Apple is listening- iPodSkine rumored

I told you recently that Apple has my bet for producing a real handheld computer that can break into the mainstream and help me get my work done in a form that simply works.  I discussed that my view of Apple and their ability to control the design and production of such a device is a major plus for such a project and how I thought they were the only company right now in a position to take on such a project.  Maybe Steve Jobs is listening because today comes a very serious rumor, and it is definitely a rumor, that Apple is getting ready to produce a successor to the Newton.  The Apple PDA is rumored to be 1.5 times the size of the iPod Touch and have a screen resolution of 720x480 on a display that covers almost the entire face of the device.  Sounds like a Haiku to me, how about you?  The rumor surfaced on AppleInsider along with this cool artist rendering to show what the PDA might look like and scaled comparatively to the newest iPod and iPhone:

While AppleInsider doesn't have any information about inking or handwriting recognition the fact that it's being touted as a successor to the Newton could be significant.  The Newton was the first device with a serious attempt at HWR and this is very exciting news indeed.  Or at least very exciting rumor indeed.

Comments

[Montevale]

Can only imagine where Newton device would have been now if they didn't cut it back then.
With the success of iPhone it only makes sense to step up further in the multitouch with the bigger screen.
Apple - Right On!!!
This will bring a bit more fire under the pants of some UMPC developers.

[vm-01]

Jobs has never been a fan of inking.

Even that quote seems to support the idea that even if Apple had a working prototype they would never release it.

[WLS]

Very sensational rumor but a photoshop job of some fanboys dream does not give it much credibility. There are persistent rumors that Apple will announce something in Jan. And this does sound like something they could easily do with the intel menlow chipset. I would expect it to be more open than the iphone\touch design.
This almost makes it worth waiting another 3 months.

[Nikooo]

There's also the possibility that people from Appleinsider are actually fans of JK?!? Or maybe the "reliable source" is JK himself?

Would be very very cool though...

[jfl]

Darn't Kendrick, I was going to buy an OQO or a 1610 this afternoon (and blame it on you of course)and now I have to wait. You are looking pretty prescient today my friend unless someone at AI has you in their feeds (and why wouldn't they)and decided to see if they could take your prediction a step further, journalistic standards be damned.

Anyway, here's my vision of the "MacTouch" or iPhone “Fatty” if you will:

An Ultra Mobile Mac might look like an OQO sized iPhone/iPod Touch minus the slide out qwerty (just like the artist rendering) It might have included in the box the new wireless Apple keyboard, and some sort of Samsung Q1esque Organizer Case. It would weigh less than a pound and the screen whatever the resolution, would be scalable of course via the same multi-touch funtionality of the iPhone/iPod Touch. An integrated stand would certainly be nice, but I can’t figure out how to do that in my head while still conforming to Apple’s minimalist design ethos. Ports might include 1 USB, 3.5 mm headphone jack, HDMI Out, iPod like dock receiver, and maybe a SIM card slot. 3-5 Megapixel camera on the back? Maybe. Under the hood: x86 processor, 30GB of flash memory and, an embedded but beefier version of the iPhone flavor of OSX with a somewhat compromised version of iWork included. Writing on the screen using some sort of stylus with a Magic Marker like tip - very hard to imagine but imagine how nice an Apple stylus might be?

[Brian]

What you are seeing out of Apple now is like light from another star system - years in the past and not likely to deviate from a chosen direction for less than major shifts in the underlying framework of the universe.
That being said, there some very intelligent people making solid gear for Apple.
However.... don't you always hate the butt?
Referring back to the earlier post about the next real handheld computer, the following (edited) long winded spiel was emailed (rather than spammed in the threads) to James who asked that it be thrown into the mix for consideration:

Don't you think the essential requirements for the GenNext will also include more of a focus on secure personal information storage and extensibility?
Many people are now devising schemes to organically grow the functionality of their handhelds up to the limits of the hardware in ways un-imagined by designers. In many respects, OEM's are moving towards providing a canvas for the user to work on - not a picture to simply enjoy or a television with a limited number of channels.
Apple likes to present a finished image and control the channels which is nice, but growth is messy.
The real next wildly popular personal computer could well benefit from a finite carefully crafted intuitive interface (Apple) atop a more open architecture that communicates and interacts into expanded functionality environments well while protecting that which is most important to the user - not the manufacturer.
This core device functionality would reduce overall requirements for any resulting hardware while allowing for innovative incorporation of associated tools.
Ergonomics and user interface are pretty far down the design path at this point - witness the ease of use of the Jesus phone and think of it joined to a sliding qwerty keyboard (physical/virtual) that would allow you to use the entire screen real estate or an exceptional pen input on a fast refresh paper-like screen. Now marry that to enhanced hardware/user I/O (faster networks across more freq's/protocols, full sized keyboard, pointer, SXGA out, alternate storage, printer, peer-to-peer, etc..) and Shazam.
A centralized control model works within a given environment but suffers when individuals are chaffed by the boundaries and adaptation is called for but unavailable and/or not allowed. It is not by accident that Apple’s share is what it is and you can take it or leave it but don't change it unless we say so.
On the other hand, anarchy begets pestilence, famine, failure and ruin, etc. – no less so in product development than in real life. Yes?

My theory is that the Next Gen of handheld computing will be less that of the mainframe/server/service to terminal/limited device model whereby a centralized, heavily managed resource dispensing down to the proletariat is gray or for that matter, white/black with chrome.
Rather, it will grow and develop to occupy the sweet spot between control/chaos to become more like people themselves.
Hey Apple, we'll take your well thought out device and hack it in little ways that are meaningful to us if we please plus we'll buy twice as many if you make it easier for us to do it and don't make the Kool-Aid mandatory.
And should this mythical device spring forth in the near future, it won't come from the modern day Model T makers:
"You want that in white or black - right? Plus chrome and for two years of perpetual protective upgrades and slow proprietary networks - sign here please, no, in blood and make your payment to the Non-Progressive Progressives Hipster Foundation".

No, the next real personal computer will come from the free-wheeling, growth based Indo-Pac Rim.

And fit in your pocket.

And not break in a Lazy-Boy.

And not require that everyone continually reaffirm the greatness of the product in terms of the narrow scope of what it does exceptionally well or treated like an ideological enemy if they don't.

The next great handheld computer will provide the satisfaction derived when your own personal computer allows you to do almost as much as you desire anywhere you want with the smallest footprint (my pocket is my ideal gear bag) and fewest compromises imaginable.

Thank you for the hospitality James and extended thanks ahead of time for anyone who waded through this.
Brian

[Montevale]

Wow... that is like the longest post I've read in a while.
Brian, what you are sayin is not possible to attain today and untils the processors are built on a something like 15 nanometere dyes and flexible/rollable screens we are not going to see real full blown computers in our pockets, not considering the ones that hick up/overheat/take few minutes to start/crash and don't last more then few hours at the most.
The road is going to be bumpy.
we need specialized computeres that do those special things a ok. The enemy of the Great is Good. There are plenty of good umpcs and none are great, there are also plenty of good PDAs and none are great. However there are Great GPS devices and Great MP3 players and Great TVs etc.
Jack of all trades is never going to be great.

[Art Kavanagh]

I don't care whether it's true or not. This gives me the perfect excuse I was looking for to resist buying an iPod Touch, at least for a few months.