View Full Version : Apple Palm Pilot?
Does anyone know if Apple has any plans to release a palm pilot?
This seems to be a void in the current selection of products offered by Apple.
If so, does anyone have any mockups/specs that they would like to see included?
I doubt Apple will go into this area. Even though I personally like PDAs and feel they're superior to phones (better, larger screens, better battery life, thinner, more expandable, more versatile, single initial outlay of money vs. monthly charge + 1-2 year contract), they are being phased out by more advanced cell phones. I have a PDA myself, a Palm Tungsten E. Great little device.
I don't think Apple should get into this market. The PDA market is losing money, and knowing Apple, they'd make one that is more expensive than all the others but also has fewer features. Superior quality overall, but I don't think it would sell.
Palm is practically dead. I'm not saying dead as in how IDG said the PDA was dead. (And they were right too.) You're not going to see Apple release a handheld that runs on an antiquated platform that is only now becoming slightly modernized. Palm had their chance, and they dropped the ball. Palm has failed to bring the PDA into the next evolution.
The Palm OS is overly simple, uses the same user interface since it was first conceived, and doesn't have the modern frameworks that a multimedia handheld computer would need to have. I realize Palm has been working hard at this, but they dropped the ball, and as far as I'm concerned it's pretty much over.
I don't see Apple releasing a handheld anytime soon. The handheld market isn't nearly as lucrative as it was years ago. Palm isn't nearly the same company as it was years ago. Furthermore, Apple has nothing unique that it can bring to the handheld space unless they created their own handheld and OS. Even then, it's Apple, a company with already low marketshare, trying to break into the handheld market which is already losing ground and compete with the two biggest players: PocketPC and Palm.
I don't see it happening.
The Palm OS is overly simple, uses the same user interface since it was first conceived, and doesn't have the modern frameworks that a multimedia handheld computer would need to have.
To me, I couldn't care less whether Palm updates its OS for multimedia. I haven't updated my Palm IIIxe since I bought it to replace a stolen IIIx (1999?). I know people who still use their first generation Palm Pilots. All I've done is added appointments and contacts, and changed batteries. Even though a color screen or phone functionality would be snazzy, my age-old Palm does everything it really needs to do, and has paid for itself by organizing (parts of) my life. No need for Apple to meddle with that. ;)
Escher
I think the iPod could feasibly be THE digital lifestyle device if it had a colour screen. I'm not so fussed about having to input data directly into the unit itself - it functions perfectly when syncing to your Mac at home - but a colour screen on the iPod is sorely needed if it is to adopt more PDA functionality imho.
Having said this, and in light of Jobs' comments and LoCash's reflections on the state of the Palm OS (even though it pains me to admit this), I can't see an Apple branded PDA on the way. I guess the iPod and further enhancements to OS X will have to do. ;)
pscates2.0
2004-09-23, 10:34
I agree. The iPod gets cooler and more useful with every passing six months. New features, new software, etc. And wasn't there talk of some secret, unactivated capabilities on this new 4G iPod?
It's really only lacking some form of input.
What they SHOULD do is make the iPod a wireless, voice-activated e-mail thing too.
:p
"iPod, new e-mail, to Veronica...start: Hey Vern, I got my ticket and will be arriving Friday at 6:05. Don't forget to pick me up! Paul."
:)
"iPod, send."
"iPod, new e-mail, to Veronica...start: Hey Vern, I got my ticket and will be arriving Friday at 6:05. Don't forget to pick me up! Paul."
:)
"iPod, send."
Kind of like this (http://homepage.mac.com/escher/simpson_newton.mov), pscates? :lol:
Escher
The Newton 2x00 *STILL* kicks the sorry ass of the Palm, and makes a PocketPC look... well... like a cute little colored Windows wannabe.
The technology advances in it still haven't been caught up to. That's sad for a product seven years old, in this field.
Oddly enough, MacOS X is heading directly towards the Newton's philosophy, in a more developer-friendly coating. 1) Metadata everywhere, 2) open data formats that any app can access, 3) quick access to apps, 4) not caring whether an app is 'running' or not, just access it, etc, etc.
Heck, first time I saw the Dock, I thought of the Newton's version of it.
Toss in some screen-resolution-independent graphics, and suddenly a small itty bitty tablet (A5 size), *not* a pesky handheld slightly-bigger-than-an-iPod-and-unusable-thingy becomes possible.
Oh wait, gee, guess what we get in Tiger? ;)
But I don't think we'll ever see it.
Two years ago, tablet speak was completely unrealistic. Today the technology is just about there. They would have to nail the form factor, hint, no bigger than A5, no smaller either.
Palm is practically dead. I'm not saying dead as in how IDG said the PDA was dead. (And they were right too.) You're not going to see Apple release a handheld that runs on an antiquated platform that is only now becoming slightly modernized. Palm had their chance, and they dropped the ball. Palm has failed to bring the PDA into the next evolution.
The Palm OS is overly simple, uses the same user interface since it was first conceived, and doesn't have the modern frameworks that a multimedia handheld computer would need to have. I realize Palm has been working hard at this, but they dropped the ball, and as far as I'm concerned it's pretty much over.
I agree, but things are turning around for PalmOne. The success of Treo 600 model has rejuvenated the PDA market somewhat. Whether it's just a fad, remains to be seen. Perhaps when prices come down substantially, we'll see a sustained growth.
I'd rather see Apple make a cell phone than a PDA- they have ties with motorola, the bluetooth technology, and they already tout the cellphone/mac connectivity. And it would look cool as hell.
IVIIVI4ck3y27
2004-09-28, 07:29
I'd rather see Apple make a cell phone than a PDA- they have ties with motorola, the bluetooth technology, and they already tout the cellphone/mac connectivity. And it would look cool as hell.
Verrrrry strained ties with Motorola. I don't think Moto wants to remain in the computer processor segment longer than they have to, and want to focus on embedded and phones.
Apple... I don't see them getting into the phone market. It's already too contested and there's not much Apple could really provide that other's haven't already tackled. Not to mention, Mac OS X isn't anywhere near the size to work as an embedded OS.
As far as where the phone market is heading... I think it's away from Palm and PocketPC to Symbian.
http://www.symbian.com/
Many of your phones are already based on this. Palm's attempting to move to this market but I'm not sure if they can beat Symbian's flexibility and capabilities.
I could see Apple offering some form of color touch-screen based iPod-esque device for the movie/entertainment industry. Yet it'd likely need some form of wireless broadband throughput using their new QuickTime codec (scales well, based on MPEG4) and working as a subscription service, where you could get movies and newscasts and TV shows streamed to you on the go. Maybe call it the iPod Pro. Have a 5-7" HD-capable widescreen, a slot-loading DVD for playing movies (and SACD, CD, MP3 CD, etc.), and allow it to have some slim hard drive for storing MP3/AAC files. It'd be a larger footprint device, likely about the size of the original Newton. Make it a media device, not just a music but movies/tv/shows/original unique content not available elsewhere, but give it some basic calendar, address book, and contacts list features and USB/Firewire and/or wireless 802.11g iSync support. Allow it to store images from digital cameras via direct connection, or to have photos exported to it via iPhoto. It could be based off of an expanded version of the iPod's OS using bits of Apple technologies like QuickTime and other OS X features as deemed necessary. Have it work with iTunes and some form of movie-based comparable program when connected to your Mac or PC. Maybe call it iTV (internet TV) for the software that connects to your iPod Pro. Play it more off of the entertainment aspect than the work-based PDA aspect (even with expanded features) and I think it'll sell better.
I could see Apple offering some form of color touch-screen based iPod-esque device for the movie/entertainment industry. Yet it'd likely need some form of wireless broadband throughput using their new QuickTime codec (scales well, based on MPEG4) and working as a subscription service, where you could get movies and newscasts and TV shows streamed to you on the go. Maybe call it the iPod Pro. Have a 5-7" HD-capable widescreen, a slot-loading DVD for playing movies (and SACD, CD, MP3 CD, etc.), and allow it to have some slim hard drive for storing MP3/AAC files. It'd be a larger footprint device, likely about the size of the original Newton. Make it a media device, not just a music but movies/tv/shows/original unique content not available elsewhere, but give it some basic calendar, address book, and contacts list features and USB/Firewire and/or wireless 802.11g iSync support. Allow it to store images from digital cameras via direct connection, or to have photos exported to it via iPhoto. It could be based off of an expanded version of the iPod's OS using bits of Apple technologies like QuickTime and other OS X features as deemed necessary. Have it work with iTunes and some form of movie-based comparable program when connected to your Mac or PC. Maybe call it iTV (internet TV) for the software that connects to your iPod Pro. Play it more off of the entertainment aspect than the work-based PDA aspect (even with expanded features) and I think it'll sell better.
That is a cool idea... If that happened (I actually think something along those lines will come out eventually) I think you may well find the leap to a little PDA would not be too far away.. Whether Apple would do that themselves is doubtfull.. But if it is as well put together as OS X is, then with even a cut down OS would not be a hugely difficult for a third party developer to shove a mini front end on top of.. Then someone else (I can think of a few manufacturers who would) to make a keyboard and all sorts of plug in crap.. and hey presto you have a little Mac PDA with all the 'frankenstein' bits that you can get for Palms and the like!!
I can dream!! :)
InfiniteWill
2004-09-29, 16:09
The problem I have with an iPod based device is input. I have a Treo600 and constantly take notes and reminders. There is no way I'm going to screw around with typing on my laptop/desktop and syncing notes to an iPod. If it doesn't suppoprt a built in keyboard or handwriting recognition, it is useless. The only reaseon I even have my iPod any more is that the battery life of my Treo is so horrid that listening to mp3's kills it.
The problem I have with an iPod based device is input. I have a Treo600 and constantly take notes and reminders. There is no way I'm going to screw around with typing on my laptop/desktop and syncing notes to an iPod. If it doesn't suppoprt a built in keyboard or handwriting recognition, it is useless. The only reaseon I even have my iPod any more is that the battery life of my Treo is so horrid that listening to mp3's kills it.
The thing is it has the connections to support those devices even in Gen1. I would much prefer a colour touch sensitive screen, and with the spec suggested by IVIIVI4ck3y27 that would be the case.. But even a lower spec. than that and say Bluetooth, or Firewire, or even good old USB; then any third party could make a mini-keyboard for it. The little fold away ones that you can get for the palm could potentially work with even a Gen1 iPod.
I agree with you that input and power is always the limiting factor on these devices.. But the iPod could cover both those bases for you with the right cludges! :D
If you own Tungsten E, or any other Palm Pilots, a nice software you can use
to sync with Mac called Palm™ Desktop 4.2.1 for Macintosh. Looks great!
Cant wait to purchase my own Palm Pilot!
I could be wrong here - but that looks like you have to use a Palm version calendar and Address Book. What's with that? :err: It's reinventing the wheel if you have already input your data into OS X Address Book and iCal. I think Palm would have been better off hooking into the OS X database of user info - that would be a much more elegant and integrated sync solution.
Palm Desktop hasn't been updated in more than a year and had had generally poor reviews.
And did you notice this topic had been dead for seven months? I'm putting this zombie to rest.
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