12/31/2008, 9:15am, EST
Wednesday, December 31stfrom: www.electronista.com
Rumor: Apple developing iPod touch with 7-9" screen
Amid the speculation of a possible Apple netbook, rumors suggest that the company may be working on a large form-factor iPod touch that features a seven to nine inch screen, according to TechCrunch. Three separate sources have allegedly corroborated the story, including one that claims to have handled a prototype and suggested that Apple is in the process of communicating with Asian OEMs to work out details for large-scale manufacture. If true, the anticipated production time-frame could lead to a release sometime late in 2009.
The device would fall more into the category of a touch tablet than a netbook. Rumors of similar Apple devices have circulated occasionally for a while, although the sources indicated that the company had been uncertain about positive reception by consumers. The iTunes app store success supposedly reinforced the concept, with its library of touchscreen-oriented applications that have achieved distribution numbers pushing into the hundreds of millions.
Even if the report of prototyping and OEM talks is true, there is still a possibility that the device is one of several possibilities that are under consideration. Steve Jobs commented in an October conference call that he considered the iPhone to be an entrant to the netbook category. "But we'll wait and see how that nascent category evolves and we've got some pretty interesting ideas if it does evolve," he added.
Apple filings to the US Patent and Trademark Office indicate that the company has been working on new touchscreen swipe-gestures that would reduce the need for excessive tapping while using the virtual keyboard. Additional notes explain that the technology could be used for PDAs, tablets and desktop systems in addition to the iPhone and Touch, although the company currently limits the use of touchscreen keyboards to the handheld devices.
Filed under: iPod, Apple
Other story tags: iPod touch, NetBook, rumors
, 
, 8
, 
, 
, 
, 
, 
, 
Bookmark www.electronista.com now or subscribe to RSS feed.
Top
subscribe to comments
for this article
aha!
Apple's R&D'ing and prototyping a device! What a shocker! They prototype lots of devices. All companies do. Its a question of what actually ends up being made...
not an iPod
One thing is clear--if the device is real, then it will be an iPod or any other kind of pod. It would be a portable device with a gesture-based interface.
What it is and how it would be used is anybody's guess.
Can everyone say...
iNewton
Nice...
If it can play high def content, that would be cool.
Last thing Apple needs is to develop an iPod Touch with 9" screen that's built right in your car and can sync your content over wifi. If they do that, and have auto makers offer it as a BTO option, then they'd have the market nailed.
Or even an iPod touch with turn by turn GPS for cars. I'd buy one of those in a heartbeat. Rent a bunch of movies or buy TV shows before a long roadtrip. That would be awesome!
Kiddie iTouch
Given what parents are saying about how small children delight in playing some games and videos on an iPhone, Apple should look into creating a kiddie version of the iTouch, one ruggedized and designed for use by children.
Crossover
This won't be a Newton, or a Netbook, or an iPod Touch. It will be a new mobile category for Apple.
Re: Nice
Last thing Apple needs is to develop an iPod Touch with 9" screen that's built right in your car and can sync your content over wifi. If they do that, and have auto makers offer it as a BTO option, then they'd have the market nailed.
Then why would this be the LAST thing Apple needs?
I can see why it would be the last thing drivers would need, as it would end up causing more accidents than navigation systems do now...
iPod on steroids
An iPod is an iPod. Give it a bigger screen and it could be called a tablet PC or a "netbook". I would not put it past them, but I don't think it would be an ideal product to carry around.