[ja]

For starters my next step is to buy one
I can't help but think that Apple is only just beginning to unlock its potential
But if I add an ipod to my digital device collection I will not be the only person around getting bogged down

It immediately makes me think about what I can get rid of
Isn't the iPod the real digital hub-to-be

Although I am not aware of the techical ins and outs I can roughly see that there are two areas to be tapped

the software:
I understand that it is made by a company called pixo - founded by an ex-newton team member
The software platform features "a personal information management (PIM) suite, including address book, calendar, to do list, memo maker, PC synchronization, e-mail, graphical world clock and calculator, the Pixo Internet Microbrowser, as well as telephony applications such as two-line support, three-way calling, call forwarding, call hold, call log, call waiting, distinct ring tones, fax, voice dialing and SMS."
So we have already begun to see a couple of these options implemeted but there is possibly so much more

the firewire port:
Now isn't the firewire interface supposed to allow connection between two devices without a computer in between?
If so couldn't we see this port being used like a handsping springboard slot

The main missing feature for the ipod's growth is input
Some have speculated here about keyboards etc

Steve Jobs sort of missed out inkwell at macworld
I bet he has something up his sleeve
If the firewire port was used to snap something on the options could be as varied as handspring as already explored or it could be something that takes advantage of inkwell directly - like a flip screen
And why shouldn't we have a miniature camera or mini 'Rendezvous' via Bluetooth
If the input is sorted out then the possibilities are almost limitless.

[ http://www.ipodhacks.com/article.php?sid=131 mentions voice input via the headphones port]


anyway all hunches
I am betting that this digital hub-to-be will allow me to get rid of my pocketdrive, pda and even my powerbook for many uses

Let's see what comes


btw
this was a very interesting article written last year! - http://www.dailymac.com/content/edit...od_future.html

[vmpaul]

I'm still saying they go the Digital Paper way. It's not as complex as putting together a whole new product spec and it fits all the pieces they've introduced but don't quite fit together yet (bluetooth support, iCal, iSync, Inkwell, dot-mac).

All they really need is the ChatPen.

We tried to get the discussion going on this thread but it didn't get many bites : iPen?

Read the Wired article and then think about Apple's strategy so far. Does it seem logical? It is VERY different compared to where the PC crowd is headed with the Tablet PC.

[ja]

well well well
I think you are on the money
chatpen fits perfectly with the way that apple is going
I would even dare say that their harware/software focus will drift more and more in the direction of chatpen-friendly technologies
Of course it will work great with your imac and inkwell but it would still fight with your mouse for attention
I think it will really come into its own with all things portable - like powerbooks but especially smaller items like mobile phones, ipods and pda's. [I once saw an advertisement in wired for a digital pen-like attachment for a palm pda]
Something like a chatpen could really start to push practical computing away from the personal computer. My work is heavily graphical and I could do with it tomorrow [and do away with my powerbook probably 50% of the time when on the move]
So I have to agree with you
I am quite blown away after reading that wired article
I can't believe that your thread didn't get the respose it deserved
I'm already impatient to get one

[vmpaul]

Well, first of all I have to thank you for responding. I don't know why it hasn't developed enough attention to get a real conversation going? Maybe it's just too abstract for this crowd. Or they weren't interested in reading the Wired article? I'm not too sure.

It really does seem to tie a number of Apple's startegic moves together. And to add to Steve Job's notorious hatred of PDA's and his penchant for turning left when the rest of the industry is turning right (i.e. Tablet PC). If they went in the direction of Digital Paper and Chatpen it would really emphasize their Digital Hub strategy.

It's so logical when you look at a couple of their recent product announcements: Bluetooth, dot-mac, iCal, Inkwell-all somewhat crippled or hazy products. Plus, after you find out that Ericsson owns 15% of the company that developed the technology and recently the showcase of the Bluetooth-enabled Sony-Ericsson phone that works with Jaguar at MW NYC....a lot of synergy there.

If it is true (a big IF), I have to laugh thinking about the announcement at Steve's next Keynote: And the next big product to add to our Digital Hub.......PEN & PAPER!!!! (Jaw's will drop wide open....HUH?.)

I'm in the Graphics industry as well. I would love to be able to draw, sketch, e-mail, update my calendar on a pad of paper and know it's been digitized. The only thing missing is the ability to surf the web that a Tablet PC would offer.

[-Q-]

Here's some interesting speculation from the NYTimes about what Apple's next move is regarding the "PDA" market.

I have to say, the concept is interesting and does make sense from a certain perspective. And I'd much prefer the idea of a combined cell/pda tan carrying around a ton of stuff (after awhile, one starts to feel like Batman carrying around a utility belt).

But does Steve Job's dislike of PDAs extend to the cell phone market?

[vmpaul]

Wow, that's an interesting article. I thought maybe they would just use a phone by a 3rd party but I can see Apple developing their own. They seem to be un-afraid of developing non-computer products as long as they are a component of the Digital Hub. With their product design and integration they seem to be moving towards being a consumer product company like Sony.

I think the the main reasons the Newton failed was size and the fact that it was Mac-oriented. That's why I think the Digital Paper and Chatpen are so attractive. It removes the need to have a large screen (like the Newton) but still give you digital input.

If they stay with a form factor similar to the iPod/Palm that includes:
Palm OS (ubiquitous, thousands of apps)
5+gb HD ( at least as big as the iPod)
mp3 player (build on iPod success)
Phone (ala Handspring Treo or removable Bluetooth headset?)
Digital input from ChatPen & Digital Paper (see links above)

And if it ties together recent OS announcements (Bluetooth, dot-mac, iCal, Inkwell)...

[ja]

NYTimes was interesting but something about an apple phone does not seem right to me. Maybe I'm wrong but apple does not need to make its own phone
The whole reason why I was so impressed with the idea of the chatpen is that it would allow you to link lots of things together with a simple device
an ipod could be one of those things with expanded functionality
Apple would only need to ensure that the pen talks to all of them fluently.

The news on 10.2 so far is that it will give us lots of bits of technology but nothing yet on what will make the cost of the upgrade and .mac seem like a deal
I don't think that the writers who have suggested that they are worth it as is really believe what they are saying. However we know that it is not unusual because others are doing it

What is unusual is the increasing number of strange facts:
_ $129 for a 0.1 upgrade
_ retailers 'knocking up' prices after offering discounts/rebates [it is even happening here in the uk]
_ expensive .mac
... and the inkwell, chatpen, ipod, apple phone suggestions

I do not think they have lost the plot - I think that they are getting ready for a big shift of focus
10.1.5 to 10.2 suggests a small technological step
$0 to $129+£99 is a big one

10.2 is only there to enable the shift
lots of wonderful ideas about .mac etc at slashdot [ http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl...ad&tid=100 ]

a chatpen image is at http://www.anotofunctionality.com/na....asp?PageID=96

Anyone see a similarity to usb flash storage on your keyring?
If apple releases an ipen I bet it will fit right on there too and be your key to unlock their SERVICES

Just hold down the main application menu and look at 'services'
This is where apple will want you to feel that you are getting your money's worth

[vmpaul]

Originally posted by ja:
NYTimes was interesting but ...

Well, they don't NEED to make the phone for the .mac Services but if that NYTimes article is correct, they would need to for something that has the Palm OS/iPod functionality. It would just make sense to make a phone/pda themselves to insure the syncing compatibility. That is, if they are trying to make something that runs the Palm OS.

Plus, look at the financial opportunites:
-Apple-branded phone/pda/iPod - % profit per unit
-Apple Chatpen - % profit per unit
-Apple Digital paper - another % profit per unit

Ancillary profit center:
-Wireless phone access - similar to current per month phone charges (farmed out to telecom provider)
-.mac Services - yearly subscription fee

Additional profit centers:
-Mac desktop or portable computers - % profit per unit
-OS system upgrades - % profit per unit

They don't ABSOLUTELY have to make the phone but it would make more sense for system compatibility and profit opportunities.

I wouldn't put much into the fact that they're charging for 10.2. I'm sure they put in a ton of man-hours developing the features and if we're correct, there is a boat-load of additional back-end programming to get this system working seamlessly. I can imagine them developing up to product announcement (MacWorld SF '03?) and stringing the costs out by charging for Jaguar.

Great link to the ChatPen functionality. It really does appear to be close to implemtation. If not with Apple, somebody else will do it. I know I could use it.

You're correct about the Services menu as well. An implemented feature that is not fully functional yet. I thought of another cool feature of this system. Imagine uploading some mp3's to your .mac account and streaming music to your Apple phone/iPod. Pretty cool with GSM/3rd generation phone.

[oharag]

I posted a separate message concerning the ability for the iPod to play mp4 music files. It seems that no one knew whether it would be a firmware upgrade, or whether it's even possible (ie the decoder inside the iPod had to exchanged). Any thoughts about this on this thread.

I do not want to buy an iPod without knowing whether it does or will support mp4. You would have thought that Apple would have mentioned this recently with Quicktime 6.0 being released. I do not know whether iMusic 3.0 supports mp4 either.

[nana4]

They could start by incorporating a recording function, as well as digital in/out.

[oharag]

From MacUser's review of iMusic 3.0:

"The only feature missing from iTunes 3 is support for the MPEG-4 file format. This next-generation open standard media format forms the core of Apple's recently released QuickTime 6.

One of the key features of MPEG-4 is a new audio format called Advanced Audio Coding (AAC). Apple has said that AAC will supersede MP3, as it offers better sound quality even at higher compression rates. This means you'll be able to fit more tracks on your hard disk.

iTunes can play MPEG-4 files, but as yet, it is unable to encode tracks in the AAC format. It will almost certainly form the core of the next release of iTunes, and as the product is free, we can't grumble too much.

We weren't blown away by iTunes 3, but then it's pretty hard to improve on an almost perfect product. Aside from MPEG-4 support, there are only a couple of other features we would like to see in future versions of iTunes. The ability to customise the interface would be nice (SoundJam, the product iTunes is based on, supported skins), but we're unlikely to see this any time soon."

So I guess I'll have to wait. Sigh.