More "New Newton" rumors

Guys,

its already here !!.. the touch..

add the missing apps and bluetooth (lets it talk to the other phones) and you have it all... thats why Apple left out the PDA type apps...

Is it me, or is there a striking resemblance between the iWalk and the Zune? Quite ironic, if you ask me.

I doubt they're working on a tablet at all. They just spent money porting Newton's "Ink" to OS X so that tablet users could doodle notes and have them come out as words, that's the kind of guys they are at Apple HQ.

And it would be a lot of work to make a portable device that runs OS X after all...

When you talk about teh 20th anniversary mac im assuming you are messing around? i got one of those beasts still faster than alot of my pcs.

"How do you differentiate the Newton from the iPhone?"

The Newton is for work, the iPhone for fun.

"How do you differentiate the Newton from a MacBook?"

Mainly - it's more portable. But it also works somewhat differently. It's a lot more than the old Newton 'PDA' though.

Features include: Handwriting recognition (that WORKS, thank you), or virtual keyboard. Voice recognition option. Infrared scanner for bar code reading (wave it over your CD collection and organize it, point it at a product in a store and have its wev site appear, etc.). Infrared output lets the device work as a remote control for your TV and stereo, with enhanced features no remote has. 3rd party products allow it to control other devices (turn on your home AC before you get home, etc. Old stuff but done right this time.) Runs a slide show in a smaller, slicker form factor than a laptop.

Usual stuff: Address book, iphoto, multitouch (accepts input differently from fingers or stylus). Should also access the web with built-in WiFi. I'd like a cell phone capability as well, just so I don't HAVE to carry both. (But I won't hold my breath.) Larger storage capacity than iPod or iPhone. Accepts keyboard input if desired. Can run Newton versions of Mac programs. Larger screen means better movie viewing. Larger speakers - better sound. GPS can be added as an option, as well as satellite radio (ah, the advantages of a larger from factor than the iPod/iPhone!). Perfect device for use on walking tours. Maps show at a more usable size.

There's a market for this, and it fills a real niche. It's not just a big iPod/iPhone, it is a distinct product. Yes, I want one.

"am i the only one hoping this is true?"

No, you're not.

I don't get the whole "Let's diss the 'ol Apple PDA rumors"?

Why all the angst?!

Apple's probably been watching the UMPC platform founder, figured out a away to make it work the "Apple Way" and are developing the solution.

I'll bet it'll be something of an "iPhone Pro", with running Leopard with WiFi, GPS and some WWAN card, complete with iTunes integration with enhanced media capabilities (720x480 is native DVD resolution, BTW)

What's not to like?

The Newton was pretty cool, albeit ahead of its time and v1.0 had lousy handwriting recognition (v2.0's Rosetta was much better). I had most models, including an OMP, MP 100, MP 110, and 2000. The latter was actually useful.

I *think* that Jonathan Ive even worked on the industrial design of some of the models, perhaps the Newton 2000 series and the eMate.

However, word is that after Jobs returned from the wilderness in 1997, he was observed throwing Newton packages from his office door.

The Newton project was the brainchild of John Sculley, his nemesis who made that colossal historical mistake and forced Jobs out of the company in 1985. (Had it not been for that, the world could have been 95% Mac OS instead of 95% Windows...)

Even if the Newton project didn't have the considerable shortcomings that it did, ie, having been overtaken in potential by the mid 1990s Palm and emerging WinCE platforms, it would always have that unbearable, emotional stigma for Jobs.

Newton was not Jobs' baby, and no way would he ever resurrect it.

What a new Newton? Ahh crap! My dad's friend is giving me his old one soon.

Oh well, still nothing wrong with a 10yr old PDA with an Apple logo.

I don't think this is a half bad idea, though they should still provide the ability to use 3rd party apps on the iPhone/touch. A device this size would be a great alternative for watching movies while traveling, as it's a good medium between a small laptop and the iPhone/touch as far as screen size. Full DVD resolution? Heck yes! Provided it has enough storage, that is.