Apple considering slider-style iPhone?

Next year's iPhone might be hiding a keyboard underneath that touch-screen, according to a report.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Could Apple have a slider-style iPhone up its sleeve?

That's what The Register thinks, reporting Monday that Apple has shown off prototypes of an iPhone with a hardware keyboard to certain executives at wireless operators. The current iPhone famously comes with only one hardware button that returns the user to the home screen, with the rest of the buttons enabled in software.

The lack of a hardware keyboard is said to be a detriment for business users who are hooked on their BlackBerrys, and the iPhone's touch-screen keyboard certainly does take some getting used to in the first couple of weeks. The report suggests that a hardware-keyboard iPhone will be out around this time next year assuming Apple can work out the kinks.

I can't decide what I think about this notion. It's not completely out of the question that Apple would at least be thinking about a slider-style phone; some designs are quite popular with young and old alike. And we've long expected Apple to eventually release a family of iPhones similar to its strategy for the iPod product line, with different form factors and capabilities targeted at different groups.

But Apple has invested so much in the software that runs the iPhone that I would be surprised if it changed the game so early in the life of the product. Apple CEO Steve Jobs has said several times that the beauty of the touch-screen approach is that any button you need can be simply programmed with the software, rather than having to develop the software around the buttons.

Since the iPhone was released last year, there has been a noticeable uptick in phones with touch-screen interfaces from other phone makers and carriers. Still, as The Register notes, an awful lot of slider-style phones are sold every year because people still like keyboards.

We do know that Apple has applied for a patent on a clamshell-style iPhone, so it might be heading in that direction before it tackles slider phones. There's certainly plenty of room for several different styles in the fast-growing smartphone market, and Apple might be wise to hedge its bets.

[tomtwigg]

Another example of a real news site damaging its reputation by publishing rank rumor for link bait. It's a damn shame.

[simelane]

Perhaps you if you spent less time at rumor blog site you'd read less... umm, rumor news.

CNet has a perfectly great news section that is professional and doesn't try to compete with the rumors on the clearly marked blog sites.

[technewsjunkie]

I would like a better keyboard. I'm going to get the iPhone when it comes out but I tried one in the store and was frustrated at the keyboard. I've been using a Blackberry at work for about 2 years and use it primarily for texting e-mail.

I don't care how it is implemented on the iPhone, whether through software by turning the screen to landscape mode, or an add on (clunky), or whatever someone comes up with, but it does need improvement in keying text on the keyboard.

[MaLvaDo39]

Apple hates the tiny plastic keys that are permanently stuck on other competitor's phones. They can't be changed and are always taking up real estate.

I highly doubt Apple would go backwards and add a physical keyboard to the iPhone.

[iBuzz]

I'm not sure that I want a physical keyboard. I used a Treo for years before purchasing an iPhone last year. At first, I found the iPhone keyboard a bit getting used to. But I have to say, after a year of use, I can type much faster on a glass screen than I ever could on my Treo. I even got typing with one hand (typing with my thumb while holding the phone) down. I recently tried typing on a friend's Blackberry Curve and I found that I typed much slower on it than on the iPhone. I think it has to do with the simple of physics of it being much faster to simply touch an area on the glass than it is to have to touch, push, and release a physical key.

It all comes down to practice. My fingers just seem to "know" where the keys are on the virtual iPhone keyboard. And, it seems that the practice is well worth it because as I've said I can type much faster on an iPhone than I ever could on my Treo. I don't think I want to go back to a physical keyboard.

[moav]

I highly doubt it. Apple could easily create a touchscreen keyboard where the underlying substrate would rise a hair to simulate the feel of a keypad. Anyhow it really only takes a few minutes to get use to the touchscreen of the iphone and adding one would increase costs and the more I type I feel like its April Fools again.

[MCOjerry]

@technewsjunkie, I initially thought the same as you. I tried an iPhone at the store and it was a bit difficult to use. I used to have an LG EnV with a fully keyboard and was VERY use to using it. Now, I have an iPhone and the keyboard is AWESOME. Sure, you can make typos because of the layout of the keyboard, but guess what? The predictive text program takes care of much of this for you, and as soon as you get use to letting it do that, the awkwardness is gone. I type away and the iPhone corrects my typing automatically. Sure, not all words work well, for example; it's & its...but it is awesome. I'm much faster at typing with one finger than I ever was with two thumbs (or even one finger) on the LG's full keyboard. This is not something you will see in passing use in the store, you have to own it and use it daily. Trust me, it's better than a regular keyboard!

[MCOjerry]

@technewsjunkie, I almost forgot, the iPhone keyboard morphs to match the applications you are using, which makes typing much easier, since the common keys are right in front of you. I think you'd really like it after a while!

[joshalo3]

this was the biggest waste of an article

[SeizeCTRL]

Jumping Jesus on a pogo stick... you guys crack me up. There's like a 1001 articles about the iPhone and maybe one or two on news.com relating to the Samsung Instinct which is just as awesome as the iPhone.

You guys are so beyond biasness that it's sickening. If Steve Jobs farted in a jar and sold it as iFarts, there would be a line of people waiting to buy it and 20 articles praising Steve Jobs on here for going in and dominating a new market.

[SeizeCTRL]

Just to check, there are 18 blog posts related to the Instinct... 1833 to the iPhone! That's ridiculous fan boy crap!

Really, do you guys get a kick back for each mention of the iPhone from Apple?

[applusr]

It has nothing to do with being a FAN BOY. over a million websites dedicated to hating Apple, less that half of that hate on PCs. If any one is a fan boy it is the Windows users hating on the Mac users.

[thelemurking]

applusr:

it has nothing to do with hating on Apple and more to do with fair reporting. if there are indeed 1833 news.com blogs about the iPhone and only 18 about the Instinct, then there is definitely something wrong here. granted the Instinct has only been on the market since Jun 20th, 19th if you were already a Sprint customer, but there is barely a mention of the Instinct on here and it is an incredible phone.

with a name like applusr, I wouldn't expect you to understand.

[cvaldes1831]

As an owner of AAPL stock, I support any new product that will positively affect shareholder value. If there is sufficient demand for them to market and sell a slider-style phone, that's great. I won't buy one myself (just as I don't own an iPhone right now), but it's not about me, it's about what the market wants.

[Constable Odo]

More tripe to create more FUD. It's unlikely the iPhone will be sprouting a mechanical keyboard. If anything, there will be newer technology to produce tactile feedback on a touch screen. People gave up rotary dialing on telephones years ago, so I'm sure they'll be able to leave mechanical keyboards behind in time. Being a long-time typist, I like mechanical keyboards, but I've learned to adjust to all types of mechanical keyboards and if there comes a time when they stop making them, I'll adjust to a virtual keyboard. It just takes getting used to. I'm glad most of you people didn't have to make the transition from horse to a car. You'd have been ******** like crazy about how man wasn't meant to go over 35 miles an hour or some crap.

Where can I get iFarts from and how much are they being sold for? It would be good if I get several to toss in your face. And if they sell well, dominate the market and raise Apple's stock price, then I'm all for it.

[Perry_Clease]

"Jumping Jesus on a pogo stick... you guys crack me up. There's like a 1001 articles about the iPhone and maybe one or two on news.com relating to the Samsung Instinct which is just as awesome as the iPhone. "

Well you got me convinced! I went to the Instinct's web site, http://www.samsunginstinct.com/, and the only thing more awesome than their web site is the iKiller features of the phone itself. So I encourage everyone, even the most ardent Apple FanBoy (if you have the guts), to visit that web page.
.

Now it just so happens that tomorrow I have business at our local Sprint Service Center to get my son's cell phone repaired/replaced. So seriously I am going to take a look at the instinct. If it is as easy as to use as the iPhone, synchs address books with my Mac, works with iTunes ,and other things that make the iPhone the SmartPhone Killer that it is then maybe I will consider one.

[thelemurking]

perry:

for a nice side by side comparison, check out the following

http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/06/23/samsung-instinct-vs-iphone-2g/

[Perry_Clease]

The Sprint shop I was in this morning did not have a Samsung Instinct on the shelves. It wouldn't have mattered anyway since none of the display phones work, they are just mock-ups. Sidebar: This shop has very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable staff Sprint/Prostar Wireless of Miramar, 7080 Miramar Rd in San Diego.

[thelemurking]

That's my old stomping ground before I moved back to the east coast :) Used to live between Poway and Mira Mesa.

There's been a lot of talk about the Instinct selling well beyond Sprint's hopes and that they are on back order in a lot of areas.

huge section dedicated to the Instinct! anything and everything you would ever want to know... good and bad!
http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=132

[Galaxy5]

Two points: (I don't have an iPhone)
1. Krazit, I admire what you're trying to do, but Apple rumors just don't do you justice. Stick to the high quality reporting we enjoy from you.
2. It's hilarious when people whine about "too many iPhone articles". Do people write in to Car and Driver whining that they don't review enough Kias? The Samsung In-Stink, or whatever it is called isn't an iPhone. Doesn't work like one, doesn't have a nice interface or a decent browser. Your Samsung is a good lookalike, but has none of the other things that make the iPhone so exciting. So get over it. Apple makes great, groundbreaking products that most people love to use.

[TogetherinParis]

A new wireless chicklet-type keyboard & touchpad could be wrapped around the IPhone long ways pretty easily so touch typists could use the dang thing normally as a computer. It would have to be wireless, of course. It would be nice if they could find some way to hitch it to the older Iphones, too, like via the camera or something.

[Perry_Clease]

Speaking of interfaces and user experience. Tom, can you influence CNET to change the comment system so that we can put a carriage return into our posts and make them more readable?

[Tom Krazit]

I'm told that's being worked on, and I agree, that's a needed improvement.

[Perry_Clease]

Thanks Tom, have a great day

[deeplyaware]

I think that a very thin, metallic physical keyboard which swings on a hinge from the back of the IPhone for whoever wants to use it is a great idea. It should be very thin, and removable, for those who don't need one.

[Zaunto]

I don't know what all the fuss about the iPhone touchscreen is. PDA's have had touch screens since the first Palm Pilot. Windows Mobile has had a touch screen since it was the Pocket PC. Palm and Windows moved beyond the touch screen, as an innovation. The Touch Screen, having a Non replaceable battery, and not supporting java in the web browser, are not innovations. All Apple has to do is tape together some reconstituted "already been done", junk and the fan boys will worship it. LOL!!!

[Galaxy5]

Zaunto, the big deal is the interface, not the fact that the screen is touch-enabled. Touch screens have been around for a long-time. A touch-designed interface hasn't. We've merely had "touch-enabled" versions of Windows, Palm, etc. that weren't designed from the ground up for usability and speed with a touch screen. That's what the big deal is.

[thelemurking]

Perhaps you have never seen the multi touch Lemur Controller used by bands like Radiohead :)

http://www.jazzmutant.com has been doing that long before it was a thought in Apple's head.