Report: Apple developing OS X minitablet

Apparently the Newton doesn't fall very far from the Apple tree.

AppleInsider is reporting that Apple has a project underway to develop a minitablet computer based on the OS X operating system it has developed for the iPhone and the iPod Touch. The site is calling it "the return of the Newton," referring to the much-maligned but cult-favorite PDA that Apple sold in the mid-1990s.

Apple's design ethos has advanced a bit since the original Newton, but could the company have a successor in the works?

(Credit: Apple)

The report describes a "slate" style device that's about 1.5 times bigger than an iPhone, with a high resolution display and the same touch-screen interface that's found on the iPhone. AppleInsider thinks we might catch a glimpse of this device at Macworld in January.

If true, this would appear to be Apple's take on Intel's MID (mobile Internet device) concept, rather than a PDA like the Newton. There's simply no market these days for the traditional PDA, as even basic mobile phones can do everything a PDA can do, just with more style. But there's not a huge market for UMPCs or MIDs at this stage of the game, either.

Apple's OS X and multitouch interface are definitely unique takes on the UMPC/MID concept. Many of the devices demonstrated by Intel and its partners last week at IDF required a stylus for navigation, reminiscent of PDAs. The wide-screen slate design reported by AppleInsider would allow for some interesting applications. This would also have a larger screen than either the iPhone and iPod Touch, and the size of the screen could make it easier to use the touch-screen keyboard in landscape mode, something that's on the wish list of many iPhone users.

Momentum is building around mobile devices designed for everyday folks, but I'd still be surprised if Apple were to launch its third multitouch device in 12 months sometime next year. Is there enough interest in handheld Apple gadgets right now to justify the iPhone, the iPod Touch and Newton 2.0?

The timing reported by AppleInsider--release in the first half of 2008--does coincide with the launch expectations for Silverthorne, a low-power Intel processor designed for just this type of device. Intel executives were tight-lipped last week about their chances of working with Apple on Silverthorne-based devices, probably not wanting to get sent to the principal's office for talking out of turn about Apple.

[thriftyT]

50% chance

I think it's somewhat likely that Apple is going to release a 7" sub notebook w/o optical drive. However if it turns out that they release a more conventional 12" thin PowerBook, the chances for a 2008 MID Newton-like device from Apple becomes increasingly likely, because there is indeed a niche to be filled.

If Apple 7" subnotebook released 2007 -> 25% chance of Apple MID.

If Apple 12" thin PowerBook (or PB Pro) released 2007 -> 90% chance of Apple MID in 2008.

There WILL BE a demand for portable computing in a device larger than a phone, smaller than a notebook.

[baygbm]

copycat

If I want to know what Appleinsider is reporting I will read Appleinsider. How about some original reporting for a change.

Thank you

[rickr765]

Cellphones can NOT do everything a PDA can do!

Believe me, I've tried. Yes, a Treo can, but that's a PDA and a phone together. Your garden-variety Razr or LG is a complete failure as an organizer - unless you have a trivially simple life. And the iPod and iPhone have no organizer capability whatsoever, except calendar display (no editing).

[canettijazz]

You can get it now

Actually, there is a 3rd party developer that has developed a tablet
computer with OS X. It's basically a modified MacBook and I believe
it utilizes a stylus. Other World Computing is the exclusive reseller.

[phydeaux53]

skip the minitablet

Take that nice touch screen off the iPhone and make it say
8.5"X11" (I'm a print traditionalist.) Wrap it in a sleak frame 1"
thick to accomodate a decent battery and at least a 160MB hard
drive and a at least 1GB of RAM. It could look like an iPhone with
a thyroid condition - but a good thyriod condition. Inside it has
the heart of a MacBook with the functionality of the iPhone. Use
the same sensors to switch the screen aspect ratio. Shazzam
what to you have? A MacBook with a touch interface that uses
ALL your standard applications (listening all you Unix weenies)
and is ALSO your phone. PhotoShop? Sure! There are ways to use
offset touch points for photo editing so you can see what you're
doing. Full iTunes. You can overlay a transparent, almost full
sized, keyboard on the screen or drop the unit into its charging
cradle and use a wireless bluetooth keyboard and mouse for
serious typing. Thinking in terms of a minitablet is so, so,
yesterday. Think ST-TNG or be lost in the dust.