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Two New Devices from Apple: Category Defining 'Media Pad' and 'iPhone Lite'?
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Which will come first? People stop making jokes on forums, or forum readers learn to identify jokes...
Correct me if I'm wrong.. but wasn't iPhone's first codename Safari Pad or Internet pad or something??
Maybe Apple is coming out with a netbook and the only way to make it affordable to the masses is let Verizon or at&t subsidize it since Apple doesn't want to make a "low end" product like a netbook. And if this happens, you bet your arses it won't be 4G. You could forget that. I guarantee they will reel everyone in for a 3G model and then sell a 4G the next year for even cheaper just like they did with the iPhone.
This sounds like the return of the SUPER RUMOR, reminds me a lot of the Powerbook G5 and original iPhone/full screen touch iPod rumors of yore.
All we know is that it has two corny, crappy names, it's gonna be SWEET, and that it's going to be on the network most of the country wants it to be on.
Yup, smells like uber rumor. Bring on the iPhone Lite! Hopefully, Verizon will pair it with some kind of insurance, but I am sure that Apple is the one making sure people don't protect their investment.
All we know is that it has two corny, crappy names, it's gonna be SWEET, and that it's going to be on the network most of the country wants it to be on.
Yup, smells like uber rumor. Bring on the iPhone Lite! Hopefully, Verizon will pair it with some kind of insurance, but I am sure that Apple is the one making sure people don't protect their investment.
More than one
Just because something may be available to Verizon does not mean it won't be available from at&t.
Just because something may be available to Verizon does not mean it won't be available from at&t.
Oh come off it people, this media pad thing sounds like a stupid idea, i dont think theres a market for it, and as for the iphone lite, just when the idiotic rumors of an iphone nano had finally gone we had to have this, there will be no iphone lite! GIVE IT UP
I prefer AT&T over Verizon any day. I've had AT&T/Cingular in northern IN and Southeastern MI, and my signal is always significantly better with AT&T - so much so that most of my friends who had Verizon have switched because of how good of service I always have (even before there was an iPhone).
I'm sure there are areas where reception sucks - like with any cell phone company, but you almost only ever hear people complain on this site.
Won't be Verizon Only
There are multiple reasons this will not be Verizon only....
1) All the iPhone customers are on ATT right now, upgrading to the new device would force them to move to Verizon. Many verizon customers just moved to ATT for the iPhone 3G. So now anyone with an iPhone 3G can't have the new one unless they early terminate their contract and move to verizon.
2) Verizon is still CDMA. As soon as Verizon's 4G network is large enough then we might see an iPhone on verizon. But having a CDMA version completely different from the 3G version would be annoying and difficult.
3) Store stock. Could you imagine the apple retail stores having to explain to cuztomers that if they want the new and improved iphone they would need to go to verizon, and if they don't then they are stuck with ATT and the older iphone.
4) Why would apple start another exclusivity deal with verizon. It's a bad idea to switch the exclusivity to a completely other carrier without including the original carrier.
I think we are hearing about verizon getting these devices because they want people to stop switching to ATT so verizon is leaking the rumors. ATT will likely get the same devices so customers will now get a choice. If anything I see a CDMA and 3G version of a new iphone in June for both ATT and Verizon. The media tablet would be very strange to require verizon. If anything ATT would make sense with all their Starbucks wifi locations available.
There are multiple reasons this will not be Verizon only....
1) All the iPhone customers are on ATT right now, upgrading to the new device would force them to move to Verizon. Many verizon customers just moved to ATT for the iPhone 3G. So now anyone with an iPhone 3G can't have the new one unless they early terminate their contract and move to verizon.
2) Verizon is still CDMA. As soon as Verizon's 4G network is large enough then we might see an iPhone on verizon. But having a CDMA version completely different from the 3G version would be annoying and difficult.
3) Store stock. Could you imagine the apple retail stores having to explain to cuztomers that if they want the new and improved iphone they would need to go to verizon, and if they don't then they are stuck with ATT and the older iphone.
4) Why would apple start another exclusivity deal with verizon. It's a bad idea to switch the exclusivity to a completely other carrier without including the original carrier.
I think we are hearing about verizon getting these devices because they want people to stop switching to ATT so verizon is leaking the rumors. ATT will likely get the same devices so customers will now get a choice. If anything I see a CDMA and 3G version of a new iphone in June for both ATT and Verizon. The media tablet would be very strange to require verizon. If anything ATT would make sense with all their Starbucks wifi locations available.
OK, now, no offense but you're not the kind of customer Apple is after. Apple doesn't make 'customizable to the nth degree products'. They make products with limitations so that the average consumer can have a standardized, quality experience with the most important computing tasks. That's why they dropped the firewire port from MacBooks (most people who own MacBooks never use firewire ports - ever). That's why they don't include 20 USB ports on their computers like some PC makers. That's also why the iPhone does not have an SD card slot or a bunch of other functions Joe the Plumber wouldn't even know how to use.
A tablet device made by Apple will have limited function probably along the lines of an enhanced iPod Touch with the main enhancement being screen size. And believe it or not, that's pretty much enough to satisfy the needs of the masses including business types (better than a crappy netbook), medical types (I already use my iPod touch like I used to use my PDA), and home tech types (set it on the coffee table and browse the web, control your TV). That's about it.
So, if you want to jump ship and become a customer of another computer company, that's fine. I'm just surprised you haven't done so already. This is what Apple does with everything.
why? just because you don't want either product?
there are enough people on here regularly seeming semi-excited (or more so!!!) about both of these proposals.
i'd love a touch tablet... something with decent screen res in a 7" or 8" screen. easy to cart around (in a snazzy protective case of course), great for watching movies, easy sync with your imac to recharge... how cool would it be?
yes, typing could be painful on a touch screen... so why not a separate bluetooth keyboard for those users? this could easily blow everyone away and define a whole new way of working and being entertained (lying in bed emailing customers... when did the business/personal time lines get so blurred? LOL).
i find my Touch gets more useful every week. the new media pad could easily replace a whole swag of devices with a app store (HD apps). we can have ipod games and Touch apps in their own spaces so surely it wouldnt take long for this device to grow it's own apps area. that's what has all the other phone companies so worried. i'd be having sleepless nights just wondering what Apple are about to launch
they might have caught up with touch screen phones but their apps and music/vid stores still lag. no doubt they will try hard to catch up to a media pad too. but if you don't have the OS background, you can't create an environment and support material overnight. Apple are leveraging 20+ years of usability and software/hardware development to create these redefining products. Even M$ can't do that...
Sorry, but no. There is no way in which the iPod Touch competes with the:
Samsung Q1 series
Vaio UX
OQO
Kindle series
And, it doesn't have to be a netbook, it just has to be able to do the things a netbook does: light web browsing, cloud computing apps, IM, light document editing, all on a screen that provides more usable space than a pocketable device, but isn't as big as a laptop. And while I don't think it NEEDs to have a built in keyboard (like a netbook), I do think it needs to have an available physical keyboard (either like the Samsung Q1's, or more interestingly like the Touchbook).
Now, you're right about previous tablet-ish devices having a questionable track record. The question is, can Apple put a new spin on it that makes it sell/work? Those previous devices were all basically running the desktop version of Windows XP. The Apple device will bring lessons learned from the pocketable OS X, desktop OS X, and deliver Apple's strengths to the segment (iTunes, strong UI design, strong media integration, "it just works" philosophy, etc.), probably with some type of new twist on it.
I just hope that Apple doesn't ALSO bring their weaknesses to that market segment (ie. lack of support for things like physical keyboards).
Like the first picture of this and we are sold:
Next Apple moves will be Books and Games
http://spidouz.wordpress.com/2008/09/03/next-apple-moves-will-be-books-and-games
Allowing full blown presentations from NATIVE Keynote and PowerPoint files. We need thousands for our University.
Next Apple moves will be Books and Games
http://spidouz.wordpress.com/2008/09/03/next-apple-moves-will-be-books-and-games
Allowing full blown presentations from NATIVE Keynote and PowerPoint files. We need thousands for our University.
I've been predicting (hoping for) these products for ages. Can't wait to see them hit the market.
To respond to your predictions with more of my own :
It will run a different OS (Mobile OS X) which is designed for a touch interface - that's a huge difference to start with.
No stylus, why use a stylus when you have a UI designed for finger touches? It could be used for text input, but this still isn't very advanced.
Possible, but see the iPhone, bluetooth will be a second thought, and most people will use the onscreen keyboard.
They'd have their own dock, not a third party one.
Keep dreaming - quite possible, but why would they?
Again, quite possible and useful, but highly unlikely. You are not their target market.
It'll support that the way the iPhone does (notifications), or possibly with an Apple app.
More likely just the iPhone client, perhaps with video. The iPhone does have quite a few alternative IM clients though.
Not going to happen. From Apple's point of view, why do this?
The iphone is already compatible with some of these via Safari, suppose they might do tie-ins with Google, but I doubt it for launch.
heh. I really doubt it.
I suspect you'll be disappointed, as the features you've quoted are quite technical and stray from Apple's usual focus on mobile devices (consumption of media).
I'd look for this to be the perfect device to function as a video player, book reader, web surfer, and email machine, in other words a competitor to netbooks, without the clunky keyboards, and the horrible XP interface, and a competitor to kindle, without the clunky interface. If they get it right, they could redeem the reputation of tablets as mobile computers.
It will run a different OS (Mobile OS X) which is designed for a touch interface - that's a huge difference to start with.
No stylus, why use a stylus when you have a UI designed for finger touches? It could be used for text input, but this still isn't very advanced.
Possible, but see the iPhone, bluetooth will be a second thought, and most people will use the onscreen keyboard.
They'd have their own dock, not a third party one.
Keep dreaming - quite possible, but why would they?
Again, quite possible and useful, but highly unlikely. You are not their target market.
It'll support that the way the iPhone does (notifications), or possibly with an Apple app.
More likely just the iPhone client, perhaps with video. The iPhone does have quite a few alternative IM clients though.
Not going to happen. From Apple's point of view, why do this?
The iphone is already compatible with some of these via Safari, suppose they might do tie-ins with Google, but I doubt it for launch.
heh. I really doubt it.
I suspect you'll be disappointed, as the features you've quoted are quite technical and stray from Apple's usual focus on mobile devices (consumption of media).
I'd look for this to be the perfect device to function as a video player, book reader, web surfer, and email machine, in other words a competitor to netbooks, without the clunky keyboards, and the horrible XP interface, and a competitor to kindle, without the clunky interface. If they get it right, they could redeem the reputation of tablets as mobile computers.
Does anybody all excited about Verizon's 4G network realize what they're talking about? I don't know much, but I'll try not to claim it.
Having a 4G network really means zilch. It does. If AT&T doubles or quadruples its 3G network speed, how is that any different from 4G? Is 4G going to be running at 100Mbps? IT'S MOSTLY MARKETING. This seems to be bordering on a Microsoft commercial. "Well, it's 4G, and 4G is better than 3G." Someone please show this to me.
As far as Verizon itself, what good is a 4G network going to be at first if devices don't work on the CDMA network? I don't think Verizon can replace the tens of thousands (if not hundreds of thousands) of cell tower devices they have to LTE. Therefore, if you're not in the LTE territory, you've got a nice brick. On AT&T's (or T-Mobile's) network, you've still got a widespread EDGE network to fall back on.
In short, there is no magic bullet. All cell providers are going to be sporadic until the signals learn to jump through walls and not require towers as close.
Having a 4G network really means zilch. It does. If AT&T doubles or quadruples its 3G network speed, how is that any different from 4G? Is 4G going to be running at 100Mbps? IT'S MOSTLY MARKETING. This seems to be bordering on a Microsoft commercial. "Well, it's 4G, and 4G is better than 3G." Someone please show this to me.
As far as Verizon itself, what good is a 4G network going to be at first if devices don't work on the CDMA network? I don't think Verizon can replace the tens of thousands (if not hundreds of thousands) of cell tower devices they have to LTE. Therefore, if you're not in the LTE territory, you've got a nice brick. On AT&T's (or T-Mobile's) network, you've still got a widespread EDGE network to fall back on.
In short, there is no magic bullet. All cell providers are going to be sporadic until the signals learn to jump through walls and not require towers as close.
So, does this mean that Apple is directing engineers away from the iPhone, and onto other projects? What a terrible loss of talent and resources. What a shame for those of us that are eagerly waiting for the next iPhone.
iPhone lite: If they do release a cheaper iPhone I think it'll be crap. I just cannot convieve of a way they could make it happen without people thinking "why didn't I just save up a little longer and buy an iPhone".
Tablet; oh yes, fantatic idea... Extremely worried about it being linked to one phone provider, especially a different one to their current partner... Major mistake IMHO as no-one with an iPhone would buy it... Better surely to sell it unlocked so you can shove any old SIM in there... Apple don't need a partner anymore, they're products will sell themselves now... They only really needed AT&T at the beginning to ensure sales.
Tablet; oh yes, fantatic idea... Extremely worried about it being linked to one phone provider, especially a different one to their current partner... Major mistake IMHO as no-one with an iPhone would buy it... Better surely to sell it unlocked so you can shove any old SIM in there... Apple don't need a partner anymore, they're products will sell themselves now... They only really needed AT&T at the beginning to ensure sales.
For all those suggesting a convergence between a tablet computer and a Kindle/e-reader device, have you ever seen an e-reader? Probably the most defining technology of these is they use "electronic paper" rather than a traditional LCD or OLED screen, which because it isn't backlit is much easier on the eye for reading large amounts of black and white text as it's the closest thing to reading real printed text on paper. However, it's currently monochrome and suffers from such a low refresh rate that it's totally useless for just about any tablet application - it really would be like having an original Newton display on a iPhone.
Sure you can read e-books on an LCD display, you've been able to do so for years on a raft of PDAs, but backlit display technology just isn't a good technology for this, hence the popularity of Kindle and other true e-readers.
Sure you can read e-books on an LCD display, you've been able to do so for years on a raft of PDAs, but backlit display technology just isn't a good technology for this, hence the popularity of Kindle and other true e-readers.
As far as the iPhone coming to Verizon or another network, when your contract is up with AT&T, why not simply unlock the iPhone and use Boost Mobile with their $50/month unlimited everything plan? It's prepaid, no contracts, using the same technology as the iPhone and from what I have heard has great coverage and the only real requirements in their terms of service is that you don't use their service in a way that will prevent others from using it as well, no real data caps and they also say that they will notify you in advance if there is an issue.