Return of the Newton

AppleInsider Article on the Newton's Possible Return

I'll admit it: I still believe the Newton is the best PDA anyone has made so far.
Hell, I'd use my Newton now, if I could find a decent way to sync to my Mac. It seemed to focus on the right things including note taking, document access, and a quality calendar and contacts. It was weakened by it's large physical size and glacial synchronization.

I think Apple could take the iPhone and iPod Touch and move back into the actual PDA space, but I think they delay so they can maximize their income from laptops and the iPhone. They may be able to grow the iPhone and/or Touch to fulfill the niche of the PDA. Or they may continue to keep the product lines very separate and distinct, leaving a gap between traditional laptops and cell phones. I believe they are missing an opportunity to own this space after the failures of Palm and Microsoft.

Personally, I would love to have a device I always had with me that I could cache my most important documents, use for spur-of-the-moment input, and access the Internet when needed. The iPhone can almost do these things, but it almost completely lacks data storage and this deal with the devil forces a relationship with AT&T. And I find it highly frustrating to be so close, but not close enough.

Target discusses a major electronics launch on September 5. Could it be the new iPods?

AppleInsider | Major electronics launch; new iPods & iPhones; Apple lobbying

Although it may be coincidence, Target is apparently warning their stores to be ready for a major product announcements and incoming inventory that may be enticing to thieves. That combined with the rumors and case manufacturers seems to make it a lock that a new iPod with the short, fat form factor is coming on September 5th.

The only questions are:

1) Is the fat iPod a nano or a regular iPod replacement?
Because it is hard to take features away from customers and storage capacity is a feature, it will be the new nano with video capabilities and maybe higher storage (maybe 16GB).

2) Will there be a wide-screen iPhone with out the phone?
While I would really love an wide screen iPod with WiFi and all the iPhone features minus the cell phone, I think it is unfortunately unlikely to be released this way. With Apple deriving so much revenue from the iPhone and AT&T plans, it seems more likely they will release something without WiFi, although they may find a way to include a wide screen. I am afraid it will continue to be a traditional media player.

What do you think?

How Google's Gphone and Apple's iPhone could change the cell industry

The Gphone is coming; how Google could rewrite the rules | last100

It is interesting to consider how the creative entry by two companies from different industries might complete change the landscape in the cellular world. The cellular industry has become entrenched and lives off the (still) growing popularity of mobile phones, while they greedily try to create other outsized revenue streams.

If Apple can focus attention of the device and the elegance of the interface offered, we might see an improvement in phones that make it actually easy and intuitive to do the things they can do. Most cell phones now are painful to use for anything beyond basic functionality. But Apple has shown little interest in lower prices.

If Google can provide a phone completely or partially supported by ad revenue, we might begin to see improvement in price competition. Also, Google has a history of rolling features in for free and making their money from volume. Maybe this can help move the industry away from vendor lock-in and high prices.