In response to numerous requests from longtime MacDailyNews readers, we are reposting SteveJack’s opinion article “Is Apple building ‘The Device?'” as it originally appeared over five years before Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone. (Note that many of the links within the article no longer work properly as they are now over 14 years old.)
Is Apple building ‘The Device?
By SteveJack, December 10, 2002
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.
SEE ALSO:
Apple debuts iPhone: touchscreen mobile phone + widescreen iPod + Internet communicator – January 9, 2007
I paid $599 for my original iPhone, then got $100 credit at Apple Store a few months later when Jobs dropped the price.
Apple should hire SteveJack. He shows vision.
I remember reading your post in 2002. The iphone changed the world. Only a few of us can see the roots of the treo and the newton inside. Well done! So what is the unbuilt device that apple should build in 2017?
Project Titan?
Pretty much nailed it. What no-one really anticipated was the impact that apps would have once the 3G version came out.
Back in 2000, when iTunes was released, I had thought would it be great if Apple made a portable harddrive that I could listen to my newly ripped digital library with. A year later the iPod came out.
The Device for 2017 and beyond is green energy. Apple is way ahead of the curve. Their filing as an energy company is not incidental to their building, using, saving and trading green energy. This is the next big thing that will define the company from 2020 on. Skate to where the puck will be.
Wow, very forward thinking. Cingular was the carrier when it was introduced, then AT&T bought them before the phone came out. I had not heard that name in a long time. It also shows how iChat was evolving at the time. I got the iPod Touch first. I remembered being amazed when they did the first software upgrade. It was the first time I had an electric device that was better than when I bought it. Android fans can say what they want, it was Apple and the iPhone that changed the world. Steve Jack was way ahead on this.
I called the stock broker (from my Palm Treo) the day it was announced. Glad I did.
What hasn’t worked as expected is the “Boy, have we patented it!” part, but this is not Apple’s fault. iPhone is a marvel.
Now: is it so hard to build a real professional Mac? One with dual Xeon, eight slots of RAM and four PCI Express? Or at least half of it? Even beleaguered Dell has these kind of machines. People would buy it, even if it comes in Cook Pink.