try it. It might be more versatile than you think.

[grneyedjay]

Here's what it will look like...right?

http://i2.ebayimg.com/03/i/02/49/c0/c9_1.JPG

[titaniumducky]

I don't think that Apple will release a tablet computer, because of what's been happening to all the tablet PCs on the Windows side.

But I'd like to see one.

Frankly, it doesn't look like a tablet to me. I think it's a wireless system to allow you to interact with a desktop/laptop within a network. This would act as the missing AirTunes remote and and allow you to move around the house while still allowing you to take advantage of (for example) a dual G5 for processor heavy work (you couldn't use the wireless system for this).

[pkradd]

This is not the form factor of the new iMac. It is very much believed the new iMac will be an AIO screen with CPU elements behind it, built in speakers, etc.

The device in question is much smaller compared to even an iBook. Last year Matt Rothenberg talked about prototypes of a tablet-style device having an 8 inch screen. This seems to be that product. I believe it will be something that will be a remote control device, viewer of photographs (via WiFi from your computer - using Airport or Airtunes, etc.) and an extension of your computer. One other thing. When filing for design patents, the party filing will sometimes disquise or simplfy the actual device to keep others from knowing exactly what the final form factor is. I understand that Apple filed a patent for the click wheel with an illustration showing it as part of a computer mouse.

[Neuro]

Perhaps Apple will be first out of the gate with a wireless firewire link between an iMac base unit and detachable screen - the screen unit could be very light and cool as the cpu will be in the base unit. There's quite a buzz about wireless video at the moment, so this would be fantastic, as tablet PCs have always been underpowered for the money. Play your games, surf the web, control airtunes etc on maybe even a touch-screen?....

The problem with Windows tablets was people just didn't know what they could do with them, whereas Apple seems to have put all those bits in place to provide a nice rounded multi-media / home entertainment solution.

Let's face it, the iMac needs an edge to be competative and the rumoured specs released today aren't enough to justify the wait, so there must be more to the new iMac...

I'd be absolutely amazed if it was just a revised 'iLamp' iMac.

[Porchland]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/13/apple_tablet_mac/

And the sketch appears to have an iPod dock connector.

Assuming that (a) that little square thing is an iPod dock connector and (b) the drawing is to scale, this thing is about 5.75 by 8.25 inches, about .625 inch thick, with about a 10 inch diagonal display

Nothing could be sweeter than Steve Jobs talking up the new iPod, announcing a few new countries for iTMS, unveiling the new iMac, previewing a new killer app from Tiger on said iMac and then saying "there's one more thing." That place would go crazy.

[trip]

IFIIFI FI FII F IFI F II FIFI FI I FII FIFIIIIFIFIF I FI FI FI FI f

IFIF

This tablet comes out artists the world around will chear!

I have a pc windows tablet, I had to buy it since Apple was not going to make one. On first work with alias sketchbook I would all power over art work and the computer. The tablet Instant feedback of pokeing the screen was MaD H@ppy POW3R!

The ONLY problem with the tablet is the fact that it is a windows OS so everything is weird and ugly GUI design and missing apps and candy of apple.

So when I F IF IF IFI Fi Apple brings it out they will have me sold. Unless it is 3000 BA! It better not be ! Mine was 1200. I don't want to pay any more then that , they are just a labtop with a wacom tablet under the screen.

[Nicky G]

All I know is, I've been waiting for an Apple tablet computer (not wireless dumb terminal) for years now -- something that could double as a passable desktop-ish hyper-portable if you add keyboard + mouse (Bluetooth of course). Have a little stand so can just prop up the LCD if you want. I'd probably pay up to a grand for such a beaut'. It would have to at least be a 1GHz+ G4 w/ up to 1GB ram on a single SO-DIMM, 40/60GB HD, 8" 800x600 (or preferably 9 or 10 inch 1024x768) display, fw400, USB, Airport Extreme, Bluetooth. Touchscreen of course, w/ stylus. A microphone and speaker and camera would be sick. For all of those options, I would pay over a grand. I think a lot of folks would

You could almost combine the iBook and iMac lines, offering a variety of sizes and options. You want really small? Give up your optical drive, shrink the screen, no built-in keyboard.

Bah. I've been saying this for so long now, I can't imagine this finally being the time. But maybe that's when it'll happen, who knows.

It is sort of weird how these tablet and iMac rumors dropped in quick succession. Maybe they are hinting at the same general principle, a new direction they are taking their consumer products in? I wish.

[jvaska]

It's probably been said a few times already...

What is the problem with the iMac? When it dies you have to throw out a perfectly good monitor.

Not if you have a detachable monitor however, which is what I believe this is. And, I bet it will play video streamed via an iPod.

Just my guess...v

[spankalee]

The article said that it was filed in may but was not made public till this week of this year. I also remember jobs saying they developed a PDA device but canned it, i just dont remember when he said that.

Man this is one of the biggest myths in recent Apple history...

Steve NEVER said that Apple had developed a PDA. He only said that he was proud of the products they released, and some products they didn't release, such as a PDA. This is probably better intrepreted as Steve saying that he's proud that Apple did not release a PDA. Either way there's no implication that Apple ever developed a PDA, it's clearer stated the second way.

It's certainly possible that Apple did develop a PDA, and Steve didn't say that Apple hadn't developed, one, but he certinaly didn't say they did develop one.

[ericdano]

The windows XP tablet is next to worthless. Frankly the only area that really benefits that much from tablet technology is health care ... a tablet is a nice thing to have for a doctor making his rounds.

With 2% market share for PC I can't imagine Apple actually wanting to get into such a small market ...

Is this the sort of thing people where saying about Apple producing a Mp3 player......which we all know now as the iPod?

[ericdano]

Moving over some details from other thread...

Assuming that (a) that little square thing is an iPod dock connector and (b) the drawing is to scale, this thing is about 5.75 by 8.25 inches, about .625 inch thick, with about a 10 inch diagonal display.

I don't think it's a Mac or PDA, but something more specialized.

What about some sort of REMOTE for iTunes? Something that can access your iTunes, via Airport Express or something, and lets you see and select what songs you want to play. That would be very cool I think.

[ericdano]

I doubt this is a tablet in the traditional sense -- my guess is that it's more a "wireless home media display", a remote way to watch streamed video, look at photos, and control iTunes. Think of it as the remote control for your digital hub.

Yeah, I agree. That is what I think it is. It might also double as some sort of PDA that is hooked up via iSync to Address book, email, etc....

[indar20]

it looks like the Thin Client is finally about to arrive (and only 10 years late!). I think this device could be huge--it could change the way we use computers. I think it will become, essentially a media Hub for the WiFi equipped. Lets say this will have a 60gb hd: you could have all your music and photos stored on this device, and (using the sharing features already in iTunes and iPhoto) you could access them from the different computers and stereos and printers on the same WiFi network. On top of that i imagine this device will run a limited number of non-CPU-intensive apps (word processing, web-browsing, instant messaging, calendar, mail--essentially 95% of peoples' needs). if you can connect a keyboard i will buy it without hesitation.

[fixyourthinking]

On the eve of the introduction of the 3G iPod, MacWhispers also had information regarding the production of a white plastic base with these dimensions, causing many tablet rumors. In the same article, the site detailed the construction of a combination firewire/USB2.0 cable, which turned out to be correct, and, though I don't recall it with as much detail, I believe also predicted the iPod base and 3G button arrangement.

So it seems that there may have been some legitamacy there.

Unfortunately apple doesn't sell everything they patent.. we're never going to see the snake-arm imac (thank god).

As Nagromme already pointed out, MacWhispers was just a front of made up rumors in one of Jack Campbell's "take advantage of the Mac Community" scams. Not only did Jack post a bad review of their competitors product, but it was praised on his other sites and in forums by him. Further, Jack developed products for the PowerMate and stole ideas from Griffin and it's sister company Marathon while visiting there (nearby)

The iPod cable, that ended up being one of the only accuracies on the site, may have been stolen information from Griffin headquarters as pointed out in a few forums around the internet.

I believe you give too much credit to fictional prognostication. I think I can easily say Apple will one day release a G5 PowerBook with a TV tuner. If I had a rumors site, posted that, and it took 4 years for it to come true, wow, I was right.

Catch Me If You Can Pt II: The True Story Behind MacMice (http://adzoox.com/catchIV.html)

[fixyourthinking]

Man this is one of the biggest myths in recent Apple history...

Steve NEVER said that Apple had developed a PDA. He only said that he was proud of the products they released, and some products they didn't release, such as a PDA. This is probably better intrepreted as Steve saying that he's proud that Apple did not release a PDA. Either way there's no implication that Apple ever developed a PDA, it's clearer stated the second way.

It's certainly possible that Apple did develop a PDA, and Steve didn't say that Apple hadn't developed, one, but he certinaly didn't say they did develop one.


You should listen to the conference call again. He did say Apple built several things, but chose not to release them. Then followed with a very cryptic statement to the affect that Apple had lots of new products in the pipeline yet to come.

[Porchland]

It's probably been said a few times already...

What is the problem with the iMac? When it dies you have to throw out a perfectly good monitor.

Not if you have a detachable monitor however, which is what I believe this is. And, I bet it will play video streamed via an iPod.

Just my guess...v

All signs point to yes. It just makes sense that the killer app of the iMac -- assuming the currently rumored specs to be more or less correct -- would be portability of the monitor. Otherwise, it's just a G5 in a new form factor.

[Porchland]

Yeah, I agree. That is what I think it is. It might also double as some sort of PDA that is hooked up via iSync to Address book, email, etc....

I suspect active contact via Randevous rather than iSync.

[narco]

It's probably been said a few times already...

What is the problem with the iMac? When it dies you have to throw out a perfectly good monitor.

Not if you have a detachable monitor however, which is what I believe this is. And, I bet it will play video streamed via an iPod.

Just my guess...v

I've never known anyone that had a computer just "die" and then they just "throw it away". I still have the original iMac and it's still running smoothly; if something goes out on it, I can just replace the faulty part. Who would throw it out?

.narco

[BWhaler]

Here's what it will look like...right?

http://i2.ebayimg.com/03/i/02/49/c0/c9_1.JPG

Man alive, this is one funny post. Good form ol' chap.

[BWhaler]

Man this is one of the biggest myths in recent Apple history...

Steve NEVER said that Apple had developed a PDA. He only said that he was proud of the products they released, and some products they didn't release, such as a PDA. This is probably better intrepreted as Steve saying that he's proud that Apple did not release a PDA. Either way there's no implication that Apple ever developed a PDA, it's clearer stated the second way.

It's certainly possible that Apple did develop a PDA, and Steve didn't say that Apple hadn't developed, one, but he certinaly didn't say they did develop one.

This is absolutely correct.

I was at the D Conference and heard Steve say this first hand. Hell, I was sitting 10 feet from the guy. The rumor sites got it dead wrong.

Steve was asked what products he was most proud of. And after mentioning a few, he said he was also proud of products they didn't do. A PDA was one. He went on to say they were smart enough at Apple to know the PDA market was dying and didn't invest in it.

Later that day, every site on the planet was reporting that Apple had a PDA but didn't release it.

It's simply not what Steve said.

[BWhaler]

It's definitely not a patent for a tablet Mac.

Steve at the D conference was asked point-blank about doing a mac tablet.

He said no way, and all you really needed to do was look at how badly tablet PC's were selling to see why Apple has no interest in making one.

Walt Mossberg who had interviewed Bill Gates the night before commented that while Bill acknowledged that tablet sales were really bad, he was patient.

Jobs poked fun at Bill saying it was, "always mañana, mañana, mañana with Bill."

Steve went on to say Apple research showed people want keyboards for input. It's why PDA's are 99% output by users, and also why tablets are failing.

----
So, what do I think it is?

Simple. The missing living room remote.

Look at your ical, addressbook (but that'll be in Tiger.) Until then, we'll drive iTunes, iPhoto and your home electronics.

Also, I think we will not see this until at least January. Apple likes to trademark and patent WAY before the product is released.

But I would buy it in a second if this comes out at the end of the month.

God, I really hope the Paris Expo has the WOW factor that was missing from the January Expo and from Apple in general this year.

[fixyourthinking]

This is absolutely correct.

I was at the D Conference and heard Steve say this first hand. Hell, I was sitting 10 feet from the guy. The rumor sites got it dead wrong.

Steve was asked what products he was most proud of. And after mentioning a few, he said he was also proud of products they didn't do. A PDA was one. He went on to say they were smart enough at Apple to know the PDA market was dying and didn't invest in it.

Later that day, every site on the planet was reporting that Apple had a PDA but didn't release it.

It's simply not what Steve said.


But it was brought back up during the financial call, where he said Apple DID create a PDA and never released it.

[unsigned]

So, what do I think it is?

Simple. The missing living room remote.

Look at your ical, addressbook (but that'll be in Tiger.) Until then, we'll drive iTunes, iPhoto and your home electronics.


That might be cool, but why limit it to that? Alot of people say that the problem with the LCD remote is that you have you look down at it to use it - can't just finger the buttons.

How about also running all of tiger's widgets, and sherlock? something that would actually pay to carry around with you - useful little software apps that replace or augment your daily life? A mobile (like, on a digital phone network) Sherlock seems like it would be the ultimate information appliance to me.

But I guess that's what a PDA is, isn't it?

[morkintosh]

I personally have been waiting for something like this for a couple of years now. The closest I have seen to what I want is a Samsung Nexio, but it's not close enough, and pretty pricey. An 8" screen would be perfect.

All that stuff is jazzy, but for my two cents:

... is a nice remote control for my air port express with air tunes.

This might (assuming it sees the light of day) fit the bill.

[bviz2]

When bluetooth keyboards and mice started coming out I stated to a friend that I would love to see Apple put the guts of my PowerBook into the display, with a touch screen and a compact and transportable bluetooth keyboard with a pointing device.

Maybe a hinged tray to hold the removable keyboard... It would hold the keyboard to serve as a laptop and a stand when using it as a desktop with a detached keyboard.

When I only needed to check my calendar, or surf the web via WiFi, the touch screen would be adequate.

When I want to use it as my desktop replacement the disconnected keyboard woudl be nice.

It has been a while since I played around with MacOS X's hand writing recognition, but when I did it didn't seem too bad. I don't know if it has evolved any since then. ... Where is that old wacom tablet ....

.... oh well ... time will tell what Apple plans to do with this patent (if anything).

[HasanDaddy]

if Apple made a PDA or Tablet, I would buy both!

[sdf]

Not sure if anyone else has seen this but the register has an interesting article on a new apple tablet/wireless display.

New wireless display/tablet? (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/13/apple_tablet_mac/)

published this morning.

I would buy one if the price were right. But I'd prefer this technology be intergrated with the full-size Powerbook at some point.

[djdrah]

The tablet didn't work for anyone else, why would it work for Apple?

I think it'll work the same way one MP3 Player Manufacture couldn't get it right until Apple whipped out it's iPod and dominated that market. Someone's got to do it right, then it'll take off. PCs inherently can't get anything right, we all know that.

[tmornini]

I think this will be a Home iPod.

Likely running, OS X lite, at least Aqua lite.

WiFi to talk to Airport Express. Hard drive to store music.

Looks good on the coffee table.

Runs something much closer to iTunes.

Definitely allows iTunes Music Store purchases.

If they put in an FM tuner, it replaces your home stereo components (short of amp and speakers) with something clearly next generation. Truly a paradigm shift.

Has a dock connector for syncing to your computer for backup.

Keep it simple. Apple could sell a lot of these at the right price. And they could sell a lot of music with them as well.

$600? Oh, boy, could Apple sell a lot of these for $600! Even $800 would work.

[bradburn]

Has anyone thought the new Flat monitors apple just came out with would make super HDTV's? What if this "Wireless Display" is an HDTV that you can stream music and video to from your Mac?
It'd be silly to think Apple would go for the tablet market. Its a dead market for another 4 years.. Why not open lateral markets in consumer appliances that don't require the ever so difficult "switch-to-mac" paradigm... especially a consumer market that capitalizes on Apple's superior Display technology.

I would be curious to see iPod sales prior to being Windows compatible and after....
I would be curious to see iTunes sales prior and after.
Avoiding the windows world all together is what got them 5% market share...

[BakedBeans]

I think this will be a Home iPod.

Likely running, OS X lite, at least Aqua lite.

WiFi to talk to Airport Express. Hard drive to store music.

Looks good on the coffee table.

Runs something much closer to iTunes.

Definitely allows iTunes Music Store purchases.

If they put in an FM tuner, it replaces your home stereo components (short of amp and speakers) with something clearly next generation. Truly a paradigm shift.

Has a dock connector for syncing to your computer for backup.

Keep it simple. Apple could sell a lot of these at the right price. And they could sell a lot of music with them as well.

$600? Oh, boy, could Apple sell a lot of these for $600! Even $800 would work.

heres to hoping, i would really like some thing that can stay on the coffee table that i can access a full range of music (especially if it syncs with my main computer) it would be great if it had the portability to drag it round the house or out in the garden and listen to music or do whatever....

i suppose we will just have to wait and see...

maybe the paris expo will make up for the slightly disappointing wwdc

[Xgreed]

I really think that this is a remote display for Macs, PCs and iPods:

At home it is a wifi VNC viewer for any Mac/PC discoverable via Rendezvous.

On the go it is a wired display for your iPod. (Remember, 4G iPods have a rumored hidden feature). Think about the silhouette advertisments with another wire from the iPod to this new viewer!

[toughboy]

I dont know why but a PDA sounds more feasible to me.. I'd love to carry it all around and use it for daily stuff.. I'd love to see small versions of iApps and use them when I'm away from home and that would make me not to carry my powerbook 12" everywhere...

Imagine.. I could schedule myself with iCalPDA, plug in my Canon S50 and transfer files, look them with iPhotoPDA, listen music if I want just like I do with my iPod or even watch divx!.. that could be great with something priced something lower than 700-800 bucks..

I want Newton back..

[svenas1]

As compelling as an iMac with a detachable screen might seem, here's one reason why I think Apple won't make one:

consider the situation where someone has been using the screen as a tablet somewhere in the house. Cool, pretty nice. On the sofa or terrace or where ever.

Now, you go to your desk, want to use your iMac but: the screen ain't there! Bummer, now yu have to hunt it all over the place, check where someone who used it a minute ago left it. Major pita, I say.

[Abstract]

I also have a similar thought.

There's plenty of reports that Apple wants to add a remote for AirPort Express. A tablet could it.

But this tablet isn't really a computer. It's more of a remote, as you said. It'll only have a few core apps. Preferably, I'd like to see Safari, iTunes, QuickTime, iPhoto, Address Book, iCal, iSync, and a program for scribbling notes. These mini apps are extensions of existing apps. Hook up to your Airport Express/Extreme/regular network and surf the web, look at photos, control AirTunes, play movies, check out your address books, check your calendar and jot a few notes all on one tablet. Use iSync to sync your Mac and iPod to it all. When it's not in use, it doubles as a digital picture frame.

I can see Steve Jobs saying, this new tablet is an extension of your Mac.

Make it sub-$800, and I'm in.

This new device will be like a "video iPod" that everyone speaks of, but really isn't.

This device will act as a wireless way to use your home base computer, say the new iMac, allow control of iTunes over AirTunes/Airport Express, allow you to view photos from iPhoto, video from iMovies with a similar accessibility that AirTunes gives to songs on iTunes, along with internet access. Essentially, it's a video device, but much more. Instead of just storing some movies and allowing you to watch on a 2" screen, it'll allow you to stream audio and video from your base computer to this new "tablet". It'll also come with one of the 60GB Harddrives from Hitachi that Apple didn't put into the latest generation of the iPod. Apple said that a 60GB HDD wasn't really needed in an iPod, but it would be great for different, non-existing device. This IS the new device. The HDD would allow you to save video, cache and cookies, and allow it to use it for virtual memory on board the device while still remaining small.

This won't JUST be a remote for iTunes. Why buy such a remote at such a ridiculous cost? This will be much much more.

[billyboy]

I really think that this is a remote display for Macs, PCs and iPods:

At home it is a wifi VNC viewer for any Mac/PC discoverable via Rendezvous.

On the go it is a wired display for your iPod. (Remember, 4G iPods have a rumored hidden feature). Think about the silhouette advertisments with another wire from the iPod to this new viewer!

I agree with your suggestion, because no way is a conventional all in one PDA from Apple going to happen. The Steve Jobs philosophy, which is diametrically opposed to Bill Gates all in one gadgetry approach, is for standalone Apple devices that work absolutely brilliantly on their own merits. Then you link each device to other Apple products very easily via software which just seems to work. Extend the home Mac/PC to include Xserves in education, and your solution would rock.

The main reason Apple would be crazy to do a variation on a standard all in one PDA is that if you are going to dish out a few hundred on a portable screen it has to be more useful than just being a remote control for iTunes or a neat way of viewing your photos in the kitchen. Also to go beyond a PDA of today it has to have options for inputting text and be more powerful than handheld PDAs, yet be convenient. You have to be able to do things you cant do now, which means that to be oh so Apple, it has to be a portable window on a full blown OSX. The wireless screen/iPod/server solution wouldnt kill the need for laptops because you would be restricted to wherever a server was, and it would increase the demand for Mac desktops in the home because the integration would be seamless and be geared somehow to have more options thasn would be available linking to a PC.

So whatever the screen is like, conventional lcd or a touch screen/wacom type tablet so you have the option to use a pen to take notes on it, or whether it is a standalone wireless screen, or maybe the wireless screen from an iMac, it wouldnt have HDs or processors and gubbins stapled to the back. And it would definitely be part of a solution that included the iPod to take that device onto the next level.

[Montserrat]

Don't know if anyone has already pointed this out, but Salling Clicker plus a bluetooth device makes a pretty good remote control for my "Digital Hub". Using it on my Tungsten T2 gets people really interested and it is very convenient for when I'm using iTunes/DVD player.
However, add some Apple design genius and a little bit of OS X and some WiFi and this baby could be the Dog's Bollocks. Knowing Apple they'd add some kick ass features - I'd like to see some Bluetooth features with phone/PDAs similar to the way OS X already does and some iPod features would make me go out immediately and buy a 4G iPod and one of these babies.

[Squire]

There are a few rumors here that could be referring to the same thing.

1) There might be something related to the removable screen/iMac rumor from a little while back.
2) There's this tablet rumor.
3) Then, there's this thread: (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=83647&page=1&pp=25) It refers to the possibility of a totally new machine being introduced.

I don't know...maybe they're related.

Squire

[visor]

Remember Steve giving a wry smile when he has been asked about airtunes and that it would be a bit of a drag to always run to the computer to control it?

Well, this is what he was thinking about when choose to stay quiet. Probably a Mac inside, with tablet qualities, primarely used to control your media computers which are in turn streaming music and other stuff to other equipment.

It will have bluetooth, so you can effortlessly attach mouse and keyboard, airport extreme, so you can access all your data with good speed.
So it will be a tablet , can be used as one - but the real gain is to use it as a remote for your household. maybe we'll see some other peripherals doing god knows what in the house - reporting their status to that thing.

[Iggy]

Remember those iPod "hidden features," and "the imac and detatchable screen are one in the same" hoo-ha? Remember the rumours that 4gen iPods were going to have some sort of video-out? Notice the G5 iMac specs say even the lowest-range one has Airport Extreme built in? The tiny Hitachi 60Gb drive? The one about the G5 iMac having all its bits on the back of the screen? It seems pretty obvious to me what's going on here.

[fixyourthinking]

I think this will be a Home iPod.

Likely running, OS X lite, at least Aqua lite.

WiFi to talk to Airport Express. Hard drive to store music.

Looks good on the coffee table.

Runs something much closer to iTunes.

Definitely allows iTunes Music Store purchases.

If they put in an FM tuner, it replaces your home stereo components (short of amp and speakers) with something clearly next generation. Truly a paradigm shift.

Has a dock connector for syncing to your computer for backup.

Keep it simple. Apple could sell a lot of these at the right price. And they could sell a lot of music with them as well.

$600? Oh, boy, could Apple sell a lot of these for $600! Even $800 would work.

A lot of people complain that the iPod should have an FM tuner and also say Apple should release a TV/FM tuner or wish ATI would give us an ALL in Wonder.

People leave AM out of the question. At least in the US, this where all the News Radio and Talk Radio is - I wonder why audio gadget companies seem to think listening to audio is only about recording speech, listening to audio books, listening to music, but not listening to news and talkradio?

All Tuners should be AM/FM - please stop leaving out the AM. This is going to be the true advantage to the Griffin RadioShark. [which is due any day now, I have a preproduction sample - works great]

Is it a conspiracyto leave out AM?

[zed2]

All Tuners should be AM/FM - please stop leaving out the AM. This is going to be the true advantage to the Griffin RadioShark. [which is due any day now, I have a preproduction sample - works great]

Is it a conspiracyto leave out AM?

AM stucks... It's mono for a start.. In the UK we have DAB digital Radio, why would you want to include an old Dead technology in a new fancy product, now build a DAB transmitter in there and WOW!!.. I don't think that I've tuned any of my radios to AM in the last 3 years..only did it before because my student radio station was on AM..

I have both audio books and music on my iPod but I always want to hear it in the best possible quality even when I'm on the road.

Including AM is like building a G5 Mac and using it on 10Base-2 (Coax) networks, or AppleTalk (the 2 wire pre ethernet thing)...It's not a nice thing to do and will detract heavily from the products full potential..

---Zed :cool:

[Chip NoVaMac]

Everyone's saying there's no market for a Tablet Mac and the success would be similar to that of the TabletPC;

Just remember what was said about the iPod when it was first introduced, now look at it...

And remember the 4G iPods have secret features to be exploited.

[reyesmac]

Well, at least we know Apple is thinking of such a device. Heres my wishlist for it:

Ability to run its own OS.
Ability to view and control the screen of any Airport compatible computer.
Rubberized grips to make holding it better.
It should come with a professional stylus pen, not a piece of plastic.
It needs to be made of the best scratch resistant plastic available.
It needs to have great speakers and the ability to run the sound through Airport Express.
It needs to have AV out.

From the pictures I saw I won't be getting my hopes up. This looks like its just an extension of the new iMac G5. Once we have had the iMac out for a year this thing wont seem so revolutionary. Now, if they make it and charge less than an eMac for it I will have to think about getting one.

[iMeowbot]

Steve NEVER said that Apple had developed a PDA. He only said that he was proud of the products they released, and some products they didn't release, such as a PDA.
Right. The Appleinsider report of the D: conference left the idea that Apple had actually developed a new PDA up to interpretation, and reports based only on the AI story embellished it into an actual PDA that had been developed and cancelled at the last minute.

It's all bogus, and the real transcript is here (http://online.wsj.com/article_email/0,,SB108716565680435835-IRjfYNolaV3nZyqaHmHcKmGm4,00.html).

Mossberg: What's your favorite thing you've not done?

Jobs: A PDA. We got enormous pressure to do a PDA and we looked at it and we said, "Wait a minute, 90% of the people that use these things just want to get information out of them, they don't necessarily want to put information into them on a regular basis and cellphones are going to do that." So getting into the PDA market means getting into the cellphone market. And you know, we're not so good at selling to the enterprise where you've got, in the Fortune 500, five hundred orifices called CIOs. In the cellphone market you've got five. And so we figured we're not going to be very good at that.

[iMeowbot]

Is it a conspiracyto leave out AM?
It's a conspiracy to keep devices small =) For AM reception you require a very long antenna. Open up any AM-capable radio and you'll find a big bulky core with a winding on it, that's the antenna.

With FM you can use with a much smaller wire or rod, but it still doesn't get very good reception unless you go with a longer piece of metal. That's why the really tiny FM radios tend to provide lousy sound.

[el greenerino]

I'd use it.

[PBGPowerbook]

Imagine this ...
Imagine no book bags! Just an iPod in your pocket!

mmm maybe you've been out of college a little too long. Why would this (absurd) scheme alleviate the need to carry textbooks?

[Chip NoVaMac]

I had looked at the TR series from Sony. I would love a iPad, for work and play. At home, being able to check and respond to email and websurf on something smaller than my PB 12". Something portable that I could take to the office and go wi-fi with, having a BT keyboard and mouse. that would stay in the office. Yet allow me to go into a meeting and have spreadsheets, word docs, and my InDesign docs available. Slowness in that area would not be an issue.

[Chip NoVaMac]

mmm maybe you've been out of college a little too long. Why would this (absurd) scheme alleviate the need to carry textbooks?

I can see textbooks being on a server. You still pay for the book, but it would be in the PDF format. DRM could help prevent pirating.

[Frobozz]

If they release a tablet style computer, I seriously doubt that it would be like the fare the Wintel world knows. Personally, I think they have a great line on a thin client. I've always wanted one, because I would only need to buy one nice desktop that could be accessed from anywhere.

If it's a think client I'm down with the idea. If it's just another tablet style PC... well, I guess Apple would do it better than anyone else but I am skeptical. :-)

[nagromme]

I don't believe a word of this new device, but who cares, it's been a while since some really out-there rumor has escaped Cupertino. Let's enjoy it while we can :)

Now I'm dying to go back and read why AM radio has become a desired feature of the device :D

(And since we're there.... I think all radios should play TV audio! Very few do. I'd use that more than AM/FM on a portable player.)

[unsigned]

I don't think anyone has mentioned this yet...

Imagine if the guts of an entire desktop PC could be squished into something hardly bigger than a PDA.. it could have a rack-and-pinion mounted thumb keyboard underneath that slides forward smoothly when you want to type. It could also use a pen in the traditional PDA manner. It would have a full color screen, a hard drive, Firewire, usb, bluetooth, wifi, all built in. And still have decent battery life. and most of all, it runs a regular, full fledged, desktop OS - not crippled in any way. It might be more expensive than a regular laptop, but you pay a price for the size.

And Apple could be first to market! Er, uhm, darn. (http://www.oqo.com)

[iMeowbot]

When filing for design patents, the party filing will sometimes disquise or simplfy the actual device to keep others from knowing exactly what the final form factor is. I understand that Apple filed a patent for the click wheel with an illustration showing it as part of a computer mouse.
For device patents (wher there's an actual invention involved) it is common for the illustrations to bear little resemblance to the product in which the invention appears. That was the case with the click wheel.

For design patents, on the other hand, the appearance is what is being protected, so the picture does have to look like the real product. (The whole reason for design patents is that copyright law doesn't cover devices; the reasoning for that was to keep copyrights and patents separate, but without the special design patents there would be no general coverage for industrial design art).

[zed2]

I don't think anyone has mentioned this yet...

And Apple could be first to market! Er, uhm, darn. (http://www.oqo.com)

The oqo is such a cool device.. I would buy one today if not yesterday if only it did not run windows! :(

---Zed :cool:

[BornAgainMac]

A tablet is more of a Apple like product than a Microsoft product. I can see it not being as popular for the Windows crowd. They love their keyboards and more importantly that they will only use what everyone else uses.

[nmk]

I, for one, think the world lost something really valuable when Apple discontinued the Newton. Someone mentioned, in an earlier post, that this sort of a device needs a killer application. Well, I think that Apple had this killer application with the Newton ten years ago. How about an easy to use, easy to understand, digital notepad. The Newton is one of the most useful devices I have ever owned. When I was at University it replaced my pen and paper. Nothing since has been able to do that for me. Thats why I continued to use the Newton even as newer devices started coming on the market.

All the PDA's after the Newton were simply too small, and the interfaces too clunky, to work effectively as a notepad. The Laptop has now become standard issue for most students in university. However, I think it is a highly compromised device for the purpose of note-taking. When you're sitting in an economics class, your professor will typically write text as well as draw diagrams on the board. Ok, so most modern word processors will let you insert hand drawn graphics in your document. But how much of a pain in the ass is that. The Newton was designed for this kind of use. You could use its superb handwriting recognition to input text, and then seamlessly switch to freehand graphics mode and insert graphics. The text and graphics would be formatted exactly where you placed them. If one of you had actually used the Newton the way I did, you would understand.

If this can incorporate the functions that the Newton had, as well as well as a host of new applications that have become possible with the advancement in technology, I think it would make a great device for students. A lot of people, back in the day, used the Newton as a substitute for a full fledged computer. If all you want to to is check email, use a word processor, and browse the web, a modern Newton would be all you would need. Of course, it can have other applications as well, but I think that the time has come for THE RETURN OF THE DIGITAL NOTEPAD.

[billyboy]

I don't think anyone has mentioned this yet...

Imagine if the guts of an entire desktop PC could be squished into something hardly bigger than a PDA.. it could have a rack-and-pinion mounted thumb keyboard underneath that slides forward smoothly when you want to type. It could also use a pen in the traditional PDA manner. It would have a full color screen, a hard drive, Firewire, usb, bluetooth, wifi, all built in. And still have decent battery life. and most of all, it runs a regular, full fledged, desktop OS - not crippled in any way. It might be more expensive than a regular laptop, but you pay a price for the size.

And Apple could be first to market! Er, uhm, darn. (http://www.oqo.com)

If u see the video link, showing the development of computer sizes, it is very impressive how they can fit a full computer into the OQO, but they lost a bit of credibility when they were showing a guy on a motorbike with full size gloves typing on the ultra mini keyboard.

[seyo]

I think if they can make these things for ~$450, there may just be a market.

dude, the ipod costs that much. if they do make this its gonna be much more than that knowing apple.

[Flowbee]

mmm maybe you've been out of college a little too long. Why would this (absurd) scheme alleviate the need to carry textbooks?

...and how long before your iPod screen was covered in hi-litghter?? :D

[seyo]

They are going to release a new iMac that has all of the guts built into the back of the display. The display (and guts) are going to be detachable from the frame so that the iMac will BECOME a tablet computer if/when you want it to be.

Makes sense in theory, BUT, this "thing" only has at most a 10" screen. The iMacs have 15" screens and up, so I think this is not the right answer.

[dpbjr]

Imagine this ...

A low cost tablet type computer with NO hard drive. Just Screen, CPU, & RAM, and wireless keyboard. Well perhaps a small 4 gig HD for embeded OS X. This devise could sell for $699 for a 15 inch LCD.

Your iPod IS the hard drive! The iPod contains and all your digital files, home folder, Applications, and settings. The screen/tablet is just there mostly as a screen.

senario ... Imagine listening to your iPod while driving to work. you hook up your iPod to a low cost tablet/screen at work and logging on with your name and password. Work on your projects using the iPod as storage. Once done at work, go home and hook your iPod to the low cost screen at home.

It sounds like the future to me, an iPod future. Carry all your digital life with you. Panther was going to incorporate this type of feature but Apple held the concept back, perhaps for this bigger, mature vision.

Imagine every college student with an iPod connecting to low cost Apple tablet Screens all over campus. Colleges and schools will love the low cost computer screens. While students pay $299-$399 for a kick ass MP4 player and document storage system. Imagine no book bags! Just an iPod in your pocket!

I can see Apple moving everyone to a liberating mobile computing experience. It's not the CPU that's important it's the files and documents that make up your digital life!!!


Using the iPod as the host device or primary hard drive...I thought about this too. Could this possibly be one the "hidden" features to the G4 iPods? It sure would create some unique up-sell / cross-selling opportunities for Apple. If you buy a G4 iPod you'll be lusting after (or at least be thinking about) the companion iPad/Tablet thingy and if you like the iPad/Tablet thingy you read about in Home Theater or Sound & Vision magazine then you'll definitely want/need one the new G4 iPods to go with it! Something like the Philips iPronto http://www.consumer.philips.com/global/b2c/ce/catalog/product.jhtml;jsessionid=V4F1HJGQVNKDJJ0RMRCRX2VHKFSESHAW?divId=0&groupId=CONVENIENCE_GR&catId=REMOTE_CONTROLS_CA&subCatId=PRONTO_REMOTE_CONTROLS_SU&productId=TSI6400 but cheaper and with more computer functionality/integration would be awesome. Hey, while you're at it might as well pick up a new G5 iMac too!

If they can pull this off at the right price they would have another winner on their hands like iPod, and a new product category with mass market appeal.

[rand()]

mmm maybe you've been out of college a little too long. Why would this (absurd) scheme alleviate the need to carry textbooks?

I've heard of a few colleges that make books available as eBooks on CD-ROM. With a wireless link to this device, you could fairly easily concieve of a "Tablet" - I prefer Personal Access Display Device (PADD (http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/library/technology/article/70189.html). iPADD? :p ) - that holds a few years' worth of class's books.

With an 8" viewable screen, I'd say the page size @ full screen would be roughly that of a paperback novel, which is on the small side; but given easy-to-use searching and page navigation functions, it could be extremely workable. If the display used the new-to-market 'Digital Ink,' the physical aspect while reading could be made to feel quite natural, as well. Plus the ability to highlight/annotate - without wrecking a physical copy - would make a superb functional device, if you ask me.

Now, I know there are physical devices similar to this already out there, but with the "Apple Touch," this could really take off as a viable thing. But, it smacks of becoming a specialized device, and Digital Ink would be impractical for real video applications.

Just my 2 cents.

-rand()

[corywoolf]

If you think about it... apple will need to come out with a new appleworks before it can release a tablet. I think it will be released in January, because the powerbooks will become the tablets. Possibly a ibook will do it too. But i can see it already. " New G5 PowerBook with tablet functionality..." It will most likely be a swivel screen powerbook. I could see this maybe just for the 12" powerbook and the 12" ibook. Because anyone who can take a 17in. powerbook with them, can surely take a graphire ( or what ever the name of those virtual paper things are). I don't think the iMac will have this function though. I think we will see the release of the 60 gig iPod with wifi functionality, and the killer app... a mobile music store, along with internet radio. I think it will serve as a test to see if it does well, and if wifi is the answer. Then if it does do well, they will add it to the rest of them. Thats all for now... :cool:

[corywoolf]

Is it possible that resellers have been notified that a new product is on the way?

Why else would CDW suddenly drop the price so much?

I don't think they'd do it for back to school.
:rolleyes:

[MontgomeryBurns]

Using the iPod as the host device or primary hard drive...I thought about this too. Could this possibly be one the "hidden" features to the G4 iPods?
This would work well if used in conjunction with home-on-ipod.

[Chip NoVaMac]

Is it possible that resellers have been notified that a new product is on the way?

Why else would CDW suddenly drop the price so much?

I don't think they'd do it for back to school.
:rolleyes:

That is not for the most recent revision PB....

[cubist]

Remember those iPod "hidden features," and "the imac and detatchable screen are one in the same" hoo-ha? ... 4gen iPods were going to have some sort of video-out? ... The tiny Hitachi 60Gb drive? ... It seems pretty obvious to me what's going on here.

Yeah - people are dreaming about stuff that ain't gonna happen.

[PBGPowerbook]

I can see textbooks being on a server. You still pay for the book, but it would be in the PDF format. DRM could help prevent pirating.

So an Apple gizmo puts all academic printing presses out of business...

NO NO NO. I love a good rumor but this is really ludicrous. You make colleges sound like Camp Macintosh.

[beatle888]

If u see the video link, showing the development of computer sizes, it is very impressive how they can fit a full computer into the OQO, but they lost a bit of credibility when they were showing a guy on a motorbike with full size gloves typing on the ultra mini keyboard.

i think they should develop a keyboard thats on the back of the unite. that way you can hold the device with two hands and in this position your fingers would be around the back of the device naturally, and your thumbs would naturally be holding the unit with them on top. think of holding a closed magazine as you read the cover. now imagine your fingers on the back typing away in that natural position...and you can use your thumbs on a track pad on the front. this would let you securely hold the device and still rapidly enter data. it would have a learning curve but they can base the layout like they do those split keyboards based on ergonomics. the keys could be quit large. actually the whole back could be the keyboard which would be a touch screen keyboard with that new technology that gives the feeling of your finger actually pressing the buttons down. it has touch feedback. on the front viewing screen you could have a trackpad area that you would manipulate with your thumbs as well as some space bar and funtion keys on the front as well...towards the bottom of the screen...that way you wouldnt have the hold the unit with one hand and chicken peck type with one hand. and you wouldnt need to set it down in order to do some fast typing.

[mvc]

i think they should develop a keyboard thats on the back of the unite. that way you can hold the device with two hands and in this position your fingers would be around the back of the device naturally, and your thumbs would naturally be holding the unit with them on top....that way you wouldnt have the hold the unit with one hand and chicken peck type with one hand. and you wouldnt need to set it down in order to do some fast typing.

People have been trying to change the layout of keyboards since QWERTY was introduced, and all have failed. An idea like this is a guaranteed fail as you would effectively have to introduce a new keyboard layout and no one would want to learn it unless they were über geeks.

Some things don't change because they have too much habitual and social inertia. "Window metaphor" based operating systems (OS X included) are an example, 12 digit numeric keypads on phones is another, and the keyboard/mouse input combo is also in that category.

These things stick around far too long, generally slowing the pace of creative development because they do the job (badly) and the alternatives all require a learning curve and are flakey and immature. Then some sleek mature disruptive new technology renders them utterly superfluous (when did you last send a telegram, what happened to DOS?)

I would love to see Windows disruptively replaced before I die, and not by some other Microsoft OS of equal squalor. But, I think Microsoft may outlast me!!!. :p

[o1b2]

This would be nice if it is a wireless touch screen, such as the Wacom Cintiq. As an artist I have used wacoms product and it is great, it works great, artist natural work this way but the problem is when I draw I usally need to have my pad in my lap to feel right. So it would be a nice way to work. well we will see but, I dont really think this will happen because it makes to much since, and apple does adventure into such things much more. But maybe with there pro software line really be pushed out there.

[Mr.Bob]

Maybe the Duke University iPod's being given to incoming Freshmen be a part of this scenario?

If so, the Paris introduction would be spot on and really shock everyone!

[beatle888]

People have been trying to change the layout of keyboards since QWERTY was introduced, and all have failed. An idea like this is a guaranteed fail as you would effectively have to introduce a new keyboard layout and no one would want to learn it unless they were über geeks.




your wrong. it isnt a gauranteed failure. test it out for yourself. take your keyboard or lap top and turn it upside down simulating what i have descriped. now just use one hand since you'll have to hold your keyboard...and try typing a word that you can spell with with just the standard left finger positions....like the word "street". see about for trys at most and you can do it easily. when your talking about small devices you usually have a micro keyboard and that would slow down data entry. once you get use to my idea since it isnt that different from the standard layout (actually its the same its just the hands are in a different position) it will be a breeze to learn. no new fingering to learn, its just your hands are in a different position.

[germ war]

"pursue"
"blatant"

Nitpicking.

[ArticulatedArm]

your wrong. it isnt a gauranteed failure. test it out for yourself. take your keyboard or lap top and turn it upside down simulating what i have descriped. now just use one hand since you'll have to hold your keyboard...and try typing a word that you can spell with with just the standard left finger positions....like the word "street". see about for trys at most and you can do it easily. when your talking about small devices you usually have a micro keyboard and that would slow down data entry. once you get use to my idea since it isnt that different from the standard layout (actually its the same its just the hands are in a different position) it will be a breeze to learn. no new fingering to learn, its just your hands are in a different position.

What if you used voice recognition AND pen input combined?

So imagine you are talking to your computer.. and while you are speaking whenever you touch a word that is dictated with the stylus all the possible words you might have meant would be displayed in the order of probability... so if the wrong word was dictated you could touch the correct word easily... as I imagine it this could be a pretty fast system. Voice recognition was 90 percent accurate the last I heard... so that is only one in 10 words you would need to reselect with a pen.

Another thing I was wondering about just out of curiosity... could someone measure the dock opening on their new iPod and try to guess how large the device in the patent drawing would be if that dock is the same size?

[pozytron]

your wrong. it isnt a gauranteed failure. test it out for yourself. take your keyboard or lap top and turn it upside down simulating what i have descriped. now just use one hand since you'll have to hold your keyboard...and try typing a word that you can spell with with just the standard left finger positions....like the word "street". see about for trys at most and you can do it easily. when your talking about small devices you usually have a micro keyboard and that would slow down data entry. once you get use to my idea since it isnt that different from the standard layout (actually its the same its just the hands are in a different position) it will be a breeze to learn. no new fingering to learn, its just your hands are in a different position.

Surely you must be joking.

[billyboy]

People have been trying to change the layout of keyboards since QWERTY was introduced, and all have failed. An idea like this is a guaranteed fail as you would effectively have to introduce a new keyboard layout and no one would want to learn it unless they were über geeks.

Some things don't change because they have too much habitual and social inertia. "Window metaphor" based operating systems (OS X included) are an example, 12 digit numeric keypads on phones is another, and the keyboard/mouse input combo is also in that category.

These things stick around far too long, generally slowing the pace of creative development because they do the job (badly) and the alternatives all require a learning curve and are flakey and immature. Then some sleek mature disruptive new technology renders them utterly superfluous (when did you last send a telegram, what happened to DOS?)

I would love to see Windows disruptively replaced before I die, and not by some other Microsoft OS of equal squalor. But, I think Microsoft may outlast me!!!. :p

This idea of inertia is spot on. It ties in with the Bill Gates idea of having a small device to do all things that you usually need a fair bit of space for. Just because you can fit a million features into something small, is not a green light to actually do that. It is like selling newspapers with spare notepaper attached. Why not? it is useful to have a bit of blank paper around to take notes of the occasional phone number or web site advertising a killer deal, and you can obviously write on newspaper paper ok. So why not? The reality is, a newspaper is for reading, it is a one way info source.

Anything with keys smaller than a laptop size, is a good info provider, not a comfortable info inputter. Forget conventional keyboard mentality on a diddy all in one device - leave the traditional diddy PDA with "keyboards" to mobile phones where people put up with the limited key size because they use the phone for very limited data input.

For $1000 or more who wants to have an all singing computer with the same data input functionality as a mobile phone?

[fixyourthinking]

your wrong. it isnt a gauranteed failure. test it out for yourself. take your keyboard or lap top and turn it upside down simulating what i have descriped. now just use one hand since you'll have to hold your keyboard...and try typing a word that you can spell with with just the standard left finger positions....like the word "street". see about for trys at most and you can do it easily. when your talking about small devices you usually have a micro keyboard and that would slow down data entry. once you get use to my idea since it isnt that different from the standard layout (actually its the same its just the hands are in a different position) it will be a breeze to learn. no new fingering to learn, its just your hands are in a different position.

You are taking for granted that most people that type - know how to touch type.

I'd say touch typing is either 50% or the minority of typers/computer users. Your proposed interface would alienate that crowd. It's a great idea, just not practical.

[applekid]

This won't JUST be a remote for iTunes. Why buy such a remote at such a ridiculous cost? This will be much much more.

You do make a valid point.

It'll have to be:

- A media tablet with an AirTunes remote as just another part of the media tablet.
- A remote for AirTunes. No frills or thrills. Just that.
- The media tablet is really cheaper than we can imagine and is a fair price for an AirTunes remote and then some.

[stingerman]

If u see the video link, showing the development of computer sizes, it is very impressive how they can fit a full computer into the OQO, but they lost a bit of credibility when they were showing a guy on a motorbike with full size gloves typing on the ultra mini keyboard.
Funny thing is that the OQO was developed by former Apple Engineers who must have left and started their own venture when Steve nixed the idea. The problem with the OQO is the user interface. A handheld device needs a different interface than a notebook. That's one thing they should have learned from the iPod.

That's why the blackberry does so well in the face of all those PocketPCs.

[0 and A ai]

The tablet pc failed because they were marketed toward everyday users. Only people that i've seen use tablets are professionals. Doctors in hospitals and even my doctor in his office and artist. I know a few of my friends prefer drawing on the screen then with the wacom tablet its just easier.

I think this drawing is as mnay of u said an idea that never came to fruition and is there only to protect apple's ideas and if they ever feel like like releasing a tablet they won't have to design one from scratch.

[nmk]

Anything with keys smaller than a laptop size, is a good info provider, not a comfortable info inputter. Forget conventional keyboard mentality on a diddy all in one device - leave the traditional diddy PDA with "keyboards" to mobile phones where people put up with the limited key size because they use the phone for very limited data input.

No, why is this the case. Have we all forgotten about handwriting recognition. One can input text quite quickly with good handwriting recognition. With the Newton, I used to be able to write entire lines at once without any errors. I personally prefer handwriting recognition while taking notes, specially when I'm going to be making diagrams and other graphics (which will often be the case in classes). Also, I type at about 70 wpm+ on my Powerbook. I still think that handwriting recognition is a good input method.

[beatle888]

What if you used voice recognition AND pen input combined?




that would be great. anything to prevent the user from having to put the unit on a surface in order to leave the hands free to type. if it was a touch screen tere could be an on screen keyboard when needed.

[beatle888]

Surely you must be joking.

i never joke with newbies ;)



You are taking for granted that most people that type - know how to touch type.

I'd say touch typing is either 50% or the minority of typers/computer users. Your proposed interface would alienate that crowd. It's a great idea, just not practical.


good point, although i think that percentage is a bit low. i wonder what the solution would be. having to set the unit down in order to free your hands for input seems limiting. lay the tablet down on the table and the screen angle is less than adequate. an alternative could be touch screen navigation and cursor control with voice recognition and touch screen keyboard would make a nice combination. and of course they would have the handwriting recognition as well, since it already exists in osx.

who knows, but it would be a cool device for home system control...and more.

[Bradley W]

_

[717]

I think it will a ipod/ibook thingy, aimed at kids, for email, making notes (inkwell should be easier than typing on a callular), playing music and video, 40Mb HD, wifi for streaming, IR remotecontrol for about $499

:)

[narco]

Sorry if this has been posted, but does anyone know if this has anything to do with it?

http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-adv.html&r=1&p=1&f=G&l=50&d=PG01&S1=20040156192.PGNR.&OS=dn/20040156192&RS=DN/20040156192?tMoJk

... and some interesting images:
http://aiw2.uspto.gov:80/.aiw?Docid=20040156192&homeurl=http%3A%2F%2Fappft1.uspto.gov%2Fnetacgi%2Fnph-Parser%3FSect1%3DPTO2%2526Sect2%3DHITOFF%2526u%3D%25252Fnetahtml%25252FPTO%25252Fsearch-adv.html%2526r%3D1%2526p%3D1%2526f%3DG%2526l%3D50%2526d%3DPG01%2526S1%3D20040156192.PGNR.%2526OS%3Dd n%2F20040156192%2526RS%3DDN%2F20040156192%3FtMoJk&PageNum=&Rtype=&SectionNum=&idkey=49A15B7E1949

.narco

[Colonel Panik]

Sorry if this has been posted, but does anyone know if this has anything to do with it?

http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-adv.html&r=1&p=1&f=G&l=50&d=PG01&S1=20040156192.PGNR.&OS=dn/20040156192&RS=DN/20040156192?tMoJk

... and some interesting images:
http://aiw2.uspto.gov:80/.aiw?Docid=20040156192&homeurl=http%3A%2F%2Fappft1.uspto.gov%2Fnetacgi%2Fnph-Parser%3FSect1%3DPTO2%2526Sect2%3DHITOFF%2526u%3D%25252Fnetahtml%25252FPTO%25252Fsearch-adv.html%2526r%3D1%2526p%3D1%2526f%3DG%2526l%3D50%2526d%3DPG01%2526S1%3D20040156192.PGNR.%2526OS%3Dd n%2F20040156192%2526RS%3DDN%2F20040156192%3FtMoJk&PageNum=&Rtype=&SectionNum=&idkey=49A15B7E1949

.narco

I hate this about patents. It's a bleedin' thesis, an obfuscated one at that.
"Well, you know, this is what we're saying, but it might not be, and what we're saying, might actually be anything at all, you never know. In fact, we don't even know ourselves."

[unsigned]

Apple iMorph

about the size of a paper-back book.
8" diagonal OLED low power, backlit screen
Touch screen or stylus input
40, 60, 80gb 2.5" hard drive
Firewire & Usb 2.0 docking


A content viewer. Uses specially formatted "books", created and organized via a new iLife application, iLibrary. The "books" are actually HTML and javascript files, plus any type of required media, encapsulated into one packet. they have a similar look and feel to Tiger's widgets, with large buttons for easy touch screen use.

The new iLibrary software catalogs these "books" for you, and lets you make new ones by pulling and reformatting internet data, similar to Sherlock. These "Smart books" are created and updated when the iMorph docks with the desktop mac.

"Books" will be made by familiar content providers and sold within the iLibrary application. There will also be an area for users to provide their own custom-made "books".

Some example books could be:

-turn-by-turn driving directions to Tulsa, including this week's construction delays

-An English-French Dictionary

-Today's New York Times

-Movie trailers and times for all movies currently playing within 25 miles

-a checklist of times and dates of all meetings required before closing on a new home, including home inspection results

-Interactive how-to for replacing and installing wainscoting

-Tips for your golf swing, with demo clips of Tiger Woods

-A map of all homes currently on the market, between $125,000 and $150,000, including interactive walk throughs and driving directions

-A calculator

-a Keynote presentation of sales figures, always showing the most recent week's figures

-the last two Widespread Panic concerts

-Restaurant reviews, including menus, of restaurants in the 53202 zipcode, as of last Sunday.

-Last week's episode of "Six Feet Under"

-every email you've ever recieved and sent

-an updated archive of h2g2.com


Laser etched on the back will be a large smiling green blob, giving the thumbs-up sign, under which will be written, "Don't Panic."

[mvc]

i wonder what the solution would be....who knows, but it would be a cool device for home system control...and more.

My original point stands, though I'm sure what you say about typing blind upside down working for the touch-typing crowd is true enough, the vast majority will not change even to a superior technology if it is not so intrinsically superior that it sweeps entire categories of old technology away and becomes essential.

You make this clear when you demonstrate that none of us can actually visualise what the ideal interface for this class of device should be. That's because it probably hasn't been invented yet.

We are at the same stage now with these convergence handheld devices that laptops were in before the trackpad became the standard "mousing" input device.

They originally tried midget trackballs and little joysticks in the middle of the keyboard etc, solutions cribbed from older tech and mutated to fit a new paradigm, but they were half-hearted efforts until the genuinely new and suitable tech of the trackpad came along.

And that doesn't mean that the trackpad is the best solution, it was simply the first true solution that worked properly without a major learning curve or change in habits, and now it has inertia and will be difficut to replace. ;)

[wdlove]

Sorry if this has been posted, but does anyone know if this has anything to do with it?

http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-adv.html&r=1&p=1&f=G&l=50&d=PG01&S1=20040156192.PGNR.&OS=dn/20040156192&RS=DN/20040156192?tMoJk

... and some interesting images:
http://aiw2.uspto.gov:80/.aiw?Docid=20040156192&homeurl=http%3A%2F%2Fappft1.uspto.gov%2Fnetacgi%2Fnph-Parser%3FSect1%3DPTO2%2526Sect2%3DHITOFF%2526u%3D%25252Fnetahtml%25252FPTO%25252Fsearch-adv.html%2526r%3D1%2526p%3D1%2526f%3DG%2526l%3D50%2526d%3DPG01%2526S1%3D20040156192.PGNR.%2526OS%3Dd n%2F20040156192%2526RS%3DDN%2F20040156192%3FtMoJk&PageNum=&Rtype=&SectionNum=&idkey=49A15B7E1949

.narco
"Search time has expired," so can no longer view your post.

[macsrus]

I know Steve isnt going to bring us a PDA... But i sure wish they would add PDA functions to the IPOD

[gensor]

How many times does Steve have to tell you this. It reminds me a a mother telling a child "no candy today" but the child does not seem to hear.

However, it would makes sense to have the following for the home entertainment system:

An iControl the size of a book that functons as a remote control for Stereo through Airport Express, a device that to view pictures with that can be passed around in the living room when grandma and others visit. It does not need to add the funcitons of toaster, iron, cookie cutter, and egg beater. Keep it simple and functional and fresh. Heck, I only play music on my iPOD, I don't even care about those other functions on the iPOD for games, etc.

[macsrus]

How many times does Steve have to tell you this. It reminds me a a mother telling a child "no candy today" but the child does not seem to hear.

That is the whole crux of the problem....
Apple users keep saying we want a PDA...
And Steve keeps saying no....
We are the customers arent we?

And as far as just using your IPOD for music... thats fine for you....
But I use mine as a boot drive to store my servers boot images...i carry diagnostic tools on it... I also store contacts on it... And yes I even use it for music.

[gensor]

marjority of the consumers. I would guess to speculate that the vast majority of iPOD consumers are only using for music. They are not browning their toast with the iPOD. Steve is not going to produce a flat panel TV, a Tivo, a cell phone, or a PDA. Others are doing this and some have done an excellent job. Apple can really add nothing here. This is key: Steve has said that the cell phone is quickly converging to be a phone and PDA. Apple cannot go into that market against those competitors as Apple would get its ass kicked. Completely different market. Listen to what Steve says and does. He a lot smarter than you seem to give him credit for. He really does understand products, markets, consumers as well as very importantly the competitive landscape. Sorry no PDA.

That is the whole crux of the problem....
Apple users keep saying we want a PDA...
And Steve keeps saying no....
We are the customers arent we?

And as far as just using your IPOD for music... thats fine for you....
But I use mine as a boot drive to store my servers boot images...i carry diagnostic tools on it... I also store contacts on it... And yes I even use it for music.

[macsrus]

marjority of the consumers. I would guess to speculate that the vast majority of iPOD consumers are only using for music. They are not browning their toast with the iPOD. Steve is not going to produce a flat panel TV, a Tivo, a cell phone, or a PDA. Others are doing this and some have done an excellent job. Apple can really add nothing here. This is key: Steve has said that the cell phone is quickly converging to be a phone and PDA. Apple cannot go into that market against those competitors as Apple would get its ass kicked. Completely different market. Listen to what Steve says and does. He a lot smarter than you seem to give him credit for. He really does understand products, markets, consumers as well as very importantly the competitive landscape. Sorry no PDA.

Oh no... another Steve said it and he is GOD person...

If Steve really understood consumers.... Then Apple would not have languished at the bottom of the Computer manufactures in sales for their entire existence as a company.... 3 to 5 % market share.... WOW

And as far as getting killed in the cell phone/pda market how could they possibly get killed any worse than they do in the desktop market.
But I didnt ask for a separate pda... I would be happy if they added those features to an IPOD

Face it Apple has only had one product win over the years.... and its the IPOD... They actually got the majority of the market share with it...

But guess what they will only lose market share from now on with it...
So they better start adding other features to it...

Now if you dont want to use those kinds of features ... its your option...
But dont denegrate my desire or request for them

[beatle888]

My original point stands, though I'm sure what you say about typing blind upside down working for the touch-typing crowd is true enough, the vast majority will not change even to a superior technology if it is not so intrinsically superior that it sweeps entire categories of old technology away and becomes essential.

You make this clear when you demonstrate that none of us can actually visualise what the ideal interface for this class of device should be. That's because it probably hasn't been invented yet.
;)


well, i think its safe to say that it will be either voice recognition or touch screen. we speak or write/type to communicate with each other so that pretty much covers THOSE bases. maybe it will track our eyes and we'll all be double blinking soon.

[mvc]

marjority of the consumers. I would guess to speculate that the vast majority of iPOD consumers are only using for music. They are not browning their toast with the iPOD. Steve is not going to produce a flat panel TV, a Tivo, a cell phone, or a PDA. Others are doing this and some have done an excellent job. Apple can really add nothing here. This is key: Steve has said that the cell phone is quickly converging to be a phone and PDA. Apple cannot go into that market against those competitors as Apple would get its ass kicked. Completely different market. Listen to what Steve says and does. He a lot smarter than you seem to give him credit for. He really does understand products, markets, consumers as well as very importantly the competitive landscape. Sorry no PDA.

I dispute this, because everyone gets hung up on the term PDA. Of course Apple aren't going to make a PDA, every damn phone is a PDA now. But then, every phone is soon going to become an mp3 player too, harddrives are coming to phones next year, and convergence will inevitably continue.

The iPod as a stand-alone device cannot compete long term with phones that can also play mp3s. Phones will eat the iPod just like they ate the PDA, no matter that they won't be as good, for the same reason - People have to carry a phone!

Apple knows this, thus the current deal with Motorola to put an iTunes variant on their phones.

The real issue is this: over the next 5 -10 years, a single device is going to emerge that is handheld, has a decent hard drive, definitely is a phone as well as a wireless internet capable device, connects wirelessly to most things and probably generally plays media and stores files. That's all Joe Blow will be carrying in 5-10 years, not five different freaking devices.

They may or may not still call it a "phone", but it will be much much more than that.

And I expect Apple wants a share of that market, because Apple has the design/interface smarts do it better. Constrained dimensions/powersupply call for elegant solutions, just as the iPod is an elegant solution.

Its not about making an "Apple" mp3 player or a phone or pda, its about the whole emerging handheld computing/media/communication device market, and whether Apple wants to build long term on the success of the iPod.

[macsrus]

I dispute this, because everyone gets hung up on the term PDA. Of course Apple aren't going to make a PDA, every damn phone is a PDA now. But then, every phone is soon going to become an mp3 player too, harddrives are coming to phones next year, and convergence will inevitably continue.

The iPod as a stand-alone device cannot compete long term with phones that can also play mp3s. Phones will eat the iPod just like they ate the PDA, no matter that they won't be as good, for the same reason - People have to carry a phone!

Apple knows this, thus the current deal with Motorola to put an iTunes variant on their phones.

The real issue is this: over the next 5 -10 years, a single device is going to emerge that is handheld, has a decent hard drive, definitely is a phone as well as a wireless internet capable device, connects wirelessly to most things and probably generally plays media and stores files. That's all Joe Blow will be carrying in 5-10 years, not five different freaking devices.

They may or may not still call it a "phone", but it will be much much more than that.

And I expect Apple wants a share of that market, because Apple has the design/interface smarts do it better. Constrained dimensions/powersupply call for elegant solutions, just as the iPod is an elegant solution.

Its not about making an "Apple" mp3 player or a phone or pda, its about the whole emerging handheld computing/media/communication device market, and whether Apple wants to build long term on the success of the iPod.

Applause..........

[Squire]

I dispute this, because everyone gets hung up on the term PDA. Of course Apple aren't going to make a PDA, every damn phone is a PDA now. But then, every phone is soon going to become an mp3 player too, harddrives are coming to phones next year, and convergence will inevitably continue.

The iPod as a stand-alone device cannot compete long term with phones that can also play mp3s. Phones will eat the iPod just like they ate the PDA, no matter that they won't be as good, for the same reason - People have to carry a phone!

Apple knows this, thus the current deal with Motorola to put an iTunes variant on their phones.

The real issue is this: over the next 5 -10 years, a single device is going to emerge that is handheld, has a decent hard drive, definitely is a phone as well as a wireless internet capable device, connects wirelessly to most things and probably generally plays media and stores files. That's all Joe Blow will be carrying in 5-10 years, not five different freaking devices.

Interesting point.

I bought a brand new Samsung cell phone a few weeks ago. It has a camera and built-in GPS. As I was entering my contacts, I thought, Gee...I wish this was as easy to use as my iPod. The iPod interface on a phone would absolutely rule.

I'm a bit of a fence-sitter on this topic. On the one hand, I realize that device convergence (to a certain extent) is paramount for the future. Yet, on the other hand, using my iPod - which performs its primary task flawlessly - is refreshing in its simplicity.

Imagine an iPod-sized device that had the scroll wheel with numbers underneath. Menus were labeled as calls, music, photos, gps, pda ...or something like that. It would be cool if it were done beautifully. It could be a confusing piece of crap if developed in the wrong hands. ;)

Squire

[narco]

"Search time has expired," so can no longer view your post.

The first link still works -- just click on the "images" button once you get there. I should have just stated that to begin with :)

.narco

[mvc]

Interesting point.I'm a bit of a fence-sitter on this topic. On the one hand, I realize that device convergence (to a certain extent) is paramount for the future. Yet, on the other hand, using my iPod - which performs its primary task flawlessly - is refreshing in its simplicity.

Imagine an iPod-sized device that had the scroll wheel with numbers underneath. Menus were labeled as calls, music, photos, gps, pda ...or something like that. It would be cool if it were done beautifully. It could be a confusing piece of crap if developed in the wrong hands. ;)
Squire

Yeah, this is why I believe Apple has a chance in this market - the iPod interface demonstrates their design ability. I expect this philosophy is what they hope to carry across to the Motorola phones. Still, even if they turn out to be confusing hunks of crap, these converged devices will still satisfy the vast majority (sound familiar?).

Sure, people will buy devices that favour certain tasks, just like the various types of phones that are out their now cater to different aspects of user demand.

The cellphone capability itself is seldom much of an issue in buying these devices already, its a given, basically, it has become a commodity.

Its now all about the size, or whether it has a better camera or screen or can do pda or bluetooth or gps well etc etc. This process will only continue until 5 years from now if its a portable digital device of some persuasion, it will ALSO be a phone/communicator as a matter of course. Because otherwise you won't be able to sell it, because only zealots will carry two devices if they could just carry one.

This is why Apple will eventually get into the "cellphone" market by default, or else they will stop making hardware for this sector and just make interface software.

Steve will of course portray the cellphone capability as an add-on, just part of the device's basic wireless connectivity featureset. And by then he'll be right.

[hmg]

What if this was the screen of the iMac G5? Like there was a base station type thing that housed additional ports (for your keyboard, ethernet, mouse, etc.), and you plugged the screen into the base, and poof, an iMac? Then when you're done doing whatever, you detatch the screen, (which would slide into a connect-ey thing like the iPod and its dock), and they carry it around with you? Like when it'd plugged in, it's a screen/monitor... When you unplug it, it just wirelessly displays the desktop that the base station is sending? Hmm... That might be kinda cool :D

Well, if the quote is an actual product, I can sell 3 almost immedeatly!

Use the display as a smart terminal (not like vt220) that can do _some_ processing and passes all the heavy stuff back to the base G5.....

[appleface]

Interesting point.

I bought a brand new Samsung cell phone a few weeks ago. It has a camera and built-in GPS. As I was entering my contacts, I thought, Gee...I wish this was as easy to use as my iPod. The iPod interface on a phone would absolutely rule.
Squire

i've thought an apple ipod phone would be good, too. i thought that the number pad could be layed out like a clock face around the click wheel with "#" at 11 o'clock and "*" at 12 o'clock or something. the center click button would be the send/end button (why do phones have two different buttons for send and end anyway?).

[aswitcher]

If this thing does exist I would be happy to see a cheaper device without much processing power to allow me to lever off my adsl modem and PB to more easily read and access the net and review documents etc. I already have my PB workhorse but a device that was in itself a full mac but with minimuim specs to keeo the price down would pretty interesting...

[SiliconAddict]

No, why is this the case. Have we all forgotten about handwriting recognition. One can input text quite quickly with good handwriting recognition. .


The problem with handwriting recog is, as I've described it to some pro tablet PC friends, is that its bandwidth limited in terms of how fast you can input data. You write a line..then you have to wait for it to translate into text. Even if that is 1/2 a second the combined time you can scribble it still slower then a person who can type say an average of 30-40 words per second. MS gets around this by NOT converting into typed text (You can convert it though but by default it doesn't; a really half***ed approach of you ask me. I have yet to meet anyone who would rather decipher a person’s handwriting in an e-mail rather then read plain text. Ooops that quote for that land lor your new factory was actually a 9 instead of a 3. Sorry about that. :rolleyes:

No where things will get interesting is voice recog. You CAN speak faster that one types or writes. But there is the obvious problem of do you really want to talk to your computer in public. Type out a document on a plane by talking and you more likely to get shoved out of the plane at 35,000 feet. :p That and the tech and system speed just isn’t there yet. Its close. I have IBM’s via voice on my computer here. I’ve dictated entire books out so I can have it on my Pocket PC in Palm reader format and it works pretty dang well after you train it. But you obviously get weird looks from your friends who show up and find you reading to yourself. :eek:

:( Those neural interface chips, iPlant?, can't come soon enough. :)

[Tulse]

If Steve really understood consumers.... Then Apple would not have languished at the bottom of the Computer manufactures in sales for their entire existence as a company.... 3 to 5 % market share.... WOW

You do realize that Jobs left the company in 1985, and didn't return until 1997? I hardly think the marketshare problem can be laid at his feet -- certainly Apple has developed far more respect and credibility since his return.

And as far as getting killed in the cell phone/pda market how could they possibly get killed any worse than they do in the desktop market.

Ask Palm how well things are working out in the PDA market. There is practically no one making money in that segment. Meanwhile, in spite of its market share, Apple routinely makes a profit.

Steve is not a god, and he has made some boneheaded decisions in the past. But staying out of the PDA market is not one of them.

[SallyWattle]

Online music was not much of a market which no one would invest in. Apple made it it's own. I think apple may be the only company to make a tablet computer a success. :D

[ArticulatedArm]

Now where things will get interesting is voice recog. You CAN speak faster that one types or writes. But there is the obvious problem of do you really want to talk to your computer in public. Type out a document on a plane by talking and you more likely to get shoved out of the plane at 35,000 feet. That and the tech and system speed just isn’t there yet. Its close. I have IBM’s via voice on my computer here. I’ve dictated entire books out so I can have it on my Pocket PC in Palm reader format and it works pretty dang well after you train it. But you obviously get weird looks from your friends who show up and find you reading to yourself.

I have a possible solution to this. I really think it could work.

Have you heard of a throat mic? They are used on small airplanes to keep the noise of the engine out while talking. It is like a choker with a mic built in. I think if this was designed properly and made ultra sensitive you could speak to your computer with the slightest whisper. You would also need to sheild the mics from outside voices -- to prevent other voices from being picked up by your computer -- but it seems doable.

Combine this with the pen input i mentioned before to edit mistakes while dictating and I think this could far surpass even keyboards as a method of controlling your computer and inputing information.

[ebunton]

I dispute this, because everyone gets hung up on the term PDA. Of course Apple aren't going to make a PDA, every damn phone is a PDA now. But then, every phone is soon going to become an mp3 player too, harddrives are coming to phones next year, and convergence will inevitably continue.

The iPod as a stand-alone device cannot compete long term with phones that can also play mp3s. Phones will eat the iPod just like they ate the PDA, no matter that they won't be as good, for the same reason - People have to carry a phone!

Apple knows this, thus the current deal with Motorola to put an iTunes variant on their phones.

The real issue is this: over the next 5 -10 years, a single device is going to emerge that is handheld, has a decent hard drive, definitely is a phone as well as a wireless internet capable device, connects wirelessly to most things and probably generally plays media and stores files. That's all Joe Blow will be carrying in 5-10 years, not five different freaking devices.

They may or may not still call it a "phone", but it will be much much more than that.

And I expect Apple wants a share of that market, because Apple has the design/interface smarts do it better. Constrained dimensions/powersupply call for elegant solutions, just as the iPod is an elegant solution.

Its not about making an "Apple" mp3 player or a phone or pda, its about the whole emerging handheld computing/media/communication device market, and whether Apple wants to build long term on the success of the iPod.

Great post... you have vision. iPod won't last forever... probably not even the next few years... certainly not only with the functions it has at the moment.
however, the question is whether this mystery screen is that replacement. I guess this next generation product needs the best qualities of a mobile phone, digital music player as well as those expected in today's pdas and more. Now, that said, I don't think that the screen is the answer.
Maybe the iPod in the next few generations will transform into the iPod/Phone/PDA. I can't see how Apple would release a remote control for Airtunes. I hypothesize that there is a very small market for a fancy remote control. however, a more useful multifunction device which can function as a remote, among other things, seems feasible... as long as there's demand for it. So what the heck is this tablet thingy?

[SiliconAddict]

Ask Palm how well things are working out in the PDA market. There is practically no one making money in that segment. Meanwhile, in spite of its market share, Apple routinely makes a profit.

Steve is not a god, and he has made some boneheaded decisions in the past. But staying out of the PDA market is not one of them.


Tell that to HP. They are doing DAMN well with their iPaq line of PDA's. (Never mind that I think the up coming line is going to bomb because of internal company reasons but that's another discussion for another day.)
The people who call the PDA dead are probably the same people that said Apple was dead 10 years ago. They are article writers who know are so in tune with tech that some routinely call iPaq's Palms.
Palm is making crap products in the PDA world. Not only that but you are getting more hardware for your buck from the Pocket PC and the end result is simple. People are buying cheapo PPC’s instead. I hope that song sounds familiar to Mac users because its starting to happen with Palm. The big diff is with smartphone. Palm may make a 90* turn to avoid what has happened to Apple. (Apple has done this with the iPod but too late to really snatch back any major PC market share.) Time will tell who will win in the end but I’m not overly confidant in Palm. They have made some seriously STUPID business decisions over the last four years. (Again sounds like Apple in some regards.)

[Squire]

Great post... you have vision. iPod won't last forever... probably not even the next few years... certainly not only with the functions it has at the moment.
however, the question is whether this mystery screen is that replacement. I guess this next generation product needs the best qualities of a mobile phone, digital music player as well as those expected in today's pdas and more. Now, that said, I don't think that the screen is the answer.
Maybe the iPod in the next few generations will transform into the iPod/Phone/PDA. I can't see how Apple would release a remote control for Airtunes. I hypothesize that there is a very small market for a fancy remote control. however, a more useful multifunction device which can function as a remote, among other things, seems feasible... as long as there's demand for it. So what the heck is this tablet thingy?

Speaking of phones/remote controls, there are already a few lines of 'smart' appliances here that can be controlled via cell phone. One very "cool" application (excuse the pun) is cell phone-controlled air conditioners made by Samsung and LG. On your way home from work, call up your A/C and set it to temperature x. When you walk through the door, you don't have to sweat your ass off.

Back to the tablet.

What if an iMac could be used with this docking screen, with a cinema display, or both? They could sell a headless iMac or sell the screen alone. Some might opt for the iMac first then, when hooked, splurge on the accompanying tablet or another Apple display. Others (i.e. iPod-using PC users) might go for the tablet to whet their Apple appetite and, once addicted to the style and simplicity, go for a complete system.

Crazy?

Squire

[EvanAgee]

This may be a stretch, but here goes...

So, the new iMacs are supposed to be an all-in-one design where the computer itself is mounted to the back of the display, right? So, what if this is the new iMac and there's an additional piece, a base that goes with it to hold it upright? I may be wrong, but who knows. It makes sense for them to model it after the style of the iBook.

What does everyone else think?

[ArticulatedArm]

You mean the display is wireless, right?

If so, I think that is a great idea. It is only a matter of time before this is how all flat panel computers are. People don't want to be chained to a desk to use there computers anymore.

The only reason I can see why this couldn't be used now is because of the price of a wireless feature and battery life -- the bane of human existence.

[nmk]

You write a line..then you have to wait for it to translate into text. Even if that is 1/2 a second the combined time you can scribble it still slower then a person who can type say an average of 30-40 words per second

I'm sure you mean 30-40 words per minute. Anyway, the Newton could convert entire sentences to text in about a second, and that was six years ago. Apples handwriting recognition was far superior back then to anything that exists today. So you can't compare it to any contemporary products you may have recently tried by MS and gang. I haven't used inkwell, but I'm assuming it must be much faster than the Newton was. Anyway, like I said, I type at about 70 wpm, and I still find handwriting recognition convenient.

[zed2]

Why do we care about how fast you can write on the PDA?

If I was going to a meeting and knew that I Was to take notes using this iPADD then I would simple take a bluetooth keyboard with me or a USB one.

If Apple bring such a device to the world you can be sure that it would have bluetooth built in and support Apples own Bluetooth keyboard.

Of course I would still want to be able to enter data directly on the device but I think that would be a minimum, which is what I do for my Palm, otherwise I plug in the Palm keyboard and type away.

Cheers,

--Zed :cool:

[Smurfman]

The tablet didn't work for anyone else, why would it work for Apple?

I think Apple is going for a different approach to the market share issue by utilizing popularity of the iPod and creating a Mac OS X device that is integrated with the iPod.

That is why this device (whatever it is) will work.

Awesome strategy, I think!

[Swinny]

I think it will a ipod/ibook thingy, aimed at kids, for email, making notes (inkwell should be easier than typing on a callular), playing music and video, 40Mb HD, wifi for streaming, IR remotecontrol for about $499

:)

I'm with you on this 717!

Whats the main point in Wifi networks beyond moving about the house with ya laptop? Making a no hassle home network between all the computers in the house of course...at home we have one "server" machine that feeds the network wirelessly to 4 other computers...so file sharing, printer sharing etc is all very easy, and we didn't have to route cables all through the house, buy hubs blah blah blah and its all totally movable and hassle free...taking my family as a guide, at any one time my mum can be online on the PC downstairs ordering the weekly shop, my elder brother is surfing his car forums on his machine, i'm surfing/working on my machine and my younger brother is chatting/doing homework...we are rather lucky that we have 5 machines that can all be used at once so i'm never waiting for someone to finish playing a game or whatever before i can get 5 minutes on the PC to do some research etc...but 5 computers ain't cheap, and all that processing power is completly redundant considering that my iMac is the only machine ever used "in anger" (say iMovie editing, iDVD or something) and the rest are basically just web browsers/word processors!

A house buys its main "server" machine (ie an iMac G5 or Power Mac) which can serve media files etc...airport express handles all the net connections (with the server computer having control over access rights, setting iTMS song purchase limits per week etc)...the "tablets" themselves just look like widescreen iPods (why change such an iconic design that kids would love?) with an elongated dock that connects to keyboard/mouse to make a mini desktop - but can detach to work as a touchscreen tablet (and remote etc)...powerful enough to do word-processing (new cut-down Appleworks?), web, emailing, play audio/videos etc - but nowhere near as expensive as buying a full blown Laptop/Desktop for each kid...they could also easilly link to iPods for personal storage, be taken into school/college as work machines, and no doubt lots of other applications i haven't thought of.

...people talk so much about Apple having to make a cheap "Mac for the people", and how this should be a headless upgradeable iMac...but i'm not so sure. I think this thin-client approach would be great...the parents get a more powerful machine through which they can do everything you'd expect with a modern computer, and the Kids can have an "iMac mini" each to do their chatting/surfing/homework.

[Chip NoVaMac]

Reading the posts here, it seems that there is a market for an "iPad" type of device. The Windows based units (I seriously thought about them) failed IMO because they too expensive, and offered nothing more than some of the less computers out there did.

Apple has a great history in reaching the consumers mind-share. Leading the technology. They had one of the first "consumer" digital cameras. They had one of the most advanced PDA's (Newton). SCSI and FW, found a home first on Apple.

Now with the iPod, they have defined what MP3 players should and can be. With an "iPad" they can do the same. With Airport Express, the iPad can be the controlling interface. In the past tablet computers were designed to replace the traditional computer. The answer for me and others is to have something that would be a bridge between the two.

[silvergunuk]

Anyone else heard of this Morphpad thing from Apple thats doing the rounds on the net?

[cryptochrome]

Granted, this idea makes a LOT of sense. Being able to just pick the screen up off your desk and take it anywhere in the house or nearby would be incredibly useful. As long as you have a built in prop to let it sit vertically, a power jack to charge it and extend its use off-desktop, and a USB port or two for keyboards and other controllers, you're set.

Indeed, the idea is a bit TOO obvious. And the problem is the obvious hardware limitations. Batteries are OK - but the bandwidth is not. I am not an expert on how displays work, but I do know they have dedicated cables because they're receiving signal (data) continuously, with zero latency and zero tolerance for collisions. Massive amounts of it. 802.11g couldn't possibly keep up with the raw signal. You could modify that so it's only sending the updated parts of the screen like VNC, but even then there would be problems with lost packets and things like video or continous effects. You could build the graphics card and controller into the display and thus be sending the raw display commands, but even that may not be enough. And none of these solutions satisfy the latency and collision problem. Never mind how much they would slow down the rest of your wireless network.

Would it be possible to do a low-power one-way broadcast on an empty non-802.11 band, as raw serial display updates? (Possibly as an H.264 data stream, but then wouldn't there be a decoding lag?) Then you would just be using the 802.11g bandwidth for sending back data from the touchscreen and verifying display state. That would solve all of these issues, but I'm not sure if it's legal, or if there are good bits of empty spectrum.

[sinisterdesign]

Anyone else heard of this Morphpad thing from Apple thats doing the rounds on the net?

"Apparently the Morph Pad is a musical interface technology introduced at NAMM as noted by one of our guests in the comment section.]"
- from MacObserver (http://www.macobserver.com/columns/devilsadvocate/2004/20030813.shtml)

...had to look it up. sounded interesting...

[cremaster]

And for the last time, no it's not a Newton!

It's the new Duo / Duo Dock 2004! Same great idea from back in the day just with a new stylish packaging and updated specs...

chew on that - try not to laugh too hard.

[Chomolungma]

I hope the manufacture of "Tablet PC", was attemping to solve a "real" problem in the working world. With the current line of product, it is hard to imagine what kinds of problem they were trying to solve. Ultimately, this directly reflects the appeal and sales of their products.
Most will agree that there is a need (how much?) to transcribe what we write or draw into an efile e.g. it is natural for a doctor to take notes of a patient's condition, and have this readily available for a specialist across the country in minutes, or an employee who wants to avoid typing because it makes unnecessary noise in the board room. Writing is slower than typing off course, but it is by far more convient in most cases.
To solve this problem, I propose building a tool that resemble a notepad bound in a leather folder, which looks like a commonly use tool in most profession. The leather folder opens up with a writing/drawing pad on one side that will look like a typical notepad. The feel maybe slightly different. It should have a NORMAL size specialize pen in the pen holder. The other side of the leather will house the "computer", as well as pockets that can store papers (irony). This leather folder should weigh no more than 4 lbs, and should be tough enough for most daily mishaps. There are many more features that are needed e.g. wireless connection, but are too numerous to mention.
I think this product will be welcome by many students, doctors, lawyers among others. Is the present technology powerful enough to create such a tool? I think we'll eventually have a tool to make our work much easier, even in a twelve hour a day work day.

[SiliconAddict]

I type at about 70 wpm, and I still find handwriting recognition convenient.


Oops. Ya. :eek: I wish 30-40 per second. :D

Don't get me wrong. I have a PDA and find it very convenient to have. In the appropriate places such a a quiet board room where someone is talking the last thing the room needs is a clickity, clickity, click, click, click going on while someone is talking. HWR IS the way to go in that instance.
The thing OEM's NEED to understand is that voice/handwriting recog, and keyboards all have their place in this world. The company that reliably integrates all 3 into a device that is smallish (think 12" PowerBook type small.) rugged, sexy, and not price prohibitive is going to make a ton o cash. Apple needs to be that person but again I don't think the hardware is there yet and I KNOW the implementation in software isn't there. This is definately a job for Apple to lead the market in refining a slowly growing segment. MS once again doesn't get it and tablet PC sales show this. Its time for apple to pick up the ball and run with it. Then do a little jig. Then spike it in MS's face. :cool:

[webman2k]

I'm hoping it's something I've wanted for years - simply a wireless touch screen. While your main computer is on, you can use it to log into another account (on the same machine). It would use all of the hardware on the main computer, and just display on this wireless pad. Could be cheap. it only needs the wireless hardware and a nice touch screen. No hard drive, graphics card needed.

[SiliconAddict]

And for the last time, no it's not a Newton!

It's the new Duo / Duo Dock 2004! Same great idea from back in the day just with a new stylish packaging and updated specs...

chew on that - try not to laugh too hard.


I won't laugh because I really wish Apple WOULD bring back the docking station.

[bored13]

I for one would buy this mac/tabletPC in a split second. I would run alias sketchbook pro, painter and photoshop and not worry about taking a sketchbook with me wherever I go and pencils, markers, pens etc. For a person like me who wants to do some artwork on the go for character designs, sketches, ideas, studies... this would be amazing. I am sure there are many people out there who want something like this for the same reasons as me. For those who have paid attention apple has been making headway into the cg market and this would be a perfect and logical addtition to the tools they offer.

[fawlty]

Indeed, the idea is a bit TOO obvious. And the problem is the obvious hardware limitations. Batteries are OK - but the bandwidth is not. I am not an expert on how displays work, but I do know they have dedicated cables because they're receiving signal (data) continuously, with zero latency and zero tolerance for collisions. Massive amounts of it. 802.11g couldn't possibly keep up with the raw signal. You could modify that so it's only sending the updated parts of the screen like VNC, but even then there would be problems with lost packets and things like video or continous effects. You could build the graphics card and controller into the display and thus be sending the raw display commands, but even that may not be enough. And none of these solutions satisfy the latency and collision problem. Never mind how much they would slow down the rest of your wireless network.

But if the processor and disk are attached to the back of the screen, only the keyboard, mouse and network need to be wireless - kind of like a laptop with a wireless docking station.

[moosecat]

I won't laugh because I really wish Apple WOULD bring back the docking station.

The Duo was ahead of its time. In business (or at least in law offices, where I have worked), the laptop-docking station combination is now extremely popular.

So maybe it's time for another Duo. Or, as the Italians would say, Duo Due'.