Inkwell on Mac OS X proves existance of Apple PDA
WWDC had a lot of interesting revelations about Mac OS X 10.2. But what really interests me is that they finally released Inkwell- a technology they'd been sitting on since Mac OS 9. I can't say a ton about this, but here are the 'logical' conclusions.
Think of this: Apple announces Bluetooth support. People with 'older' Macs can use Bluetooth even if it is not integrated with their machines. Apple DROPS the infared port from the new PowerBook G4- no syncing easily with the Palms any more without bluetooth.
Then, Apple shows off Mac OS X 10.2 with Inkwell support. Why is this so important? There is only one way to 'draw' text into the Mac OS now, and that is through the Wacom tablet. These don't have what you would call 'excellent' OS X support now, so you have to assume that Apple has something up their sleeves.
Plus, why include this technology in Mac OS X 10.2 if you can't use it on all Macs that can run the OS?
Apple is going to come out with it's new PDA- the successor to the Newton, which will be able to sit next to your computer (like your mouse does), and connect to it via Bluetooth. You can use this as your pad for inputting text, pictures, etc into your documents. Then, when you are done, you can take it with you wherever you go. That explains why you can use Inkwell on all Macs instead of just 'Tablet Macs' or laptops with touchscreens.
It's a much easier solution and makes Inkwell available to everyone.
Think of this: Apple announces Bluetooth support. People with 'older' Macs can use Bluetooth even if it is not integrated with their machines. Apple DROPS the infared port from the new PowerBook G4- no syncing easily with the Palms any more without bluetooth.
Then, Apple shows off Mac OS X 10.2 with Inkwell support. Why is this so important? There is only one way to 'draw' text into the Mac OS now, and that is through the Wacom tablet. These don't have what you would call 'excellent' OS X support now, so you have to assume that Apple has something up their sleeves.
Plus, why include this technology in Mac OS X 10.2 if you can't use it on all Macs that can run the OS?
Apple is going to come out with it's new PDA- the successor to the Newton, which will be able to sit next to your computer (like your mouse does), and connect to it via Bluetooth. You can use this as your pad for inputting text, pictures, etc into your documents. Then, when you are done, you can take it with you wherever you go. That explains why you can use Inkwell on all Macs instead of just 'Tablet Macs' or laptops with touchscreens.
It's a much easier solution and makes Inkwell available to everyone.
Comments
But remember what I said in the other thread about this...
the game now has shifted from just trying to increase desktop market share away from windoze but to add devices that not only add new revenue streams but also makes apple a much more strategic players. With OS X, it also opens the market to a more server-side or enterprise-lite environment (XServe and future servers from Apple) only enforce that.
i also see new pda's but also peripherrals such as mice, keyboards, wireless earphones.
Will apple get into the Handspring Treo territory? I don't know. maybe too ambitious.
[ 05-20-2002: Message edited by: eat@me ]</p>
Personally, I always think that the iBook is going to be converted into somekind of tablet notebook, with a swiveling screen, it can be converted from the traditionally otebook mode into tablet mode, and vice versa.
Converting an existing product into something that used stylus is much easier, rather than designing and marketing a totally new product.
i think that it's kinda strange that last Monday (20th May 2002)'s iBook revision is just an upgrade on CPU speed (plus more L2 cache) and a change of video chip (plus more VRAM). But maybe it's just a temporary upgrade?
I noticed that there seems to be a much closer iBook upgrade these days.
October 2001 -> January 2002 = (around 4 months)
January 2002 -> May 2002 (aroud 4 ~ 5 months)
Maybe there will be another iBook upgrade at or after MacWorld New York? A stylus equipped iBook with Bluetooth seems to the logical next step. After all, it was said to be the Newton eMate's succesor.
As for Apple releasing new peripherals.
Well... The current style of Apple Pro ouse and Apple Pro Keyboard do need some upgrading. The keyboard does need some upgrading here there to improve its look, ad plus maybe add some more feature. And the mouse might need to be added with some more features, though hopefully Apple will NOT add a scroll wheel and a second mouse button, Apple should be more originial in handling these kind of things.
I don't know though about wireless Bluetooth input devices. Wireless device is nice, but it need batteries to be regulary change or charged.
A new upgraded iPod would be nice. I wish it will support more sound formats (like any sound formats that are supported by QuickTime?) a time keeping feature, and so on. Though what many people want is a drop in its price.
I could bring to work, take photos , transfer in the PDA immediatly and order them with the help of Iphoto and go back to my office and transfer the whole thing.
Perhaps you can say that i can do this job better, but generally if you don't do the job immediatly you don't do it later. The way i order my professionals photos are terrible : there is no order at all. I have to react.
Sales of the bluetooth adapter have stopped. NOT a good sign.
<strong>All is NOT going according to plan.
Sales of the bluetooth adapter have stopped. NOT a good sign.
Well, you can be pessemistic or you can be optimistic....
Maybe the sales have stopped because bluetooth will be on the MoBo of all macs within the near future?
Maybe there is a genuine flaw in the D-Link adapter itself...
There is a lot of explanations for the halt in production... I mean why would Apple mention it in a keynote and not count on it being available in products?
BTW, why are you still a moderator <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />
can someone PM me with the info on what happened? <img src="graemlins/embarrassed.gif" border="0" alt="[Embarrassed]" />
This is BAD.
We need these adapters shipping, at least by MWNY. There must be some kind of problem with them (unless they are stocking them up until NY.)
The Forbes article from today is interesting, but let's just leave it at that.
[quote]<strong>Apple has cancelled customer orders for the USB Bluetooth adaptor, the availability of which it said has been delayed indefinitely. The device, manufactured by peripheral maker D-Link, was due to start shipping in early April.
Customers who had ordered the adaptor from the Apple Store were notified of the cancellation by email in mid-May. According to the email, Apple said it 'would like to apologise for the delay you have experienced with this product. Unfortunately, at this moment, we do not have a scheduled date of when we expect to be able to resume shipment of this device. We have therefore decided to cancel your order to prevent an even longer delay. If, in the future, the current supply constraint is resolved, we will make it available for purchase on the Apple Store.'
Apple representatives in both the UK and the US were unable to explain the reasons for the delay, simply saying they had been informed by D-Link that they could not confirm a shipping date. D-Link's vice president of marketing, Bradley Morse, refused to comment on the delays. Sources close to both companies said the issue was due to manufacturing problems and a parts shortage.
It is unclear when supplies will resume. However, industry experts said the problem should not impact Apple's overall Bluetooth strategy too heavily, as the company is expected to launch Macs with built-in Bluetooth functionality in the coming months.</strong><hr></blockquote>
802.11 for wireless network, Bluetooth to connect the PDA as a tablet.
A tablet device using Airport might be more likely, though I doubt it. Bluetooth is too slow for much more than peripheral interconnection. Airport is in every Mac NOW. It's relatively fast AND it actually works.
As for as Inkwell goes, Apple said in their PR that it would support WACOM tablets for input. Several years ago, an Apple patent application surfaced showing a stylus driven trackpad that could be added to PowerBooks and iBooks. Adding a cool feature like that and value to already strong products makes much more sense than a stand-alone device. Apple was the first company to add built-in trackballs and trackpads to PowerBooks, this would be a next logical step.
Although, with Apple, you never know.
Exactly. The PDA would act as a peripheral like the mouse or keyboard, but for writing onto the computer. Apple obviously has plans for this, or it wouldn't be in the OS. Plus, it won't be laptop only, or it would just be optional in OS X, not for every machine.
<strong>
Exactly. The PDA would act as a peripheral like the mouse or keyboard, but for writing onto the computer. Apple obviously has plans for this, or it wouldn't be in the OS. Plus, it won't be laptop only, or it would just be optional in OS X, not for every machine.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Do you mean that the PDA will work like a LCD graphic tablet ?
<strong>Airport is in every Mac NOW. It's relatively fast AND it actually works.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Sure, jeffharris. But AirPort consumes significantly more power than Bluetooth. AirPort simply draws too much power for use in PDAs with small batteries. Thus, the power savings offered by Bluetooth are especially relevant in a PDA. You don't want your PDA's battery to be half-drained every time you synchronize it wirelessly.
Escher
So you know, my WaveLan card in my Newton doesn't make a huge difference on battery life.
If you know something, spill it. But we know you don't know anything, your newton lust is morphing into full blown delusion. <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" />
A PDA has a chance (a slightly bigger eBook sized one).
A convertable subnote/pad would also have a chance.
A wireless tablet has no chance. Have you seen the cintiq LCD graphics tablets -- wired, and they cost more than an iBook. The mythical Kormacian wireless eBullshjt device isn't happening, period.
Apple plans to launch models with bluetooth compatibility, eh?
Interesting. Some people will be a tad peeved at not getting airport built-in BEFORE bluetooth, which in light of Jaguar's new airport features would be a worthy addition. Still, I think it's wise to NOT build airport into the Mobo -- too many versions of 802.11 out there, and too many places that are still wired. You don't know if you campus/workplace is going to get 802.11a/b/g or another variety. Some are cross compatible: b and g. Other's are not: a.
BUT...
If I may indulge in a little rayceresque DSP fantasy role play of my own:
I recently read of, I believe, Intel technology that would effectively build programmable wireless technology onto the processor itself. All you really need is to build the system with the appropriate antennea and program/instruct the firmware/drivers accordingly to flip from one standard to another or reprogram for an upcomming one.
This would be a great way to build wireless onto the MoBo. Now there's no need for such tech to live on the CPU -- a small DSP that handled all your audio and wireless I/O: something that would live on every MoBo you sell -- would do the trick just fine.
hmmm...
He he. Sounds like Fran441 knows something we don't...
I really hope that "thing" is ready by MWNY.
Stevenote:
1) Jaguar preview
2) New PowerMacs (faster G4s)
3) One more thing
my 2 cents