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The return of the Newton

It's baaaack!

Perhaps this explains the resistance to 3rd-party apps (ok, I don't believe the whole "crash the network" reason that SJ gave at the Sermon on the ...I mean the iPhone introduction). It seems like apple is deepening its differentiation between the different iPod lines, and perhaps the future PDA, if it comes, will be a more computer-like platform with real productivity apps.

I didn't understand why the iPhone, with a virtual keyboard, didn't also include some equivalent to documents-to-go --it would make more business sense if Apple is saving that functionality for a killer PDA with real computing capabilities (I don't mean web surfing and email, I mean an SDK and productivity applications).
 
ziwi said:
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?
Click to expand...

It's interesting the number of people who think of PDA's in terms of gadgets. It's as if there's this dichotomy of thought that on the one hand people insist a smartphone is a work tool but on the other hand it is a status symbol, a gadget, a desirable.

But oddly it's because of consumer devices like iPhone and yes, Palm and Blackberry (these are NOT professional instruments that are loaded with custom operating systems for specific professional applications) that we tend to think of PDA's in this way.

In the medical industry, however, there are numerous applications ranging from pharmaceuticals to diagnostics which require professional custom software packages... the kind of thing for which an Apple PDA without all the consumer bells and whistles (e.g. YouTube, Starbucks, iTunes, etc.) would be ideally suited.

In fact, recent patents have suggested the medical industry is one of Apple's prime targets. It fits their Pro business model because they seek out high-tech, high margin industries that pay top dollar for equipment instead of going simply to the lowest bidder.

Physicians, surgeons and nurses can use an Apple PDA for live OR and ICU diagnostics... coupled with newer technologies like portable MRI, robotic surgical instruments, etc. Such devices need high-bandwidth Wi-Fi far more than they need a telephone with SMS.

Granted there will be some room for consumers to pick up on these kind of PDA's but I'm quite certain that Apple is looking not only at the gadgetry prospects of these larger devices. There's a huge opportunity involving unprecedented, and potentially life-saving applications in the medical industry for multitouch devices (think remote differentials, minimally-invasive precision remote-controlled surgery) that goes well beyond the comparatively trivial day-to-day communication that you and I engage in with our jobs that we could in principle achieve without being tethered to the internet 24 hours a day.
 
raggedjimmi said:
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?
Click to expand...

I think you would also need to be able to involve 3d-party developers to expand the platform. I know Palm has fallen on hard times, but, in its day, that was what made the platform so compelling. You could have a certification program to enforce standards in order to maintain the stability of the device--it doesn't have to be completely wide-open, nor should it be completely closed if it is a true PDA.
 
I don't think this would be a good idea for Apple. The differences between the iPod Touch and the iPhone (besides the minor hardware changes) are mostly software. For example Mail, Notes, Google Maps aren't on the iPod Touch.

I think if Apple came out with an Apple PDA it would just be an iPod Touch with more applications with some more features of what a PDA may have. Now the iPhone is pretty close, but it is missing a few things, like Office File Type editing.

If Apple did this people will be angry that their iPhone or iPod Touch wouldn't have the same features, when they actually could because it's just software. Then again your average consumer may not know that, but having too many MultiTouch devices that look like the iPhone or iPod Touch would also confuse consumers. Too many devices that's only big, big difference is software? Seems like a disaster to me. :rolleyes:
 
gkarris said:
The technology has finally caught up.

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

Goodbye, laptop - nice knowing you...
Click to expand...

Eaxactly! A Line missing from the original article states:

More broadly characterized as Apple's answer to the ultra-mobile PC, the next-gen device is believed to be tracking for a release sometime in the first half of 2008.

I personnaly would love this. Bigger screen for my sorry eyesight and complete internet capabilities. Yes some do like other options than a phone or an iPod. I looked at the iPod Touch and though nice, my eyesight just can't handle such small text and screen. Fingers crossed that this is true! :D
 
It's taking over! :eek:

( ;) )
 

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Doesn't apple know that the PDA is a dead / dying market?

Unless Apple can get truly be innovative, they are flogging a dead horse.
 
This device will run a full Mac OS X thanks to the new Intel Silverthorne chip. We need tons for our University. WITH SDK and productivity applications. A TRUE FULL COMPUTER ON YOUR HAND. Just cannot wait!
 
The cynical side of me immediately thought: Maybe it'll be an iPod touch where you can edit calendar events!?

:eek:

Seriously though, I don't think this rumor is true - but I really want it to be true. My job is perfect for this device, and my Newton was stolen last year ( :( ). The iPod touch is close, but isn't quite there for what I need. If it had a decent text application (more than just notes), and a (very very) basic spreadsheet app... it would untether me from my desk enough to get quite a bit more work done (or get the same amount of work done faster, with less hassle).

Please be true? :eek:

<edit>

Doesn't apple know that the PDA is a dead / dying market?

Unless Apple can get truly be innovative, they are flogging a dead horse.
Click to expand...

And similar posts:

Apple knows the market, and it knows how to re-invent markets that people don't believe exist. This is a perfect way of beating the sub-notebook market at their own game - it's bound to get there eventually. How do you reduce the size of an already small device? Get rid of the keyboard and clamshell. Make the keyboard software, and only pop up as required.
 
Stella said:
Doesn't apple know that the PDA is a dead / dying market?

Unless Apple can get truly be innovative, they are flogging a dead horse.
Click to expand...


The article says that Apple have canned an unreleased PDA only a few years ago. That's why I believe this to be the new iPhone.
 
DaBrain said:
Eaxactly! A Line missing from the original article states:

More broadly characterized as Apple's answer to the ultra-mobile PC, the next-gen device is believed to be tracking for a release sometime in the first half of 2008.

I personnaly would love this. Bigger screen for my sorry eyesight and complete internet capabilities. Yes some do like other options than a phone or an iPod. I looked at the iPod Touch and though nice, my eyesight just can't handle such small text and screen. Fingers crossed that this is true! :D
Click to expand...

Finally, someone who gets it. Yes, this would be the consumer application for this device. See my post above regarding the professional applications.
 
As much as I'd love to see the Newton make a comeback (it was my dream toy when I was little), the iPhone and iPod are already so close. Would someone really use standalone PDA anymore? Give the iPod some more functionality...and there you go.
 
As long as it had iPod functionality and like 32gb of flash, and WiFi, I'd totally buy this! I'd even THINK about buying it if it used a wireless data network and had a contract, as long as it's NOT with AT&T. Fat chance of that happening, unless there's some crazy loophole in their multi-year-exclusivity contract. :(

Still! This could explain why the PDA-like functionalities (Mail client, calendar adding/editing, notes app, etc) are gone from the iPod touch! Not that it fixes the problem.. :(
 
whats the differnce between an iPod touch and a PDA, apart from software??

This would have to be some kind of tablet, or ultra-portable laptop?
 
wongulous said:
Still! This could explain why the PDA-like functionalities (Mail client, calendar adding/editing, notes app, etc) are gone from the iPod touch! Not that it fixes the problem.. :(
Click to expand...

I believe the reason they took out the PDA-like functions of the iPod Touch were to still give people a reason to buy the iPhone. If Apple introduced an Apple PDA there would be too many similar Apple Multi-Touch products with the difference based on software mostly. :rolleyes: Unless they changed the size of it, but I can't see that happening, the iPod Touch/iPhone is a good size for a PDA.

Since the original iPod never had Mail, Notes, or Calendar event adding they didn't include those on the iPod Touch. However I did think this was a stupid move, the iPod Touch is a new iPod. It could of had those features... but Apple just wants you to pay up and give you all the features on the iPhone. ;) :D
 
Stampyhead said:
How does your iPhone replace your wallet? I'm very curious...
Click to expand...

With NFC coming soon to the iPhone, it certainly can.
NFC equipped phones are being trialled by Mastercard and Visa everywhere.
Nokia has released an NFC phone already. (as have many Japan-only phones)
I'm sure you are carrying at least one NFC card in you wallet already. (public transport card, work security pass etc)
Bluetooth 2.1 uses NFC for pairing too!

(Today's Mastercard Paypass and Felica are also NFC compatible)
 
I am not holding my breath on this product...BUT if they do make it and sell it, I might have to buy my first PDA in years....:D:apple:
 
YAY!

If they do this they'll definitely have to open the platform to developers - without that then there'd be nothing making the tablet better than a Touch/iphone..

Saying that, multitouch is a lot less accurate than a stylus.. I'd love for them to stick some sort of wacom style stylus support in too, for doodling etc.

Very sceptical as to whether a PDA will come though, seems unlikely, unless its more like a tablet mac, just a very, very small one. I love the newton, but I don't see why this new thing would sell..
 
An Apple PDA really makes no sense when they can simply add functionality to the iPhone. The whole thing is virtual anyway. To be honest, the "illegal" third party apps are more interesting than the stuff from Apple at this point. They need to just open the damn thing up. There's your PDA.
 
Stella said:
Doesn't apple know that the PDA is a dead / dying market?

Unless Apple can get truly be innovative, they are flogging a dead horse.
Click to expand...

And that's why people are trying to unlock the iPhone and hack the iPod Touch....

If anybody, Apple will be the one to actually pull off a PDA. The Newton, Touch and iPhone are mearly previews...
 
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