Apple re-hires original Newton developer

[ekaser]

From CNET news:

Those expecting Apple to introduce a new tablet computer soon may have another clue to the device's imminent arrival.

Apple has rehired Michael Tchao, one of the original developers of Apple's Newton personal digital assistant, according to a report Monday in The New York Times.

Full article at:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10363066-37.html

[Kali Yuga]

*yawn*

If you believe the rumors, the alleged Apple Tablet could've been released in 2002. There's a few dozen reasons why Apple would hire this guy unrelated to any sort of tablet.

[carlobee]

hmmm. i guess we'd wait and see what would happen after that move of Apple.

[doreenjoy]

Considering the abysmal failure of the Newton, I doubt anyone at Sony or Amazon are scared.

[WillAdams]

The Newton didn't fail, and as an independent entity was on the verge of success when it was re-absorbed by Apple. Even now, it's hard to find a better general purpose portable computing device than a Newton MessagePad 2100.

William

[mores]

I just know the Newton from stories or the movies (like Steven Seagal using it to save the world in Under Siege 2) but from what I gather, it failed because the concept was way ahead of its time. People didn't spend that much money on such a gizmo back then.

[Abecedary]

Yup. The main problem with the Newton was that it predated the PDA craze by a good 5 or 6 years. Yes, it had some stumbling blocks when it first launched, but by most accounts, the major issues (mostly handwriting) had been ironed out well before it was killed off. To a certain degree, it could be argued that it helped launch the whole PDA thing since quite a few of the developers of Newton software went on to become some of the first developers of Palm software.

[Hellmark]

It didn't fail. Failing in business would require losing money. It just wasn't a run away success.

[Mr. Goodbar]

Even today, it is still ahead of it's time from a software standpoint.

[Mr. Goodbar]

Duplicate /delete

[Sonist]

[QUOTE=Kali Yuga;610176]*yawn*
..../QUOTE]

In a few months you'll wake up, and the iPad will be here....

[ekaser]

Another article today from CNET about Apple iTablet rumors:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-31021_3-10363560-260.html

It includes 10 bits of information, including a proposed introduction date of Tuesday, January 19th. One of the points of the rumors:

It's not a Netbook, but supposed to be a replacement for full-sized books, magazine pages, and even newspapers. Plus you should be able to play games, view videos and photos, and surf the Web. As a result, the resolution will be "5 to 6 times" that of the iPhone or iPod Touch, putting it at 720p, or high-definition resolution. There are a few tablets, like the smaller Archos 5, that can do HD already.

There are several points talking about the device's size (supposedly a 7" version was killed, and the front-runner is now a 10.7" display).

[JeremyZ]

I just wish Apple would stop naming all of its portable devices "iXxxxx." If they're so creative, they can certainly come up with a new naming convention. Maybe name it after a different species of apple? Like the "Apple Granny Smith" or "Pink Lady" or "Braeburn"

Wasn't the Newton the predecessor to the Palm Pilot, which is still going strong now in the form of cell phones?

Apple's stuff has always been ahead of its time. The Apple II was the first PC in widespread use. I still remember the highlight of one summer in the 80s as a kid playing Karateka on a friend's Apple IIe with COLOR MONITOR!! Heady stuff.

The only thing I have against Apple is that I can't afford a lot of their stuff. I'd love to have an iPhone, but am not willing to re-distribute enough discretionary income to get one.

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by Sonist

In a few months you'll wake up, and the iPad will be here....

Yeah, I'd be absolutely flabbergasted if this didn't come out sometime in 2010.

There are just too many solid rumors with apple buying 9 or 10" touch screens etc. for them not to be putting some kind of Tablet out.

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by JeremyZ

I just wish Apple would stop naming all of its portable devices "iXxxxx." If they're so creative, they can certainly come up with a new naming convention. Maybe name it after a different species of apple? Like the "Apple Granny Smith" or "Pink Lady" or "Braeburn"

Wasn't the Newton the predecessor to the Palm Pilot, which is still going strong now in the form of cell phones?

Apple's stuff has always been ahead of its time. The Apple II was the first PC in widespread use. I still remember the highlight of one summer in the 80s as a kid playing Karateka on a friend's Apple IIe with COLOR MONITOR!! Heady stuff.

The only thing I have against Apple is that I can't afford a lot of their stuff. I'd love to have an iPhone, but am not willing to re-distribute enough discretionary income to get one.

Would be funny but then they would be need to pay a pretty hefty licensing fee for the names because pretty much any item, even food, is now managed as a "brand" with genetically specific patents and any number of copyrights.

Still I agree, it makes sense and the marketing should write itself...


The Newton was still one of the best PDA type devices I ever owned or used. I wish I still had my original...not to use but to sell...

I really do hope Apple does come out with a tablet, probably actually will be a Slate PC as that is what that style has been tagged by the media for ages. But it needs to be a full feature computer not simply a large ebook-like device. It will raise the bar and light a fire in an industry that has been wallowing in their own excrement for a decade or more.

If you want to see a Slate PC done right look at the Sahara i440D from TabletKiosk: http://www.tabletkiosk.com/products/sahara/i400s_pp.asp

Problem with them is they have ZERO competition so the price is off the charts too high...around $4k if you add what should be in the config and the right warranty. the iRex devices are so close to being the right device it kills me...

...of course anything Apple can do, they can do for 2x higher price than anyone.