Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, Rumors, iPhone
Atom-powered Mini-tablet Confirmed By Intel Germany CEO?
Was it a slip of the tongue? ZDNet.de reports that Intel Germany CEO Hannes Schwaderer, speaking at an Intel 40th anniversary event at Munich's BMW World, confirmed that there is an iPhone that will be using Intel's new Atom processor. The new device is "slightly larger" than the current iPhone, raising speculation that this new member of the iPhone family may be the long-rumored Apple mini-tablet with a 720 x 480 display. Schwaderer also mentioned that an upgraded version of the current iPhone with the same form factor would be a 3G model. With iPhones out of stock in the US and UK, and Steve Jobs scheduled to give the keynote at WWDC 08, new iPhones and the mini-tablet might be right around the corner.
What do YOU think about Herr Schwaderer's comments and the rumored mini-tablet? Take our poll! A big thank-you hug to Erica Sadun for the poll answers!
Update: If you had "Intel disavows knowledge of future iPhone products" for $200, you win.
[via ZDNet.de, MacRumors]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Peter Koritschan said 8:15AM on 5-15-2008
Actually, german magazine Spiegel got the clarification. Apparently, the German Intel Manager's comments were that an "MID is a device similar to an iPhone, but slightly larger". (MID being Mobile Internet Device, the category of devices that will be powered by Intel's Atom platform).
Here the text from the article:
Die Skepsis war berechtigt. Intel teilte auf Anfrage von SPIEGEL ONLINE mit, dass Manager Schwaderer offenbar gründlich missverstanden wurde. Tatsächlich habe er gesagt: "Einen MID kann man sich vorstellen wie ein iPhone, nur mit einem etwas größeren Display." MID, das ist Intels Oberbegriff für Mobile Internet-Geräte, die "Mobile Internet Devices", zu denen man durchaus auch das iPhone zählen kann. Doch dass mit diesem Satz in Wahrheit ein neues Apple-Produkt angekündigt wurde, bevor Apple selbst dies getan hat - dieser Spekulation erteilt das Unternehmen eine klare Absage.
Source: http://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/mobil/0,1518,553392,00.html
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bloodthirstyrobot said 8:18AM on 5-15-2008
The iPhone *is* Apple's mini-tablet.
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Ryan Trevisol said 8:24AM on 5-15-2008
I'd like to select 2: Fakez and Intel Dude is So getting fired.
It's not going to be a "larger" iphone. They may come out with a tablet, but it's a thorny marketing situation.
If they make it a small MID (like the Nokia internet tablets), then it cuts into the iPhone's market, and there are a lot of obvious (pocket-related) concerns about the usefulness of a gigantic iPhone.
If they make it a larger tablet with a lot of memory, like a kindle-sized nouveauNewton, then it cuts deeply into the Air's market, especially if they include a 3G radio.
Plus, a new Newton would mean yet another customized version of OSX, because one would assume they'd include all kinds of finger-controlling and fingerwriting goodies. Then again, I guess that could take the form of a specialized app.
All in all it's very mysterious, and I can't say I'm pleased. Apple's product line is well clustered around mobility, but has lots more GAPING holes in other places (I'm looking at you Mac Midtower and MacBookPro 12"). You have to wonder if they really want mainstream market domination at all.
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bobgorila said 8:27AM on 5-15-2008
So, that'll be a big no then. Silly translators.
I'm still convinced Apple will use the Atom in a cheap-n-small laptop running mobile OS X: a kind of eMate to the iPod Touch's Newton.
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Fernando said 8:33AM on 5-15-2008
I love the poll options. lol
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Mat said 8:38AM on 5-15-2008
TUAW is more like a news paper than a blog.. day old news.
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fd said 9:09AM on 5-15-2008
720x480?
720 wide is a pretty sad resolution when it comes to browsing the internet. It is tough enough at 800 wide. Looking at my MID and UMPC it would certainly need to be 800x480 to match other MIDs or even better 1024x600 (or 640) pixels.
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Rich said 9:21AM on 5-15-2008
As I noted on Engadget, ZDNet themselves have already retracted the story: http://64.233.179.104/translate_c?hl=en&langpair=de%7Cen&u=http://www.zdnet.de/news/hardware/0,39023109,39190870,00.htm%3Fh
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geroell said 9:25AM on 5-15-2008
Intel disclaimed the story: http://www.zdnet.de/news/hardware/0,39023109,39190870,00.htm
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Luigi193 said 9:33AM on 5-15-2008
Hey it may be a day old and retracted, BUT at least you got the poll up this time!!!!
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elean said 10:06AM on 5-15-2008
No, thats a misunderstanding! "Make Cato" press speaker makes clear: Intel uses the term "iPhone" as a general term for all SmartPhones with capabilities like the real iPhone. Pretty dumb if you ask me... Source: http://www.fscklog.com/2008/05/intel-stellt-an.html
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iPhoneinator said 8:09PM on 5-15-2008
what is an atom powered intel chip? and should i be glad that its getting one?
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Vortex said 8:27AM on 5-16-2008
True, the news is not urgent.
Moreover, some Russian web-sites has already wrote about Intel disclamation=)
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ewedd said 4:56PM on 5-17-2008
Hoax or not, I won't trade it for my Newton MP2100. It's doing well with a refurb'd battery and a WiFi card, just needs a new cover. It's my indispensible daily planner and note-taking aid that I only have to charge once a week. It's rugged enough as it's been to the saudi desert, the beach, and soaked in the rain a few times, and still kicking.
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