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The return of the Newton

only 1.5 times?

I feel like 2.5 to 3 times the size makes more sense. I don't think this has to be a 1-handheld device. I think a laptop replacement makes more sense. 7-8 inch screen (or more) that is comfortable to watch a movie on or to really work on a document.

I also think it will have full iphone wireless capabilities - and access to AT&T's network, just pop out your simcard from your iphone and drop it in you iPad/newton/pda thing. Or, since AT&T has made other concessions, maybe the let 2 devices access the same number - just not at the same time.
If it's able to sync or access your "primary" computer, you don't need a massive harddrive. This might finally be the tablet computer we have been waiting for - something that can really let you leave your laptop at home.

Sounds pretty cool - and if it actually costs less than a laptop, not a bad idea.
 
iPhone needs Epocrates

It seems so simple, but I haven't read anything about it, yet. The iPhone would be a great platform for Epocrates. It's a program that lets you browse medications and then gives information about dosing, side effects, etc. It's free on Palm and WM. If Apple wants to sell gagillions of iPhones, they should do this, because there's a whole bunch of medical professionals out there who would purchase for this application.

How's this relevant to the thread? I just hope they don't only allow this kind of functionality on a PDA-type device. If they're holding out on opening up the iPhone to outside developers until they get a PDA-ish device, they're making a mistake (IMO).
 
sishaw said:
Well, actually,...
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/cellphones/purchase-cocacola-in-japan-using-your-cellphone-204157.php
Click to expand...

you could pay by cell phone in europe already 8 years ago. train tickets for example. but it never was widespread enough. i don't know if they still offer that service. it was quite convenient. the trainticket would be charged later to your telephone bill.

regarding the PDA: if they make the iPod touch a bit larger (640x400) and add a pdf reader, MS office to go like for palm and a text editor i would have my PDA. recognizing handwriting wouldn't even be necessary because the touch keyboard is good enough when it's a bit larger. i would need bluetooth and 32GB though.
 
Avatar74 said:
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.
Click to expand...

Actually, they've made medical imaging available on the iPhone, because it's much easier to make their database compatible with the iPhone with the browsers that follow standards. Than multiple devices with different OS, different SDK, different non-standard conforming browsers (some mobi only).

http://www.intomobile.com/2007/07/2...medical-images-delivered-to-apple-iphone.html
 
Surely the iPhone and Touch are already potentially the best PDAs around.

What they need are useful PDA apps - Word, Excel, Powerpoint readers and editors, enterprise messaging and email, Filemaker Mobile, etc. etc.

I think the current iPhone pales next to the best Nokias but embedded Mac OS X blows away Symbian, Windows Mobile and embedded Linuxes. Apple have the future of portable devices in the palm of their hand - they just need to ramp it up, hit home with 2.0 releases.
 
iPhone 2.0

This screams iPhone 2.0. Eventually Apple is going to hit market saturation if they keep releasing similar products. They can't expect the average person to carry an Ipod, an iPhone, a PDA, and a wallet. This looks to me like a Pro version of the iPhone, or just the next general version of the iPhone.
 
Remember Apple has Inkwell handwriting technology, which made a splash in 10.2 (I believe). Surely that was developed for something else?
 
One word... Convergence!!!!!

Who wants another device to carry it on...add some features to iPhone2 and call it a day!
 
I've been thinking for a while now.....

Rather than a PDA, what would be REALLY slick was if Apple was considering a little bit larger tablet-type device. (I'm thinking something along the size of a legal pad of paper, that could use handwriting recognition or the multi-touch interface like an iPhone.)

This could even include a stand of some sort, so it could be used on a desk with an external bluetooth keyboard and mouse like a standard PC. But you could grab it and take the tablet portion with you, on demand.

If you wanted to sit on your couch with it and surf the net wirelessly, you could. If you wanted to take it to class with you to jot down notes - it'd be ideal. And it'd make a great art easel for the artists in the Mac community.

Think how cool this would be for business presentations too? Just pass the tablet around for everyone to view in a meeting.

Personally, I think *maybe* Apple was/is focusing on a PDA concept - but all the hacks (like AppTap installer) for the iPhone are putting a huge damper on their plans right now. They probably hoped to sell people an iPhone, locked down enough to only perform functions Apple sanctioned, AND a PDA based on the same idea (except with no phone circuitry in it and NOT resitricted from 3rd. party app development in any way). But the hacking community is going to keep trying to force the iPhone to serve double-duty.



ascender said:
Surely the iPhone as it stands isn't far off from being a PDA?
Click to expand...
 
As others have said, there is still a huge need for ongoing PDA development in the medical field. As a doctor there are apps that only can be used on a windows mobile or palm device. I guess there isn't any reason an iphone couldn't do this but currently it cant because I can't load apps on it. For example, there is a program called Epocrates that has drug databases and medical information that a lot of docs use. Also many hospitals are able to load patient data onto PDAs so that when one sees patients all of the labs are on the PDA so that you don't have to go back to the computer.....

For most people devices like the iphone have replaced the need for a PDA but currently that is a (mostly) closed device.
 
Read? LOL

ChuckG said:
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.
Click to expand...

Read? What's that? I once heard that people still read, but that was back in the Treo days, when eBooks weren't read to us by overpaid actors.

Step up to the (what century is this?) 2000s, man! If it doesn't move, Apple doesn't want to support it. Watch a movie, listen to music, listen to people read for you -- don't you get it? The typical Apple customer doesn't read.

Or so Apple believes.

Coming next: pre-chewed steak...
 
It seems like this may be more of a UMPC. I agree with other posters here: the iPhone is a software upgrade from being the best smartphone out there. But the dimensions quoted for the New Newton seem a bit small for a UMPC. Hmmm, Jan '08. Could be true. It certainly would keep the buzz around Apple fresh.:D
 
elppa said:
Remember Apple has Inkwell handwriting technology, which made a splash in 10.2 (I believe). Surely that was developed for something else?
Click to expand...


Yes, it was developed for the Newton.

It turned into Inkwell and was included in OSX, but it's been around for some time.
 
Exciting times ahead, perhaps...The PDA is dead... Long live the PDA...

Just because PDAs are seen as clunky and passé doesn't mean Apple can't make something simple, elegant, useful and intuitive. As a writer, I'd love to be able to use a small device with a fold-up keyboard; I'd leave the laptop at home.

I think Apple could breathe new life into sectors of the market that haven't grown... simply because the products to date have been poor.
 
kingtj said:
Personally, I think *maybe* Apple was/is focusing on a PDA concept - but all the hacks (like AppTap installer) for the iPhone are putting a huge damper on their plans right now. They probably hoped to sell people an iPhone, locked down enough to only perform functions Apple sanctioned, AND a PDA based on the same idea (except with no phone circuitry in it and NOT resitricted from 3rd. party app development in any way). But the hacking community is going to keep trying to force the iPhone to serve double-duty.
Click to expand...

Or even more likely, Apple truly does see Touch OS X as its own platform, and wanted to wait until it released the complete line of products (phone/pod/tablet) before allowing official software development to start in order to better control things (its not like they could publish guidelines back in June about providing for tablet devices without giving their game away).
 
the megaPHONE


and I believe more tablet PC in nature, removable battery, and 3G.... with a USB port
 
lol, I saw a guy on the train today with a standalone PDA wondering to myself how many people actually use those things anymore. Phones these days seem to offer all the functionality the standalone PDA offered, and then some. Granted, most phones don't have a good interface to interact with it...
 
Mmm. I want one.

padd.gif
 
Apple shouldn't waste their time on a PDA, and instead focus on improving the software for it's iPod, iPhone, and Computer line. I don't think the business world is ready to switch over to Apple products, and I don't see a PDA being that useful for average consumers.
 
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