Apple's Mysterious New Portable Device?

I have been working on gathering more information about a new Apple (AAPL) portable device from several different sources during the past 6 months. I have pieced together the puzzle which portrays a picture of what can be perhaps best described as Apple’s rival product to the Intel Ultra Mobile PC [UMPC] initiative which has unsuccessfully tried to marry Microsoft’s (MSFT) Windows OS to a highly portable computing platform.

My strongest piece of evidence came from a trusted tipster about 4 months ago who described an image s(he) had seen of a mysterious touch screen device larger than the iPhone featuring one distinguishing button or depression on each side. At the time, unsure about the actual size of this new device, I reasoned that it could be a new generation of iPhone/iPod Touch or the much rumored Apple tablet. However, the device was later described to have been oriented horizontally on its long end, indicating that it was meant to be gripped with one hand on each side similar to a Sony (SNE) PSP. This ruled out the Apple tablet which is, more than likely, a significantly larger device. It also ruled out iPod Touch since I have been previously tipped on the forward path of the iPod lineup by different sources, essentially confirming that touch screen iPods will not grow much in screen size.

Then about a month ago, another source revealed that Apple has shown significant interest in a 5.2″ 800 x 480 pixel touch screen design by Balda, a German company and the current iPhone screen supplier, and Wintek, an Asian component supplier. This second piece of evidence reveals the real purpose of this new device, an ultra mobile device occupying a position between the 3.5″ iPhone and the much rumored 7-10 inch Apple tablet. There was also a previous article I wrote which highlighted Apple’s sudden concern for flash memory supplies in 2008, despite industry predictions for next year which emphasize greater production and softer demand. This further confirms that Apple is working on a new device due sometime in 2008 that will put strains on the flash memory supply chain.

One thing not seen by any of my sources is a keyboard: it’s clear Apple will not be using a physical QWERT keyboard for this device, instead relying on its patented multi-touch screen as the sole interface for user input. This may be the reason why some have speculated that Apple may be on the verge of introducing a new generation of its famed Newton PDA. However, I firmly believe that the shrinking market for dedicated PDAs puts those speculations to rest, although various PDA functionalities may in fact be included in the final version of the device.

This new Apple device, which could be an Ultra Mobile Computer, has not been sighted out and about the Apple campus or even in the area normally designated for testing new Apple products, suggesting that it’s still in the software and hardware design period. Once it’s physically spotted outside Apple’s secretive labs, we may see an actual product release of 6-8 months, closely following other new Apple product introductions.

Above is a rendition of this new device based on what we know so far.

Disclosure: none

Comments

[JustaThought]

An in-dash iPod Touch/Navigation device for cars? It would need to be bigger and the two buttons would make sense while driving...

[NobodyKnowsWhatTheyAreTlkinabout]

Mental masterbation. You have no idea what you are talking about.

[JustaThought]

Enlighten me, oh wise one...

[AshleyGrayson]

My belief, based on a real product/market vacuum is that Apple could release a MacBook touch with a laptop screen size that would function as an e-book reader. See: graysonagency.com/blog

If Apple's device is smaller, the optimum screen size would be 6 by 9 inches, the dimension of a standard hardcover book page. A physical size of 7 by 10 would fit this very well. Apple's UI advantage is the iPhone/iPod touch interface (flick-pinch) which is already excellent for reading electronic texts without resort to Kindle keys and buttons.

[gdesign]

Rumors again...probably will not happen in January, may not happen at all. Be careful of such articles when you invest.

[Thinkingahead]

The touch-keyboard ain't working Steve. But an iPhone with a Blackberry sized flip-out qwerty would take over the world (ok, some hyperbole here, but it would be the best of both worlds). Oh, and push email would be good too.

[DocB]

Fits in with Apple's apparent interest in Intel's 45 nm architecture. What I want and would buy immediately is a PocketMac... a nice touch screen with a full OS X opsys, 16 or > GB RAM, WiFi, BlueTooth and able to run pretty much any OS X app. Give me that and Apple gets more of my money.

[The Werewolf]

"Apple’s rival product to the Intel Ultra Mobile PC [UMPC] initiative which has unsuccessfully tried to marry Microsoft’s (MSFT) Windows OS to a highly portable computing platform."

I'm going to assume you've never used a UMPC. I own one and it's become an indispensible device. I literally carry it with me everywhere. Vista's handwriting reco is scary accurate and the ability to run off the shelf apps in a device the size of a small book (not to mention, using it AS a small book) makes it insanely powerful.

It's definitely not for everyone - just like PDAs or Smartphones (or even laptops) aren't for everyone. Different people have different needs - but given that the number of UMPCs being offered is going up and that Intel and Microsoft are still improving and planning new versions of the formfactor suggests that it's actually doing well.

I think Apple could turn out a very nice UMPC, but they'll be new to the market and copying Redmond this time.

[lantzn]

"I think Apple could turn out a very nice UMPC, but they'll be new to the market and copying Redmond this time."

The difference is, when Apple does the copying, it's usually a better and more intuitive solution. Let's hope this will be the case again.

[who_the]

I've owned or tried nearly every ultra-portable OS or device ever made, from Newton to Origami, and from Palm Pilot to Magic Cap.

My perfect device of all-time would look like this:

From Origami/Windows Vista devices:

* Handwriting recognition and pen text-input interface
* 1024x600 native resolution

From Apple Newton MessagePad 2100:

* Instant power-on
* Weeks of battery life
* Copy-and-paste interface (to copy, drag content to any edge of the screen to 'dock' the content, then drag away to paste)
* Overall dimensions (size)

From Apple iPhone:

* Multi-touch interface
* Overall thickness/look and feel

From HTC Shift:

* Hide-away keyboard

[Ted T.]

"The touch-keyboard ain't working Steve. But an iPhone with a Blackberry sized flip-out qwerty would take over the world (ok, some hyperbole here, but it would be the best of both worlds)."
No, No, NO! The last thing the iPhone needs is to be ruined by a physical keyboard.
The virtual one works fine for me and a lot of other people. The one improvement it does need is the ability to run all keyboard input apps in horizontal mode, to make input a little easier for everyone.

[b0b]

Apple already makes a small bluetooth keyboard. Likely the device will work with it. . . . .

[B_Rog]

Be careful! Ol' Steve Jobs will sue you for speculating about future products. Of course you could walk away with a $2 million settlement to stop talking about your guesses, so I guess his paranoia isn't all bad.

[StephN]

An Apple ultra would be keyed to content: music, video, for sure. And videoconferencing, I hope. An ultra with isight and ichat for under $1000 is a market shaker, imo.

[Brewer]

IYAM, the iPhone/iPod keyboard is incredibly accurate and easy to use. Anyone who says differently is either very clumsy or just dishing the usual anti-Apple FUD. It does lack for a touch typist, but for a hunt and peck typist, it's phenomenal. BTW, I am a touch typist, but we can also hunt and peck, especially on a hand held device where it makes a lot of sense. A bluetooth keyboard would be dead simple to use with it, that's a no brainer.

I think a LARGER version of the iPhone, set up more as a computer, would be a godsend. Also, it would nail another failure for MSFT.

People ask who will buy APPL at 200. I say, the folks that have been sitting on MSFT for so many years, only to finally make 20% this year the company started buying it's own stock (they frankly don't know what to do with their money.)

[TorisStephens/Tshon]

I agree, apple's Ipod has single handedly changed the Car audio market. Every touch screen out there is reviewed based on its ability to search through the media purchased on itunes. Cover flow within the car would be great. Add the addition of HD radio tagging which also is being adopted, but pioneered through apple, to make purchases easier. Add Google maps, which is already a partner, plus GPS. And then the last final blow to everyone is SSD in your car, now no moving parts no need for Hard drives, no need for CD's or DVD's, plus WIFI. And lets not loose your mind but WIFI Mesh would simply kill every design out, you already could use itunes socially, but imagine streaming you ID tags to see what content is different from someone next to you, this makes social music a lock, a later a simple update and social networking in your car will be amazing, I"m sorry. I've been waiting for a product like this.

[DanielBirchall]

"I think Apple could turn out a very nice UMPC, but they'll be new to the market and copying Redmond this time."

Oh, I thought they'd be copying themselves 10 years ago... or have we all forgotten the Newton-based Apple Emate 300 mini-laptop? ;)

[infosprt]

It sure sounds like an iMac to me. A MobileMac. A device with much of the capabilites of a Mac but using the now legendary iPhone look and feel. Hence an iMac.

-Al, iTouchMap.com