The return of the Newton

[sblasl]

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...he_newton.html

[DotComCTO]

That would be a very interesting development indeed. I still have 2 Newtons that work just fine. I would love to see Apple make some progress in that arena. Somehow, I can't envision this as a standalone product, though. I'd imagine they'd want to bake this functionality into some other product line where it would make sense to combine a PDA with something else.

Time will tell...

--DotComCTO

[ascender]

Surely the iPhone as it stands isn't far off from being a PDA?

[Superdrive]

People still use standalone PDAs? I would imagine there would have to be something besides multitouch to sell this thing.

[phakebrill]

Originally Posted by ascender

Surely the iPhone as it stands isn't far off from being a PDA?

Exactly, just add a few more features and that should do it. Or maybe offer an additional iPhone with all those extra features?

There are now loads of iPods so maybe we'll start seeing loads of iPhone's too? Who knows.

[duklaprague]

Makes good sense to me. Now that they look as tho' the UI can do everything they might have dreamt of originally, there must be synergies in production and development.

But I think there's value in the idea that perhaps people don't always want one device that does everything, at some trade off somewhere, but rather a device more specifically tailored to what they would want.

So essentially here you have three similar devices, but aimed at different users.

[ziwi]

Originally Posted by Superdrive

People still use standalone PDAs? I would imagine there would have to be something besides multitouch to sell this thing.

Agree.

Can't see it. This whole thing seems like an application on iPhone. People don't want multiple items - they want 1 gadget to rule them all PDA, Phone, Camera, Music Player all in one. How many things do people want in their pockets?

[BoyBach]

Introducing the second-generation iPhone.

[justflie]

The interface is pretty much there already. As long as they nail the handwriting recognition (do people still do that?), they will be fine. All I can think of is that Simpsons episode with the "beat up martin" Newton.

[mkjellman]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8830/4.2.2 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

If dell can't even sell any of these things, if hp can't sell any of these things, if palm can't sell any of these things......the pda died, the iphone/multiuse device lives

[dvkid]

I have to imagine that this would probably end up being something along the lines of the business class iPhone that Enterprise users have been asking for. Make use of CalDev servers, Exchange and similar email and calendar/contact systems, and some robust form of document editing. Maybe even a VGA or DVI out functionality via the dock connector to allow the direct playback of Keynote presentations from the device.

[veneficuss]

Originally Posted by ziwi

Agree.

Can't see it. This whole thing seems like an application on iPhone. People don't want multiple items - they want 1 gadget to rule them all PDA, Phone, Camera, Music Player all in one. How many things do people want in their pockets?

I double agree. The reason I bought the iPhone was, being a guy, I cant carry a wallet, ipod and cell phone in my pockets when I go out. I want one device that does everything. What does a PDA do that the iPhone could not do with a little software upgrade?

[ChuckG]

Maybe it's the iReader? I'm afraid the PDA is pretty much dead and any of its features can be easily ported to the iPhone in a snap.

A new business segment, eBooks via iTunes would make it more plausible. As you all know, physical books is the last media distribution yet to be digitized.

However it wouldn't hurt to pack in a PowerPoint/Keynote app and video out capabilities. Dang, maybe it's just the iTablet and AppleInsider has the whole project's direction wrong.

[ruc2827]

The PDA is merely new functionality that will be added to the iPod and iPhone. Why on earth would you want a stand alone PDA without iPod or phone? C'mon guys, use your noggin. The iPhone and iPod touch ARE ultra mobile PCs, they just don't run a full suite of apps. But they are full powered PC devices running OSX and can pretty much run any desktop OS X app modified. You guys are seriously off the mark thinking this is a whole new device.

[RichP]

PDAs are dead. Thats what a smartphone is for.

Unless this thing is actually some sort of tablet computer, with significantly more power (and perhaps a real keyboard) I cant imagine it this rumor being real.

[sigamy]

This is definitely questionable and very curious...

What would this device be used for? What 2008 problem would it solve or reduce?

We have smart phones for communication via voice, email, web, IM, SMS and for calendar and contact sync. An iPhone with corporate Exchange support would be the best PDA out there for me.

Most corporate road warriors are more than happy with their Blackberries or Treos. They aren't going to want a bigger device.

The larger screen says, "internet tablet", full screen video and possibly handwritting recognition. There have been internet tablets like this that have flopped in the marketplace.

Handwritting could be interesting. That is one of my only regrets with the iPhone, the lack of handwriting. The MP2100 had some pretty awesome HW that is now incorporated into OS X as Inkwell.

[MacQuest]

Originally Posted by BoyBach

Introducing the second-generation iPhone.

I'm going with it being named "iPhone Pro".

[gkarris]

The technology has finally caught up.

An over-sized Touch with iWork mobile and 3rd party apps.

Goodbye, laptop - nice knowing you...

[justflie]

They could probably get away with just letting 3rd party apps install/provide an SDK. I know a doctor friend who would love to have an iphone, but can't because the software he currently uses on his PDA can't work on it.

[mshepherd]

this sounds exactly like what the ipod touch should be. Considering the iphone could be a pda with the phone and the ipod touch would be the pda without. If it was 1.5 time the iphone size it would not fit in your pocket very well.

[Stampyhead]

Originally Posted by veneficuss

I double agree. The reason I bought the iPhone was, being a guy, I cant carry a wallet, ipod and cell phone in my pockets when I go out. I want one device that does everything. What does a PDA do that the iPhone could not do with a little software upgrade?

How does your iPhone replace your wallet? I'm very curious...

[pgwalsh]

I'd love to see something like this come out of the Apple camp. I wold honestly prefer something with a 10 inch screen. I'm not a gadget person, but I've wanted a good ebook reader that I cold also use to surf the web, check email and instant message while in bed or on the couch. If it can use it as a remote as well or record TV, that would be an added bonus.

[mcdj]

I half expected a link to theonion.com.

If this were to be true, it seems to me it would merely be an exercise in retro-branding. And given the household name status of the iPhone and iPod, vs. the not-very-popular-outside-of-geek/hardcore-fan-circles Newton name, I think it would be a pretty silly marketing move. Most people I know don't even remember the Newton, and if they do, they know it only as the answer to a Simpsons trivia question.

[BoyBach]

Originally Posted by flipperanubi

Where's my WiFi music store for my current iPhone?

They said 'this week'. What do they mean? 11:59PM on Saturday?

Sunday.

[raggedjimmi]

Surely an iPhone or iPod Touch could get some more apps and be classed as a PDA? The ability to edit Pages, Numbers and possibly Keynote documents on the go and that would put it in such a category?