In response to numerous requests from MacDailyNews readers, we are reposting SteveJack’s opinion article “Is Apple building ‘The Device?'” as it originally appeared on December 10, 2002:
By SteveJack
While the Handspring Treo’s top model offers a color screen, cell phone, Palm OS PDA and more, it also lacks the ability to upgrade the OS, an expansion slot, and most noticeably, Bluetooth. As I look at my current phone and my current Palm PDA, I realize I am in serious need of what I call, “The Device.” I really thought I wanted a Treo with Bluetooth, OS upgradeability, and an expansion slot, but since this didn’t exist, I was left dreaming of the Sony Ericsson P800 or even the Palm Tungsten W, if they ever become available.
But, then I got to thinking about the recent iChat rumors. iChat is rumored to be getting audio and video capabilities in addition to its current text messaging. Basically, you’d be able to chat with sound and pictures; iChat would become, quite simply, a videophone. It is not much of a technological leap to imagine a device running this new iChat, that contains at least a 20GB hard drive, a color screen and uses both Inkwell and a thumb-keyboard. This device, from Apple, capable of utilizing wireless GSM/GPRS networks, with SMS ability, could also run iCal, Address Book, iSync, and incorporate Rendezvous technology. I mean, Apple is obviously laying the foundation for something special with iSync and Rendezvous, and I don’t think it is just for the standard-issue “Digital Hub” Macintosh desktops and portables.
This device, able to be made today with current technology, would easily be “The Device.” Running Mac OS X or a mobile variant, it would allow the user to communicate via text, audio, and video. It would snap digital photos and organize them, do email, and browse the web. It would sync automatically with your desktop or portable Mac. It would run Sherlock for web services. With its large hard drive inside, and its included FireWire port, it would absorb the iPod by playing AAC / MP3 audio and interface with iTunes, but it would also play feature-length MPEG-4 movies, too, in full color. It would have the FM tuner that iPod lacks, too. It would incorporate Inkwell for jotting down notes, interfacing with the device or sketching ideas. It would have built-in Bluetooth, which would allow for, among other things, short-range personal broadcasts; your own radio/TV station and any number of websites in your pocket. McDonald’s Drive Thru’s would accept payments via Bluetooth from “The Device.” And, of course, it would have the basics like any PDA; your date book, to do list, calculator, etc. I figure a form factor about the size or a Newton or a bit smaller would do the trick.
This would be “The Device.” iDevice?? And only Apple, in concert with a partner like Verizon, Cingular, or Sprint, has everything in place to make “The Device” a reality today. I wonder if they are close, yet, or still far away from fruition? I really hope they are building it. Everything seems to point to it or am I just wishing too hard? I’ll tell you one thing, if Apple can produce it, they’ll really change everything this time, and they’ll never be able to make enough. Nearly everyone would have an Apple device in their pocket that worked best (or only) with a Macintosh computer. Would you buy one for, say, $799? I would.
SteveJack is a long-time Macintosh user, web designer, multimedia producer and a regular contributor to the MacDailyNews Opinion section.
MacDailyNews Note: The original post is here.
FYI: New article(s) from SteveJack are on the way soon!
Related articles:
Apple debuts iPhone: touchscreen mobile phone + widescreen iPod + Internet communicator – January 09, 2007
pwnage
farkin’ spooky
the boy is good
It’ll never happen
;P
The iPhone is even greater than what SteveJack envisioned — great than what anyone envisioned — except for the thought of it containing a hard drive.
If the iPhone had a hard drive in it, it would have been perfect…
Oh well… I’m still making bets that Apple will release a 6G iPod that is similar to the iPhone, without the phone part of it and with a 100gb drive. I have no doubt this will happen.
he got the size /form factor wrong !!
Regarding the memory capacity, there’ll be 32 GB flash soon. Just waite for the first upgrade of the iPhone. Even at 8GB rigth now, it’s perfect for my own usage. Can’t wait1
Hey Steve jack, nice crystal ball
David,
I really believe that the next generation of iPod videos (coming soon) will have this touch screen, and the top model will have a 100 GB hard drive.
The price will probably be about the same as the present 80 GB iPod.
This screen-technology is great for the iPhone, but even better for a video iPod with its capacity for storing films, TV shows, and videos.
After all, 8 GBs doesn’t hold much video material.
I remember then. SteveJack has enough geek prophecy genes to work at Apple, if he wants.
But we need him here. Go MDN!
The time that passed between now and THE IDEA was the time it took for all that technology to mature and become small enough and cheap enough for people to buy.
Hmmmm…
iChat has had audio and video capabilities in place and functioning quite nicely for 3 years or so!
Research?
As far as an integrated Palm device is goes…
If you took my current Palm TX… an excellent device with a big screen, Bluetooth, WiFi AND an SD slot already in place…
THEN put the Treo series’ telephony bits into it and you’d have it!
Alas, Palm seems to be content with slowly going down the tubes.
Apple is doing it right!
This is the next “iPod”. When Windows users keep seeing these things in use and realize what they can do with them… along with the ability to use that one Windows app they need… the beautifully functional OSX in a smartphone…
Couple that with looming Vista tragedy…
Who is Apple trying to kid? This is alien technology. Rumor has it that the so-called “Wingmakers” from the center of the galaxy gave these ideas to SJ in a effort to advance human intelligence. This product doesn’t look humanly made. It is too beautiful and too advanced.
With any luck the 2G version will have another camera to allow video chats.
The reported 5-hour battery life would be made unbearably atrocious if Apple added a hard drive.
I’m a little uncomfortable with Apple’s move away from being Apple *Computer* Inc. The iPhone wasn’t what I expected (simply an iPod you can make phone calls on) and while I’m happy for everyone who’s excited by the new iPhone, I’m left wondering what’s in store for Macs. I’m surprised that they Keynote didn’t mention anything about Leopard, NAND-based laptops, 8-core Mac Pro, displays, or any other non-iPod/iTunes/iTV/iPhone product.
Has anyone heard anything about the ModBook that was supposed to be debuted today? I understand if iPhone euphoria has taken the limelight, but I’m just worried that it’s vaporware. Has anyone at Macworld stopped by the OWC booth?
iPhone missed the key killer app: FM radio !
M$FT will be all over that feature with the ZUNE 2.0 !
@NK
Are you serious? “Simply an iPod you can make phone calls on”??
Have you looked at te keynote video and read all the info on apple.com? These guys have re-worked how a User interacts with a PDA, Phone and iPod. It is way, way past being an iPod you can make calls on. Get real. Just the way that the camera (and its resolution) works with images is unlike any other device in its class.
I know this thing is totally special because when I showed my wife all about it, she said that she didn’t think $499. was a lot to pay for something like that at all. She thinks just about everyone will want one.
Guess I’m getting one…
My apologies to Designer; I wans’t quite clear enough. I have read what the iPhone can do.
What I imagined when I first heard about the iPhone – and all I really wanted – was an iPod that could make phone calls. Something to take the place of my iPod and my simple cell phone. All of the other features seem unnecessary to me, but I’m not saying they will prevent me from getting one.
I do have reservations about how “revolutionary” this product is. These guys haven’t really re-worked how a user interacts with a PDA, phone, and iPod… they’ve merely put all of these things in a package, and they’ve done a good job of it. The “way the camera (and its resolution) works with images” is not unlike any other device in its class. It works the same way as any other camera-phone, it just has more megapixels. That’s evolution, not revolution. It’s still a cool product though.
I like my Treo 650. Except for the sad support of syncing with a Mac to iCal. Even the MissingSync, which I own, never does a good job with syncing.
I was totally hoping to preorder the phone. Oh well. I’ll wait, semi-patiently.
why are people wondering why the modbook wasn’t mentioned durng the keynote?
it’s not an Apple product, but a mutilation of a macbook by third parties.
Oh my freekin god! Steve didn’t mention any new Mac’s in the Keynote. And, and, and he’s gone and changed the name of the company to leave the word Computer out of the company name.
It can only mean one thing ——- Steve and Co. are getting out of the Computer business!!!!!!!!!
Or, you didn’t actually WATCH the keynote!
Seriously folks, do you know what this means? It means there is another event – soon, where we get to do all this all over again!
Ain’t it great?
@NK, hopefully this thread isn’t dead already and you will see this.
You really need to watch the keynote. I think you are misunderstanding how truly revolutionary this device is.
Just like “Designer” above, earlier today I told my wife about the iPhone and that it is $499. She said it was too expensive.
Tonight, she saw the keynote and, at the conclusion, she realized $499 isn’t bad at all for what it is capable of.
It’s not a mangled mashup of a cellphone and an iPod. This is an entirely new beast.
I’m having a hard time relating to the exaggerated comments on this thread, especially as they relate to my comments.
I saw the Keynote.
I’m not freaking out because Apple changed its name.
And I wasn’t looking for Modbook to be mentioned in the Keynote (I was wondering why none of the rumor sites had reported on the Modbook unveiling at Axiotron/OWC’s booth.)
Matt, thanks for a non-hysterical comment. I definitely think its cool, and is worth the price (however hard to swallow it may be). I don’t think it’s a mangled mashup of a cellphone and an iPod. It’s a mashup of a whole bunch of things that is well done.
Perhaps we are at a state in consumer electronics when having a well thought-out, well produced product is considered ‘revolutionary.’ I do think that’s kind of unfortunate, though.
No.
They’re building The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
-c
MW: ‘move’ (it or loo… Oh! You lost)