Two New Devices from Apple: Category Defining 'Media Pad' and 'iPhone Lite'?

[MacRumors]

Apple and Verizon partnership rumors seem to have taken on a life of their own with multiple reports that the companies are planning to work together as early as 2010. Businessweek provides the most intriguing report yet with claims that Apple could be working on releasing two different devices with Verizon: an iPhone Lite and a Media Pad.

One device is a smaller, less expensive calling device described by a person who has seen it as an "iPhone lite." The other is a media pad that would let users listen to music, view photos, and watch high-definition videos, the person says. It would place calls over a Wi-Fi connection. One of these devices may be introduced as early as this summer, one person says.

BusinessWeek was able to confirm with Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam that Verzion had been in talks with Apple but could not get any details from McAdam.

Instead, the magazine cites "two people familiar with the subject" as the source for these two possible Apple devices. The Apple media pad is said to be smaller than Amazon's Kindle ebook reader but its touchscreen is bigger than the Kindle's. The source predicts that this new product will be a category defining breakthrough device:

"The media pad category might go to Verizon," said the person who has seen the device. "We are talking about a device where people will say, 'Damn, why didn't we do this?' Apple is probably going to define the damn category."

Meanwhile, the iPhone Lite is said to be thinner, smaller, and cheaper than the current iPhone. Most of the cost savings are said to come from a new system-on-chip that has reduced costs.

Article Link: Two New Devices from Apple: Category Defining 'Media Pad' and 'iPhone Lite'?

 

[Peace]

Wow Karma rocks!!.. Verizon 4G Apple Pad? imagine the possibilities.

 

[AidenShaw]

The Apple media pad is said to be smaller than Amazon's Kindle ebook reader but its touchscreen is bigger than the Kindle's. The source predicts that this new product will be a category defining breakthrough device:Meanwhile, the iPhone Lite is said to be thinner, smaller, and cheaper than the current iPhone. Most of the cost savings are said to come from a new system-on-chip that has reduced costs.

Like this:

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/vzhub/overview.jsp

 

[robindahlia789]

could it be real?

 

[Beric]

So Verizon's getting something from Apple. The question, of course, is "what?"

 

[HiRez]

The Apple media pad is said to be smaller than Amazon's Kindle ebook reader but its touchscreen is bigger than the Kindle's

The way that's phrased, it makes it sound like the Kindle has a touch screen too, which AFAIK it does not. That's one of my criticisms of the Kindle though (in addition to the ridiculous price), the funky keypad makes the device much larger than it needs to be.

 

[robindahlia789]

So Verizon's getting something from Apple. The question, of course, is "what?"

and WHEN (precisely)

 

[Jono Hayes]

Iphone lite ? ?

iphone lite just sounds like a ipod touch ? ? ? ?

why would apple talk to Verizon about an ipod

 

[kas23]

I hope this is true, if only to deliver AT&T a swift kick in the butt via a message that Apple can & will go elsewhere. AT&T has become very cocky lately with their little iPhone monopoly they have going. They're likely the reason we don't have tethering and video streaming over 3G.

 

[fleshman03]

Wow Karma rocks!!.. Verizon 4G Apple Pad? imagine the possibilities.

Yeah - Another $40/month in addition to the iPhone data plan.

Also - if the Media Pad (Come up with a better name ... please?) works on WiFi, why is Verizon selling it? Wifi + optional 3g/4g data? Or are we going to be forced into it? I just want a wifi tablet that is cheap. Not a $2000 tablet over the course of 2 years...

 

[Mykbibby]

August sounds about right for this device (the iTablet/Netbook). I'll be very interested to see this summer's products.

 

[MVApple]

Sounds like we are getting a Mac Tablet. The question now remains, will it run the iPhone OS X and be compatible with all the applications? Or will it be a full on OS X with an atom processor? Possibly a 7" device? Possibly it's own App store?

 

[FJ218700]

doesn't bode well for $AMZN

 

[Macisgr8]

amazing. I hope so I hate ATT oh yah I'm still another 1.3 yrs on my contract.

 

[HiRez]

I hope this is true, if only to deliver AT&T a swift kick in the butt via a message that Apple can & will go elsewhere. AT&T has become very cocky lately with their little iPhone monopoly they have going. They're likely the reason we don't have tethering and video streaming over 3G.

Not to mention the resistance to integrated IM apps (iChat?). I'm sure AT&T just loves the ridiculous fees they collect for low-bandwith text messages. Then again, Verizon probably does too.

 

[kas23]

iphone lite just sounds like a ipod touch ? ? ? ?

why would apple talk to Verizon about an ipod

It sounds less than an iPod Touch. If you take away from the iPhone something besides the actual phone, you really won't have much left, considering the phone part is the worse thing about the iPhone.

 

[illegallydead]

I'd be interested to see where this goes. I really don't see the whole "iPhone lite" actually coming to fruition; simply put I think that Apple says piss on you if you can't afford the iPhone. They are not really in the business of making just a fancy phone, no, it is an "iPhone"

The "media pad" sounds interesting, although I am getting the picture of more or less the bastard child of a netbook and an iPod Touch...

Again, curious to see where this goes.

And I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see the iPhone go Verizon, too. I'm on AT&T and will probably stay there, but competition between the two firms might make AT&T stop being the cocky little pr*cks that they are and ONLY caring at all about their iPhone customers. I have a Samsung Eternity (very nice phone) but it is pitifully crippled just so that people will buy an iPhone instead. Kind of sad, really...

 

[Skika]

this is getting interesting

 

[illegallydead]

Like this:

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/vzhub/overview.jsp

I'm pretty sure they are talking about something portable...

 

[drakeshipway]

I'd be really happy to see a tablet.
That way Apple could enter the netbook market, while not being cheap and whatever Apple has called netbooks.

 

[robindahlia789]

prices on plans?

anyone got a guess on how much a monthly bill for verizon will be?
for unlimited texting, mandatory Data, and the lowest minutes are over 90 dollars a month

 

[StuddedLeather]

Woah can't wait to see it, well actually I can but whatever. . . New iPhone leak please

 

[B1gMac]

Did anybody realize yet that just because the iPHONE is exclusive to AT&T, does not mean that they can't develop some new product with Verizon?

I'm so excited. I'll definitely buy an iPhone light until the full iPhone comes to Verizon.

Plus, I don't buy the notion that Apple wouldn't be willing to go through 'all of that work' to develop a CDMA iPhone. I mean... so even if they put in $100 million of R&D (unlikely), you really think that it wouldn't be worth it in order to gain BILLIONS in increased revenue? (Easily 5 million verizon iPhones sold in the first year, plus increased app store and iTunes revenue). They can also develop a new one to replace it in a year, and give everyone a REALLY good reason to upgrade.

KA-CHING

 

[kas23]

...make AT&T stop being the cocky little pr*cks that they are and ONLY caring at all about their iPhone customers...

The only thing AT&T cares about with its iPhone customers is the check we send them every month. As for the phone, we enjoy less features then most other smartphones (I speak of tethering and video streaming).

 

[Peace]

Yeah - Another $40/month in addition to the iPhone data plan.

Also - if the Media Pad (Come up with a better name ... please?) works on WiFi, why is Verizon selling it? Wifi + optional 3g/4g data? Or are we going to be forced into it? I just want a wifi tablet that is cheap. Not a $2000 tablet over the course of 2 years...

Not to mention the resistance to integrated IM apps (iChat?). I'm sure AT&T just loves the ridiculous fees they collect for low-bandwith text messages. Then again, Verizon probably does too.

It's all about bandwidth. It's always about bandwidth. Verizon currently has the better with 4G. This could also be Jobs' way of telling AT&T to get their 4G rolled out ASAP.

When you're doing an iChat video chat using said "Tablet" that could gobble up bandwidth real fast. That's my guess as to why video chatting isn't available.

And there is no way Apple would give up it's iTunes ecosystem to sign with Verizon.