I just loaded up MacRumors and saw a post claiming that an Apple PDA is in the works. My first thought was “No f*@%ing way!”. And I mean that literally; not in a “that would be so cool” kind of way, but rather as in “after the release of the iPhone that would just be stupid”. Of course, Apple does have a history of making stupid decisions that drive it burgeoning stock price into the ground. Just because it hasn’t happened in a long time doesn’t mean it isn’t about to happen again.
In the spirit of my Why Apple Will Release a Cell Phone I give you my reasoning for why they will not release a PDA. First let’s look at how Apple Insider describes it:
“Like iPhone and the iPod touch, the new device runs an embedded version of Apple’s Mac OS X Leopard operating system.
Externally, the mutil-touch PDA has been described by sources as an ultra-thin “slate” akin to the iPhone, about 1.5 times the size and sporting an approximate 720×480 high-resolution display that comprises almost the entire surface of the unit. The device is further believed to leverage multi-touch concepts which have yet to gain widespread adoption in Apple’s existing multi-touch products — the iPhone and iPod touch — like drag-and-drop and copy-and-paste.”
Let me make sure I understand what they are saying:
- It is too big to put in your pocket.
- Resolution is too small for HD
- Limited operating system
- No mention of connectivity (I am coming back to this one)
That sounds like the Palm Folio to me; a device that came and went so fast you had to be paying close attention to even know what I am talking about.
There is just no market for that device. People may say that Apple can create a market for this device like they did for the iPhone. The difference is that the iPhone took two devices people loved (iPod and phone) and made them better by combining them without sacrificing the quality of either. This is a device that no one wants because it is not as good as the two devices they already have (phone and computer).
“But wait a second”, you might say. “The iNewton is not part phone and part computer. It is part entertainment device and part computer”. Wow, you guys are really on the ball. That is likely the approach Apple would take. After all, Apple’s recent success has been achieved from focusing on entertainment. I mean, I am positive Apple is the #1 laptop maker because of iLife, not iWork.
The problem with considering this an entertainment device three-fold.
- Without High Definition capabilities it is a pretty lame. I mean really, how many people even know what EDTV is? Not exactly a huge selling point.
- We have to think in terms of tomorrow and not in terms of today. Tomorrow, entertainment is almost exclusively a social activity, not a solitary activity.
- In order for “social” to work, it MUST be connected. Phones (for lack of a better word) are tomorrow’s entertainment devices. I guarantee it.
The tech story that interests me most today is the one about Sprint and Motorola showing off WiMax in Chicago. This is also the main reason that a PDA is of little interest to Apple, while the iPhone is. In five years, the vast majority of the readers of this blog will not have an always-on high speed internet connection in their pocket; for some of us this will happen next year. It will be their personal gateway to the world. Hell, I may be optimistic here, but it may even have an IPv6 address in addition to a phone number (complete with domain name resolution). You will share that connection with your other devices. That means that the question is, “What devices would compliment a high speed data connection in your pocket?”
There will continue to be a strong need for laptops (and sub-notebooks) with a FULL FLEDGED operating system that can run Office applications, media creation programs, store lots of data that is easily retrievable, has a friendly input device (i.e. keyboard), etc. Also, I can see a need for a media screen, but this would have to be 720p HD at the VERY LEAST. There will also be a strong market for communications tools. Most of these will be integrated with that high-speed modem in your pocket called a phone, but peripheral devices like bluetooth headsets will continue to be necessary.
There is just no market for a big, dumb, unconnected device like a Palm Folio, , an ebook reader, a Cross Digital Legal Pad, or even an iNewton (my dysphemism for this rumored Apple PDA).
Just because there is no market doesn’t mean companies won’t still release these products. I just know that I wouldn’t buy anything like this anytime in the foreseeable future.
5 Comments
Well, you can bet that whatever Apple has in mind they certainly won’t call it a PDA. And I’m pretty sure, for the reasons you listed and many more, that it won’t much resemble anything we currently call a PDA, except in size and dimensions.
This is the problem (and the fun) with leaks about Apple products in development — we usually just get the approximate dimensions and a few hardware specs and are left to work out the rest. That this particular leak was presented as a PDA says more about hyping the rumor than it does about the actual future product. UMPC-competitor is probably closer, or tablet PC, but you can be equally sure that Apple won’t call it those either.
Personally, I’m thinking more along the lines of a Star Trek: TNG PADD (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padd), with maybe some voice recognition added. Now I”ve been outed as a Star Trek geek (but not a Trekker or Trekkie).
I agree they won’t call it a PDA. I am positive it is about media, specifically watching video. Maybe they will call it the WatchMan 2.0.
I think there IS a market for the device. I’ve longed for a device that combines all the tech I carry, AND could be as useful as my Day Planner.
The format of the Day Planner (5.5 x 8.5 inches), allows me ample space for writing meeting notes, as well as all of the standard calendar stuff. I don’t care that it doesn’t fit in my pocket - I need the writing space.
Also consider that a Day Planner can weigh more than 2 lbs.
A device that could support such activity, plus be a cell phone, iPod, eMail retriever, web search, etc., and support periodical content would greatly clean up my briefcase.
For busy executives, soccer moms, or anybody who lives and dies by meetings and their calendar, it would be a device worth having.
You may be right. However…
If there’s no market for such a device, why is everyone constantly posting rumors that Apple is releasing one? I’d interpret that as a sign that they want such a thing. Certainly *I’d* buy one. I don’t need or particularly want my PDA and phone in the same box. I don’t think I need my PDA to do every last thing that my laptop does. But the iPhone demonstrated what great design can do as applied to a phone; if Apple were to apply those same design principles to a PDA, I think a lot of people would be very impressed. (The iPod touch should have been that device, but it wasn’t.)
I suppose I think Apple has the potential to do for the PDA market today what Palm did years ago — hit the right feature set, slap a great, minimal UI on it, and shift the paradigm.
This Newton PDA is THE device I’ve been waiting for. Basically, I want something that can do everything my Palm TX can do, but in an “Apple” style and ease of use. Palm’s web browser and email apps are horrible, so much so that I don’t even try using them anymore. If this Apple PDA can let me read eBooks and attach a portable keyboard, along with its Mac apps, then it’s “adios” for my Palm!
Oh, and I agree with the poster here who said that the device fitting in the pocket is of secondary concern… I agree.
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