ipod as PDA competition?

[Dan_42]

I thought that apple was soon to release a touch-screen (full screen) ipod. I guess this is not happening yet.

However, I think Apple's ipods are already creeping towards having PDA functionality - they already provide basic PIM reference.

The newest ipods apparently have a kind of text input ability for "power searches". If this input ability is exploited in the future (ie, with a touch-screen and non-scroll wheel input), then we'll really have a viable platform.

Then again, Apple seems content to never repeat the whole "Newton" thing again, so this could well be a load of armchair punditry from me.

Thoughts from others?

[pgenie]

Thats a long way to go!!! and relatively uncertain to compete with the Pda market. Wi-Fi iPod.(Yes)

[Joel]

I already use my iPod as a backup PDA. Text and iCal schedules are imported in my monochrome iPod. Note though that these are all read only. It's good to read and review notes but of course, you cannot enter text.

I think that Apple would either expand the iPod's functions (we're seeing movies and games now) or would launch an entirely new PDA/phone device.

[Dan_42]

[QUOTE=I think that Apple would either expand the iPod's functions (we're seeing movies and games now) or would launch an entirely new PDA/phone device.[/QUOTE]

Along those lines, I guess I was thinking that apple might leverage the ipod name & platform for their new phone, which might essentially offer PDA/smartphone features, but in typical apple fashion, they would not call a PDA. Maybe just "iPod with phone". Or something.

If they are really going to bust into the cell phone manufacturing scene (which some have predicted - and arguably, it could/should be vitally important within the next 5 years), it will be pretty necessary to have a fairly-full featured platform. Compared with Motorola's new interface, Nokia's Series 40 and 60, and the Windows Mobile platform (all of which are pesently on the market and undergoing constant incremental improvement in varying degrees), Apple is going to have to match and/or exceed convenience and functionality compared with these established options. (I think they aren't quite there yet now, which probably goes a long way in explaining why the first "itunes phone", the ROKR's "apple integration" was basically just a java app that greatly resembled an ipod interface).

So - I'm just thinking/hoping that a touchscreen ipod is the next logical step prior to an iphone.

If a wi-fi ipod is just a matter of time...then how long until a VOIP ipod? (a VOipod?) :)

/start rambling thought on mp3 phones vs the ipod compared to camera phones vs dedicated cameras/

Granted, at this moment, mp3 phones/smartphones still aren't really serious competition to the ipod. But as technology improves in the next few years, some of these alternative solutions will be increasingly viable to the casual user. Apple has hinted that they're aware of this and are "taking steps" to prepare. I think it's wise that they do this (and I hope it's true, not just PR-speak), since cell phone mp3 playing value & capablity should keep improving similarly to that of cell phone cameras.

In the 4-5 years that cell phone cameras have been available worldwide (I'm not counting Japan, btw, since they were noticably ahead of the curve on this), they have gained in quality to the point where now some phones available on the worldwide market are good enough that many casual users may not need a regular digital camera. It's certainly impacting the producers of stand-alone cameras.

(On the other hand, no matter how good cell phone mp3 players become, it's hard to imagine them totally replacing stand-alone devices...for example, even though you can, how many people really want to wear their cell phone on an arm band and sweat all over it while running on the treadmill? Likewise, to go back to the phone camera analogy, it's not as if photographer professionals are working exclusively from their cell phones either...but perhaps the analogy breaks down if you push it too far...)

/end of ramble/

[_Em]

I don't know about consumers, but it appears that manufacturers have decided that PDAs aren't going anywhere. So, Apple went the mobile-entertainment route instead, with limited PIM functionality. Most manufacturers appear to think that converged mobile phones are the way things are going -- however, Apple's vision and the CMP are incompatible -- telcos want to control all data going into/out of CMPs that operate on their networks, and Apple wants their computers to be the hub for such devices. I doubt either party will budge on this -- the only compromise is what gave rise to the crippled Rokr. I don't think anyone wants to repeat that experiment any time soon.

But, I could be wrong....

[mrp123]

Apple's vision and the CMP are incompatible -- telcos want to control all data going into/out of CMPs that operate on their networks, and Apple wants their computers to be the hub for such devices. I doubt either party will budge on this

Fantastic insight. I couldn't agree more.