The NEW Apple Newton: A Personal Digital Platform

Well, I didn't think I'd be blogging on this site again, but in an effort to put down some of my thoughts concerning Apple's recent product announcements (mainly the MacBook Air) and there quarterly report where they stated the iPod would become the basis for a Wifi platform developed by Apple.

So, I'm going to go completely hypothectical and lay out what I think Apple's plans might be, based on rumor, speculation, and what's known at this point. I may be completely wrong (I have been before), but I think I might be on to something...

1. Apple is sitting on a load of cash. They just had their best operating quarter ever with more than $1 billion in profits.

2. A lot of analysts have expressed dismay in the fact that the new MacBook Air doesn't include wireless access over cellular broadband (i.e. 3G), but I think that the current model only lays the ground work for this class of computer.

3. Apple indicated that the iPod (not the iPhone) would be basis of the company's WiFi Mobile platform.

The iPhone revolutionized (rejuvenated?) the cellular phone market. But, again, it was only the first step. Apple is, I believe, slowly building the blocks that will lead to it's ultimate strategy. In my opinion, the new Newton is not a device, but is a true Personal Digital platform.

Let's say that the rumors are true and the next version of the iPhone will contain a 3G network chip to allow faster network access over cellular networks. The key to this chip, as Steve Jobs noted, would be that it would need to allow for better battery life in the iPhone and it wasn't included in the first model because of the hit to battery life. If they do come up (and there's no reason to suggest that they can't based on the engineering that Intel did for the Core2Duo processor in the MacBook Air) with a lower power, but better processing 3G chip, then why would they stop with the iPhone? Why not install it in the MacBook Air as well? They've been known to upgrade the specs on machines within months of release in the past...

Now, we have an iPhone and a MacBook Air with cellular network access at high speeds. We can access our information (or media) where ever we are with whatever device we need at the time. But, if we have high speed network access, why would we need voice on the iPhone? With a platform like Skype, we could make voice calls over whatever data network we're on. In fact, at that point, why would we even need the iPhone at all? Put the 3G chip in the iPod Touch and couple it with a program like Skype and bingo. New iPhone. But wait, we'd have to partner with Skype, right? Nope. Why does eBay own Skype? Are they getting any value out of it?? Not really (in my opinion), and Apple's sitting on a lot of cash, probably more than enough in the last quarter to cover what eBay paid for it in 2005. What if Apple bought Skype (something that BusinessWeek pondered back in 2004: http://businessweek.com/technology/content/sep2004/tc20040916_1040_tc056.htm)?? Not unlikely, I think and if you'll notice, the talks between Skype and Sony for the PSP have recently broken down.

Now we have two (iPod and MacBook Air) voice-capable, network-accessible almost anywhere, mobile devices that plays our media as well! If they expand the Time Capsule concept into more of a home router/server (mostly for media) device, we can access our data and back it up where ever we happen to be.

Tie this all in with .Mac and you have another synchronization point for contacts, calendar, etc.

Now, I believe, we woudl have four devices that allow us to manage our data and our media, all synchronized - the iMac (for home use), iPod and MacBook Air for mobile work, and AppleTV for media access in our living rooms all tied together through a single interface - Time Capsule. This now becomes our Personal Digital platform: The right device for the right circumstance regardless of where we are - in our homes, in our living rooms, or on the road with all of our media and data available. Voice, Data, Media, even Video Conferencing, where ever we need it, when ever we need it. This is (should be) the Newtonian future Apple is pushing towards.

I know, this is all pure speculation, but it makes sense, doesn't it? Of course, the best part of speculation is who cares if I'm wrong? Oh, and by the way, entry into this platform can be had piece by piece, as needed, or for one package price of about $3600 (based on current pricing for entry level systems) the whole pack can be had - Time Capsule, iPod Touch, Apple TV, iMac, and MacBook Air. And it's customizable, configurable, and expandable (need two iPods? No problem, want to add a MacPro? Sure thing.).

Will we get there this year? Maybe. It's 2008 and I think that something is definitely in the air at Apple, but it's not just a notebook that fits into a manilla envelope....