Sources: Apple Newton-tablet not ripe for Macworld

[AppleInsider]

An initiative on the part of Apple Inc. to develop a modern day successor to its now defunct Newton handheld device is not expected to play a role in next week's Macworld Expo.

The project, however, remains a work-in-progress, according to people familiar with the matter, who attribute its floating timetable to a number of challenges similar to those that threatened to plague iPhone in the months leading up to last year's expo.

In its current form, the Newton device -- sometimes dubbed a Mac tablet or slate -- has been described along the lines of a larger iPod touch or iPhone rather than an Apple adaptation of the modern day tablet PC.

When the project does come to fruition, it's expected to leverage a more advanced implementation of Apple's multi-touch technology, featuring concepts and functionality not yet available on the company's iPhone and iPod touch handhelds.

Apple is instead expected to use next week's Macworld Expo to focus on Mac notebooks, iTunes content distribution, and iPhone advancements.

Among the specific announcements believed to be on tap are a chic and ultra-lightweight sub-notebook, a new iTunes movie rental service, and an updated version of the iPhone software.

It remains unclear whether Apple will make any announcements related to its planned adoption of the Intel Silverthorne ultra-mobile processor, as that chipset is neither launched nor available in production quantities at this time.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[Flounder]

And a single tear slowly roles down Ireland's cheek...........

[shanmugam]

mac pro - out
mac touch - not in

xMac coming ...

[melgross]

This is the size product I'd like to see.

[oilerch50]

Originally Posted by shanmugam

mac pro - out
mac touch - not in

xMac coming ...

I think you are correct

[NasserAE]

It is an expected move since MobBook have just been designated as Apple-authorized product. I prefer to see a multi-touch keyboard for MacBook and MacBook Pro where your keyboard is basically another screen that changes to whatever the active software want it to be including a custom keyboard or a touch surface.

[zunx]

Bring it as a handheld computer with FULL Mac OS X inside and full quality wired and wireless video out for NATIVE Keynote and PowerPoint presentations.

[sartis]

I would really like to see a mac tablet....I own a Lenovo x60 and I like the tablet platform...apple would do it right.

[monstrosity]

Misery.

[spacevator]

If true, this will be a big let down. At a minimum, Apple must talk to this lapse because I think a follow-on to the iPhone touch technology is expected at MWSF08. Many are now watching Apple to see how they capitalize on touch technology before others catch up. And they WILL catch up quickly! Apple must lead the standards race for this new UI. I know a lot of people that have made new investments in Apple because of the iPhone and the promise of touch technology for new exciting product growth.

[echosonic]

Originally Posted by spacevator

If true, this will be a big let down. At a minimum, Apple must talk to this lapse because I think a follow-on to the iPhone touch technology is expected at MWSF08. Many are now watching Apple to see how they capitalize on touch technology before others catch up. And they WILL catch up quickly! Apple must lead the standards race for this new UI. I know a lot of people that have made new investments in Apple because of the iPhone and the promise of touch technology for new exciting product growth.

I'd like for Apple Insider to begin clarifying WHOSE sources these are for these pieces. I find it to be a little bit bullshit that all of a sudden before MacWorld and the biggest Quarterly earnings announcement in the history of the company there are suddenly reports of lackluster news and bummer information driving the stock down.

Is this a private source of AI? If this "source" is tied to any brokerage or investment house...

[backtomac]

Originally Posted by Flounder

And a single tear slowly roles down Ireland's cheek...........

He'll be hitting the bottle hard tonight.

[Rogzilla]

I hope that, even if it isn't released on Tuesday, that perhaps Jobs will discuss it. You know, he will be just about to leave and say "Oh, one more thing...while this wont hit the shelves until May (pulled it out of my ass), here is something special the boys are nearly done with."

I hope I hope I hope I hope! If not...well, Ireland's got a drinking buddy!

[g3pro]

The Newton was not a mac tablet or slate in the least sense. It was a PDA.

Apple still has not released a Mac Tablet or Mac Slate, or Mac Touch.

[onlooker]

You know why it's not ready for MacWorld. It's a freaking prototype that is going to the prototype junkyard just like hundreds of other prototypes. It's needs to be totally re-thought, and redesigned. It may never even see the light of day.

[TX65]

hmmm,

While the movie rental stuff and probably a new Apple TV are welcome,, but a lot of eyes are looking to Macworld Expo next week and if all Steve goes through is information that is already leaked out,,, it will be a anti-climatic keynote.

We will see what Tuesday brings

[Amorph]

Originally Posted by onlooker

You know why it's not ready for MacWorld. It's a freaking prototype that is going to the prototype junkyard just like hundreds of other prototypes. It's needs to be totally re-thought, and redesigned. It may never even see the light of day.

Only hundreds?

This is quite possible. The last time Apple worked on a tablet they released a phone.

[reboylin]

I'm always checking Intel's roadmap to devine potential product timelines at Apple. It's evident that the ultra low power chip suitable for a full OS X small tablet will not debut until Q2 at the earliest. I believe it's coming; but I never held out hope for Macworld.

The patent showing a small tablet docked to a display could portend one convenient manifestation. It could be a big seller for Apple's school portable program as well. We might come away from the keynote happy with how Jobs has reworked Apple TV and Mini products in unexpected ways. I know I'll be disappointed by the lack of a headless Mac in the iMac price range.

[SpamSandwich]

Lmao!

[mrjoec123]

Originally Posted by shanmugam

mac pro - out
mac touch - not in

xMac coming ...

I really think the xMac folks should just let that rumor die. The future is portables. Apple isn't much concerned with mid-range desktops.

While I agree that some would like to see a "headless iMac" mini-tower, I think the product would ultimately have limited appeal. And it would be a step backwards in terms of progressive innovative thinking.

[mrjoec123]

Originally Posted by TX65

hmmm,

While the movie rental stuff and probably a new Apple TV are welcome,, but a lot of eyes are looking to Macworld Expo next week and if all Steve goes through is information that is already leaked out,,, it will be a anti-climatic keynote.

We will see what Tuesday brings

And yet again, the same old pattern persists. Rumors arise. Rumors are repeated time and again by devoted Mac fans. Keynote is given. Few rumors come true. Mac fans talk about how "boring" the Keynote was. Mainstream press picks up on disappointment. Apple gets slammed. Stock goes down.

The only difference this time is that people are ALREADY disappointed in a Keynote that hasn't even happened yet.

If you expect every rumor reported here to come true, no matter how ridiculous, you're going to be disappointed. Personally, I think iTunes rentals, a software update/announcement about SDK and third-party app sales for iPhone, and a sub-notebook (all the well-substantiated rumors) are plenty exciting news for one day at Apple. Even though some of those things are products I have little or no interest in, I still think they'd all be good news for Apple. And there's bound to be a twist or two in there along the way.

But who knows if even that much will happen? What exactly is the measure of a good Keynote? I think people generally judge Keynotes by how many products actually interest them personally, instead of looking at the overall picture of how the announcements impact the company. Last year was a great example. If you were drooling over the possibility of the iPhone for years before that day, you thought the Keynote was a barn-burner. If you didn't much care if Apple made a phone, you probably thought the Keynote was a one-trick pony. In either case, it's hard not to admit objectively that last year's Keynote was one of the most significant ones in Apple history. The iPhone's impact on the future of the company and its direction, not to mention the entire telco industry, is incalculable.

I think the iTunes rental store has the potential to be almost that important to Apple's future.

[TX65]

Originally Posted by mrjoec123

I think the iTunes rental store has the potential to be almost that important to Apple's future.

I full agree that the I-Tunes rental store is very important to Apple's future as is the expansion of the film portfolio. My added thought is the new portable device as well as a vastly improved Apple TV becomes an awesome compliment to the rental store creating a complete package offering that delivers the content as well as the range of devices to use it.

Very similar to how Ipod + I Tunes + I Tunes Store = Complete Package

[shanmugam]

Originally Posted by mrjoec123

I really think the xMac folks should just let that rumor die. The future is portables. Apple isn't much concerned with mid-range desktops.

While I agree that some would like to see a "headless iMac" mini-tower, I think the product would ultimately have limited appeal. And it would be a step backwards in terms of progressive innovative thinking.

if only "E" series intel CPUs fit enough on iMac, xMac NOT dead anytime soooooon ................

[Olternaut]

Well I think this is part of a disinformation campaign!!! I DO NOT BELIEVE YOU APPLEINSIDER!!!!!!! I DO NOTTTTTT!!!!

We will get the mactouch we WILL!!!! ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



we will.

[Walter Slocombe]

according to people familiar with the matter analysts may hedge their bets and bet both ways, the Cupertino based Mac and iPod maker shares may or may not go up, and either or come down.

according to analysts familiar with people..



yeah and Ireland will sell all his stock in a Rit of Fealous Jage

[teckstud]

Oh well, so much for MacWorld- Welcome BlockbusterWorld!

[spacevator]

Originally Posted by Olternaut

Well I think this is part of a disinformation campaign!!! I DO NOT BELIEVE YOU APPLEINSIDER!!!!!!! I DO NOTTTTTT!!!!

We will get the mactouch we WILL!!!! ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



we will.

Think about it...it wasn't just that Apple did a phone last year. What got the world excited was the cool touch interface. The possibilities of that are hugh. We want more. And that would naturally be a portable touch device that improves on the iphone. Where is it Apple? What have you been doing all year?

[Olternaut]

Originally Posted by spacevator

Think about it...it wasn't just that Apple did a phone last year. What got the world excited was the cool touch interface. The possibilities of that are hugh. We want more. And that would naturally be a portable touch device that improves on the iphone. Where is it Apple? What have you been doing all year?

According to a recently published article (I forget the link) about the iphone's developement Steve got pretty dang mad at his staff for the iphone project being behind schedule because of numerous bugs. He got so mad that he didn't even shout like he usually does at his staff but was uncharacteristically quiet. That unnerved the staff so much that they scrambled and got all the bugs out of the iphone in time for Macworld 2007. From what I understand from AppleInsider's "sources" its a similar situation this year for the mactouch. I can only hope that Jobs is or was raising hell and kicking @zzz over this and indeed they were able to nick those bugs out in time for the unveiling at macworld 2008.
Gawd I really do hope so.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by Flounder

And a single tear slowly roles down Ireland's cheek...........

He has such a specific set of expectations that he's likely to be disappointed anyway.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by Olternaut

Well I think this is part of a disinformation campaign!!! I DO NOT BELIEVE YOU APPLEINSIDER!!!!!!! I DO NOTTTTTT!!!!

We will get the mactouch we WILL!!!! ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

we will.

We have denial and anger. What's the next step again?

[Olternaut]

Originally Posted by JeffDM

We have denial and anger. What's the next step again?

I'm not there yet. Keep hope alive!!

[Zillatron]

Originally Posted by mrjoec123

....I think the iTunes rental store has the potential to be almost that important to Apple's future.

Not just what i quoted...the whole post...was one of the BEST I've read in a long long time.
You nailed every single point. Very well done. You deserve some sort of medal

Z

[badNameErr]

Originally Posted by shanmugam

xMac coming ...

No. How many times does it need to be said: No.

And again: No.

Get it? No

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by Flounder

And a single tear slowly roles down Ireland's cheek...........

HAHA After reading this article's title I automatically thought of how crushed Ireland will be.

[minderbinder]

Midtower is the new tablet...

[Rogzilla]

Well, I am just going to cross my fingers and hope this is disinformation. Trying to throw everyone off...yes...that's the ticket....I am NOT crying shut up!

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by Flounder

And a single tear slowly roles down Ireland's cheek...........

Haha.. lol

Nah I didn't expect it that early, but that Wired article has me rethinking my stance on the matter. I still don't expect to see it - but I wouldn't bet against anything at this point. The mere fact that the iPhone UI evolved from a tablet has me all curious.

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by backtomac

He'll be hitting the bottle hard tonight.

Why would news impact that?

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by SpamSandwich

Lmao!

I'll give you "Free Hilary". What are you thinking?

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by Walter Slocombe

according to people familiar with the matter analysts may hedge their bets and bet both ways, the Cupertino based Mac and iPod maker shares may or may not go up, and either or come down.

according to analysts familiar with people..



yeah and Ireland will sell all his stock in a Rit of Fealous Jage

Ireland already sold his stock