“It’s not uncommon to come across gadgets on eBay that never made it to market, but this is certainly a unique find,” Ryan Heise reports for The Verge.
“Seller ‘russel400’ has posted a prototype of Apple’s unreleased WALT, or Wizzy Active Lifestyle Telephone,” Heise reports. “In 1993, right around the same time as the Newton came out, WALT was to be a companion for a home phone. Like the Newton, it had a touchscreen, stylus, and handwriting recognition.”
Heise reports, “However, that’s where the similarities ended. WALT was apparently designed closely with BellSouth, and offered an integrated address book, caller ID, custom ringtones, fax services, and even access to online banking. It also ran a stripped down version of System 6 with a HyperCard GUI replacing the finder. Clearly the device was ahead of its time. Sadly, or perhaps mercifully, WALT never saw the light of day beyond prototyping… It can be yours for the price of 16 new [entry-level] iPads or $8,000.”
More info and photo in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Jax44” for the heads up.]
The real question might be where the seller got it from, unless that is explained in the listing, which I haven’t read.
He just says its the jewel of his collection. Nothing about where he got it
It was left in a bar by a drunken Apple employee.
They had bars back then? 😛 Or did you mean the brothel on the seaside? 😉
Gone.
Bought by Samsing to eliminate prior art.
Also so Samesunk can use the “wizzy” part as prior art for their “TouchWiz” urinal cleansing system.
Yuck. I want to puke every time I see that term.
WAAAAAALT!
WAAAAALT!!
all those card swipe terminals look just like that. and that was ’93? wow.
I think we have to wait till Apple reps do press conference regarding the prototype
Advanced Diabetes Management