I'm breaking out my crystal ball and taking the collective stirrings on the net about Apple patents, the MacBook Air, iPhone and our old pal Newton and making my prediction about Apple's next big thing. Hold onto your hats, folks - this could be revolutionary.

Recently Steve Jobs remarked in an interview with the New York Times that eBook readers like the Amazon Kindle were flawed because

It doesn’t matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is that people don’t read anymore. Forty percent of the people in the U.S. read one book or less last year. The whole conception is flawed at the top because people don’t read anymore.

Folks who follow the methods of Steve Jobs read this as a clear indicator that Apple has an eBook reader in the works. I agree with this assessment and couple it with other tidbits of information.

Apple has had a slate of recent patent applications that serve to further my prediction for Apple's next big thing. Among them are two of greatest importance. Electronista does a good job of describing the clamshell structure of a possible new iPhone. This may come to pass, but the application of this technology is not, in my opinion, limited to an iPhone device. When you couple the dual-sided touch-screen panels with a larger input device you have what amounts to a book-sized reader with multi-touch capability. Take a look at the images Apple included in the filing of the patent:



In a nutshell the patent uses a dual-sided input such that either side of the device could be used for tactile input. When closed it could act as a tablet and when open it could function as a notebook. Keep this in mind.

The problem with eBook reader so far has been they do not mimic the reality of reading books. They are bulky at best and even when thin they lack multiple functionality and are therefore limited to what they can do.

Now take into consideration the (some say) surprising success of the MacBook Air. It lacks some of the ports and embedded devices (DVD drive for example) that laptop computers are "supposed to have" and yet users of the new laptop are gushing about the experience of using the Air. This new form factor bodes well the development of a whole new category of machine - a revolution that Apple is certain to be first to bring to market.

Lastly consider the Newton. The Newton helped to create the market for PDA's but it never shook off bad press it had gotten for the handwriting recognition software it used. Back in 2004 Steve Jobs made mention of pride in a PDA they never shipped and some believe the Cupertino company never gave up hope on a PDA. Just today it is being reported that Apple has placed an employment position for a Handwriting Recognition Engineer. If you think Apple isn't mulling a new PDA you're nuts.

So onto my prediction then ...

Apple's next big thing is a laptop/tablet/PDA/book reader. Apple's next big thing will raise the bar on what we expect from a mobile computing platform.

Consider a multi-touch clamshell device that you open like a book and flip pages with your hand as though you were really flipping pages of a book. Imagine closing that book and writing on the cover with a stylus as you make notes. Imagine a software-only keyboard brought up by a single icon along a dock. Imagine using multi-touch for manipulating files. It goes on and on.

I have seen a lot of predictions for the iPhone clamshell and a lot of predictions for the dual-screen multi-sided input device as a laptop. But I think what is missing in these predictions is that Apple will want to redefine the whole landscape of expectations.

In a smaller form factor we might see a paperback sized eBook reader/tablet/PDA with browsing similar to the iPhone and in a larger version we would see a full-blown MacBook sans hardware input.

When this form factor comes into being I will be first in line to buy one.

What do you think? Possible? Probable? Let me know!

Labels: Amazon Kindle, Apple, eBook reader, iPhone, MacBook Air, multi-touch, Newton, patent, prediction, Steve Jobs

It's out and it's selling like mad and the reviews are coming in with a mix of those waxing poetic and others having activation problems who are cursing the device.

iPhone has managed to capture the hearts of many of those who waited in line for the estimated half million units sold in the first 24 hours. "It's awesome, it's the best thing I ever saw in my life," said New York private detective Jerry Gregory. "Once people see this phone they are going to want one. Everybody I show this phone wants one, even people who were anti-iPhone."

The sentiment runs deep among many early adopters that this is quite simply the most gorgeous device ever brought to market. It does not score 100% in all departments, but it raises the bar on cell phone design in ways that only Apple could do.

Some customers have experienced delays in activating the phone. AT&T spokesperson Michael Coe remarked "We are working on any issues on an individual basis with customers who were impacted." Nearly all customers have been able to activate their phones within five to eight minutes, he said. That doesn't take the sour taste out of the mouths of those who waited so long for the iPhone only to find themselves unable to get activated for as long as 14 hours.

The "wows" are being heard as people describe the ease of use and gorgeous UI Apple has built into the phone and they seem to far outnumber the "whoas" of those having troubles.

Labels: Apple, ATT, iPhone

AT&T and Apple on Tuesday said wireless service plans for the iPhone will range from $59.99 to $99.99 a month.

The $59.99 monthly plan includes 450 minutes of voice time, a $79.99 plan includes 900 minutes, and a $99.99 plan includes 1,350 minutes. All three offer 200 text messages, unlimited data services, minutes that roll over month-to- month, and mobile-to-mobile calls. There also is a $36 activation fee.

For me these plans pale in comparison to what I can get from Verizon. Two hundred TXT messages wouldn't last nearly long enough and unless Apple can add Instant Message ability or a web2.0 site offers IM for the iPhone through the browser this doesn't much appeal to me.

I also rather think the thirty six dollars is just a kick in the shins after shelling out the cash for the device to begin with.

Am I going sour on the iPhone? No. But I do have to wonder if the rate plans will open up a bit for those of us who happen to prefer TXT over voice.

Labels: Apple, ATT, Instant Message, TXT, Verizon, Web2.0

One million. That's a lot of anything, but it is certainly a lot of people who have signed up with AT&T/Cingular asking to be notified when the iPhone becomes available.

One million people who want a product that is not yet available. One million people who trust Apple to do something different and to execute it well. One million people subscribing to the idea that this device is exactly what they have been waiting for.

Steve Jobs had set a target of a 1% market share in 2008 which is ten million units. If a product that is not even released can garner the enthusiasm of a million people I cannot imagine how this is going to take off when people actually see the device in the hands of their families, coworkers and friends.

One million people have asked to be contacted about this device. One million people who want this device enough to go out in search of more information.

One million. Anyone still doubt Apple can pull off a 1% market share? I think the biggest problem they will face is meeting demand.

Labels: Apple, Cingular, iPhone, Subscribers

These guys sure know how to market ....

Labels: Apple, Commercial, Television

Apple and Cisco have reached a mysterious settlement agreement over the use of the name iPhone. Although I predicted Apple would prevail in this post here I did not expect it to take place so soon.

Part of me wonders if the genius that is hype builder Steve Jobs actually worked with Cisco to launch the lawsuit in an attempt to gain exposure for BOTH parties' devices.

Cisco Systems and Apple said last Wednesday that the agreement allows Apple and Cisco to use the iPhone brand on their own products. Also, the companies said that they would explore opportunities for interoperability in the areas of security and of consumer and business communications. The brief announcement made no reference to any financial agreement, nor did it specify how the two companies might work together. Representatives for Apple and Cisco declined to comment further, citing confidentiality restrictions.

One has got to wonder if this was in the works on the eve of the unveiling of the iPhone.

Labels: Apple, Cisco, iPhone, lawsuit

Not about the iPhone exclusively (a bit too early to see refurbished iPhones for sale), but worth a looksie if you are in the market for an iPod.

Labels: Apple, iPod, refurbished

I find it curious that the iPhone is not being rolled out as a 3G phone and will not offer connection to Cingular's BroadbandConnect service whichoffers connection speeds of 400 to 700Kbps. Why when the new Palm Treo 750 does?

There is still time for additions to the iPhone specs (afterall we only know what we are told) and I certainly hope the folks at both Apple and Cingular are paying attention. It may be that the target market is not in fact the business traveler, but rather the audience that owns both a phone and iPod currently. It may be they are more concerned with getting the devices into as many hands of these people as possible and less concerned with addressing the network connectivity issues of those on the road.

For the most part the Wi-Fi connection will allow for high speed data access, but the point of a cell phone with broadband capability is to have it available at high speeds at all times.

With EDGE network speeds similiar to those of a dial-up connection one has to wonder if Apple plans a later 3G version.

Of all the shortcomings of the iPhone this has got to be the one that concerns those of us who hope to see Apple gain strong acceptance in this market.

Labels: Apple, Cingular, iPhone, Palm, Wi-Fi

The folks at Apple have had a history of fighting some pretty nasty legal battles over the years and now it seems the doors are open on another case.

Cisco has announced a lawsuit against Apple over the use of the name "iPhone'.

Cisco obtained a trademark for iPhone in 2000 after acquiring Infogear, which owned the name before. Apple is dismissing Cisco's claims as "silly" and "tenuous at best".

Apple spokesman Alan Hely states "We think Cisco's trademark lawsuit is silly. There are already several companies using the name iPhone for Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) products. We are the first company to ever use the iPhone name for a cell phone, and if Cisco wants to challenge us on it we are very confident we will prevail."

Cisco senior vice-president and general counsel Mark Chandler replied "Cisco entered into negotiations with Apple in good faith after Apple repeatedly asked permission to use Cisco's iPhone name."

I expect Apple will indeed prevail. Apple has already captured the imaginations of so many with the device and the name is now worth the fight. I don't think Apple Phone would have been a poor choice for a name and would have enforced the branding, but iMac, iLife, iPhoto, iTunes, iPod et al lay the foundation for the use of the term iPhone.

Labels: Apple, Cisco, iPhone, lawsuit, trademark