CDMA iPhone, AMD-powered Apple TV with iOS, 7-inch iPad rumored

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  • Reply 181 of 207
    dunksdunks Posts: 1,254member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by kotatsu View Post


    I haven't seen any evidence of that yet. Look at Super Mario Galaxy 2 for example. No iOS game has visuals anywhere near that quality. (and at 60fps too)



    True. Nintendo and Apple have a similar design philosophy in some respects. Both companies make the user experience at the core of their business. I do think nintendo is in trouble though if their next offering can't produce an xbox like online experience with a more streamlined app store like virtual marketplace.
  • Reply 182 of 207
    irelandireland Posts: 17,798member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Hudson1 View Post


    I doubt we'll see a $100 price cut coming at this point as there doesn't seem to be any data suggesting Apple needs to do it. Isn't it more likely Apple would up the specs at the current prices, such as...



    32GB (10") for $499

    64GB (10") for $599



    By next year a 7" 16GB iPad at $399 would be as profitable as the 10" 16GB at $499 is now. Perhaps even more profitable. So that's not the price cut it looks like. It merely stops people who want a smaller, "lighter" tablet from looking elsewhere - from Apple's POV.



    And by keeping the 7" version at 16GB that pushes people who want higher storage to go for the more expensive, larger model.
  • Reply 183 of 207
    these are not even rumors. AI is just writing fiction.
  • Reply 184 of 207
    mdriftmeyermdriftmeyer Posts: 7,503member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Macintosh_Next View Post


    Couldn't this also be that both Sprint and Verizon will get the iPhone?



    I'm thinking this will all change for Verizon with their Google deal.



    I also see it having to do with China and not Verizon getting a CDMA custom chip phone.
  • Reply 185 of 207
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Socrates View Post


    Of all of these, the 7" iPad seems the least probable.



    Porting from iPhone to iPad means redesigning your interface for a different screen size and aspect ratio. This isn't automatic - it requires a complete manual redesign of each screen.



    Yes, Apple would need a good reason to change the screen size.



    If they do change it, then they'd have to rename the iPod Touch as the "iPad Nano" wouldn't they?

    ie: 3 different size iPads... they currently have 2.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by nkhm View Post


    Again, no need to redesign the UI. 1024 x 768 is just that, you don't redesign an app for 1024 x 768 if it's on a 15" or 17" monitor, what would the difference be? Smaller pixels is all, UI remains unchanged. 7" at 1024 x 768 with $150 or so off the entry level and you've got another winning product.



    You could just scale it down, but it does affect usability, often significantly. At this point of the game, Apple isn't sacrificing usability if they can avoid it.





    Quote:
    Originally Posted by jpc1957 View Post


    AppleTV with iOS. That could be pretty amazing, if apple provides APIs to grab/overlay the video/audio stream and access to the tuner controls.



    Yes it would be interesting.





    Quote:
    Originally Posted by nvidia2008 View Post


    The AMD Fusion could do near-PS3 level graphics at 1080p.<snip>



    AppleTV can become cloud-streaming and gaming and apps. Apple just has to pull the trigger. I think though it may not happen in first-half of 2011. Not until Fusion is a bit more proven, perhaps. By mid-2011, ARM+PowerVR(??) may have very compelling packages that can do 1080p games at PS3-level graphics.



    I'd be surprised if Apple hasn't gone through at least 5 quite different next-gen "AppleTVs" with very different styles, to see what kind of possibilities it can open up.



    I'm surprised that AMD is in there, I would think ARM is more likely - but just as functionally there are many options the hardware within is also an open question. And it probably comes down to what Apple can mass produce cost effectively - developers will have to compile specifically for AppleTV no matter what processor it has.



    One possibility I can see is presenting AppleTV as a "peripheral" to your iPhone (or iPad or iPad Touch). Make it as cheap as possible, and integrate the iPhone into the whole interaction experience. Flick photos from your phone onto the TV, flick music. Order a movie rental on the phone to watch on the big screen (order on the train as you come home and have it download at home).
  • Reply 186 of 207
    firefly7475firefly7475 Posts: 1,502member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Dunks View Post


    Think Nintendo Wii



    I like the cut of your jib son. Welcome to team Firefly.
  • Reply 187 of 207
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by kotatsu View Post


    With gaming so profitable and successful on the iPhone and iPad, I wonder if this new AMD chip will be for gaming? Are we talking Wii level performance or higher? I can't imagine it would be anywhere near 360 or PS3 level, but then again, those systems are 5 years old now. Anyone have any stats on the AMD chip?



    I hadn't really considered that they might make a VERY powerful gaming platform.

    Is that likely?



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by kotatsu View Post


    As for iOS on the big screen, it makes a lot of sense, but only with properly retooled apps. When paired with a motion sensing Wiimote style controller a lot of games would work pretty well, leaving the touch screen ones off limits unless more significantly reworked. Combine it with a cable killing subscription plan (admittedly, this would be something of an epic achievement if anyone pulled it off), and you'd have a pretty compelling box.



    We don't really want Apple to create a Wii though... or do we?



    I agree that we need Apple to help re-invent television... and buying every episode for $3 (HD) is not going to redefine television. But getting the TV studios to agree is the problem.



    Perhaps a subscription plan can do that to some degree.



    I really think that to make it happen, Apple might have to make their service look so much like a PVR (to start with) to make the networks and channels happy. For example -

    1) start offering all shows on the local ABC this week, with the same ads and the ability to fast forward. (ie: download, but looks an feels similar to a PVR - without the pre-scheduling)

    2) integrate with selling older episodes (ie: same as iTunes sales)

    (so far... surely no-one can really complain at that, can they?)

    3) Then add (slowly) all the previous episodes of any series - with some form of ads while watching, which make money for whoever owns the rights to the older episodes. (ie: as if they were linking to Hulu)

    4) optionally replace the ads of new shows with FEWER ads but targeted directly at the viewer. Customised to our interests, and for those of us in big cities that will mean seeing ads for shops in our suburb that haven't appeared in a very long time.

    5) offer a rental option equivalent to the money they make from the ads (about 50c)



    The networks don't know how to succeed with IPTV. GoogleTV's strength is that it wants to just help people get access to the content, wherever it is.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by iReality85 View Post


    Concerning the supposed AppleTV, if Apple is indeed pursuing touch-based gaming on the big screen (I don't see it being any other way), who wants to place bets. I'm thinking game apps (made for and downloaded on AppleTVs) will connect to future Touches/iPhones via bluetooth, with said devices becoming fully touch-based "controllers" while the game itself is on the TV. Would be pretty far out, huh?



    As I said in a previous post, I think AppleTV could even be presented as a peripheral to the iPhone. This makes the aTV cheaper, and removes a remote. It also means the AppleTV interface & control functions can assume there is ALWAYS a touch pad of some sort available as a control (rather than making an iPod Touch an OPTIONAL remote) so it's integral to everything in the device. And it markets directly to a huge iPhone market (which is a better idea IF they can't get traction with the TV companies!)



    Whether they do that or not, integrated AppleTV/iPhone gaming could be a lot of fun. I'd like to play a racing game on my iPhone against someone else also in the room, while the TV reports and shows "highlights" of the race. 1st person shooters could be played on each iPhone while the TV shows a 3D overview. Head-cam replays from "angry birds". We know how the iPad plays scrabble so that would work similarly.
  • Reply 188 of 207
    firefly7475firefly7475 Posts: 1,502member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Ireland View Post


    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Firefly7475 View Post


    With a Wiimote clone. Think about it. It would work.



    So if it runs iOS and has Safari, how would you type on it if you didn't own an iPhone or an iPod touch?



    It's going to have to favor consumption over creation. It doesn't make sense to mess up the experience 90% of the time just to make the last 10% easier.



    So, I would say by default you'll just have an on-screen keyboard that you select keys on (just like the Wii) using whatever Apple come up with as a Wiimote clone... but you would have an option of syncing up an iDevice as an optional keyboard (if it happen to be that important to you)
  • Reply 189 of 207
    orlandoorlando Posts: 601member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Smiles77 View Post


    Not to mention the smaller size would be a nightmare for developers.



    A smaller size is not a nightmare for developers. It is pretty easy to design interfaces that can handle smaller sizes or different aspect ratios. There is no difference between this and desktop apps where windows can be resized. In fact many iPad apps can already handle dynamically changing screen layouts as they support both landscape and portrait modes.
  • Reply 190 of 207
    orlandoorlando Posts: 601member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by iReality85 View Post


    Concerning the supposed AppleTV, if Apple is indeed pursuing touch-based gaming on the big screen (I don't see it being any other way), who wants to place bets. I'm thinking game apps (made for and downloaded on AppleTVs) will connect to future Touches/iPhones via bluetooth, with said devices becoming fully touch-based "controllers" while the game itself is on the TV. Would be pretty far out, huh?



    A controller without tactile feedback would suck. iPhones and iPads work because you are looking at the screen you are touching. However, if the game is displayed on your TV you do not want to be continually looking down at the controller to find the jump button.



    I just hope Apple can come up with a revolutionary way to handle input (just like they revolutionized user input with the iPhone). Currently no one has a good system for navigating web pages (or anything else more complex than a very simple menu) whilst sitting on the sofa. GoogleTV did not solve this problem; maybe Apple will.
  • Reply 191 of 207
    firefly7475firefly7475 Posts: 1,502member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Orlando View Post


    A controller without tactile feedback would suck. iPhones and iPads work because you are looking at the screen you are touching. However, if the game is displayed on your TV you do not want to be continually looking down at the controller to find the jump button.



    Bingo. Touch controls aren't great for TV.





    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Orlando View Post


    I just hope Apple can come up with a revolutionary way to handle input (just like they revolutionized user input with the iPhone). Currently no one has a good system for navigating web pages (or anything else more complex than a very simple menu) whilst sitting on the sofa.



    I don't think they need to revolutionize anything. They just need to take the Wiimote, clone it, then create a decent UI that uses it. The Wiimote is actually a perfect all round controller for the TV. It essentially gives you a 10ft finger and turns your TV into a something like a touch screen.



    Obviously you wouldn't have multi-touch, but with gyros/accelerometers you have added movement in 3D space that could be used. For example, in place of pinch-to-zoom you could click and move the controller toward the TV to zoom in, and away from the TV to zoom out.





    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Orlando View Post


    GoogleTV did not solve this problem; maybe Apple will.



    I don't know why you've made that assumption already when it's not even out yet!



    All Logitech have said is that they are creating an "intuitive controller that?s been designed to take full advantage of everything the Google TV platform offers".



    There is no hint of what that controller will be or how it will work.



    Admittedly Logitech have an interest in maintaining the status quo however, so my guess is that they are more likely to simply release a Harmony remote with a slide-out keyboard, but still, we should wait until it's released before writing them off.
  • Reply 192 of 207
    firefly7475firefly7475 Posts: 1,502member
    More details on the patent filed last year for a Wiimote clone.

    http://www.appleinsider.com/articles..._apple_tv.html





    I'm wondering if that tiny LCD screen from a while back had anything to do with this. It seemed like just the right size for a touch button that goes on top of a Apple "wand".
  • Reply 193 of 207
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by iGuessSo View Post


    3.5" Screen: 2.1" x 2.8", 5.88 sq. in.



    5.0" Screen: 3.0" x 4.0", 12.00 sq. in., 104.1% larger



    Still pocketable, but would be much better browser/e-book device. sign me up! I'd choose that over a 7" in a hearbeat. And it trumps the Android 4.3" screen size.



    What I can't fathom is why Apple would not do it. I hate browsing on the Touch. If you have a smartphone, then browsing via the iPhone/Touch form factor is quite acceptable. It's not great but, hey, what can you expect considering you're trying to browse on a phone. But the Touch is not a phone and my thought is, why does this pocket computer have such a small screen?



    From a marketing point of view, if you release a new Touch retaining the same form factor as the current Touch, I as a Touch owner have little incentive to buy the new one. But a Touch with a larger screen? I'd be all over it. I could even imagine some folks owning both an iPhone and the Touch because they would be different enough.



    Down the road, for that matter, would it be farfetched to imagine Apple developing a phone based on the larger Touch form factor? Not everyone would be put off by having a larger smartphone, especially considering some folks don't even have the phone up to their ear all that often, using it instead as a pocket computer, for texting, and so on and so on.



    Either I'm missing something here or the next logical move for Apple is a 5" Touch. On the other hand, I can think of a lot of reasons to not bring out a 7" iPad. No inside info, just thinking in terms of what seems to make sense.
  • Reply 194 of 207
    ssquirrelssquirrel Posts: 1,196member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by jragosta View Post


    Not a chance. Apple rarely drops price when they update a product. Rather, they add more features and keep the price constant.



    It's the same price points, but they slide things down a notch. This has happened MANY times in the past. Slide the products down the chart so they can have a new top end item. This could be a 128GB iPod Touch or it could mean they are opening space for a 7" iPad to fit in that slot.
  • Reply 195 of 207
    solipsismsolipsism Posts: 25,726member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SSquirrel View Post


    It's the same price points, but they slide things down a notch. This has happened MANY times in the past. Slide the products down the chart so they can have a new top end item. This could be a 128GB iPod Touch or it could mean they are opening space for a 7" iPad to fit in that slot.



    Have they? The iPhone is the only product I can recall that did exactly that, and it?s a unique case due to the required contract. Most other items they sell get essentially discontinued with their remains ending up on the refurb section of the store at prices that typically don?t really make it worth not getting the latest model, IMO.
  • Reply 196 of 207
    jousterjouster Posts: 460member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by jnjnjn View Post


    Wow. A shame my Samsung TV is to new (and to good) to replace. But in a few years...



    I thought the device was to be stand alone, meaning you could buy it for your Samsung. I really don't believe Apple will start offering FSTVs.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by iLikeBananas View Post


    Why do you think the kindle is doing so well...?



    Because of e-ink, battery life and price.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Carmissimo View Post


    There's a barrier to iPad adoption?



    Far as I can see, the biggest barrier is Apple's ability (or otherwise) to make enough of 'em...
  • Reply 197 of 207
    orlandoorlando Posts: 601member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Firefly7475 View Post


    I don't think they need to revolutionize anything. They just need to take the Wiimote, clone it, then create a decent UI that uses it. The Wiimote is actually a perfect all round controller for the TV. It essentially gives you a 10ft finger and turns your TV into a something like a touch screen.



    Obviously you wouldn't have multi-touch, but with gyros/accelerometers you have added movement in 3D space that could be used. For example, in place of pinch-to-zoom you could click and move the controller toward the TV to zoom in, and away from the TV to zoom out.



    I don't actually like the Wiimote. It is too fiddly when trying to point to things on screen. Because it is like a 10ft finger very small hand movements translate into massive on-screen movements.



    Sony move is pretty cool and might work well. There are some nice demos where they create and manipulate 3D objects using two move controllers. But waving your hands around might get tiring after a while.



    Quote:

    I don't know why you've made that assumption already when it's not even out yet!



    All Logitech have said is that they are creating an "intuitive controller that’s been designed to take full advantage of everything the Google TV platform offers".



    There is no hint of what that controller will be or how it will work.



    Admittedly Logitech have an interest in maintaining the status quo however, so my guess is that they are more likely to simply release a Harmony remote with a slide-out keyboard, but still, we should wait until it's released before writing them off.



    All they've said is GoogleTVs will feature remotes with qwerty keyboards. Maybe they do have a better solution than a Harmony remote with a slide-out keyboard. I'm not going to write them off. In fact I'm pretty positive about GoogleTV; putting apps on TV could spark a revolution just like apps on the iPhone did. However, as yet there is no evidence Google has solved the controller issue that has plagued every previous attempt to combine TV and the web.
  • Reply 198 of 207
    hudson1hudson1 Posts: 800member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Carmissimo View Post


    What I can't fathom is why Apple would not do it. I hate browsing on the Touch. If you have a smartphone, then browsing via the iPhone/Touch form factor is quite acceptable. It's not great but, hey, what can you expect considering you're trying to browse on a phone. But the Touch is not a phone and my thought is, why does this pocket computer have such a small screen?



    From a marketing point of view, if you release a new Touch retaining the same form factor as the current Touch, I as a Touch owner have little incentive to buy the new one. But a Touch with a larger screen? I'd be all over it. I could even imagine some folks owning both an iPhone and the Touch because they would be different enough.



    Down the road, for that matter, would it be farfetched to imagine Apple developing a phone based on the larger Touch form factor? Not everyone would be put off by having a larger smartphone, especially considering some folks don't even have the phone up to their ear all that often, using it instead as a pocket computer, for texting, and so on and so on.



    Either I'm missing something here or the next logical move for Apple is a 5" Touch. On the other hand, I can think of a lot of reasons to not bring out a 7" iPad. No inside info, just thinking in terms of what seems to make sense.



    Keep in mind, the iPod Touch is, first and foremost, an iPod and not a hand-held computer for browsing. Whatever Apple does or doesn't do to change this offering I think will be driven by it's #1 function as an iPod (music).
  • Reply 199 of 207
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Hudson1 View Post


    Keep in mind, the iPod Touch is, first and foremost, an iPod and not a hand-held computer for browsing. Whatever Apple does or doesn't do to change this offering I think will be driven by it's #1 function as an iPod (music).



    That's not what Apple says about the Touch. Last year when minimal changes were made, Apple made a big fuss over how the Touch had become a pocket computer. Go to the company's web site today and the first two items you'll find listed in the iPod Touch section are:



    "A great portable game player" followed by "A great pocket computer".



    Those are Apple's words, not mine.



    Remember that Apple developed a virtual store expressly to provide content for the Touch and of course the iPhone. It's not called the Music Store. It's called the App Store. Now what do you suppose they sell out of the App Store? Perhaps you've come across all those ads that declare, "There's an app for that."



    I'm not the one who came up with the idea of the Touch having morphed into a pocket computer/game player/iPod. Apple is marketing the heck out of that notion.



    Even under the iPod portion of that equation, seems to me that if included in that is presenting Movies and TV shows, clearly the bigger the screen the better.



    If the Touch becomes somewhat larger but the price remains unaltered, how many complaints do you think Apple will be fielding? It would have to become so large that portability was significantly impacted for more than an insignificant minority, for there to be a downside.



    I have to tell you that if Apple thinks the Touch is perfect as is, they're deluding themselves. It's far from a perfect browser and it's far inferior to a typical e-reader as a reader. Up to this point it has been, basically, the only game in town but in the next year or so the market will be flooded with touchscreen devices. many of which will, by virtue of a larger screen, give the Touch a good run. But if Apple addresses the device's one significant flaw, that slams the door shut.



    Then again, maybe my preference for something more than a 3.5" screen is not something that many share. If so, I can understand that Apple isn't in the business of building products expressly for me.



    As for the Touch being primarily a music player, frankly if what you want the device for is playing music, save your money and buy a Nano instead or better still, a Shuffle.
  • Reply 200 of 207
    hudson1hudson1 Posts: 800member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Carmissimo View Post


    That's not what Apple says about the Touch. Last year when minimal changes were made, Apple made a big fuss over how the Touch had become a pocket computer. Go to the company's web site today and the first two items you'll find listed in the iPod Touch section are:



    "A great portable game player" followed by "A great pocket computer".



    Those are Apple's words, not mine.



    Remember that Apple developed a virtual store expressly to provide content for the Touch and of course the iPhone. It's not called the Music Store. It's called the App Store. Now what do you suppose they sell out of the App Store? Perhaps you've come across all those ads that declare, "There's an app for that."



    I'm not the one who came up with the idea of the Touch having morphed into a pocket computer/game player/iPod. Apple is marketing the heck out of that notion.



    Even under the iPod portion of that equation, seems to me that if included in that is presenting Movies and TV shows, clearly the bigger the screen the better.



    If the Touch becomes somewhat larger but the price remains unaltered, how many complaints do you think Apple will be fielding? It would have to become so large that portability was significantly impacted for more than an insignificant minority, for there to be a downside.



    I have to tell you that if Apple thinks the Touch is perfect as is, they're deluding themselves. It's far from a perfect browser and it's far inferior to a typical e-reader as a reader. Up to this point it has been, basically, the only game in town but in the next year or so the market will be flooded with touchscreen devices. many of which will, by virtue of a larger screen, give the Touch a good run. But if Apple addresses the device's one significant flaw, that slams the door shut.



    Then again, maybe my preference for something more than a 3.5" screen is not something that many share. If so, I can understand that Apple isn't in the business of building products expressly for me.



    As for the Touch being primarily a music player, frankly if what you want the device for is playing music, save your money and buy a Nano instead or better still, a Shuffle.



    Please be just a little bit more honest. The line you quote starts with "A great iPod" then goes on to say great pocket computer and great portable game player. And 'pocket' implies a size limit, too, which might be 3.5" in Apple's view.



    Also, from Apple's website:



    "iPod touch is music, movies, games and apps. All at the touch of your fingertips."



    I'm not denying the uses you mention. Rather, it all starts as a music player which is portable. Lessen the portability and you lower the appeal to a lot of potential customers.
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